Zaspar and Dee'arna - The Engagement Debacle [2/2]
Sept 8, 2024 12:43:48 GMT
Ruthenia Truelove, Andy D, and 1 more like this
Post by Zaspar on Sept 8, 2024 12:43:48 GMT
Following Zaspar's engagement dinner.
Special thanks to ruthcd , the inimitable Dee'arna.
The sun'll come out
But we've been struggling endless days
Someday we'll find the love
Cause after the storm's when the flowers bloom
--
Two days after the party, an Arthiar butler arrives at Dee'arna's house. He carries a bouquet of purple flowers - lavender, violets, hydrangeas - an opened letter, and a peacock feather quill. He knocks on the door and waits for a response. Dee'arna opens the door to the butler after a long pause, whilst presumably several traps were disarmed. She takes the bouquet and reads the letter with an eyebrow raised. The Butler announces, "I am here on behalf of Zaspar the Holy Fist. Please reply to the letter now, so I can return it to my lord."
The letter reads:
"To my friend Dee'arna, I am so grateful you were able to attend my party.
My florist arranged this bouquet for you based on your outfit, though I still think you were the most majestic purple flower there.
There is much for us to discuss.
Please choose from the following options and hand this letter back to my butler.
Please choose whatever makes you most comfortable.
Yours, Zaspar
[ ] - Come to the Arthiar estate, discuss in the reception room, and stay the night afterwards in one of our guest suites so you don't have to travel.
[ ] - Meet me in a neutral venue of your choosing (enter name here: ------------).
I am available most days. Tomorrow would be ideal. Please indicate your availability."
Dee’arna ignores the proffered quill and instead uses her own black fountain pen to add a x to the 'neutral venue', and writes, 'The Three Headed Dragon'. She turns to the butler and hands it back, "Tell him, I'm sure there's no need for a rush, but I will be there tomorrow, mid afternoon."
Zaspar’s Diary - Checking in with Dee’arna
Dee’arna arrived, true to her word, late in the afternoon. I had already been in the establishment for several hours and had had a glass of wine after being pressured by the barkeepers. Apparently it is not usual to stand outside for several hours and then sit inside for several more hours, just waiting. I digress. Dee’arna came in the late afternoon, and before I could speak, she held up a hand to go and order a drink. I am not sure my etiquette tutor was able to impart much wisdom unto her based on this, but I suppose life would be boring if we were all noble.
She seeks an apology from me for our mission with Pyrin. I apologise profusely for losing a game of dragonchess. I am terribly troubled to see disappointment cloud her face, and then realise what she is actually getting at. I thank her again for saving mine (and Finnegan’s!) lives at the occult shop, and apologise if there are consequences. Apparently there have been consequences - her description has been passed onto the Hekrati, and one threatened her at my party.
I reassured her not to worry - I wouldn’t have invited any Hekrati to my party, as I’d been to one of their bases and it was far too unsettling for my liking. This, though, presented the perfect opportunity to talk about what I had actually wanted to discuss - that being my fiancée, Robin, and the worry and doubt she had expressed about Dee’arna.
I thanked her profusely for her service at my party, and pledged my help on any mission she may need. Then, I announced my engagement to Robin, and smiling at Dee’arna, told her of all my fiancées excellent qualities. Diary, I am sure you don’t need a reminder so soon, but Robin is truly magnificent.
Here is where I became confused. Dee’arna hissed at me and flashed her teeth, which admittedly made it a little hard to concentrate, though I am not sure why. She informed me I must either be cold and calculating, or an actual fool, and she would be disappointed if I were just a fool. She was referring to my rejection of Beets, and my choice of partner, who she called ‘dangerous’. I am not sure why she felt she should weigh in on such a personal matter, but perhaps that is just how friendship works?
A short summary of our conversation:
I said: “I didn't want Beets’ proposal to happen, obviously. That you could suggest I somehow calculated that is just so unfair. If I had calculated that, I wouldn't have let Beets go through that. What kind of asshole do you think I am?"
Dee’arna said a lot, and even raised her voice for the first time. To summarise: “Since you're asking about being an asshole... then a cold one is what you risk seeming like.”
I began to explain to Dee’arna how marriage is politics for me, how the nobility works, and so on. Then I realised how patronising and, honestly, rude I was being to her - to one of my first friends, not only in the Dawnlands, but ever. I realised I sounded just like my Father, and I began to cry a bit, so deeply disappointed in myself.
Dee’arna said something very interesting. "Seeing as you've told me your father didn't approve of Robin either, I'm not sure who it is you were trying to impress actually. Yourself? Why are you in ssssuch a rush Zaspar? What is a day, a week or a month in the life of an elf?
I believe she must have missed something about the rules of my inheritance, so I kindly explained, “I know it seems like a rush, but Robin is exactly what I've been looking for my whole life. I'm 101 now, and I can't.. well, I can't inherit the house until I'm married. And that's all I've been raised for, is to inherit my house. I'm old enough now, I'm working on getting the life experience with all these, adventures. And the way Robin speaks to me, and looks at me, and holds my hands, kisses my forehead... I know it's destiny, my friend, and I hope you find that one day, too."
Now, Diary, it was time for me to bring up the inevitable - the purpose of this meeting - the fact that Dee’arna may have a crush on me. Well, more to the point, that Robin was skeptical of my friendship with Dee’arna. I have tried best to remember exactly what I said but - it was truly awkward.
“Well. Look, this is so fucking awkward, and you've been straightforward with me, so I'm gonna try that, too." I took a deep breath. "She told me that uh... that you were questioning her constantly, and it was unpleasant. And that you're lying, and you hate people like her and I." I paused, visibly confused.
"Dee'arna, I don't know if you agree, but I think we're friends. And I was really confused why she thought those things about you. And I thought maybe it was from before, when I said you were really pretty and I liked your eyes - which I did mean, by the way, you are beautiful - but um. I'm happy with Robin now. So if it's like, a love triangle thing... I don't know, I've never tried polyamory, I'll have to ask Robin if she's okay with it, too. But I just wanted to see what you had to say because it was so confusing, Robin was really upset about you and I said I would speak to you,”
Dee’arna’s reaction was certainly unexpected. She laughed at me, and said “Zaspar. I am cleric to a god of patience. You jump to the goal without checking for traps or treasure on the way. We are utterly incompatible.” I must admit, that was a surprising response. She then went on to talk about Robin, and she even giggled for a second. A mellifluous sound, truly, though a shame it came at the expense of my engagement. "That's fun! At your first date she bothered to spend time warning you about me. Oh. Genuinely reassuring that's the kind of plays she goes for. What a relief. I was worried I was up against real sstrategists."
She said something cryptic about Robin, and then told me to get Pyrin to do a background check on her. Pyrin, who I had never encountered being competent. I must say, Diary, that at this moment Dee’arna called me beautiful, but clarified that she has several other things she wants in a partner. I suppressed the urge to list all of my truly fantastic qualities - musical, sporty, dexterous, generous, tall, kind, loving, handsome, charming, to name a few - and shelved the polyamory idea for now.
Back to Pyrin. I told her I would rather she tell me what she knew. In fact, what I said was:
"I trust the opinion of that bird far less than anything you would tell me, Dee'arna. Please, just tell me what she was talking about. I - I really like her, Dee'arna, but, I haven't known her as long as I knew you. I know you think I'm an asshole, and probably worse things, but I hope you can find the kindness to at least tell me what this is all about. I don't want my friends and my fiancée to have trouble together, you know?"
Dee’arna does not want to continue discussing this here, and suggests we head to the temple of Waukeen, as we have apparently been ‘dramatic’ here. I offer to hold her hand but she declines, so I follow behind her at a respectable distance.
Diary, I must say, I truly do not think I have a romantic chance with Dee’arna. It pains me to admit. She is a wonderful friend, though, so I am honoured to still have her in my life in that regard.
We arrived at the temple, and I promised not to be dramatic. Dee’arna spoke in a hushed, slow, tone, and ticked points off on her fingers as she went.
“At the ball in some ways, very little happened. But she is the Hekrati I mentioned, based on all the information I have. She knew who I was without introduction. Threatened me, somewhat ominously referring to the recent events I mentioned with their storehouse, and that there are powerful people who were angry with me. And had their eyes on me. She had a quite clearly fake stutter. And of course, the Masked Stranger referred to her as an ancient rival. I know he was a fiend, but actually kinder than many others at your ball, and apparently Jenna would vouch for him. We can always check that. And then I have the other conversations around members of these local crime families, the connections of who felt unsafe around who, talk of boundaries. All point towards her being at best involved in organised crime. At worse… something much darker.”
I took a moment to consider Dee’arna, at this point. She didn’t seem to be lying, and wasn’t using any of those manipulation spells that we both fall back on. Still, if this was the truth, it made no sense. I replied that Robin was beautiful, and she didn’t mention being Hekrati, and surely she would’ve mentioned that during our engagement. It seems pretty important. I said:
"I don't think you're lying to me. But I don't think she was either. She was so genuine, she was crying during my proposal - she even took a moment to put her hands in a certain formation and say a little prayer." I emulated the hand gestures she made. "Okay, let's say she's Hekrati. Does it really matter that much? She is just so beautiful, and loving, and demure. I think that's more important than judging her for whatever Hekratis are. I mean, I don't even know what they do and I've met them, so it can't be that bad. Anyway, what could be worse than organised crime?"
Dee’arna was absolutely not impressed by my reply and made a sarcastic comment:
“Judging someone for their actions, rather than their looks is the definition of shallow,”
She then played out the hand gesture I showed - Robin’s beautiful prayer. Dee’arna interpreted it as something rather different… a Sending spell…
My face flushed, initial impulse to defend Robin, but something in Dee’arna’s tone, in her deliberate lack of detail, gnawed at me. Sending spells? Organised crime? I began to think out loud, Diary, as I often do. Here are the highlights of my incomparable thinking prowess:
"Father always says Mother's beauty is what drew him in, that it’s the most important thing in marriage. Especially since she had nothing else to offer. I guess I've always kind of believed that, too. But…"
"But why is she so fixated on you, though? You’ve barely interacted, yet she’s talking about you like you’re some kind of grave threat to me. What is it about you that’s got her so on edge?"
"I mean, if you're right, if she's really this dangerous… Why would she be so concerned about you, of all people? I did find it odd that she spent a portion of our engagement dinner being so upset about another woman..."
Dee’arna seemed to soften after this, likely realising that I am a very intelligent man with a lot of very intelligent things to say. She told me to ask my mother for her version of their marriage. As long as I’ve lived, I’ve known that is not a question to ask my mother. Perhaps this is a true reflection of the differences in our lives.
Anyway. I inform her that my mother doesn’t want to talk about her past - and that Robin is the same. I thought it just a painful memory, a sad upbringing as one not of noble birth, but Dee’arna’s words made me uncertain. I asked Dee’arna if she would please keep an eye out, and look into this with me.
She suggests that I end the engagement by saying Father does not approve. I do not want to end the engagement just yet. Has Dee’arna not heard tell of how beautiful, kind, and demure Robin is? I shan’t throw that all away without proper investigation first. Dee does indicate that she will pay more attention and let me know what she finds out.
I decide to be honest with her.
“If… if she’s as dangerous as you think, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to you. So, thank you for keeping an eye on things, but please, be careful."
“I don’t have a lot of friends, but... I think you are a good one. You are so honest, even when it is hard to hear. You honour me with your time, and that means more to me than you know.”
Then, I stood up, offering her a hand to get up, and a drink to boot. She accepts the hand but refuses the drink - something about needing to return home. It is fair enough. She has been more than generous with giving me her time, though she does offer to walk me home. I inform her it is dinner time and my chef can prepare her a plate for the road, which she says sounds lovely.
I have a very important question for her as we walk, though.
"So, did you like the bouquet? I hear lavender is quite trendy right now. And that purple suits your scales rather nicely, if I may say so. I think I prefer the smell of lavender to it's appearance, but the violets were beautiful - freshly in season, I believe..."
Special thanks to ruthcd , the inimitable Dee'arna.
The sun'll come out
But we've been struggling endless days
Someday we'll find the love
Cause after the storm's when the flowers bloom
--
Two days after the party, an Arthiar butler arrives at Dee'arna's house. He carries a bouquet of purple flowers - lavender, violets, hydrangeas - an opened letter, and a peacock feather quill. He knocks on the door and waits for a response. Dee'arna opens the door to the butler after a long pause, whilst presumably several traps were disarmed. She takes the bouquet and reads the letter with an eyebrow raised. The Butler announces, "I am here on behalf of Zaspar the Holy Fist. Please reply to the letter now, so I can return it to my lord."
The letter reads:
"To my friend Dee'arna, I am so grateful you were able to attend my party.
My florist arranged this bouquet for you based on your outfit, though I still think you were the most majestic purple flower there.
There is much for us to discuss.
Please choose from the following options and hand this letter back to my butler.
Please choose whatever makes you most comfortable.
Yours, Zaspar
[ ] - Come to the Arthiar estate, discuss in the reception room, and stay the night afterwards in one of our guest suites so you don't have to travel.
[ ] - Meet me in a neutral venue of your choosing (enter name here: ------------).
I am available most days. Tomorrow would be ideal. Please indicate your availability."
Dee’arna ignores the proffered quill and instead uses her own black fountain pen to add a x to the 'neutral venue', and writes, 'The Three Headed Dragon'. She turns to the butler and hands it back, "Tell him, I'm sure there's no need for a rush, but I will be there tomorrow, mid afternoon."
Zaspar’s Diary - Checking in with Dee’arna
Dee’arna arrived, true to her word, late in the afternoon. I had already been in the establishment for several hours and had had a glass of wine after being pressured by the barkeepers. Apparently it is not usual to stand outside for several hours and then sit inside for several more hours, just waiting. I digress. Dee’arna came in the late afternoon, and before I could speak, she held up a hand to go and order a drink. I am not sure my etiquette tutor was able to impart much wisdom unto her based on this, but I suppose life would be boring if we were all noble.
She seeks an apology from me for our mission with Pyrin. I apologise profusely for losing a game of dragonchess. I am terribly troubled to see disappointment cloud her face, and then realise what she is actually getting at. I thank her again for saving mine (and Finnegan’s!) lives at the occult shop, and apologise if there are consequences. Apparently there have been consequences - her description has been passed onto the Hekrati, and one threatened her at my party.
I reassured her not to worry - I wouldn’t have invited any Hekrati to my party, as I’d been to one of their bases and it was far too unsettling for my liking. This, though, presented the perfect opportunity to talk about what I had actually wanted to discuss - that being my fiancée, Robin, and the worry and doubt she had expressed about Dee’arna.
I thanked her profusely for her service at my party, and pledged my help on any mission she may need. Then, I announced my engagement to Robin, and smiling at Dee’arna, told her of all my fiancées excellent qualities. Diary, I am sure you don’t need a reminder so soon, but Robin is truly magnificent.
Here is where I became confused. Dee’arna hissed at me and flashed her teeth, which admittedly made it a little hard to concentrate, though I am not sure why. She informed me I must either be cold and calculating, or an actual fool, and she would be disappointed if I were just a fool. She was referring to my rejection of Beets, and my choice of partner, who she called ‘dangerous’. I am not sure why she felt she should weigh in on such a personal matter, but perhaps that is just how friendship works?
A short summary of our conversation:
I said: “I didn't want Beets’ proposal to happen, obviously. That you could suggest I somehow calculated that is just so unfair. If I had calculated that, I wouldn't have let Beets go through that. What kind of asshole do you think I am?"
Dee’arna said a lot, and even raised her voice for the first time. To summarise: “Since you're asking about being an asshole... then a cold one is what you risk seeming like.”
I began to explain to Dee’arna how marriage is politics for me, how the nobility works, and so on. Then I realised how patronising and, honestly, rude I was being to her - to one of my first friends, not only in the Dawnlands, but ever. I realised I sounded just like my Father, and I began to cry a bit, so deeply disappointed in myself.
Dee’arna said something very interesting. "Seeing as you've told me your father didn't approve of Robin either, I'm not sure who it is you were trying to impress actually. Yourself? Why are you in ssssuch a rush Zaspar? What is a day, a week or a month in the life of an elf?
I believe she must have missed something about the rules of my inheritance, so I kindly explained, “I know it seems like a rush, but Robin is exactly what I've been looking for my whole life. I'm 101 now, and I can't.. well, I can't inherit the house until I'm married. And that's all I've been raised for, is to inherit my house. I'm old enough now, I'm working on getting the life experience with all these, adventures. And the way Robin speaks to me, and looks at me, and holds my hands, kisses my forehead... I know it's destiny, my friend, and I hope you find that one day, too."
Now, Diary, it was time for me to bring up the inevitable - the purpose of this meeting - the fact that Dee’arna may have a crush on me. Well, more to the point, that Robin was skeptical of my friendship with Dee’arna. I have tried best to remember exactly what I said but - it was truly awkward.
“Well. Look, this is so fucking awkward, and you've been straightforward with me, so I'm gonna try that, too." I took a deep breath. "She told me that uh... that you were questioning her constantly, and it was unpleasant. And that you're lying, and you hate people like her and I." I paused, visibly confused.
"Dee'arna, I don't know if you agree, but I think we're friends. And I was really confused why she thought those things about you. And I thought maybe it was from before, when I said you were really pretty and I liked your eyes - which I did mean, by the way, you are beautiful - but um. I'm happy with Robin now. So if it's like, a love triangle thing... I don't know, I've never tried polyamory, I'll have to ask Robin if she's okay with it, too. But I just wanted to see what you had to say because it was so confusing, Robin was really upset about you and I said I would speak to you,”
Dee’arna’s reaction was certainly unexpected. She laughed at me, and said “Zaspar. I am cleric to a god of patience. You jump to the goal without checking for traps or treasure on the way. We are utterly incompatible.” I must admit, that was a surprising response. She then went on to talk about Robin, and she even giggled for a second. A mellifluous sound, truly, though a shame it came at the expense of my engagement. "That's fun! At your first date she bothered to spend time warning you about me. Oh. Genuinely reassuring that's the kind of plays she goes for. What a relief. I was worried I was up against real sstrategists."
She said something cryptic about Robin, and then told me to get Pyrin to do a background check on her. Pyrin, who I had never encountered being competent. I must say, Diary, that at this moment Dee’arna called me beautiful, but clarified that she has several other things she wants in a partner. I suppressed the urge to list all of my truly fantastic qualities - musical, sporty, dexterous, generous, tall, kind, loving, handsome, charming, to name a few - and shelved the polyamory idea for now.
Back to Pyrin. I told her I would rather she tell me what she knew. In fact, what I said was:
"I trust the opinion of that bird far less than anything you would tell me, Dee'arna. Please, just tell me what she was talking about. I - I really like her, Dee'arna, but, I haven't known her as long as I knew you. I know you think I'm an asshole, and probably worse things, but I hope you can find the kindness to at least tell me what this is all about. I don't want my friends and my fiancée to have trouble together, you know?"
Dee’arna does not want to continue discussing this here, and suggests we head to the temple of Waukeen, as we have apparently been ‘dramatic’ here. I offer to hold her hand but she declines, so I follow behind her at a respectable distance.
Diary, I must say, I truly do not think I have a romantic chance with Dee’arna. It pains me to admit. She is a wonderful friend, though, so I am honoured to still have her in my life in that regard.
We arrived at the temple, and I promised not to be dramatic. Dee’arna spoke in a hushed, slow, tone, and ticked points off on her fingers as she went.
“At the ball in some ways, very little happened. But she is the Hekrati I mentioned, based on all the information I have. She knew who I was without introduction. Threatened me, somewhat ominously referring to the recent events I mentioned with their storehouse, and that there are powerful people who were angry with me. And had their eyes on me. She had a quite clearly fake stutter. And of course, the Masked Stranger referred to her as an ancient rival. I know he was a fiend, but actually kinder than many others at your ball, and apparently Jenna would vouch for him. We can always check that. And then I have the other conversations around members of these local crime families, the connections of who felt unsafe around who, talk of boundaries. All point towards her being at best involved in organised crime. At worse… something much darker.”
I took a moment to consider Dee’arna, at this point. She didn’t seem to be lying, and wasn’t using any of those manipulation spells that we both fall back on. Still, if this was the truth, it made no sense. I replied that Robin was beautiful, and she didn’t mention being Hekrati, and surely she would’ve mentioned that during our engagement. It seems pretty important. I said:
"I don't think you're lying to me. But I don't think she was either. She was so genuine, she was crying during my proposal - she even took a moment to put her hands in a certain formation and say a little prayer." I emulated the hand gestures she made. "Okay, let's say she's Hekrati. Does it really matter that much? She is just so beautiful, and loving, and demure. I think that's more important than judging her for whatever Hekratis are. I mean, I don't even know what they do and I've met them, so it can't be that bad. Anyway, what could be worse than organised crime?"
Dee’arna was absolutely not impressed by my reply and made a sarcastic comment:
“Judging someone for their actions, rather than their looks is the definition of shallow,”
She then played out the hand gesture I showed - Robin’s beautiful prayer. Dee’arna interpreted it as something rather different… a Sending spell…
My face flushed, initial impulse to defend Robin, but something in Dee’arna’s tone, in her deliberate lack of detail, gnawed at me. Sending spells? Organised crime? I began to think out loud, Diary, as I often do. Here are the highlights of my incomparable thinking prowess:
"Father always says Mother's beauty is what drew him in, that it’s the most important thing in marriage. Especially since she had nothing else to offer. I guess I've always kind of believed that, too. But…"
"But why is she so fixated on you, though? You’ve barely interacted, yet she’s talking about you like you’re some kind of grave threat to me. What is it about you that’s got her so on edge?"
"I mean, if you're right, if she's really this dangerous… Why would she be so concerned about you, of all people? I did find it odd that she spent a portion of our engagement dinner being so upset about another woman..."
Dee’arna seemed to soften after this, likely realising that I am a very intelligent man with a lot of very intelligent things to say. She told me to ask my mother for her version of their marriage. As long as I’ve lived, I’ve known that is not a question to ask my mother. Perhaps this is a true reflection of the differences in our lives.
Anyway. I inform her that my mother doesn’t want to talk about her past - and that Robin is the same. I thought it just a painful memory, a sad upbringing as one not of noble birth, but Dee’arna’s words made me uncertain. I asked Dee’arna if she would please keep an eye out, and look into this with me.
She suggests that I end the engagement by saying Father does not approve. I do not want to end the engagement just yet. Has Dee’arna not heard tell of how beautiful, kind, and demure Robin is? I shan’t throw that all away without proper investigation first. Dee does indicate that she will pay more attention and let me know what she finds out.
I decide to be honest with her.
“If… if she’s as dangerous as you think, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to you. So, thank you for keeping an eye on things, but please, be careful."
“I don’t have a lot of friends, but... I think you are a good one. You are so honest, even when it is hard to hear. You honour me with your time, and that means more to me than you know.”
Then, I stood up, offering her a hand to get up, and a drink to boot. She accepts the hand but refuses the drink - something about needing to return home. It is fair enough. She has been more than generous with giving me her time, though she does offer to walk me home. I inform her it is dinner time and my chef can prepare her a plate for the road, which she says sounds lovely.
I have a very important question for her as we walk, though.
"So, did you like the bouquet? I hear lavender is quite trendy right now. And that purple suits your scales rather nicely, if I may say so. I think I prefer the smell of lavender to it's appearance, but the violets were beautiful - freshly in season, I believe..."