Characters involved are: Khiea (RED), Sylvina (ORANGE), Rex (GREEN),
Logged by Sylvina
Bledavik, Sylvina's Mansion(#688R)
This room is well organized, well kept, and well furnished. Obviously designed for both the dealings of business and personal luxury, this room holds a fine sofa against one wall, while the others hold shelves, bookshelves, and fine cabinets draped with tapestries and decked with fine goods. A table in the center of the room has four chairs organized about it and finely set decoration upon it. A <stairway> leads to the upper levels of this home, a <door> leads out.
Dropped.
Khiea enters through the front door.
Khiea has arrived.
Gently, there is a knock upon the door of Sylvina's mansion. It is not much of a sound, but an overly, overly timid one. And Khiea shifts her weight uneasily. Of course... She was invited, right? Well, Citan was. And she frets a bit as she waits at the door, rocking back and forth on her feet, from heel to toe, heel to toe... Fretting ever lightly. What.. If she wasn't welcome here? Oh, that was of course an option. But curiosity drives her, held on the wings on unpleasant memory. And so.. She dares the chance, fretting at the doorstep, wondering of what to say, stuttering through quiet greetings beneath her breath. And she waits. Impatiently.
The door...swings open, revealing a large, heavily-built man, almost hulking in his appearance, save for the smart black suit he wears. He stares down at the visitor.
Rex says, "Yes?"
Ah, but this situation warrents a bit of fretting, doesn't it? To face some strange person of memory, and wonder so much to what she did and why, and of every little thing.. And shouldn't she be able to shake this? Somehow? Because it is all past and brief memory, and nothing really important, when compared to Solaris, to the Yggdrasil, to the world. But she jumps a little as the door opens, and straightens her Solarian jacket a bit in careful necessity, stuttering meekly a greeting of, "Oh.. H-hello..." A man? Well, she wasn't expecting that. And that fact alone shoots all of her practiced greetings to death. Instead, she merely clasps her hands together, fretful as much as it is a polite stance, and manages out a meek more, "I... I came to see Miss.. Dalant?"
A voice is heard from indide the house. The voice of the lady of the house does not yell, but is heard form outside. "It's all right, Rex, let here in. And you may go...". At this, the door swings open fully, and Rex stands aside, to reveal the main area of the mansion. It is just-so, if a little more decorated then it was on that time where Khiea visited before. On one of the couches, Sylvina sits, taking tea. If it could be still called tea, given the proportion of tea to the dark liquid in the jug, which is covered with a cloth.
Khiea grants a careful smile, glancing nervously up to the man and then inside, with all the timidity of someone knowing that she's.. Probably not welcome there. Even though Khiea is not some tattered child in rags this time- ash smeared and shuddering in sobbing, lonely fear... But even dressed as princesses might, Khiea looks like she's scared half to death, although all of that is kept beneath those silver blue eyes, which are diverted nicely to the ground. And she edges her way in the house, step by half step, barely in the door, "Good Afternoon, Miss Dalant..." She pauses, wondering how to word the rest, her preparation falling all to nothing, "I.. Well, Mister Citan has some more shopping to do, and I... Well... While he... I thought I would..." Oh, find a -word-, Khiea! You wont get anywhere in a sentence if you say everything which comes to mind and nothing which falls in a comprehensible line, "I just thought I'd drop by and..." Ah, it fails there. Worry a bit, and shy as a kitten, she looks like she's stumbled into something far too great for some self-proclaimed ether princess. And, rather, she just looks uneasy, and awaits some responce to those stutters.
There is nothing...quite like that buzz, that fills your head with song, that lets you make merry, and laugh, and forget everything. Past that stage, is one where the sheer frankness of every conversation frightens you, and you don't know yourself. Sylvina is a little of both. She looks up at Khiea, and gives a catlike grin, setting her teacup down with a tiny clink, into the saucer. "You've grown.".
"You see, I thought I would ask..." Khiea trails off from her attempt at stuttered words to... Choke off into silence, dragging a suddenly surprised glance up to Sylvina. Not yet daring to move from her spot barely inside, she clasps her hands in worry faint, and unclasps, reclasps them again. She... Does she -know-? But... She tilts her gaze in a sort of hopeless curiosity, too young for her apparent age, and... Gathers her calm a bit. For there are ways to vent this worry, and things that calm her mind. Yes. You are not the little child who cowered in the back of this house on a firelit night, are you? You are the little ether princess, a Solaris' smile, with friends, now, and hope and... She swallows a little and tries to raise her head a bit, to look less unnerved and uneased, and finally asks, her voice yet careful, "You... Remember me?"
The frankness does not abate in the slightest, partly due to the fact that they are now alone, as Rex exits the front door, and closes it behind him. "Well, either that, or I'm mistaking you for that other Khiea Dalant with webbed hands, a funny armband, and a head full of air.". She smirks, and the smirk turns to a giggle. "I'm sorry. Perhaps I'm mistaken..." she grins, wiping tea from her chin, where it has spilt. Enough for now, she thinks, as the tea tray is wheeled away beside the couch by one nonchalant foot. "Why, have a seat. I usually have lots of visitors. Today is...an exception....". The grin remains, as she stares up at Khiea. Don't go away this time, child. This is too much fun.
Khiea seems.. Indecisive in how to react to such, be it through utter shock or merest confusion. And she frowns a little bit, actually, a sort of fretful expression as much as anything else, and.. Allows her mind to find a calm of its own. That is right. She has nothing to worry of, right? There is nothing to worry of. And.. The woman is drunk. So choke down that unease, Khiea... Although she does only a partial nice job of it. But manages, perhaps, to look presentable for a change as she makes her way slowly to the offered chair.., "I.. Well, yes, I'm Khiea Dalant..." And she shakes her head mildly, sitting down with a sort of distracted consideration, the awkwardness of children. But do not look as unnerved as you feel, Khiea, and turn those tarnished eyes to Sylvina, although you might not wish so. You are safe. Just remember that. "But... If I may ask, Miss... Why is it a concern of yours?" Well, that could have been more politely worded. But honestly true. Why make notes of children with webbed hands and armbands, and wonder at them when they double in age in only a year? Well. Fretting kills one's manners.
Sylvina stares at Khiea for a long time. In a way, there is that part of Sylvina that would envy Khiea. The part she fears most, that convenient part that money bought away years ago. That is her happiness now. She sees Khiea's happiness now, that simple, mindless euphoria of the child. It is sickening. Why should Khiea, a reject, be happy in poverty, while no amount of money can deliver it to Sylvina, the more fortunate? It is...unfair. Still, petty pleasure can be taken in removing Khiea's happiness, if only for a while. And petty is What Sylvina does best. Sylvina stands, and begins slowly to make for the stairs. "Come with me...I have something to show you."... she looks back at Khiea, and the twisted scar of a smile is there again.
But what is poverty? Certainly, Khiea is dressed in enough elaboration to look a piece more wealthy than she is.. But what is the use of wealth? Confusion floods Khiea's expressions, distracted between thoughts that seem terrified by this.. And those which seem utterly amused by it. What -is- it with this woman? And why does everyone else seem to see this on such a more sadistic and amusing level than Khiea does? Well. No matter. Having barely sat down, she stumbles to her feet, a politely curious look to her expressions... And she wonders, "Well.. All right..."
Bledavik, Sylvina's Mansion: Creche(#6078RJ)
This room is decorated in sumptuous fashion, a manner more then befitting the child of a rich lady. As for the overall theme of the room, the room is a sea of pink. Light streams gently in a large french window, through wispy pink curtains, which barely whisper in and out with the breathing of the desert air. The room is painted that same shade of pink, and is fitted with everything that is needed; a small table for changing, and an even smaller bed, for when the child needs it. In the centre of the room, as if on display, is an ornate wooden Crib, fashioned from a wood that seems almost naturally pink, standing with a colourful mobile gently whirling above it. There is one exit, to the <south>.
Contents:
Khiea
An Ornate Wooden Crib(#5991)
As the door swings shut behind her, Sylvina puts her finger to her lips. Tiptoeing to the centre of the room, she peers into the crib. A smile crosses her face, as a low chuckle emanates from the crib. Yes, the child is awake. This is fortunate, as now Sylvina does not have to whisper. However, the quietness still remains, as she beckons Khiea over to look into the crib, the smile now looking almost...genuine.
What... Could possibly be of interest here? Kheia looks more than perplexed now, to be brought into.. A nursury? What could this possibly have to do with her? Confused out of her wits, she walks slowly across the room, carefully and quiet as she can, mind racing in utter.. well, confusion. For this is the woman who tossed her out a year ago, and gave her to the Gebler, who hired soldiers to find her... And who now, upon realizing who she is, brought her to a nursury? Things could not make any less sense to the poor child. But she does not let it break her expressions, and keeps a merely calm look to her face. And she wonders. Much. And stops before the crib.
Sylvina beams widely, a look of genuine pleasure fills her face, as she looks back up to Khiea, and politely indicates the child, who is now happily babbling in its comfortable cuccoon. "Say hello to...Khiea Dalant...". The grin, if observed, would not change, but now it is not a grin, it is a sneer of revulsion, as Sylvina stares at Khiea, drinking in her reaction as it may come. The triumph cannot end there, for she knows full well what this outcast child does not. "You were...an inconvenience. This time, I've done it properly. With all the...", she holds her palms in front of her, looking around this brand-new room, and breathes in the air. "...the necessary preparedness for such a thing.". What is now a twisted sneer does not fade, and is a mocking smirk now, mocking Khiea's very existence, her very right to bear the name Khiea Dalant.
And... What does Sylvina expect of Khiea? For her to gasp and sniffle and sob and... Well. Perhaps, all things expected, that would be the most likely thing for Khiea to do. If not to stare and wonder and... Khiea pauses, eyes wide as can be... And kneels, before that crib, hands carefully away, perched on an edge, as she stares in at the small creature inside. In wonder, and shock and..., "Khiea.. Dalant?" A pause, and Khiea seems caught on this thought, fretful to think of such.., "Khiea?" Ah, but she does not panic. Something, some safeguard in her mind, keeps her safely away from that. And of all of the lines that Sylvina was expecting, Khiea's barely audible murmer is likely the exact opposite, "She's... so beautiful.." And she pauses, staring there, and begins to think a little of this.. This is Khiea? And she is Khiea. Or is she... Was she like this? So small and peaceful looking and... finally a word catches her attention, and Khiea turns those silver eyes not up an inch- her focus remains upon the tiny girl, if just to keep her expressions away from Sylvina, "I was an...." A pause, "Are you... Are you saying you're my..." Ah, it takes her that long to catch on, yes, when every other signal and sign and voice could tell her so. But her voice shakes just a little with those words- she does not turn her gaze up an inch.
The grin disappears, and is replaced by a pained look. What exactly _had_ she been expecting? And at the thought of it. Sylvina simply does not know. She knew only malevolence. Perhaps it was just the alcohol, perhaps she felt she needed to scare Khiea away, never to come back. At this moment, Sylvina genuinely does not know. There is no answer. Please, young princess, be jealous, be angry. Anything but that simple confusedness, that uncaring happiness. Sylvina covers her face with her hands, and sobs lightly. Please. Just go away, and be happy, and never come back.
If this is Khiea, what is this Khiea? It is all one muddled circle. And yet there are calming thoughts, and careful thoughts... And Khiea herself merely becomes confused in all of it. She is not a mistake. Right? She is not something forgotten and left and worthless... Just remember that, and think it again and again, and find some comfort in it, as well as in the contented face of the very young Khiea you look on. And Khiea notes, in a tone almost overwhelmed, in some sort of awkward squeak of a note, "I.. I have a sister...." And she closes her eyes and laughs so softly, in a tone that could be some uneasy choke... Before she stands up, and shakes her head weakly, hopelessly. And she does not seem to know what emotions to come to- the pitiful sobs that Sylvina would delight in, or the sheer amusement to the moment, or the joy of seeing this.. It is all so muddled. And she -should- be much more sorrowed. But... It does not matter, does it? She has a mother. A mother in Solaris... And a father, and an uncle, and.. She does not need to cling to this, to shed tears for this. But still... She is confused. Despite what she knows she should feel. "That's.. That's it, isn't it? I have a sister.. And you..." She glances to Sylvina then, and catches that little sob. And her eyes go wide, and she pauses there, and.. Her expressions only seem more confused once more. Weakly, she adds, "I'm.. Sorry."
Sylvina sniffles, and her hands screw up into tight fists, which wipe her eyes, smearing what makeup had not already run down her face into a smear across her face. "NO!. You are not my daughter. You stopped being my daughter when I gave you up! This..." she points at the crib, and is yelling now. "...THIS is Khiea Dalant. You are nobody! Least of all any daughter of mine!". The child in the crib begins to cry, and Sylvina turns, and lifts the child out of the Crib, gently bouncing it up and down, and gently shushing it, until eventually it calms down. The child whimpers a little, but its mother is close now, and the simplicity of that fact sinks in, and it calms down to a low gurgle. As the relative silence fills the room, Sylvina turns, and stares down at Khiea, her black-smeared eyes on fire. "Get out. Now. Never come back.".
And Khiea frowns at this, unsettled by such rough emotion... But that pain that echoes in her eyes is shifted merely aside as she shakes her head meekly, turns her gaze aside. And she is distraught, yes... But hardly to the degree that Sylvina would wish, is it? And ironic how most of her distress is because Sylvina is. She hadn't meant to upset anyone. "That's all right." She notes, finally, words a little heavy, words a little uneasy. "But.. I do not need to be yours to be someone. Because I still have my angels..." And, with the poor child, it could be just as easily literal as not. But her resolve is failing at this point, wearing down to sympathetic pain, if nothing more. For it is that sort of bittersweet which plagues her, happiness at some things and utter unease at others.. And she thus looks merely hopeless, child pitiful in teenage form. And hurt. Simply. "I...." There is no reason to keep trying to justify yourself, Khiea. Not now. And not to her. You know that. But why do you -want- that? She swallows hard, and shakes her head once more, still floundering hopeless still... And nods finally, turning in a brush of jacket and dress. Very well. Last time she was here, she was given away- let this time, she walk away. But still... It hurts, a little, light and raw.., "I hope... She is a happy girl, then." And she stutters over words, stutters over titles. And she hesitates. And only moves after a long moment, uneasy and slow, "Goodbye, then...M.. Miss Dalant."
There is not a word, as the tears flow again, and Sylvina turns again, away from Khiea. Why does she feel this way now, about a child she never wanted? Was it the experience of having a child she actually cared about? She doesn't know, has no clue why, but she will miss older Khiea. But she is committed. This doesn't stop the tears coming, though, as she covers her eyes with one hand, and quietly sobs. Younger Khiea peers at Older Khiea, over Sylvina's shoulder, and smiles. As Khiea exits, Baby Khiea gurgles happily, and reaches a hand out, in a half-wave that will be forgotten in five minutes, as she says goodbye to her sister forever, a smile in her new and innocent heart.