Time: afternoon
Location: Courtyard in AmKelosh

Lark Sandstone's eyes flickered as she watched the flame dance within her hand. She took the day to be with herself, nothing strange of different about it. she just thought to devote sometime to her skill, the one she was nelgecting. the one she was so hard, trying to forget was a part of her. the flame grew tall as her tones rose, then fell when they went deep. Her leg dangled across sthe polished rock that she found herself seated upon. Her amber gaze drifted acros sthe courtyard as she sat there silent, expect for her sining that was.

Nick Corwin enters the courtyard in a good mood. He slows as he enters the courtyard as if he was just running, it takes him a few steps to slow down and then stop. He's left Karyn and Deyka behind playing with Cerebus. He catches sight of Lark almost striaght away. He decides to pause and watch her a bit. To see what she's doing now. He can't help but notice the flame even before he notices she's singing. After all sirens are suposed to sing, but flames can't be made underwater where sirens live.

Lark Sandstone's tones were low and the high, the verus of audiable sound and tones echoing about her. she smiled as the flame seemed to enjoy her notes. It had bee a long time since she used her voice for such things. Her palm turne dnad twiste das the flame danced within it. Her form shifted against the rock her other legs crossed against the other. The soft sheer fabric of a cotton sarug (however spelt) parted against her tanned legs. She was dressed in a mock image of tribal or rather old custom telis style long forgotten

Nick Corwin isn't one to just stand around and do nothing. Yeah, he's the silent type and keeps to himself, but he isn't lazy. And he really doesn't care if he interupts Lark now. He calls out to her. "If you do that underwater does it create steam, or does it just go out too quickly?" He walks toward her, but knows he might have startled her, so he's ready to dodge a fireball if needed.

Lark Sandstone was surprised by the sound of Nick's voice, but she did not let on that she was. her palm was turned downward resting against the cold rock under her. The flame faded away as she stopped singing. Since it was fueled by the song. she turne dher gaze to greet that of Nick. the smile there, yes a smile , was pleasant, as she was indeed pleased, why she knew not, she cared not, the singing had placed her in a better mood for some reason. the look of her was not one to be questioned, she place dher free hands against her brow removing a few strands of losse locks and tucking then away

Nick Corwin is also in a good mood after his little game with the girls. He too has a bright expression, you might even get to hear the rare sound of his laughter today. He stands there waiting for her to answer the question, but she doesn't seem likely too. She'll twist that around and blame it on him somehow that she's ignored him. She always does. His expression changes away from question to a little wary. He looks away from Lark and over to some large, bright tropical flowers growing nearby. He gets a far off expression in his eyes as he thinks things over. He'd rather not dwell on bad stuff today. Part of him says to turn around and leave. But he doesn't. He never does. There's that other part of him that says Lark could be different if she tired to stick around and see if she's learned yet.

Lark Sandstone "its is a trick that my father taught me..." she looked at her hand, turning it back about, the flame still gone, she rubbed her thumb and forefinger together, as if there was residue left. A longing look remains upon her features. She smirked and looke dto nick...."haunts me sometimes, i guess that is why i remain far from my skills." she shrugged thinking that hedid not wish to hera her woes, she chuckled, almost sounding nervous for some reason.

Nick Corwinn glances back at Lark without looking fully at her. His head is lowered slightly in the same manner he used to always hold it and he watches her from the corner of his eyes. That wasn't what he asked, but he was just asking anyway. So that answer will do. "Oh, so your father used to take you to the surface? I'd thought the day you left the ocean was the first day you were on the surface." He gives a little shrug. He should know better than to assume, no matter how Lark makes it sound. She's got that female gift of twisting and maniputlating words so that what she says isn't want she means.

Lark Sandstone looked in at him, her eyes danced with the amber glow, but slowly it faded, returning to the dull amethyst colouring. "My father taught me much, flame was merely a testing he was ....." she knew not if she wishe dto tell Nick the truth. What would he think, she had kept it from everyone, even her sister, but now, it was what tore her apart. she struggled for a moment and stood. she wante dto tell him, she knew not why she just did. She turne dto face him....."My father when he was young, found peace in the arms of a woman. One that was not my mother....or well so believe it was... She was not of our world an dtherefore it was not proper. " she drew in a tight breath looking at Nick.

Nick Corwin won't hold it against Lark if her father was an unfaithful scoundral. His mother sleeps with Kayos, but he hopes no one would hold that against him. He's pretty sure he's a bastard and that's why his mother won't tell him who his father is. She's ashamed. He's assuming the reason Lark is telling him is to explain why she'd go to the surface. She'd go with her father to see his mistress. He just gives a little nod. He doesn't really have anything worth saying to say about any of it. It's just small talk and he's not good at small talk.

Lark Sandstone "He felt he needed me to understand things as there were... As i was... i felt different to Aiden, perhaps the reasons she disliked me so, and why i grew up the way that i did. Perhaps it was because i was different.

Nick Corwin shrugs. He's completely different than his 22 siblings. Out of the huge Arepharis family, he's the only one that is the way he is. The others are all magic users like their mother. They can't help it, it's what's in them. It's in him too. He never meant to learn magic, but every so often he learns a new spell as needed. That's the way sorcerers are and what makes them different than wizards. Wizards study and choose what they learn. A sorcerer learns what he or she needs regardless of if they want to or not. His sibllings probably don't even know how to shoot a gun, and he's pretty sure none of them could hold their own in a sword fight. But they all love him anyway. But then his mother has always called him special becuase of it, and his sisters all seem to agree.

Lark Sandstone looking to nick then back at her feet. Her hands tugged against the the edge of the sarug she was wearing, tighting the knot. " He explaine dthat she was of the human world, much like all surface dwellers were, well that i beleieved, an dthat she was my mother." she looke dat Nick, wondering if he would remain silent, or just compare himself to her. He would have recalled her dislike for humans when they first meet, and the lingering swells within her, an dthe hatred she felt she could not release. She waited... timing her words...wondering. she refused afte rthat time to have anything to do with the surface dwellers, so when Dykstra came her hatred grew, twisting her sister and posioning her mind, as well as killing her father. He was all that she was. all that she had. And now what was left.... Telis was under Kayos' rule, now all she was , was human.... not siren like she had thought or been raised to beleive

Nick Corwin thinks that explains some things. She hates half herself. She's always seemed to hate herself and through that anger lash out at everyone around her. He's told her before he thought she was weak for not being able to get over it and past it. No amount of training will rid the internal demons inside a person. Those battles can not be fought with the sword. In the past everytime he's compared himself to her, she's blow up at him. She hates to be compared to him, he knows it. She doesn't want to be like him, which to him proves how much she thinks of him. "So, what are you going to do about it?"

Lark Sandstone "I have to go back to Telis...this i must do, for f they do not take me for what i am... then... how can it do so." she stood before him, a bit of pride returning to her. She never thought that sharing her demons would aid in her healing. she never thoughts he needed to be healed. her gaze lifted back to nick's face. Of all the times he told her, she never listened, She could not blame him fo rthe view he held of her. Perhaps it was not love she felt for him after all. But now she felt a bit of respect for his aid, though he would not acknowledge it.

Nick Corwin "Go back to do what?" He's a bit confused, she's speaking woman again. Man, he hates it when they do that. Do women get a handbook or something that teaches them how to speak?

Lark Sandstone "To tell them all of my father's deciet... or my lie.... what else can i do"

Nick Corwin "What do you think this will acomplish?" His tone is flat. He doesn't know if it will do good or not. He doesn't really understand polotics. He keeps to himself and would never feel the need to share the lie of one of his parents with a whole kingdom of people.

Lark Sandstone this was her weak point. She understood nothing of what she was to do. she felt the way she did and she acted upon it. "Lies are all i have known...i wish to clear the air..." looking at Nick, her brow furrowed, her left hand rose and pressed against her brow, she turned from him, feeling a little frustrated..."they deserve to know....i can't handle this any more then i have."

Nick Corwin has heard of people doing such things. He doesn't understand, but he doesn't look down upon such actions either. If that's what she has to do to get rid of her demons, then she should. She's already abandoned her people to the Kelosh empire, Nick doesn't see how they'll like her any better if she goes and tells them she was never really one of them. "If that is what you feel must be done, then do it."

Lark Sandstone she looking at him, she was surprised...."but kayos?"

Nick Corwin has no idea what her look or her words mean. "I don't think he'll stop you from going and telling them. Why would he?" He gives a little shrug. "He's told me I can't leave, but he's never told you that you couldn't go where you wanted and do what you want. It's not like you have duties keeping you here anyway, right? So there will be no harm to the empire for you to go do this thing you feel you must."

Lark Sandstone "yes..." she heard him right, and it felt more true. she turned..."thanks.." she took a few steps away, her hand dropping against her side. there was in fact nothing keeping her here at all. she would go and face her demons. yes... that was what she would do.

Nick Corwin is surprised in himself for saying that much. He used not to speak much at all. When he lost his connection to Matt he started speaking more. There was an empty void where conversation used to be, and he felt like he had to fill it. Wraith is back in his sword however and now his head is always filled with voices and conversation. And Wraith isn't the only one there now. Nick feels overwelmed sometimes and there are times he wishes it was all slient again. Nick at times feels like a large mecha controled by a team, it's just that team can not be seen.