Brotherly love or brotherly betrayal?|Skyheort

[Northen Light36]

It took Acqua awhile to move past her shock enough to get to her feet, but when she did, Acqua fled the scene of the tournament and headed for the nearest source of water - in this case the large fountain in the city center. Perching on the side, Acqua pulls up to her knees and lets angry tears roll down her cheeks. She barely even looks up when Faith appears out of the shadows to sit at her mistresses feet.

"How could he do that Faith?" Acqua asks her pet. It's not losing that hurts so much, it's the casual ease with with Amaro had shattered her chances that's tearing the thief apart. "I try and I try, but he's never going to see me as anything but a stupid child." Acqua closes her eyes, hurt and anger welling up in her. "I should never have come back. I was better off on my own. Being lonely hurt less."

[Kender Bard]

The sound of feet hitting the flagstones fills the air as Alethia runs after, Talon not more than a few steps behind her. "Acqua!" they call out in unison. Alethia moves to sit next to her sister. "Oh Acqua, I'm so sorry. How could he do that?"

Taurus shows up too, looking troubled by this turn of events.

[Northen Light36]

"Easily it seems," Acqua mutters bitterly. "He certainly didn't hesitate for a moment. Leave me alone." The last comment might have been growled out in an attempt at sounding firm, but the utter misery in the girl's posture suggests she doesn't mean it. "I know he didn't want me in the tournament, but he could have left me alone. I could handle it, sis, I'm sure of it. I knew I wouldn't win, I'm not good enough to beat Amaro yet... But I could have lasted long enough to beat that other girl, I'm sure of it..."

[Kender Bard]

Alethia fusses over her sister, crooning sympathies. "I know, sweetie, I know."

Talon shifts uneasily. He agrees with Amaro, if not the method chosen. He doesn't say a word though, and Taurus doesn't either. Both men just stand around, feeling a little awkward for coming now.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua looks up at the two men and her eyes darken slightly in hurt anger as she guesses the reason for their silence. "You think he was right, don't you?" she asks. "You think I shouldn't have fought today."

[Kender Bard]

"I don't think that he should have tossed you out of the ring," Talon amends. "The lady said you could fight, and so that was enough for me, but I didn't agree that you should have gone in there. I love ya, sis, and don't want to see you hurt. It'd tear me up inside if you got more hurt than you are."

Taurus nods with this last statement.

[Northen Light36]

"Am I the only one here who realises I am not a damn child anymore?" Acqua growls angrily, the water in the fountain starting to whip its self into a frothing fury in reaction to Acqua's mood. "I don't need you, or Amaro, to agree with my choices, but would it kill you to be just a little supportive?!" Glaring at Talon, Acqua hisses, "Well at least now I remember the main reason I took off in the first place. Just a pity I couldn't come back to Alethia without having to deal with you and Amaro!"

If her feelings are going to tear her apart, Acqua's going to make damn sure she's not the only one hurt.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia winces, touching her sign to calm the fountain down.

Talon just stares at Acqua, his disappointment and pain clear on his face as the day, and he turns and walks away wordlessly. Taurus feels enormous sympathy for the man, and is half tempted to go run after him.

He doesn't though. In a low voice, he said, "I thought you could have done great, even if I was worried sick, Acqua."

[Northen Light36]

"Yeah well it seems you and Alethia are the only ones," mutters Acqua bitterly, staring into the now calm water of the fountain. Talon's disappointment in her has only served to build up Acqua's anger again and she glares at her own reflection. "I don't know why I bothered competing anyway. I didn't want to win..." But she does know, if she's honest to herself. "I wanted to prove to him that I don't need to hide behind him anymore... I wanted him to be proud of me..." The heartbreak in Acqua's whispered words indicate just how shattered she is by Amaro's actions and casual dismissal of her afterwards.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia's hug tightens a bit. She doesn't have any words for that. After all, it'd be foolish to say 'he is' since it sure didn't seem like it in this light. "He's a jerk," she settled on lamely, at ease with a little badmouthing now that Talon wasn't around.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua just leans into her sister's hug before giving into her own misery and crying quietly as she nods in agreement. "He didn't even give me a chance. I made one little mistake and he just shoved me aside without a care in the world." Acqua closes her eyes and mutters, "I guess we should go back to your home sis... I'm sure Amaro will show up sooner or later to tell me how he told me I should have quit."

Acqua deliberately used the phrasing 'your home' rather then just saying home or back, but it wasn't to hurt Alethia, merely a quiet acknowledgement to the feeling of not belonging anywhere that's hit Acqua harder then ever now.

[Kender Bard]

Alethia held in the wince she had at that, but said nothing, rising and guiding Acqua along. Taurus walks on her other side, but doesn't touch her. He's not sure what her feelings to him at the moment are and would rather not risk losing a hand.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua lets Alethia guide her along meekly, every trace of her usual spirit and love of mischief seemingly shattered under her misery. It's a much worse version of the state she was in five years ago, just before she ran off. Only then she was just angry and bitter at being pulled away from Ilyamen, instead of now when she's rightfully angry and hurt.

[Kender Bard]

Once at home, she gently orders her sister to go sit while she hurried to the kitchen to brew up a nice tea that would hopefully soothe Acqua a bit. Taurus stood off to the side a little, trying to look everywhere but Acqua. Talon was mercifully (?) not to be found anywhere in the house.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua sits down obediently and instantly pulls Faith into her lap, cuddling the cat and not taking her eyes off her pet for the longest time. After awhile Acqua does look at Taurus, only to look away again when she notices he isn't looking at her. Settling on staring out the window, Acqua has to fight down an urge to just stand up and leave. Sighing softly, she pets Faith and waits for Alethia.