[The moon is still risen high above the sky. Naiya decides she wants to look for Filis. But, she's not in her cabin apparently. Strange. Well, it's a ship. Only so many places she could go...] [Start!] * Naiya looks up, and heads for the crows nest. Last place she saw Filis. [Filis isn't on the crows nest. But as Naiya comes out from under deck, she does see someone who looks like her peering out over the ocean waves.] * Naiya smiles to herself, a bit sadly, then heads to the person who probably stares at the oceans as she does. She calls out softly as she approaches, "Filis?" * Filis turns and looks over her shoulder at Naiya and looks at her steadily. She doesn't smile in return. "Come to lecture me more?" * Naiya shakes her head, gently. "No, I have not." * Naiya drops her voice to a soft, gentle tone. "You are troubled... and as Fiona wishes it, I would seek to help you share or shoulder your worries, if you would but let me." * Filis swivels around to her. "This is a trick isn't it? It has to be a trick..." She lets out a long sigh. "Honestly, I try so hard..." * Naiya shakes her head again, touching Filis' shoulder with a light hand. "This is no trick. Honestly, it's as simple as it appears. I worry too much, and I'm offering to listen to you." * Filis shakes her head. "For all the good it will do. I am concerned about two people fighting and I get naught but ridicule." She leans on the railing. "Still, that one woman is right. I do need you more than you need me.." * Naiya lets her hand fall from Filis' shoulder, moving next to her, and leaning with her arms crossed and elbows down on the railing. I will admit I am curious, but I also will not pry. Whatever you offer I will keep secret. ... there are things that trouble you, Filis, and I think it would do you good to talk. * Filis takes a deep breath and shakes her head. "You would not believe me.." Believe or not, I will listen. * Naiya smiles wanly. "And there are many things I will believe." * Naiya blinks back the sadness in her eyes, and looks out into the sea. * Filis just shakes her head idly. "I haven't been completely honest with you.." * Naiya shrugs. "It's hardly a surprise that one does not reveal the entirety of their issues with a group of strangers they just met." And if it will make you feel better, you do not have to be honest with me. I'm not worried about the circumstances surrounding you, I'm worried about you. * Filis frowns slightly. "Most of them do not seem to care. And forgive me for saying so, but you do not seem to have the best comraderie amongst yourselves either. How did you manage to get together?" * Naiya smiles a little smile, thinking back. "We collectively took an assignment for a person on the Trade Council, Theron Gaulin." * Naiya shrugs a little, almost helplessly. "Since then, we've been travelling together, and I suppose the reason we're still together is because we haven't had a chance to split amongst ourselves." (I still love that name) Would you if given the chance? * Naiya shakes her head, with no hesitation. Why not? I will not leave Nasira with the thing between us unresolved. * Filis gestures vaguely. "That one girl looked ready to kill you. And the other... Nasira...she's...? * Naiya nods, softly. "She's the one who hates me." It's my fault she hates me, and I will apologize if it is at all within my power. * Filis looks at Naiya. "What did you do?" * Naiya tilts her head a little, with a curious smile on her face. "I held her back. Once." Held her back? * Naiya nods. "I promised her since then that I wouldn't command her ever again, and tried to apologize. But she will not yet listen, at least not with words." * Naiya closes her eyes for a moment, then opens them, sadly, and locks them on Filis. "Does it bother you that I would risk injury and harm to convey an apology to ears that will listen?" * Filis frowns and looks down a little. "But...that doesn't seem right." * Naiya closes her eyes. "There are things which are very much wrong, that I have no power over. If I can affect this one, I will." What else troubles you, other than our lack of a cohesive group? You were troubled before... our groups issues is only a recent worry, and you have worries that run much deeper. * Filis looks at her slowly. "Yes, but..." She shakes her head. "Nevermind. You have known her longer than I have." When? * Filis chuckles. "I was being chased by Vithril soldiers to this town. That doesn't do much for your thoughts of safety." You can relax now. We will shelter you, and even if they will not, I shall. *she thinks back* ... now that I'm not inebriated, anyways. *she grins a little awkwardly* You mentioned before... that I would not beleive you. * Filis shakes her head. "And you do not even know me.." She leans over the railing. "It would not surprise me if I were dumped over the edge of the boat like excess cargo...." * Naiya smiles warmly. "Fiona protects her own, and all who ask it of her." * Filis winces slightly at that but shakes her head. "I'm not so certain..." * Naiya tsk-tsks at Filis. "Even those who do not believe it." * Filis shakes her head. "Perhaps...I am not certain why I am even going to Zaxon anyhow..." You are not headed there just yet. We are still in Maltan waters... * Naiya turns her back to Filis. "I am sorry. I am not helping... I am just distracting you." * Filis turns towards Naiya. "What are you saying exactly?" ... that it troubles me that you are troubled. I had hoped to help you, but I am failing. * Filis smiles slightly. "It is alright. My problems are mine alone. I do not burden anyone else with them." Then we are alike. If I cannot help you with your burdens... do you mind if I stand with you and watch the ocean? If you wish. * Naiya does just that. "I will always be here to listen to you, as long as our travels are the same." * Filis closes her eyes slightly and puts her hand on her heart. "The ocean calms me...it's as if I'm at peace here." The ocean forgives. * Filis then looks at Naiya. "Don't you feel the same?" * Naiya says that in a slightly haunted tone. * Filis then smiles and shakes her head. "Are you certain? Sailors don't believe that..." They say that the ocean never forgets...the ocean will take back what is hers. There is no forgiveness, no respite for those the ocean wishes to take. * Naiya waves vaugely at it. "The ocean is blue." That is forgiveness enough for me. * Filis laughs lightly. "That makes truly no sense." I imagine it wouldn't, unless you were me. But I would not wish that on anyone, for so trivial a thing as understanding the meaning of that. * Filis turns towards Naiya and smiles slightly. "You speak in riddles. It seems you have more to hide than I do." She looks at the water again. "All I have are weird dreams and feelings..." Speak of them, if you will. Dreams have a way of making sense, if you can but read them right. * Filis closes her eyes. "Often I dream of drowning...well, it seems like drowning...but I can breathe. I don't know how to explain it better. I have also heard...." She quiets down. * Naiya waits for Filis to continue, glancing at her. * Filis shakes her head. "I heard they have seers in Zaxon that might be able to give me a clue as to this situation I find myself in..." We have one such seer on this ship, if you were so inclined as to seek his aid. I am not sure. I do not feel entirely comfortable with him.. * Naiya nods. "I see." And...that temple...felt...very odd. The one where we gathered? * Filis nods. * Naiya frowns. "I see why this bothers you." * Filis turns towards Naiya. "You do?" ....perhaps I spoke to quickly. And I may be wrong... * Filis puts her elbow on the railing and looks more towards Naiya. "I'd like to know what you think..." * Naiya nods. "Then be warned, I am no expert, and this is just my own guess." First, a question. Do you have magic that you know of? * Filis shakes her head. "I haven't really thought about it...I haven't practiced any magic..." * Naiya nods. "I feel, from the way you speak of the sea and your dreams, that you may have magic. An Adept of the Water, maybe." That you are merely not in touch with that part of you. * Filis glances at Naiya. "You really believe so?" She looks down. "I suppose it is possible...could that be what Vithril is after?" * Naiya hmms. "If that is true, though, that only creates more questions as to your predicament." The Vithril, as far as I know, are only interested in ... *she pauses, and looks away* ... the ones with Blood Magic. How can you be sure of that? I cannot. * Filis mmmms. "And the way they attacked Port Rio...what could they be thinking?" The other question this brings would be how they know, before you. If my guess is true. * Filis frowns at that but is silent. ... I am sorry, again. I fear I have only increased your worries. * Filis shakes her head. "No. Understanding why you are being sought does release some of the fear. At least the world begins to make sense again, little by little.." * Naiya frowns, and says, after a moment, "We do not know who attacked Port Rio. It could be just a coincidence, and more likely related to the one who attacked Shan than the presence of the Vithril." * Filis looks up. "Attacked Shan? I did not hear of this." ( ... ugh. WAS that the same day as today? Or was it so long ago it was only yesterday? ) (It was yesterday) (Gametime yesterday of course :P) It happened yestersday, at the library. But what leads me to suspect it was related to that is an unusual stranger appeared, who ... I'm not sure of his standings, but seems to be an enemy of the attackers of Shan. And he warned us about the attack on Port Rio. That seems to bode much more than the Vithril's presence. * Filis frowns. "How would this stranger know about it?" * Naiya thinks back, and frowns. "I... do not quite recall." She blushes a little. Maybe someone else would know... * Filis then waves her hand. "But it's not relevant to me. I'm certain they'd wonder why I'd ask...I have no reason to anyway..." (And I'll have to end soon for sleep.) ( *nod* ) * Naiya fishes the key out of her shirt, and dangles it over the edge. "I will admit, I have a small, ulterior motive to seeking you out." * Filis turns towards Naiya. "What is that?" I wanted to ask you if you recognized this. * Naiya holds the key up to a more visible position. * Filis eyes the key carefully. "Why would you think..." She quiets as she inspects the key. * Filis finally shakes her head. "I do not believe so..." * Naiya nods, as if expecting that, and tucks it back into hiding. "Ah, well." * Naiya laughs a little to herself. "Perhaps it's best to ask something less gloomy. What would you like for breakfast tomorrow?" * Filis blinks, then shakes her head. "Oh no...I could not impose like that. A simple fruit would suffice, nothing special." I haven't yet looked through the stores of food, so no promises I can make it. (Salt Pork, Salt Pork, Salt Beef, Pickle Brine...) (Stale bread...) * Naiya laughs, amused. "Humor me." * Filis shakes her head and smiles bashfully. "I really do not eat that much. Do not worry about me..." If you'll excuse me though, I do need my rest. * Naiya nods. "Rest well... I hope I've been of some help." * Filis doesn't reply to that but does bow a little at the shoulders before heading for bed. * Naiya waves, and takes Filis' position prior to the discussion- leaning against the railing, and staring out at the ocean. [The moon shines lightly over the ocean as the ship continues to sail off into the darkness. Session End.]