Re: Tiff's letters, and the aftermath

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 7:59 pm

His tone had changed, and he was holding the note in front of her face. Confused, she looked at him, then at the note, and blanched. - How did he...oh Jah, I gave him the wrong one...how do I expain that? Would he even listen...after his parchment... - She could only try, but she was tired of having to defend herself to everyone. - First Aimar, now him.Why couldn't she fall in love with someone who just trusted her? -

Her eyes widened as she realized what she'd just admitted to herself. It wasn't something she'd expected, and not something she thought he would appreciate, not now, maybe not ever. Finding her voice, she whispered; I done some dumb things in my past. That was tryin' to fix one...an' that's the wrong note...here's the one from Tiff if'n yer wantin' to read it still an' tell me somethin'. Fumbling in her pocket, she pulls out a note, checks it, then hands him the correct one.

Tiffanyanne wrote:Dear Aasha,
When I was a little girl, I was very poor and very alone. My father was a drunkard and gambler who after spending every penny we had, gambled away my hand in marriage. I ran away from home before the man who won it could claim his prize. So I know what it is to run Aasha. I know what it's like to have demons behind you that make you jump at shadows and fear setting roots anywhere. But you know what else I know. I know that eventually, you have to stop running. Otherwise they win. The bad guys win if they can keep you running away. They win because they stop you from having a home and family because you fear them too much. Don't let them win Aasha.
I know you will probably be angry at me when you find me gone. But this is something I have to do. There was one thing that I decided when I stopped running. I would dedicate my life to the weak and poor who were forced to run because the rich and powerful made them. I've been a mayor, I've been a Duchess. But recently I met a regent who had all sorts of power and seemed to delight in making people run from him. A new Regent has been elected and I want to make sure that never happens again.
In my lock box there is the deed to the house. It is yours now. There is also a fair amount of coin that should keep you steady. Everything in the house is yours.
I will come back Aasha. I hope you will offer me a room to stay in when I return. I hope you will forgive me.
I truly do love you Aasha. As a daughter, as a sister, as a friend.
Love always,
Tiff

Yer note what ya snatched...it were about me. An' ya believe it? She was having a hard time keeping the pain from her voice, his distrust hurt worse than her shoulder ever could. She couldn't meet his eyes, just looked down as she choked out; Ya ken let me out of yer cart an' not bother wit' it. Ya ain't got to pr'tect me...I hurts myself more'n anybody else ever ken...

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:00 pm

TheRedChef wrote:Red turned her head so he could look at her. "That note is weeks old. If I believed it, would I be here with you? No? Yes? Any other surprises you want to share with me?"

He scanned Tuffany's letter. "Tiffany left you those things because she wants you to have a good life, as do I. She also feels guilty for not being there to look after you."

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:01 pm

She tried to resist, not wanting to meet his eyes and see contempt, but didn't have the strength. Meeting his eyes, her own glistened. Ya ain't gonna ask me what that letter was about? Conscious of the soldiers surrounding them, she shook her head and whispered; Any other surprises I gots fer ya ken wait till we're alone. Guess there's lots I ken share if'n yer wantin' to hear. I gots more notes in my pocket if'n yer wantin' to read though...I carry 'em to read, tryin' to get better...

Taking a deep breath, she debated shifting so they weren't touching. She couldn't do it, he hadn't moved away even when his tone had changed, and the contact was too desired for her to willingly end it. I ken have a good life without her things. Them are hers, she worked for 'em. Ain't right fer her to have to ask me fer a place to stay in her own home... It took her a minute to process his 'as do I', when she did, she lowered her lashes and murmured; I gots friends...an' fam'ly when Tiff's 'round...an'...you...

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:01 pm

Thinking better of her admission of feelings, perhaps even afraid of rejection in so public a setting, she leaned back to pet Pillow, instantly regretting the movement as her shoulder flared again. Unsure if it was a good or bad idea, she glanced back and dug out an assortment of letters, all with deep creases where they'd been folded and refolded from multiple readings.

Where is we goin' anyhow? I weren't meanin' to bother ya at work, jus'...wanted...wanted to ask ya 'bout Tiff...an'... She sighed, lowered her lashes, and turned away completely, distracting herself with signs of the approaching winter to cover her awkwardness.

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:02 pm

TheRedChef wrote:Family... By now, the sun hung low in the sky and several of his men had vanished into the forest.

"Ah, Aasha, you never bother me. We're just tending to some business near Coventry. It's...uh...confidential, so mum's the word."

"So, what were you going to ask me before you trailed off?"

aasha · aasha on Sat Nov 08, 2008 8:02 pm

- Never bother him? - She was surprised, nae shocked as memories flashed of their past encounters in the taverns. There were times in the past she could have sworn her presence alone bothered him, but maybe she'd misread a lot before.

Confed'nt'l? He seemed uncomfortable with her asking about the trip, that alone had her holding back the 'why Coventry' that was hovering on her lips. She couldn't hide her confusion with the next sentence, she knew she'd brought up family before, but not her mum. Is confed'nt'l yer mum's word then? An' whats it mean?

Eyes widened then lowered when he finished, she'd not expected, or maybe it was not wanted him to pick up on where she'd trailed off. Cursing her wayward tongue, she shifted, peeked at him from under her lashes, then sighed. I weren't gonna ask nothin' else...umm... A tinge of pink climbed into her cheeks as she murmured; ...jus' wanted to see ya...

It was an understatement, but it was better than blurting the depths of her new feelings, especially when her silent admission was still so close to the surface.

aasha · aasha on Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:44 am

TheRedChef wrote:"Well, then it's a good thing you found me," he said with a crooked grin, "but it looks like you'll be stuck with me for a while. We'll be traveling through the night, so you'll have to make do with your, er, injury. I don't have any of Tiffany's specail "teas," and I doubt you'd want to drink the results of my scrounging. The good news is that there is plenty of pear brandy if you feel the need." He sloshed the flask for good measure.

Red gripped her good arm in earnest. " But, there is one very important thing you need to remember. This entire trip is secret, that's what confidential means. It's secret business for the county. I need you to swear to me that you will never tell another living soul about what happens here. Do you understand me?"

aasha · aasha on Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:45 am

Was it though? Finding men hadn't helped her in the past, she'd lost Aimar, was finding Red putting him in danger? Of course, so far she'd been the one hurt finding him, but then again, he'd not told her to pit her petite frame against his armed guards.

I don't mind bein' stuck wit' ya... The two of them in the dark gave her pause, she'd only ever traveled with Aimar, and their last fight had been about her traveling alone, as well as how unsuitable it was for her to travel alone with him. This wasn't the two of them alone though, there were tons of guards around, even if none were in her direct line of sight for now. Not something she truly wanted to dwell on regardless, so it was pushed back with the rest of her wayward thoughts.

She couldn't help the grimace at mention of Tiff's teas. Denying they helped would be impossible, but the taste left much to be desired. I don't likes her teas...they're nasty. Tole her once, why's stuff to help ya gots to taste so nasty? Leastways yer brandy tastes better.

She'd tried more new spirits lately than she ever had in her life, but unlike the whiskey, the liquor in the flask was smooth. Her movement earlier had caused a major twinge, another swig surely wouldn't hurt that would it? Reaching for the flask, she briefly laid her hand on his, taking a breath at the spark that flared with the contact. Thought findin' ya was the good news...

Feeling her face burning as her tongue betrayed her once again, she bit her lower lip before trying to comment further. She was quite earnest when she met his eyes, moving her hand from the flask before ever taking it to lay her hand on his. Ya ken trust me Red...I ain't tellin' nobody nothin'. Ain't one what tells much...part of runnin' was bein' quiet 'bout why I was goin' an' where...

Looking at him was a mistake, though there wasn't much alcohol in her system, what there was combined with the pain to lower her defenses. Color deepened as she unconsciously leaned forward, the spark igniting to cause a fluttering within.

aasha · aasha on Wed Nov 26, 2008 7:10 am

It was the fox that brought her back to earth. Pillow moved closer and laid his head in her lap, breaking the spell she seemed to be under when she was near Red. Flushing brightly, she hoped he'd chalk it up to the brandy as she quickly took another swig. Her eyes now downcast to hide her expression, the waning light adding more shadows as if cooperating with her. Her voice pitched low, she repeated; I ain't tellin' nothin'.. before taking a much smaller sip from the flask.