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3/11/2002
Logfile from Elehu
Ele's Spiffy Hole in the Wall (#16964)
This room is a natural little hole in the wall. Looking out towards the west
there is a round, but very small and heavily shuttered window. It looks to have
been a crude vent at one time from when the area was still an active volcano
but a basic windowpane has since been added along with light purple curtains,
giving the room a soft, cozy feeling.
A small bed has been tucked into the corner, covered by a think snowy white
quilt. A clothespress stands at the open end of the bed and a few pillows are
stacked at the end against the wall a small wooden nightstand set up beside
them. A glowbasket sits on top of the stand, and there is a small drawer built
in, and just above the nightstand there is also a glowbasket hanging from a
hook in the wall. Against the opposite side of the wall there is a small desk
with one chair pushed underneath. A matching chair stands off to the side, and
a wooden shelf has been built into the wall above the desk with stacks of hides
and small vials and jars stacked on top plus yet another glowbasket. A tall
but narrow bookshelf stands just beside the door, stacked with still more hides
plus some wineskins, bottles and other odds and ends. Between everything else
there is a thick wool rug spread on the floor to protect uncovered toes from
those cold 'Reaches winters.
It is a winter afternoon. You know that the sun is heading downward, although
you really can't see it to tell for sure. The air starts to get colder again,
and the gusts of wind have picked up, blowing the infrequent flurries around
as well as clearing the snow off the slush and leaving patches of brown amid
the dazzling white.
On the perch is one firelizards.
Reiko is here.
Obvious exits:
Healer's Quarters
Elehu awakes slowly as the first hints of dawn begin to shine through her tiny window, the Healer's eyes blinking open leisurely to stare at the ceiling for a long moment. Eventually, actual consciousness begins to take hold, and Ele turns her head just enough to spot Reiko. This she contemplates for yet another long, quiet moment before she begins to tug the covers up over her shoulders a little, trying to snuggle back into their warmth without disturbing the rider, whom she just continues to watch for now.
Reiko sleeps, with a relaxed and peaceful expression that's rarely seen when she's awake. But it's not a deep sleep, evidently, because even the small movement beside her causes her to stir a bit. Without even opening her eyes, she reaches for the warmth, sleepy hands caressing Ele's soft skin as a tiny smile hints at the corners of her mouth.
Elehu glances at Reiko again as the rider begins to move a little, the healer holding her breath for a moment as if she might prolong this peaceful time of the morning just a little bit longer. A futile effort, of course, and she knows it, a tiny smile curving her lips as she moves her hand to gently meet with one of Reiko's.
Reiko opens her eyes at last as her fingers close around Ele's hand. "Morning," she murmurs, lifting her free hand to smooth the healer's sleep-tousled hair with gentle fingers. She either isn't aware or doesn't care that her own appearance is no less disheveled. Her eyes unfocus for a brief moment, then her smile spreads. "Must be early. Cerdith's still asleep." At least he wasn't uncomfortable curled up in the ground weyrs for the night.
Elehu smiles a little more and nods a fraction, otherwise not moving anymore than is necessary. "Yes, quite early," she replies in a quiet voice as she gently caresses the hand in hers for a moment or two, still just staring at the rider across from her in a quiet, and even rather shy manner. "Did you sleep well?" she finally asks in a rather brisk tone, if still quiet.
Reiko nods languidly. "Quite," she replies softly, her fingers still toying with a lock of Ele's hair, reluctantly releasing it at last to gently stroke her cheek. "It's very... cozy here." Maybe not even the smallness of the room, but rather the warmth of the little bed. "Do you feel better?" It's a vague question, perhaps, but there seems to be genuine concern laced about the quiet tone in which it's asked, and perhaps a bit of hopefulness as well.
Elehu turns to lie on her back once more, taking the opportunity to scoot just a little closer to Reiko while nodding slowly. "Yes, much better," is her quick reply before she steals a glance at the rider for a moment. "Cozy... yes, quite cozy." And in case it weren't cozy enough, Ele goes about tugging at the sheets again, just generally pulling them in a bit tighter. Not that it's needed. After another brief moment, however, she just stops and turns a little to face Reiko, a tiny, but still rather tender smile on her face. "Reiko, are you all right? I hope I didn't upset you, I just... had to say what I did."
Reiko lets her hand slip along Ele's throat to idly caress her collarbone as the healer turns to lie on her back. "I'm not upset." How could she be, waking up so pleasantly after such a pleasant night? The gentle caress continues down Ele's body to her waist. "And I'm glad you feel better." So everything's all right now, apparently, because Reiko falls silent, a warm, even gaze fixed on Ele's dark eyes.
"Ah, that's good," Elehu replies in a soft voice, the fingers of one hand reaching out to gently caress Reiko's cheek for a brief moment as the healer smiles. "I guess I just wait too long sometimes. I don't always take the chances that are given to me, and last night... well, I didn't think you'd be here with me," Ele ends in a still quieter tone, smile quirking just a little as she shrugs.
Reiko shakes her head fractionally, the barest of movements against the pillow that cushions her head. "I like being with you," she whispers, her other hand lifting to catch the hand that caresses her cheek. "I could visit more often..?" Her voice trails off, perhaps a bit uncertainly, as she remembers more of the previous evening's conversation.
Elehu closes her eyes slowly as Reiko's hand catches her own and nods a little at the other woman's words. She takes a slow breath and looks at Reiko for a long moment, a shadow of doubt masking her face for a second or two. "What is it you like about being with me?" she finally asks soberly, watching Reiko closely.
Reiko rolls one shoulder in a kind of half-shrug, and for a long moment she's silent, but finally an answer comes. "Mmmm... I like... the smell of your skin... that look you get in your eyes..." A gentle caress punctuates her words, slipping over the soft skin of Ele's side, tracing the curves of her body in obvious appreciation. "What's not to like? You're so warm, and beautiful..." Emerald gaze lowers for just a moment, perhaps almost embarrassed by what she said--or perhaps more by what she can't seem to find words for, her voice trailing off to an almost inaudible whisper.
A slightly confused frown creases Elehu's forehead as she caresses Reiko's cheek gently with her thumb while peering into the other woman's emerald eyes. Her face tightens for a second but is just as quickly smoothed over while Elehu props herself up a little, a worried look on her face. "What's wrong, Reiko," she asks just over a whisper, her fingers trailing down beneath the rider's chin as she tries to catch the other's gaze for a moment. "I'm sorry... I ask too many questions."
Reiko doesn't resist Ele's gentle touch, lifting her chin slightly to meet her eyes. "It's all right," she says quietly, trying for something of her usual careless tone but not quite getting there. The twisted smile comes a bit more easily. "There are things I don't like to think about," she explains gently. "You never really asked me to before." Another reason to like being with the healer, although she still doesn't come right out and /say/ it.
Elehu holds very still for a minute before letting her hand fall, face smooth as she takes a quick breath and starts to lie back again, eyes closing. "I've noticed that," is her simple reply, voice mellow almost to the point of being dull. "I won't ask again, if it makes you feel uncomfortable. I just wanted to know, I suppose." Ele finally opens her eyes again to stare at the ceiling, her fingers clenched tightly in the top cover.
Reiko recoils almost as if struck. "I... I'm sorry," she whispers, reaching to Ele but not quite daring to make contact again--she draws her hand back at the last moment. "I guess I should go." Turning away then, she gropes around on the floor for her abandoned clothing, truthfully unable to look at Elehu now.
Elehu quickly turns and begins to slide her hand around Reiko's waist, gently trying to pull her into an awkward sort of embrace. "Reiko, please... I'm sorry," she manages to say, voice strained. "I just wanted to understand. I wanted to know..." She halts for a moment, body as tense as her tone as she simply repeats phrases in an attempt to say what she means. "I need to know what it is I am to you," Ele finally whispers, hand remaining at Reiko's side for another moment.
Reiko pauses at the touch, not resisting but not relaxing either, still facing away from Elehu. After a seeming eternity, she lifts a hand in a weary gesture to push her hair away from her face, leaving her fingers pressed against her temple. "I don't know how to answer that," she whispers at last, her voice betraying the effort it takes to speak the words. "But it isn't... nothing." She seems to draw in on herself then, almost becoming physically smaller. "I do care about you." She'd be gone already if she didn't, actually.
Elehu sits up and draws a little closer, her free hand sliding up to grip Reiko's shoulder gently as she tries to catch a glimpse of the rider's face over the other. "Reiko, it's all right," she whispers, voice soft as brushes her fingertips through that jet black hair, moving it away from the rider's face a little. "I shouldn't have pushed. I'm sorry." She kisses the pale shoulder beside her but doesn't let go just yet, fingers trailing down Reiko's back in a tender caress as Ele takes a slow breath.
Reiko is silent for a long moment, giving no outward reaction to the touch or the kiss... but she straightens a bit at the gentle caress down her back. "I don't want to hurt you," she says at last, the words softly uttered and tinged with an unmistakable tone of regret, trailing off at last to a low whisper. "I don't know if I can change now... it was so hard to get to this place." She half turns then, meeting Ele's eyes over her shoulder. "It's just been so nice to be with you. Safe." The last word is practically inaudible, being most difficult for the bluerider to admit.
A questioning look comes over Elehu, her hand stopping the gentle caress for a long moment as her head tilts a fraction or two. "I don't want to hurt you either, Reiko," comes the quiet reply. "And you should never have to change who you are." Ele frowns a little then and moves to sit on the side of the bed, facing Reiko. "I just want to know you. To maybe someday be a part of your life... but if you can't let me in, if those walls you build have to shut me out..." She stops the rather intense string of words with a tiny shake of her head, blinking once as she reaches tentatively for Reiko's hand. "I /want/ to be that safe place you can come to, Reiko."
Reiko just looks at Elehu as she speaks, looking almost startled at the Healer's perception. All the things Reiko won't say, and Ele can still see something of what's inside her... and still find something worthwhile. She catches Ele's hand halfway with a tight, almost convulsive squeeze of her fingers. "I love you, Ele," she whispers, surrendering at last to the healer's gentle persuasion, emerald gaze flickering shut. "If nothing else... I can give you that." It's as honest as she can be... as honest as she's ever been.
It's Elehu's turn to look startled as Reiko whispers to her words the healer had never been brave enough to say. She closes her hand more tightly around the rider's and moves to put her arm around Reiko's shoulders, the healer's head resting there gently as Ele closes her eyes tightly, remaining quiet for a long moment. At last, however, she turns to regard the other woman, her own eyes bright as a warm, tender smile curves her lips. "And I love you, Reiko," she finally says, voice quavering slightly in a shade just above a whisper.
Reiko slips her free arm around Elehu, drawing her closer now and leaning to brush her own cheek against the healer's and inhale the familiar scent of that beautiful goldstreaked hair. "I'll always have a place for you," she whispers, her breath warm on Ele's ear. Maybe it's not a lot to offer, but for this careless bluerider it's as close to a promise as she's dared to come in a lot of Turns.
Elehu simply smiles as her arm tightens around Reiko's shoulders. She turns to place a gentle kiss on the rider's cheek. "You'll always be in my heart," is the healer's quiet reply, her tone as warm as her embrace. "Always." Ele rests her head against Reiko's once more then, her eyes closed as she simply enjoys the feeling of peacefulness that overcomes her.
[End of log]