A Haunting in Khelek|Malagard, Khelek

[Kender Bard]

"I don't want to!" Locket growled. She stirred up a bit of wind, nothing much--just enough to ruffle the hair of everyone in the corridor but it didn't so much as budge the ghost. "Damnit."

She glared hatefully at the ghost. "You know your bitch of a lover was what was making Trinket scream! She might be in Taed's good graces but that doesn't make her any less of a psychotic Mo-, as- ... bitch! And I'll bet my nicest gown that she doesn't even love you now because some people just don't know what that is."

[Darastrix]

Crawford's expression went flat, a light flush of anger colouring his cheeks as he lifted his head to give Locket a cold stare. "You," he gritted out, "have no right to speak of or speculate on my personal affairs. Especially when you. Were. Not. There."

"I was," Schuldig spoke up, "and either way, she's gone, Brad. If she wants you to be alone and pine for the rest of your life, that makes her a selfish, greedy bitch regardless."

Crawford turned his stare on Schuldig for a moment before Delilah rose on her toes and whispered close to his ear. He nodded once and disappeared.

Delilah turned to face the others. "We wish to converse in private. I know you don't care for my wishes, but I certainly hope you'll respect his." With that, she vanished as well.

Schuldig grimaced. "Well, that went wonderfully. Word of advice: when someone's still in love with the other person, calling insults on them isn't a good idea. That's how a lot of bar fights get started."

"You insulted her," Nagi pointed out.

"I added a condition. And I was there, so I have more leeway."

[Kender Bard]

Locket scowled.,"I'm just telling it as it looks. And you know what? If he gets his heart broken... then he deserves it." She gave a small shudder. "She's... creepy."

Of course she'd harassed Locket's children and that was enough to make her almost instantly hate the woman. Seeing nothing more she could do, she turned on her heel and stormed off back to her bedroom. Maybe she'd get lucky and be able to catch sleep again.

[Darastrix]

Nagi gave Schuldig a helpless look and hurried after his wife. ~Locket, you can't mean that. Nobody deserves that.~

Schuldig rubbed his forehead and headed to his own room to write a note for Filly to find when she got back from the temple. He had the feeling he might be in an impromptu mental healing session when she got back. That seen to, he went to Crawford's room, where he started stoking the fire and lighting a few candles. There was no way Brad would be able to sleep afterward.

Taed, some of your people are real bitches.

[Kender Bard]

The look Locket cast Nagi was clear: Don't argue with me right now. Once back in her room she patted about until locating her symbol of Soahc and curled wordlessly back into bed with it, clutching it close as she shut her eyes and tried to will sleep back as she prayed.

My great lord, Soahc, please make that stubborn, stupid bastard have a change of heart or mind for once.

---

Not too much later did Filly return from her talk with Taed, still conflicted in her heart over that turn of events. She teleported into her bedroom, not wanting to accidentally wake anyone, only to find the bedroom empty.

Surprised, she reached out to Schuldig's mind. ~Schu...? Are you awake?~

[Darastrix]

Nagi sighed quietly and slipped back into bed beside her, praying to Thuoth that one of them would have the wisdom to needed to deal with the aftermath.

---

Schuldig let out a quiet snort. Why did he bother with a note when they were both Minds?

~I'm in your workroom, making some haze. Come here and I'll tell you what happened while you were at the temple.~

[Kender Bard]

That puzzled the hell out of Filly and worried her too. What could have happened at this time of night? She teleported to the workroom, her concern plain. "What happened...?"

[Darastrix]

Schuldig was perched on a stool, grinding up some of the herbs used in golden haze. At Filly's question, his lip curled and his grinding became a little more animated.

"Delilah happened," he spat. "All these years, nothing, then she shows up tonight. Scared the kids, got Trinket yelling in our heads, and it took me a while to get up since I couldn't tell if it was coming from inside my head or outside." He shook his head. "It sounded like she was jealous that he's managed to move on a little. Or just jealous that there's people he likes now that aren't tied up into that hell of a life."

[Kender Bard]

"Delilah..." Filly repeated in a whisper. "Oh... Oh Brad..." She shook her head. "It's still dark, it will be for a while yet. Is she still here? What is she saying to him? I-I mean, I don't understand how the night works the way I used to but I wouldn't be surprised if he could find sanctuary against her if he really wanted to."

[Darastrix]

"That's the thing, though," Schuldig said, propping his elbows on the table. "He doesn't want to. Before she reached him, I told him he might be able to avoid her in Etaf's temple wing. And I suggested letting me and Farf cloud his mind so he couldn't see or hear her, but he wanted to see her."

"She doesn't love him. She never loved him." He let out a growl of frustration. "She's just a greedy bitch who's losing the last thing she owns here. But he loved her, and I think he still hopes.... But what difference does it make? She's dead. If she loved him, she's dead. If she didn't, she's still dead."

[Kender Bard]

Filly let out a sad sigh. "So no matter what happens or how things could have happened in the end he's only going to get hurt. Poor man..." She moved to stand beside Schuldig, leaning into him as she slipped an arm around to hug him suddenly.

~Thank the stars that isn't us. That it will never be us.~

"Do you think he'll talk about it afterwards? Tomorrow? I want to help, if I can."

[Darastrix]

Schuldig closed his eyes and rested his head against Filly's shoulder. "I dunno, but I'm staying up to see. I don't think I could go back to sleep, anyway. Oh, Locket might be in a snit over this tomorrow. Or she might be over it. She tried to talk Brad away from Delilah by calling her a psychopathic bitch and bet her favourite dress she didn't really love him. He didn't look too happy about that and they left to talk in private after."

[Kender Bard]

Filly rolled her eyes about that. "Locket is Soahcian," she said, as if that explained all. Then, added, "And very young with little heartbreak in her own life. Not... real heartbreak, whatever she may think." She reached over and stroked his hair gently, giving her fingers something to do as she thought. "She can't understand. If Brad lets me talk to him, then afterwards I will speak with her and try to get her to better understand."

She bent her head down and kissed his forehead. "I spoke with my brother. It was good to see him. Our conversation left me in a state too, though. I think I'll stay up with you. I have a lot to think about anyway."

[Darastrix]

Schuldig raised a brow at that. "What did the Bone Daddy have to say?"

[Kender Bard]

Filly rolled her eyes slightly. I wonder if Soahc taught you that one. "Not too much. We miss each other. He says he still feels comfortable around me as opposed to Efil."

She grew tense at that. "We talked about her." Her gaze turned inward. She struggled to sort out her emotions, gave up. "He said... that on that night, Efil died. But... she was reborn in a way. He said that the Efil we knew is dead at least. Her... replacement, I suppose you'd call it, is different. When I asked how, he said that she was not like me nor like the dead-Efil. He said she was... no longer idealistic or naive. I don't know what to make of it. I don't think he did either. It's hard to read a Force, even when they're being open with you and he was being open with me. I think he's wary but concerned."

She shivered. Taed concerned over her. Just how different was this new Efil? What did she remember? What did she feel?