(Untitled)

[smithofwainola]

Ilmarinen has done a woman wrong--shouted at her and refused to trust her when she had done him no harm, when she had done nothing wrong but keep a secret (and rightly, perhaps, given his reaction). So this evening, he is waiting on the bench where he first saw her, his lantern sitting on the ground beside him. His knees are drawn up, his heels

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[pandora_antioch]

She will show up, but a bit later than dusk - at a time where the night sky is purple, and stars are barely faint reminders of themselves.

She's not there to read, in fact - much has happened, since there last parting, and her mind is attune to one she has taken under her wing, a broken soul whom she soothes with her mind gift.

When she feels Ilmarinen, she stops and stays at a distance. She's not sure she wants to believe what she thinks is happening.

"Ilmarinen, lord of nothing," is said softly. There is no ill will in her. She is past that.

[smithofwainola]

"Lydia--" he stands at once, going to her without thinking that she might be put off by it; "Oh, how I wronged you."

[pandora_antioch]

She pauses, looks at him. "You did nothing that is not a natural reaction to my nature." Very softly said kindly, even. "There is no forgiveness to be requested."

But it's nice. The last person to react to her that way did apologize, sort of, but never even said it. That he be completely insane does explain it, though.

[smithofwainola]

"But I must request it of you." He kneels before her, head down. "Lydia, I beg ... absolve me."

[phedre_25]

Phedre will be around too - not on that bench, but on the patio.

She might look a bit distressed, Ilmarinen.

[smithofwainola]

Perhaps he wanders a bit before settling down for the evening, then--but he'll see her there, and see that she is distressed, and pluck a pair of scarlet cosmos for her. He offers them even before a greeting, trying to meet her eyes. "What is it that ails you, Phedre?" he'll ask softly; she had told him to be a friend, and he says it with all the kindness that he imagines a woman's friend should use with her.

[phedre_25]

"Ilmarinen." She smiles, then, for him, but it is wistful and does not reach her eyes.

"It's good to see you," she says, as she accepts the offered flower.

Oh, so very, very good. She would sink into his arms, if she dared.

[smithofwainola]

He is astute enough to realize that, even if she is very, very pretty and so obviously happy to see him, she did not actually answer his question. "Are you sad? I think you seem it."