(D6, MA-LA, Renown, Open) Free Play

[Whisper]

"None." he shook his head. "Obviously, I have elemental lineage. And, there may be some Fey blood in me. But, I have no idea where in all the planes I come from."

Whisper gave her another smile. "I do, however, know of a few forests we could lose ourselves in."

[Mysti]

"Hmmm," Mysti's expression went from curious to pensive. "If I were you, I think I would go half-mad wanting all of those answers. If that forest was a small demi-plane, then you probably were not born there. And ... why would ... well, I'm sure I'm not asking any questions you haven't already thought of and pondered over since before your first conscious memory."

A uniformed servant brought the bowls, the pot of stew, bread, cheese, brandy and a couple of snifters so quickly that it was almost as if they had been expecting the task and had everything ready to go.

Mysti said nothing further as the servant laid out the utensils, the bowls, the pot and all the rest of it, making sure everything was just so. She tipped the man a few coins, they both thanked each other, and the servant moved on.

"Ah here we go ..." Mysti started filling a bowl with the stew when Whisper said:

"I do, however, know of a few forests we could lose ourselves in."

At that moment, all thoughts of stew and a rumbling stomach vanished as though they had never been, her hand still on the ladle, but as motionless as a statue. However, she blinked at Whisper a few times before speaking.

"Really? Here? I thought ... Sigil was floating above some kind of spire ... or something. Just the city ... not any surrounding lands." Only then did she finally let go of the ladle. "I won't lie to you ... or be immersed into protocol or decency at this point -- so I'll just say that I would adore that ... to get lost in some wondrous forest with you. Even with ... hmm ..."

For some odd reason, Mysti looked under the table, then over Whisper's shoulder. "Uh ... where's your cooshee? You said his name was ... what was it ... Hush, right? I don't even know what a cooshee is or what one looks like, but ...is he like a horse that you ride? Or are cooshees sentient in their own right?"

She stopped her searching in but a few seconds figuring Hush must be in some other location -- or possibly outside. She really didn't know what to expect. Except the name itself sounded cute -- surely some slavering beast with fangs and scales wouldn't be called a cooshee. Right?

"Well ... anyway ... if you ever feel inclined to show me this forest ... I would be equally inclined to go." She likely would've blushed somewhat heavily with embarrassment. She felt ... well, rather far removed from her normal element. However, the undead half of her simply didn't allow that kind of blood flow ...

[Whisper]

"Oh. I didn't bring Hush here." he answered. "I wasn't sure what kind of reception I would get here and didn't want to involve him."

He sampled the stew and nodded approvingly. "There isn't a forest within Sigil, I'm afraid. There's an attempt, but it will take a few millennia to grow. I meant out in the planes. I get sent out hunting for items by various clients."

[Mysti]

Once Mysti started eating, it took a bit for her to even come back up for air. She acted as though she hadn't eaten in days and, for all Whisper knew, maybe she hadn't. When she did finally stop long enough to say something, she still had a piece of bread clutched in one hand and a snifter of brandy in the other.

"Well ... wherever this forest is ... be it somewhere outside of Sigil or out there somewhere," She emphasized the word 'there' with a sweeping gesture of her arms, "I don't have much keeping me here. I might be a part of the Harmonium, but I'm more of a -- how to put it -- an independent contractor. They come to me for all of those 'specialized' jobs they don't want publicized. If you know what I mean."

She paused long enough to wolf down some more food. "I don't have any -- regular duties. I'm not on a roster and expected to walk a foot patrol. Unless I feel like it. Sometimes I do just to see what's going on in the streets, but -- I may have mentioned it -- I couldn't care less about the petty crimes out there. I'm not going to run someone down for picking a pocket. It's just my longwinded way of saying that I come and go when I please.

Mysti shrugged as if what she was saying should have been plainly obvious. "It makes ... exploring old forests a lot easier. When you're not beholden." There was a brief pause. "I haven't said this much to one person in a long ... long time. If I'm annoying you just ... say so. I'm not used to being tipsy either."

"Anyway ..." Her voice softened again when, before, she had been more conversational. Now it dropped to what could be construed as a more intimate and, perhaps, even pleasing tone. "We live for a long time -- almost as long as elves -- but not that long. Certainly not long enough to wait for a forest to grow somewhere in Sigil."

Instead of going back to her food, though, she fixed Whisper with a rather intense stare -- one that would have been hard to read even if Whisper had known Mysti for decades -- yet it only lasted for a few seconds before she dropped her gaze to what's left of her food.

"Well, maybe someday."

Those three words would have been like sword strikes to Whisper -- had he truly known her. Even so, her voice was heavily laden with with a keening desire to visit a forest like Sildëyuir -- and knowing it would almost certainly never happen. Not with Whisper or anyone else.

It was ... idle talk between two people who had literally just met. Nothing more. That's all it was. Right? Mysti closed her dark and fathomless eyes for a few moments longer than a blink before making a brave attempt at changing the subject.

"You'll have to show me what a cooshee looks like sometime." Her words sounded lame even to her own ears. But it was all she could think of before she lost it. Cyprian had scrambled her emotions in a way Mysti had never before experienced. Everything was now uncharted territory.

[Whisper]

"Stop appologi,ing for talking." he chuckled. "I assure you, you are far from annoying. Definity no where near as bad as Cyprian was when he first appeared. Mysti, I am enjoying your company very much. I hope we have many more discussions."

[Mysti]

Mysti looked up at Whisper with a small, ghostly -- and rather crooked -- smile on her face.

"I know ... I'm sor ... well, alright ..."

Then she looked somewhat doubtful as she reached for more bread. "Are you ... certain? Because I'll let you in on a little secret. Or maybe it's a confession. Or both."

She chowed down on another slice of bread dipped in broth -- as a way of forestalling what she had meant to originally say. Then she drank some brandy -- then another slice of bread ... but she didn't eat the second piece, realizing what she was doing.

"It's been so long ... Whisper. So long since I've been able to just talk to someone. Granted, half of what I'm saying probably makes little sense. When I sat down, I wasn't expecting conversation like this." She made a quiet 'hmph' noise.

"Because it's been ... so so very long," she repeated. Mysti slowly shook her head in a sad sort of way, her raven curls falling in front of one eye. Yet she did manage a weak chuckle. "You have no idea how much I want to apologize again. But I won't! I will try very hard not to!"

She flipped the curls out of her face -- but they ended up right back where they had been mere moments later.

"I am very glad to have met you ... Whisper of Sildëyuir. I think, through talking to you, I may have rediscovered a part of myself I had thought was long dead." She fell silent for a few moments before once more continuing, "I certainly would never object to many more discussions should you truly wish to have them."

"Wait ..." Seemingly out of the blue, Mysti was reminded of something Whisper had said earlier. "Do you know Cyprian? I know we were all at Illiam'iira's meeting earlier. But other than that? Not that it matters ... just ... curious."

[Whisper]

"I met him a few moments after he stumbled through a random portal." he said. "Aparently, it was in a broom closet. He was confused, as most clueless are. He was trying to find any way he could to go back to Midgard."

[Mysti]

"A broom closet, eh?" Mysti said in a dead-pan voice. "Why does that not surprise me -- not in the least."

There was a flash of extreme irritation on her face -- but only for a moment. "I suppose Akh was standing there waiting for him with flowers and tickets to the theater. Considering how fast that developed. So much thrown away so quickly ... and dear ol' Mysti wasn't even told about it. I was told -- this is how it's going to be, and nothing you say -- nothing will change anyone's mind."

She rolled her eyes in an extremely sarcastic manner. But that too passed quickly. However, one didn't need to know the rogue for years for anyone to tell Mysti was probably raging inside -- but due to phenomenal self-discipline, kept her anger in check so as not to ruin a perfectly fine and completely unexpected afternoon talking to Whisper.

"Oh, by the way... I don't think anyone would mind if Hush were in here. Just ... keep him out of the kitchen and food stores -- oh and the medical wing. Otherwise, well ... wait. I take that back. I don't know what a cooshee is, exactly. I mean, if it's like a horse or something no he'll have to wait outside. I'm assuming its not ... violent? If a cooshee is like a dog or a cat or ... tressym or faerie dragon, you're okay."

[Whisper]

"No. It was just myself, L'Orr-hui, the illithid, and a number of other Indeps. I haven't seen much of him since then." he shook his head. "As for Hush, he's not that much different than other large dogs, but with tall pointed ears, green fur and longer claws. He wouldn't get into anything, but if I were to get into a fight, he'd feel the need to protect me. I wasn't expecting a fight, but coming here to gamble was a bit unpredictable."

"I like the way it worked out, though."

[Mysti]

"I've ... seen him around on occasion. Like at Illiam'iira's meeting. And that ... New Sensation place which ... well ..." at this point Mysti gave a big sigh -- though it wasn't anger or frustration that prompted it. Rather, it seemed filled with a profound sadness. "Let's just say that ... i've made some far-reaching decisions based on a number of things. Cyprian -- he's just one part of the equation."

Mysti looked down at the table -- and didn't look up for quite some time. Long enough that Whisper may have begun to feel uncomfortable. When she did at last look up, her dark brown eyes were fairly glistening with unshed tears.

"Uh yeah ... sorry. This time for not talking enough. I just got lost in my own thoughts for a moment."

"So Hush is like a dog then? He should be fine in here. Let us hope you don't get into a fight with someone here in the middle of the barracks. Green, huh? I've never seen a green dog before, but with a name like cooshee he just has to be a cutie."

She dropped into another lengthy pause until finally saying, "I liked how it all turned out, as well. I thought you would be just another person snooping around the barracks looking for ... something. But it became something different. Most people, they just come and go -- they don't hang around to have conversations. I will say, though, I'm glad you did. Even if I did trounce you at cards."

Mysti chuckled and gave the cards another shuffle just for emphasis. "Truth be told, that's the luckiest I've ever been at a game. It's just too bad you had to be my opponent."