[ We find Alcinoe storming out of the Flying Couches home and slamming the door behind her. And I mean SLAMMING. As she walks away, she sees Kardos coming her way. Sidesession start! ] * Alcinoe is storming. She's angry. She bites out, "Howdy, Kardos," and she keeps storming to put distance between her and Istvan, so she doesn't break his face. [ Kardos falls in besides Alcinoe and walks quickly to keep up with her pace. He is silent. ] * Alcinoe lets him and keeps going. [ Kardos walks alongside Alcinoe in silence some more. Where is Alcinoe going? ] (Somewhere isolated and FAR AWAY.) [ Alcinoe wanders out of the large campus, and thus into the city. This takes about twenty minutes. Does she keep going? ] (Is it isolated yet? She'll storm out of the city, if she has to. ;P) [ Alcinoe continues through the city - people get out of her way, thankfully - and out past the gates into the unpeopled expanse beyond. This area would be farmland if it were arable, but it's not so it isn't. ] * Alcinoe keeps going, off the road, into wilderness. Does this girl ever stop? [ There is an area of forest, mostly oaks, all of them much shorter than the city walls. The forest is about a hundred yards deep, after which the canyon wall interrupts. ] * Alcinoe goes, and when she's well and away from the city, she screams and punches a tree. The bark tears at her fist, giving her splinters and making her hand bleed. * Alcinoe slams her hand into it again, then turns and leans against the tree, sliding down. She's made no notice of Kardos beyond when she first said hi. [ Kardos touches Alcinoe's hand, and it heals up, ejecting the splinters. ] * Alcinoe looks at her hand, then up at Kardos. She twists her mouth into a mockery of a smile, and a second after that, she sobs. [ Kardos sits down besides Alcinoe. ] Oh God. Oh my God, Ah- Ah- * Alcinoe shakes, and she curls up, clutching her knees. [ Karos puts his arms around Alcinoe. ] Ah didn't- but... he... * Alcinoe sobs again, and she shoves her face into her knees. "Ah can't *do* this." [ "Of course you can. It is extremely trying, but it is always possible." ] * Alcinoe shakes her head, still crying. "No. No, Ah can't." [ "Are you saying Galahad was a fool to pick you?" ] * Alcinoe mutters, "Maybe." [ "I think it was a good judgement. You will make an excellent Paladin. Your path will be lined with things worse than peril, but I believe you are strong enough to overcome them." ] * Alcinoe snaps her head up and looks at Kardos. She's still a little angry, but by and large she's terrified. Ah shoved Istvan into a *wall*! Ah couldn't take it anymore! [ Kardos nods. "Yes, I heard him hit the wall. Was there no reason for it? Did he do nothing to demand such treatment?" ] He was- he is- * Alcinoe takes a breath. "He insulted me!" Now it's turning into anger. "He insulted mah way of life, mah dedication to mah god. He doesn't know right, he doesn't know- he- doesn't try. He doesn't want to listen!" Oh yes. She's coherent. [ Kardos just listens attentively. ] * Alcinoe rambles on. "He doesn't wanna listen. He doesn't try. He doesn't wanna be here. He just coasts, and it's gonna get him and everyone else killed. There's no way- if- he doesn't try..." She takes a breath. "Just goin' the easiest way, an' then..." * Alcinoe turns her head, glaring towards where the house is. "An' he wouldn't listen, an' he wanted ta play victim. So he got to." [ Kardos nods. "That is sad." ] But... Ah... acted in anger, and... He was injured. Ah refused ta heal him with prayer. Ah stitched him, and later, Ah think the stitches broke thanks ta me. Ah had ta get out of there, though. Before Ah did somethin' worse. [ Kardos nods again. "Then you were wise to do so. You can work on other methods of anger management later on. For now, removing yourself from the source of your frustration is sufficient." ] * Alcinoe sighs. She looks defeated. [ Kardos frowns in contemplation. ] [ "Alcinoe, why did you start this?" ] Because... it needed to be done. (I love how he automatically assumed she started it.) [ "Then you were attempting to do the right thing?" ] * Alcinoe nods. "Yeah. He..." Ya know Istvan, but ya don't work with 'im that much. He doesn't try. He doesn't wanna be here, an' he admits it. He doesn't like adventurin'. He doesn't try. Not as hard as he should- as hard as he *has* to. He's not good enough. Anyone in Flyin' Couches can take him. Anyone. Ain't no contest. And he just does things 'cause it's expected, or it's the easiest way... * Alcinoe slams her fist in the ground. "It ain't *about* the easiest way!" [ "No, it isn't." ] An'... he... wouldn't listen. He wouldn't. [ "But you tried." ] Wasn't good enough. Not sure if it's... justified. Ah dunno, Kardos. [ "I'm sure it was justified. Perhaps you did not try in the correct manner." ] Maybe not. Right now, Ah'm wonderin' if it's even possible. Ah can't... let Kenji kill 'im, Kardos. [ "Then don't." He looks thoughtful. ] * Alcinoe shakes her head. She looks away. [ "It is getting late. Perhaps we should head back? Or do you wish to stay a while longer?" ] ... Yeah. Ah guess we should. * Alcinoe gets to her feet. [ Kardos stands. ] * Alcinoe looks at Kardos and smiles wanly. Feeling better? Not really. "Thanks." [ "You're welcome." ] [ And so they walked back to the city. Session End. ]