From: owner-willowlogs-l@murkworks.net on behalf of Mosquito [jrorr@exis.net] Sent: Tuesday, February 09, 1999 3:40 AM To: willowlogs-l@murkworks.net Subject: [willowlogs-l] "Torn Jackets And Interruptions" Log cast: Jylien, Talek, Dusk, Sela Log date: 2/9/99 Clearing by the Old Willow(#123RHJ) Here in the heart of the Willowholt, the air is thick with the scents of the Newgreen -- regardless of season. Green growing things crowd the clearing, from the myriad bright 'mushrooms' hiding among tall shoots of grass, to dreamberry bushes sandwiched between the trees, to the mighty, massive 'Old Willow' that dominates everything in sight. A fallen 'log' under the Old Willow's branches provides a place to sit; a gurgling 'fountain' provides a constant song of water. Amidst the almost overwhelming weight of Newgreen scents, the air, to elfin senses, is alive with magic. Immediately to the northeast, overlooked by the mighty willow, lies a small pond; to the southeast, south, and west, paths to the Holt's more secluded parts; to the east, the distant marshes. The shadows lengthen as the Daystar slowly approaches the horizon. The Holt slowly comes to life. Little Moon is a barely visible crescent as the dimming red light of sunset fills the hot summer skies. Contents: Jylien Prowlfar(#39Jaes) Fallberry(#111IMOQV$j) Obvious exits: Branch Old Willow Hillside Path Starwillow Copse Marsh Pond Jylien pops out -- or rather, appears -- on a branch above the clearing, stretching and yawning as he is wont to do from time to time. Yaaaaaaawn. Streeeeetch. Talek is seated on the log below, legs folded with a jacket of his drapped over his lap. Slender fingers fumble only slightly as he repairs a jagged tear in the elbow of its sleeve. His eyes are on the stitching, but his attention shifts upwards at the yawn. Absently, not looking up to see who it is, he sends, ** 'Evening. ** *plinkplink* If blinking could make noise, surely it would be that sound. He looks down from the branch, and grins, slowly. Careful, that expression, even though Talek's not looking up. The send, however, is something less restrained. ** Talek! ** It's restrained after that initial slip, though, much like someone might clear their throat. ** I mean, evening. ** Surprise is reflected in Talek's eyes, then amusement in his smile. He looks up with a blink of his own, fingers pausing in their nimble work. ** Oh! Jylien. I didn't know it was you up there. ** Jylien clambers down, so he doesn't have to bend to talk, and Talek doesn't have to crane his neck to look up. Dusting his hands together, he sends, ** I didn't exactly announce myself. What're you doing? I mean, if it's not a secret. ** Talek blinks again, now almost bemused as he replies. ** Not much of a secret, ** he comments with no small amount of humor. ** I tore my jacket on a branch... so I'm fixing it. ** He pauses and glances down, then amends ruefully, ** At least, I'm trying to. ** Jylien grins lopsidedly. ** I'm not so good at it myself. I mean, I do all right, but I prick my fingers, sometimes. Tinyhowl's better at it. You could, ah, ask her. If you needed help. You know? ** A faint shimmer of silver as Talek shakes his head back and forth in negative. ** I could, ** he admits, giving his companion a crooked grin of his own. ** But it's just the sleeve. ** Jylien's grin widens, and settles down into a crouch over his heels. ** Well. I spose. ** Talek's nose wrinkles cheerfully as he considers Jylien a moment, then lets his gaze drift back to the stitchery. ** I'm not /that/ feeble with the thread. ** Jylien blinks twice, gaze lifting quickly. ** I didn't mean.. I'm sure you're fine with thread, Talek. I just thought that if you needed help, you might, ah, ask .. well. Anyway. ** Talek looks up as well, his eyes half-lidded. A wrinkle appears in his brow as he sends, ** No, I was just-- ** "Ow!" He wasn't looking at what he was doing. A droplet of red appears on his fingertip, then disappears as it vanishes into his mouth reflexively. Jylien's eyes widen a little, then he drops his gaze to his knees, eartips reddening. He offers a half-sent, ** Careful. ** Dusk emerges from the willow tree. Dusk has arrived. "Feh," Talek mumbles around it, mostly to himself. The finger pops out again, and the silver-haired elf gives it a moment's inspection before reaching down to the needle again. Quietly, he takes in Jylien's expression, and sends with faint humor, ** It's okay. You're not the only one that pricks his fingers. ** Dusk climbs down from the branches of the old willow, landing softly on the ground with both feet. Her eyes sweep around the clearing, looking to see who's to be seen. Jylien looks up again, and amusement sparks in his eyes. ** Guess not. ** Talek is seated on the fallen log, Jylien crouched nearby. Relieved, he flashes his violet-eyed companion a brief grin, then catches notice of the furry lass dropping to the ground lightly beyond him. He hesitates, then sends, ** 'Evening, Dusk. ** Sure enough, Dusk catches sight of Talek and Jylien. Grinning as she usually does, she approaches the pair. ** Hiya, you two. What're you up to? ** Jylien's attention follows Talek's, and he straightens to his feet again, scratching his scalp briefly. ** Just .. talking. Talek's mending, too. But just talking. ** Talek returns Dusk's grin with a crooked smile of his own. ** Mending, ** he echoes Jylien, indicating the clothing in his lap. ** Tore my jacket on a branch. ** Dusk fights off a yawn, apparently awake for just a short time after napping for a bit. ** Heh. I don't have that problem. ** Of course, that's obvious for one who goes around without much to wear. ** I'd forgotten you could mend, Talek. ** Jylien's eyebrows lift. ** Everyone has to mend something, sometime. Not necessarily a jacket, but ... something. ** ** I don't, usually. But this tore, and Dawn wasn't around, so... ** Talek ends it with a shrug, glancing at Jylien briefly as he sends, through the corners of his eyes. Dusk looks sidelong towards Jylien for a moment. Mending things other than jackets. Maybe leggings, or..other things. ** Oh. Well, it's good you can do it without mother's help. ** Jylien looks first at Dusk, then at Talek, and back again. Shifting his shoulders a little, he sends, ** I should go. Hunt. ** Talek comments with a slight touch of dryness, ** That's a matter of opinion.. ** He smiles ruefully at Dusk, then blinks, looking back towards Jylien. Briefly, the silver-haired elf looks crestfallen, but it vanishes before it can be pinpointed. ** What? Oh.. But.. ** Dusk happens to glance at Talek the moment he looks crestfallen, and she blinks in wonderment at why he'd look that way. Then she perks slightly at Jylien's decision. ** Want me to come with? ** she offers. You sense in a locksend, Dusk's send touches your mind gently. ** Everything all right? ** Jylien blinks. ** No! ** Blinkblink. ** I mean, I probably won't find anything right away. I'll ... be gone awhile. ** You locksend to Dusk, Talek seems to ripple with disappointment, but it's hard to tell. He replies with the wordless sense that he's fine, not even looking at you. Despite himself, Talek frowns. ** You certain that's safe, Jylien? ** ** Oh..I.. ** Dusk is rather taken aback by the way Jylien initially reacts to her seemingly innocent question, and it leaves her with brows furrowing in confusion. ** Well..if you want to be alone, okay. ** She glances back to Talek, troubled by something. The sense that she interrupted can't be avoided by her. Sela glides down from above. Sela has arrived. Sela glides to perch in a tree, carring her bow and a string of ravvits. You sense in a locksend, Dusk doesn't say anything, but it seems she's apologetic about something, whatever it may be. Talek is seated by the log, apparently in the middle of repairing a torn jacket. However, whatever work he's done has been put on hold; the elf's attention is on Jylien, frowning and his brow creased. Jylien looks over his shoulder at Talek, and summons up a faint smile. ** I'll be fine. Promise. ** The words are sincere, if a little flat. Dusk stands near the other two elves, but she's in the process of taking a couple steps backward. ** Ah..take care, Jylien. ** ** I ... All right. ** Talek's brow crinkles further, but he nods, fingering the material of the ripped jacket uncertainly. ** Good luck, then. ** Jylien's smile widens a little. He nods, and climbs the hill leading to the pond. Jylien locksends ** .... thanks. ** Jylien vanishes northward into the trees. Jylien has left. Talek's sending follows [Jylien], rippling slightly like a calm pool disturbed by a pebble. ** Just.. eh. Be careful. ** Talek watches his retreating form for a moment, then fehs softly to himself, attention returning reluctantly to the half-finished repairwork on his jacket. Sela glides away as silently as she arrive Sela flies up. Sela has left. Dusk frowns to herself as Jylien takes off, then sighs softly. It always seems to her that whenever she walks in on Talek and Jylien, one or both of them suddenly get uncomfortable. At least it seems that way to her. She watches Talek work on the jacket for a few moments, attention unfortunately not on anyone gliding up above. Talek catches the Glider's exit through the corners of his eyes. He looks up in time to see her vanish through the treetops, blinking slowly to himself as he tries to place her. But he didn't catch sight in time, and he eventually looks back again to his work. Only he finds it somewhat lacking. The cloth bunches in his hands; he narrowly avoids pricking himself again as he sends, ** I give up. I'm going to go find Dawn or Tinyhowl. ** Dusk misinterprets this as an excuse for Talek to ditch her too, and she shrugs at his send. ** Good luck. ** The words are flat, frustrated, and flustered as she turns to go off somewhere, herself. Or at least begin to. Talek starts to gather his things together, but the tone of Dusk's sending cuts him short. He looks at her, frowning in confusion. ** What's wrong? ** Dusk pauses, rubbing around an elbow. ** I dunno..the way you reacted when I showed up, the way Jylien seemed to need to go so suddenly. Whenever I'm around the two of you, I feel like I'm interrupting you or something, like I shouldn't be there. ** There's a definite hesitation before Talek replies, a slight reddening of his ears as his brows furrow in consideration. ** I.. It's.. not you, ** he offers lamely, stumbling. It's not a lie, but it seems somewhat lacking as wlel. ** Jylien, he said he had to go hunt. And it's, um, better to start early when you're going to be out a while... ** Dusk isn't terribly reassured by the way Talek's send comes off, but she needs to find something out for good, perhaps. Turning back to look at Talek, she asks bluntly, but still gently, ** Do you like him? ** Talek's smoky eyes seem to flicker for the briefest of moments, a thousand replies flashing through his head, but none making it to voice yet. Then he remembers the talk he had with Trollkiller, and the dreamer finds his head inclining in a slow nod. He replies simply, softly, ** Yes. ** Dusk thought as much, at the very least. ** All right..do you /really/ like him, though? ** She's not trying to pry, but just understand this. ** There's nothing wrong if you do. ** A frown appears. ** I know that, ** Talek sends, a little on the defensive. ** Who said there was? ** Great. She was hoping Talek wouldn't react like that. ** Nobody..nobody said there was a problem with that. But that's just how it seems to me sometimes. ** Dusk admits, lifting her hands in something of a helpless gesture. ** Like whenever I'm around you two, at least one of you seems uncomfortable. ** Talek still frowns, but it slightens somewhat as he nods, arms arranging themselves and his bundle over his chest. ** It's awkward, ** he replies quietly. ** I ... We don't know. It's hard to explain... ** Dusk's aware some things have been difficult for Talek before, and she herself has done some things to contribute to that. But this time she tries to be helpful, taking a couple steps closer again. ** Do..do you want to try? I can listen. ** The gray in his eyes seems more liquid than before, but he blinks and it's gone, replaced with the smokiness more commonly seen nowadays. ** No.. ** Talek sends after a while, gently and quietly. ** Thank you, but... I think I'm alright. It's alright. Thank you. ** Dusk starts to extend a hand to reach up to Talek's shoulder, but as he declines the offer to talk about it, she lets it fall loosely back to her side. ** You're welcome.. ** she begins, letting a quick breath out through her mouth. ** I'll try to stay out of it and away from the two of you, at least until you're both more comfortable with..things. However they are. ** Again, the confused frown. ** You... don't have to do that, ** Talek sends, a tad uncertainly. ** High Ones, it doesn't make me -- us -- invalids. ** ** No, I think I do. ** Dusk shakes her head, not /wanting/ to, but thinking it necessary, though maybe it really isn't. ** I know you're not invalids, but it doesn't make /me/ comfortable if either of you get uncomfortable when I show up. It'd probably be easier to just let you two work things out, that's all. ** Talek starts to send, ** But it's not.... ** and he frowns. Deeply. Shaking his head, he instead turns towards the Old Willow and starts to head towards it, realizing he's fighting a losing battle. ** Fine. Great. I'll see you later then. ** Dusk bites gently at her lower lip as Talek begins to insist she needn't just leave them alone. ** Well..if you /really/ think it's fine.. ** And why shouldn't it be, if Talek is sure of it? ** Er, take care, Talek. Maybe we can figure this out later. ** ** I'll try. If you see Dawn or anyone around, send them my way. ** And like that, he disappears into the tree. [end log]