Colin was not interested in the whole “bad Maeve” thing. She was right, they’d already covered that and a round of phone tag was not unusual with Fiona. He had played phone tag with her on more than one occasion. He waved that bit off. “Well, it might have smoothed a few feathers if you had, but what’s done is done. Don’t worry about it.”
“Yes there would be more to catching up than just seeing what was happening. I imagine if the night had progressed as the typical charity ball, she would have had a few things to say before the end of the evening. Though as it was a public event I somehow doubt it would have been done in such a way that anyone else would have known exactly was happening. She’s very good at that.”
Alfarinn had attended with Thaddeus? That was not a familiar name, which just showed Colin how out of touch with even his own clan he was. There was a time he had known at least the names of the core members of Evenhet, and most of the more active members. Now… now he was lucky to know those who were his contemporaries.
“So Fiona finally met one of the Evenhet Elders. I imagine that was an interesting conversation. I wonder if she was able to ask about Philipe. No, I doubt it. That would have been to public a scenario.” He frowned thinking. “To be honest, Nic does not strike me as a ‘player’. Fiona, however, is always aware of the relative rank of those around her. And anyone she perceives as not being part of the power structure, she tends to ignore. If that came across, I doubt it would have gone over well with Nic. I doubt being dismissed goes over well with anyone.”
Run that by me again? (open)
Colin had awakened the evening after his return to the Towers feeling refreshed and ready to see which of his friends might be hanging about. Maeve was always first on that list ~ he had spent the most amount of time watching over her and in some ways considered her a daughter. Well, he supposed, in their world she was.
He called her suite, leaving a message. If she was in town, she'd let him know. If not, well, he'd call her home and let her know he'd dragged himself out of the jungles. If she wasn't too busy he might be able to talk her into a quick trip across the pond.
Not surprisingly, the kitchen was bare. Well, that was nothing a quick trip down to the shops wouldn't fix. He didn't need much and it seemed like last time he was here there had been a gourmet food store or somesuch. That would work. The food was mostly for any humans that might come to visit, but a supply of ale wouldn't exactly go amiss.
"Yes, I think that will do just fine."Â?
Half an hour later, he had picked up the few things he thought looked good and tucked them away. Settling onto the couch, he hit play on the DVD player, wondering what movie he'd left in it 5 years ago.
Raising an eyebrow, he chuckled. Mission Impossible: II. It'd do. He'd have to find out what movies had come out since he'd been gone. It was the one thing about his work that he sometimes found frustrating. Losing track of what was happening here and now while he was digging around in the past. He always felt half a step off-kilter.
"Though that couldn't possibly be due to old age."Â?
Getting comfortable, he hit Play and prepared to watch Tom Cruise pull off the improbable.
(OOC ~ This takes place the same evening as the Banquet.)
Colin
18 years ago
Maeve
18 years ago
Maeve had to chuckle. He knew Fiona so well, sometimes she thought he actually knew her even better than she herself did. "Yes, she is. Very good."
She frowned trying to think if Fiona had at all treated Nic that way. Finally she shook her head. "I don't think she treated him like that though, Colin. From what I saw she was perfectly civil. Not overly friendly of course, but not rude certainly." She groaned in frustration.
"This isn't getting us anywhere. The only one that knows what was going through Nic's head is Nic, and he chose to split instead of trying to talk to me about what was bothering him. I'm just not sure which has me more frustrated right now. What he said about Fiona or the fact that he just left like that. Figures first thing even close to a date I have in heaven only knows how long, and we get blown up then he blows up." She buried her face in her hands. "My life was not this complicated while I was absolutely refusing to date you know. I guess it just goes to show don't mess with what works."
Silently she added, 'Besides, I'm still in love with Latharn.'
She frowned trying to think if Fiona had at all treated Nic that way. Finally she shook her head. "I don't think she treated him like that though, Colin. From what I saw she was perfectly civil. Not overly friendly of course, but not rude certainly." She groaned in frustration.
"This isn't getting us anywhere. The only one that knows what was going through Nic's head is Nic, and he chose to split instead of trying to talk to me about what was bothering him. I'm just not sure which has me more frustrated right now. What he said about Fiona or the fact that he just left like that. Figures first thing even close to a date I have in heaven only knows how long, and we get blown up then he blows up." She buried her face in her hands. "My life was not this complicated while I was absolutely refusing to date you know. I guess it just goes to show don't mess with what works."
Silently she added, 'Besides, I'm still in love with Latharn.'
Colin
18 years ago
Colin had to agree that speculating over the thoughts and actions of two people who were not present was pointless. Especially when one of them rarely let her true feelings on any given subject known. And he hadn't been there to see what had happened between Nic and Fiona. Maeve was long accustomed to Fiona's quirks and he was fairly certain Maeve would have only noticed if the Frenchwoman's behavior had been unusual. Anything else wouldn't have registered. Which left them with pure speculation. As Maeve said, this was pointless.
Before he could say anything, though, Maeve had hidden her face in her hands. Immediatly concerned, Colin stood and moved to sit next to her, pulling her gently into his arms. Ceana scampered up his body to perch on his shoulder, tail wrapped firmly around his neck.
"We'll figure this out. It'll just take time and patience. Nic seems like a nice guy, if a bit sensitive, maybe. It's entirely possible he's just as confused as you are. It has been a rather eventful evening, for both of you." Caena twisted around so that she could lay a paw in Maeve's hair, apparantly recognizing the woman's distress. The little creature began making odd little noises. Colin tried to convey reassurance to her and she stayed calm, but continued to try and sooth Maeve.
"Just because it's started off rocky, doesn't mean it's not worth attempting. Nic may or may not be the right one for you, but you won't ever know unless you talk to him. I think circumstances are more to blame for the disaster your first date turned out to be than anything else. Most don't have to contend with first date jitters on top of burning buildings, you know."
More than anything, Colin wanted his "daughter" to be happy ~ and if Nic could manage that, he'd support them to the best of abilities. And if not, he'd do what he could to help Maeve cope, just as he had since she was a child.
Before he could say anything, though, Maeve had hidden her face in her hands. Immediatly concerned, Colin stood and moved to sit next to her, pulling her gently into his arms. Ceana scampered up his body to perch on his shoulder, tail wrapped firmly around his neck.
"We'll figure this out. It'll just take time and patience. Nic seems like a nice guy, if a bit sensitive, maybe. It's entirely possible he's just as confused as you are. It has been a rather eventful evening, for both of you." Caena twisted around so that she could lay a paw in Maeve's hair, apparantly recognizing the woman's distress. The little creature began making odd little noises. Colin tried to convey reassurance to her and she stayed calm, but continued to try and sooth Maeve.
"Just because it's started off rocky, doesn't mean it's not worth attempting. Nic may or may not be the right one for you, but you won't ever know unless you talk to him. I think circumstances are more to blame for the disaster your first date turned out to be than anything else. Most don't have to contend with first date jitters on top of burning buildings, you know."
More than anything, Colin wanted his "daughter" to be happy ~ and if Nic could manage that, he'd support them to the best of abilities. And if not, he'd do what he could to help Maeve cope, just as he had since she was a child.
Maeve
18 years ago
She wasn't exactly surprised when she felt Colin's arms slip around her, and she leaned her head against his shoulder. What did surprise her was the little hand she felt in her hair. She looked up briefly at the little monkey and gave her a smile of appreciation. Well it was definitely a step in the right direction with her. Now if only everything else could be that simple.
"But I've had my one for me, Colin. What if that's all you get in life? I was happier than anyone has any right to be for eight years. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have that again, but I'm just not sure you get that chance twice in a lifetime."Â? She knew there was more to this than that. And she would bet money that Colin did as well, but she'd never actually said it out loud. Not even to the two most important people in her life. Had the time finally come to actually own up to what she'd kept inside for 300 years?
"Colin...I gave a man my promise to love and cherish him for the rest of my life, and I still do love him."Â? She closed her eyes and turned her face away from the man who'd been like her father for three centuries. "How can I ever just turn away from that and give that love, even a part of it, to another man? Especially when what I really want is just to have him here with me again, even for a minute."Â?
"But I've had my one for me, Colin. What if that's all you get in life? I was happier than anyone has any right to be for eight years. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have that again, but I'm just not sure you get that chance twice in a lifetime."Â? She knew there was more to this than that. And she would bet money that Colin did as well, but she'd never actually said it out loud. Not even to the two most important people in her life. Had the time finally come to actually own up to what she'd kept inside for 300 years?
"Colin...I gave a man my promise to love and cherish him for the rest of my life, and I still do love him."Â? She closed her eyes and turned her face away from the man who'd been like her father for three centuries. "How can I ever just turn away from that and give that love, even a part of it, to another man? Especially when what I really want is just to have him here with me again, even for a minute."Â?
Colin
18 years ago
Colin smiled a bit ruefully at the turn in the conversation. He really should have seen something like this coming and was more than a little chagrined that he wasn’t as prepared for this conversation as he had thought. How does one explain the heart? He doubted anyone knew their own heart as much as they thought they did. And it was impossible to truly know what another’s held.
“Oh, darling. It may be there is only one true love for each of us. Perhaps that’s why some of us were given this life, so that we could find that. I honestly don’t know. What I do know, though, is that saying you can never love again is much like saying that after having eaten the finest of foods, you will never eat again. It simply isn’t possible.”
Colin’s head bowed when Latharn’s name came up. He joined Maeve in her grief of that tragedy, the more so as it had led to her still being here today.
“You have honored Latharn’s love and memory for far longer than anyone could have anticipated. And your heart is far larger than that, child. You have given your children, myself, Fiona, your various assistants and Lord alone knows how many others that love. To share it with another man is not a betrayal of what you had with Latharn. It is simply another facet of your heart. No one can ever compare to him and shouldn’t. Each relationship is unique and special in its own way. You know this.”
She was, however, correct about her vows. Canon Law did not take this circumstance into consideration, and truthfully, both of them should have been excommunicated centuries ago just for the fact of their existence. It had never occurred to him that part of her refusal to date might be tied up with her faith. It was a point he’d have to think on, and probably pray for divine inspiration.
Ceana had been slowly inching forward until she was half sitting on each of their shoulders, the little monkey’s attention on Maeve. When Maeve turned her face away, Ceana gave a sad sounding chirp and laid a paw on her cheek near the ear, patting her softly. She looked back at Colin, who got the feeling from her that she wanted permission for something. Not sure what Ceana wanted, he tried to reassure her and tell her yes. Before he could stop her or warn Maeve, Ceana had jumped down into Maeve’s lap and was looking up at the Highlander. Ceana’s eyes were the widest he’d ever seen them and he had no idea what to make of it. She slowly stretched her arms out, like a child asking to get up. Colin wasn’t sure if she was trying to give Maeve comfort or asking it to be given. All he could do was wait to see what Maeve did.
“Oh, darling. It may be there is only one true love for each of us. Perhaps that’s why some of us were given this life, so that we could find that. I honestly don’t know. What I do know, though, is that saying you can never love again is much like saying that after having eaten the finest of foods, you will never eat again. It simply isn’t possible.”
Colin’s head bowed when Latharn’s name came up. He joined Maeve in her grief of that tragedy, the more so as it had led to her still being here today.
“You have honored Latharn’s love and memory for far longer than anyone could have anticipated. And your heart is far larger than that, child. You have given your children, myself, Fiona, your various assistants and Lord alone knows how many others that love. To share it with another man is not a betrayal of what you had with Latharn. It is simply another facet of your heart. No one can ever compare to him and shouldn’t. Each relationship is unique and special in its own way. You know this.”
She was, however, correct about her vows. Canon Law did not take this circumstance into consideration, and truthfully, both of them should have been excommunicated centuries ago just for the fact of their existence. It had never occurred to him that part of her refusal to date might be tied up with her faith. It was a point he’d have to think on, and probably pray for divine inspiration.
Ceana had been slowly inching forward until she was half sitting on each of their shoulders, the little monkey’s attention on Maeve. When Maeve turned her face away, Ceana gave a sad sounding chirp and laid a paw on her cheek near the ear, patting her softly. She looked back at Colin, who got the feeling from her that she wanted permission for something. Not sure what Ceana wanted, he tried to reassure her and tell her yes. Before he could stop her or warn Maeve, Ceana had jumped down into Maeve’s lap and was looking up at the Highlander. Ceana’s eyes were the widest he’d ever seen them and he had no idea what to make of it. She slowly stretched her arms out, like a child asking to get up. Colin wasn’t sure if she was trying to give Maeve comfort or asking it to be given. All he could do was wait to see what Maeve did.
Maeve
18 years ago
She sighed and closed her eyes as she listened to him speak. On some level it made sense, but she didn't know how to get her heart to believe it. She could still remember what Latharn looked like and what it felt like to be in his arms. All she had to do was close her eyes and she could see every detail of his face. She just couldn't see how she could ever feel that way about another man. Sure she loved Colin and Fiona, but it wasn't the same. It wasn't the same as loving someone so much that it physically hurt to be away from them.
"I just don't know Colin. Latharn was all I ever wanted. Being his wife was the most amazing thing that could ever happen. It's hard to believe that I could ever feel like that about another man." She looked over at the man she loved like a father the anguish clear in her eyes. "What about the promise I made though? I took that vow from the depths of my soul. I just don't see how there could ever be a man that would be enough for me to turn my back on that."
She didn't know what else to say. She certainly hadn't thought that this would be where she ended up this evening, but here she was sitting in her "father's" living room talking about all of her fears about love.
As her thoughts churned in her head, she slowly became aware of Caena's soft touch, and her small body half resting on her shoulder. Before she knew it the monkey was sitting in her lap. She looked down at the small animal whose arms were lifted to her and she felt a tiny amount of hope thread its way into her heart. Reaching out she gathered the little animal into her arms. She gently stroked the soft fur and leaned her cheek against the top of the small head. She felt a tear slip down her face as she held her daughter's small namesake in her arms.
After sitting quietly just holding and rocking the little animal for a few minutes, she looked over at Colin and gave him a small, teary smile. "So do you think this means she thinks there's hope for me yet?"
"I just don't know Colin. Latharn was all I ever wanted. Being his wife was the most amazing thing that could ever happen. It's hard to believe that I could ever feel like that about another man." She looked over at the man she loved like a father the anguish clear in her eyes. "What about the promise I made though? I took that vow from the depths of my soul. I just don't see how there could ever be a man that would be enough for me to turn my back on that."
She didn't know what else to say. She certainly hadn't thought that this would be where she ended up this evening, but here she was sitting in her "father's" living room talking about all of her fears about love.
As her thoughts churned in her head, she slowly became aware of Caena's soft touch, and her small body half resting on her shoulder. Before she knew it the monkey was sitting in her lap. She looked down at the small animal whose arms were lifted to her and she felt a tiny amount of hope thread its way into her heart. Reaching out she gathered the little animal into her arms. She gently stroked the soft fur and leaned her cheek against the top of the small head. She felt a tear slip down her face as she held her daughter's small namesake in her arms.
After sitting quietly just holding and rocking the little animal for a few minutes, she looked over at Colin and gave him a small, teary smile. "So do you think this means she thinks there's hope for me yet?"
Colin
18 years ago
Colin sighed and simply did not know what to tell this child of his heart. It had been a cruel twist of fate that let her survive without those things she cherished above all others and did not allow her to experience those things again. He hoped that one day she could, more than anything.
"I do not know. I'm not sure it would be turning your back though. In truth, you are a widow and many a widow, though they loved their husband deeply, has allowed themselves to experience all life has to offer."
A thought occured to him as he watched little Caena cuddle with Maeve.
"Is that why you avoid even dating? In case you do fall in love?"
"I do not know. I'm not sure it would be turning your back though. In truth, you are a widow and many a widow, though they loved their husband deeply, has allowed themselves to experience all life has to offer."
A thought occured to him as he watched little Caena cuddle with Maeve.
"Is that why you avoid even dating? In case you do fall in love?"
Maeve
18 years ago
She gave a helpless little chuckle. A widow? She certainly felt that. She did still wear black somewhere everyday. It was an outward sign of what she felt in her heart. Heck, even the jewelry she'd worn to the ball had been black. Fiona had given it to her for that very reason. She sighed and lowered her cheek to the small furry head in her arms. She didn't know how to respond to what he'd said, but then was there really any need to say anything.
She closed her eyes sitting quietly feeling the warmth of the tiny body. The next question caused her to look up sharply. She opened her mouth to tell him that he was out of his mind to even suggest that, but then she stopped. Was he right? "I don't know, Colin. Maybe. I've never thought of it like that, but...maybe." She shrugged slightly. "Do you think that I even could?"
She closed her eyes sitting quietly feeling the warmth of the tiny body. The next question caused her to look up sharply. She opened her mouth to tell him that he was out of his mind to even suggest that, but then she stopped. Was he right? "I don't know, Colin. Maybe. I've never thought of it like that, but...maybe." She shrugged slightly. "Do you think that I even could?"
Alfarinn
18 years ago
Closed per request, due to inactivity.
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