"she sits on the balcony thinking as she looks out at the water"

Well after a long conversation with Val yesterday I know a little about him now. He wasnt to anxious to tell me though, when I asked. He seemed very uncomfortable talking about it. But we all have things in our past we would just like to forget and hope they dont sooner or later catch up with us.

But do men really change? Or is it just temporary? From what he tells me, he was like Alterio. From one woman to another constantly. But since being on the Island he has stayed away from the whores on the dock and shows very little interest, if any, towards the other women in the 'Dome. I might be naive but im mature enough to know men have needs. How much longer will he ignore those needs? I guess I should ask..How much longer can I ignore mine hmmmm?

He said it was obvious I was trying to seduce him. Well i must be losing my touch If i was trying and didnt succeed. Maybe i wanted to go home and have hot, wild, sweaty sex the rest of the day..Maybe I dont want to make the first move..Maybe I intimidate him just a little..

And now im babbling..to much coffee and very little sleep seems to make me do that.

"having some orders to make sure get delivered today, she closes the journal and rises to go inside and get dressed after a nice long soak in the tub"

--Journal Entry 21 October, Vixen Blade

Well, Vixen got it out of me. I actually told her how I used to be...but she accepted it, even more than I accepted her escort thingy...which I surprisingly am over now. I suppose that we both want to make this work so much we are willing to accept certain character flaws...I suppose that's what love is, though. Speaking of that four-letter word, she used it four or five times last night...and I'm not sure what to think. I do really care for her a whole lot...but do I love her? If the answer isn't yes, I have a feeling it will be soon...

It also seems that Vixen and I's sex life (or lack thereof) is a hot topic of conversation. Already a few people have asked us whether we've 'done it' or not...and it makes me smile. Hey, I'm a topic of conversation, and I like attention. I have a feeling that when we do decide to make love, there's going to be a parade or a civil war or something.

Speaking on that...I have this inane feeling that we both might be ready for that step in our relationship, we were flirting pretty heavily last night, and we had a long talk about the direction things were going. I ended it with a 'Let's just let things go where they may'...but I think that is where things are going now...Ah well. Believe me, I will not fight her if she tries to make love to me, but I'm not ready to make the move. Want the truth, Journal? She intimidates me. Probably because she knows...well...everyone. Never has a woman actually intimidated me. But hey, not like it's a bad thing...

--Journal Entry 21 October, Valyndor Lyndrae

*as she carefully makes the children's beds, and dusts around knick-knacks, and lays out fresh clothing, all the while a Carazzi guard trails her at an "unobtrusive" distance. She grinds her teeth a little, her nerves grated, but goes about her business. After the morning is almost done, she casts a coy little smile the guard's way, tossing a blonde strand of chameleon hair out of her eyes carelessly. With a well-measured mixture of graceful step, lilting voice, and lash-veiled blue gaze, she entices him to allow her to take her noon meal in her room. Once inside, all pretense fades and she scowls, throwing her apron across the room. She sits down to write*

Ridiculous. Guards about day and night, not allowed to take a step without one of the ineffectual buggers taking it with me. And then...and then to be treated like an infant by that oh-so-mighty Sir Carazzi. And yet I must take it.

Must bite my tongue, for Mairin, for myself, for our family. They say there are man-sharks about, gobbling people up. Could it be? A lie to keep people in line and me locked within the confines of this place. Perhaps, though, I may wile my way off of the grounds and off of surveilence. Has my letter yet gotten to P-

*the letter smears and she stares at what she's written. She sets the corner of the parchment aflame by candle and drops it into her food dish before leaving the room to continue her duties. The archivists sneak in and stamp it out, copying what is written before allowing it to burn again*

--Journal Entry 21 October, Felina of Lyndette

*** Vixen Blade
**** Ben Calkane
** Valerian Mayfair
That's all for now.

Prediction: 'Accounts' will accrue at a geometric rate until the Syndicate is established. The books will be balanced.

--Journal Entry 21 October, Boss Kuno

::::Stretching languidly, she arcs her back and sighs with satisfaction, a soft smile curling the corners of her mouth as she flutters her eyes open. Shifting her legs over the side of the bed, she rolls her neck and shoulders before standing to pull on her robe, then moves to the kitchen to prepare a cup of tea. Dropping down into her favourite chair, she takes a careful sip of the hot brew and reaches for her journal, setting quill to parchment once more::::

Hello, stranger. I've been neglecting you again of late it seems. Not on purpose, mind you...I've just been...otherwise occupied.

Camden....Lord of Masks....has gone now. I must admit his staying here made those days stuck inside tolerable. Even pleasant. Very much so in fact. I can't believe I'm even saying this, but I actually miss him. He made me feel good about myself again. He seems to like me more than I've liked myself for a while now. Yes, very good company indeed. He certainly is open about his feelings for me, though extremely guarded of his past. I don't know whether it's because he's a bard or what the reason is, but he comes across as very sensitive...sensual even...and though I like to think I'm not gullible nor naive, there is definitely a genuineness about him I can't ignore. I wonder if he's been in love before. He would never speak of it even if the topic came up in a roundabout way. He must have been. His poems, stories, even notes, ooze of a knowledge of love. But, thus far, he remains close-mouthed on the matter. I don't mind, really. Who am I to pry? He will share in time if he's so inclined. And I'm very patient.

Ahh yes...love. Is it possible I'm falling? Again? After all this time? Can I deny it? Would I be lying if I did? All good questions. Perhaps easier to answer in time...after more time spent with him. Hmm...seems I can't get enough.

::::She giggles quietly and finishes off her tea, jotting down one more quick note before going to ready herself for the day::::

I can't wait for that dinner he promised me.

--Journal Entry 22 October, Rowsy

:::sits at the writing table in her suite at the Manor, setting quill to parchment as she thinks:::

I am sure that Uncle Alterio will be furious with me once he finds out I have not been keeping the guards with me. Though, I dont want to be the reason why he has to constantly replace them. So, I have taken to walking to the dome by myself. Mumphra, yesterday, had sent one poor man hurtling through the window. Threatening him, and then threatening to slap me to see if the guard would respond. I will not be the cause of anyones demise. I refuse it to be so, if there is anything I can do about it. I am sure that I will be properly bawled out.

:::she thinks on other things:::

Lia has started to come about more often to the rooms. I suppose that I didnt scare her like I thought I had. I am glad for that at least. So, now she has begun peeking through the playroom door to my rooms. I enjoy her company so much. She is such a sweet child.

::thinks about the poor guard, and decides to go and check on him:::

~Lyrias~

::::stands, leaving the journal, as she steps out of the sitting room, nodding to the guard at her door, wandering to where the guards are housed to check on the poor soul who was tossed through a window like a rag doll::::

--Journal Entry 22 October, Lyrias Dreams

A great day, all things considered. I spent almost the entire day with Vixen, and had some fun in the Pleasuredome. However, I saw Mumphra today...recognizing him as the face I saw on Mairin's head...the illusion Ben and I saw when we returned Mairin. I surely hope he doesn't cause any trouble...but I have a feeling that my hope has little chance of coming to fruition.

My relationship with Vixen still continues to flourish. We now both know our little idiosyncrasies and flaws, and we accept them. I've never been married, or even considered it. But she may very well be the person that I would take that vow with. What am I talking about? We've only known each other a short time, and I'm writing about marriage? I suppose I do love this woman...

Well, as always, I'll write here tomorrow, this seems to keep me together, and lets me explore my thoughts, so I can understand myself better. I've realized during my time here that I am pretty complicated...

--Journal Entry 22 October, Valyndor Lyndrae

*she makes her way down the hall slowly, sitting down at the desk to write an entry in her journal by flickering candlelight... as she writes, she pauses occasionally to gaze out the window to the sea*

Ach, I'm tired today.. but I suppose I ought to scribble down a few lines before heading to bed for the night. This journal has been sorely neglected over the last few days, what with 2 crew members dead and one missing off the Rover. Good crewmen are hard to find around these parts- finding one who won't run off to the dock women every payday is a task, no doubt about that. Thank the gods I found myself the one sailor in all the lands who's faithful.. lucky girl I am.

*she chuckles softly, dipping the pen into the inkwell again before continuing*

That blasted rabbit is still lurking somewhere outside, I know it.. starting to worry me. Hopefully I'll be able to track down the cursed little thing soon, but I'm certainly not going to go outside and look for it now.. not so close to the beach with the sharken prowling about. I may be a ridiculously stubborn brat, but I don't think I've entirely lost all reason yet. Ah, well. There's always tomorrow..

For some reason, that reminds me of a song...

Casi Flynn

*she scatters drying sand over the page, and leaves the journal open on the desk.. making her way back down the hallway, humming softly, she greets Cal in the hall with a kiss*

--Journal Entry 22 October, Casidhe

::::seats herself at the old wooden table in her kitchen, Bailey asleep upon his bed, and everything quiet, as she slips in to write her entry for the day::::

Benjamin 'as returned taeday. I saw 'im at the dome. Twas good tae see 'im again. T'ere are times when I feel lost at 'is side. I donna knae wha tae say, or wha tae do. I enjoy 'is company greatly, 'e is indeed a pleasure tae be around. Though, still I feel lost. I ...donna necessarily wan tae speak o'the past. I donna wan tae tell 'im o'the last man I was with. True, I did love 'im....but, e'en now...Im wonderin...did 'e truly love me as I did 'e? I donna think tha 'e did...e'en though I spent all m'time with 'im. 'e 'ardly spent any o'is time with me. I spent m'time alone, studying the arts of magic tae ease the pain o'is refusal o'me. I donna understand why 'e didna wan tae be with me. I tried e'erything I could tae make 'im 'appy. Being the wife of a Knight tis nae an easy task fer anyone...much less a mage. Especially when tha man is 'igh ranked in the Order...makes it e'en tha much worse. I donna knae, per'aps I am 'oldin the past agaisnt Benjamin...afraid tae trust anoth'r man again. :::sighs::: Enough o'these thoughts.

Tikaris Kyra Flynn

:::the handwriting goes from being her normal, small, flowing script to a more slanted, deep script, the marks being left in the parchment by the weight of her hand as she writes. Stnading from the table, knowing Bailey is asleep, she slips out of the house, making her way outside, for some air, the memories of the life she had lead returning to her. As they always have at some point or another, hauntingly. Her Da's voice speaking gently, and lullingly in her mind, softly, she converses with him::::

--Journal Entry 22 October, Tika Flynn