Cat's respite (Ithea)

[Anastasia]

Once business is taken care of, Stille and Ithea get away from it all. Away from the trouble, the difficulties and the noise. It's a quiet trip back to his quarters. As you head in, "Fortunately, the meal I had before should have kept perfectly. I don't know what we'd do without magic."

[Merc]

"Life would be vastly different without it," Ithea agrees.

[Anastasia]

"I can't imagine it," Stille smiles slightly, going in. Soon enough you have a meal before you and the two are settled in. "I just wanted to say I'm proud of you. Anyone can fail and suffer the consequences. Fewer can pick themselves up and keep going as the pain cuts into them."

[Merc]

Ithea blinks. "Ah, well, I mean, thanks?"

"Sorry, wasn't sure how to react to that," Ithea admits, looking vaguely lost.

"Honestly, it's bugging me a lot even if I'm not showing it, or trying to. I mentioned it to some of the other catfolk earlier, but Lief and Muirfinn's loss reminded me very much of that last day of Lifasa. And I don't know if I'm reading into it and projecting, but I feel like the tortles blame me for Muirfinn's loss. How they stared at me when I went to the Memorial and I just kept flashing back to me yelling at other survivors about leaving our world behind, blaming them for not doing enough, so forth...I -feel- that in their stares now. Going on that quest for the Mineral treasure was almost like a vacation," Ithea admits. "Fuck, but it's going to feel uncomfortable being around them for a while, and now's probably when they need some sort of support."

[Anastasia]

Stille waves a hand, "Don't worry." He then listens, putting an arm around Ithea's shoulder as she talks. "It sounds like you're facing your own inner demons as much as anything else."

[Merc]

Ithea chuckles weakly. "That's a way to put it."

[Anastasia]

"I know that you can blame yourself, hate yourself and feel like you've failed. It can make what you did in the past seem foolish and make your life difficult." Stille turns to meet Ithea's eyes, "I also know that you have to love and forgive yourself."

[Merc]

Ithea laughs weakly again. "Look, Stille, I love you but please stop with the cheesy cheer-up lines. I'll be okay, I was just noting that -right now- I'm still down about it and venting a bit about it."

"Anyway, what did you cook this time?" she asks, diverting the conversation, not at all subtly.

[Anastasia]

"Heh," Stille chuckles at that, "Fine, fine. This time is..."

Your meal and rest pass in a pleasant reverie. The two of you are comfortable on your couch when there is a slow, pounding knock on your door.

[Merc]

"Were you expecting someone?" Ithea asks as she looks towards the door of Stille's room.

[Anastasia]

"No," Stille says, getting up. "I'll get it."

He goes to do just that, opening it and promptly recoiling back. "AH!" he says, leaping back and landing in a crouch, fists ready.

The figure that looks in wears that mask. That damn mask of Adrian's, and his voice says, "Hello, kitty," he says dryly. "Elena said you were here, so I thought I'd drop in."

[Merc]

"Ah. What's up? Need me for something?"

[Anastasia]

Adrian removes his skull mask, grinning as he ruffles his hair. "Yeah. Aurora business or I wouldn't have interrupted. First free time I've had all day."

[Merc]

"Aurora business?" Ithea asks, straightening up a bit. "What sort?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes, do tell," Stille says, "Since you found it needful to interrupt as such."

Adrian shrugs, coming in and taking a seat. "Nothing world ending, but you need to be in the loop. First of all, Morniel's sent back word that he's having early success. He'll have our locations to raid, no doubt about it."