***Vixen Blade
**Alterio Carazzi
****Ben Calkane
** Valarian Mayfair

Notes: I only mess with the best and brightest, it seems.
Prediction: Defeat is certain without proper reinforcements. Proposed merger will facilitate progress, but with increased overhead.

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Boss Kuno

:::sits in the dome, off in a corner by herself, and writes, as she listens to the others talking amongst themselves:::

I spent the night at the Manor, though, I did not come in until very late. And, I was up before he was, and out of the Manor. I havent even seen Alianna. I still dont know what I am going to do. I love Taeliesyn...but, I love Thirlia too. And, even still, my Uncle. I cannot understand his ways...nor am I going to try to. I dont think I could be blessed enough to be able to come up with an insight to his ways, and why he deems it such an abomination for me to be with Taeliesyn.

I still have no idea what I am going to do. Though, I know, I could never leave Lia...the child is like my own...and I suppose as such...I cannot allow a man to come between us. Perhaps, I should have listened to Ben along time ago. :::sighs:::

:::she glances up, only to inquire about Alkane's well being from Vixen, then returns to her journal:::

Everything has seemed to set against me and Taelie from the beginning...perhaps it is just not meant to be. It would figure...the one man I find to fall in love with, and like all the others, I cant have. Even, if he is willing to give himself to me. Something always happens, and I am denied what I truly want. Seems to be the way of things in my life.

Taelie is never here, and he is searching for his brother, perhaps I should cut him loose for his own good. Perhaps it is time I just give up on finding someone to be with.

~Lyrias~

::::she sprinkles some fine sand upon the opened pages of her journal, and contemplates writing, and leaving a letter for Taelie, upon his return::::

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Lyrias Dreams

:::::: He blinks awake slowly, once again in his own bed, having spent his first night at home since that terrible storm. He sits up and stretches, placing his bare feet on the cold wood floor with a shiver. He stands and walks to the kitchen, preparing his favorite blackberry tea. As he sits at the table, sipping his tea, he spies his journal on his writing desk. With his thoughts jumbled from his days spent with Rowsy and his days back further with... Roxanna, he sits at the desk and prepares to write. ::::::

Rowsy. Even writing her name brings a smile to my lips. The only one who has ever gotten me to remove my mask. The only one I have dared share my heart with since... Roxanna. How do I explain to Rowsy? How do I tell her of Roxanna and what she meant to me? In truth I always believed our love was beyond mere words. Yet now she is gone, taken from me by the same man that gave me my scar. True he may not have been wielding the blade that took her life, but he was the one who gave the order. Guilty. He will yet pay for his crimes. But for now... I love Rowsy. I do. So much. More than I ever though possible to love again. Yet I know not if I should tell her of Roxanna.

Roxanna...

Once while I was bathing in a pool of sorrow,
Along came a beautiful woman.
She possessed a light of happiness,
Some I asked to borrow.
She nodded her head,

And we both bathed in the light.
So much joy,
So much love,
We melted all shadows in the night!

She was my only reason for being,
My only reason to live,
For she was the only one who didn't take,
The only one to give.

I remember it like it was yesterday,
Those happy, carefree times.
So different from today,
No love for me at all,
The punishment of an unknown crime.

:::::: He stops here and shakes his head slowly, trying to drive thoughts of Roxanna from his mind and replace them with thoughts of Rowsy. He looks own at the page before him and continues to write. ::::::

When life became too painful,
You were always there.
When I was left in the darkness,
You would shed upon me your light and care.
When I was left out in the cold,
You would shelter me in your home.
When I was left too dirty,
You welcomed me with a bath and comb.
When I became to weak,
You would give me the strength I needed.
When all others thought me guilty,
For my innocence you always pleaded.
But those days are gone,
No love to live on.
I miss those days,
With your special ways,
For my memory, those days will haunt.

Hmm... am I haunted by the memories of her? True, I remember everything about her. And, she will always hold a place in my heart. Yet the feelings I have now for Rwsy are no less than the feelings I had for Roxanna, and in a lot of ways they are even more. I find everything about Rowsy intoxicating. Roxanna is gone... I must move forward. I have held onto her memory as if it would someday bring her back to me. That will never be. I must now look ahead.
Ahead lies... Rowsy.

:::::: Once again a pause as his thoughts swirl like a maelstrom in the sea of his mind. He lifts the teacup to his lips and is surprised to see his hand trembling. He stares at it and tries to will it to stop but to no avail. The trepidation of what is to come is too much. Finally he allows it to do as it must.. as his heart must... let her go. ::::::

You worshipped my body
You were a part of my soul
We were to be one forever
Until Death took his toll

I was devistated by lonliness
I was desperate with grief
You left me aching with sorrow
I now know death is a theif

The wind kissed my body
My tears fell with the rain
The moon cleansed my soul
And still death is to blame

Death tells me to listen
He says, "Get up off your knees!"
"She's never left you" he claims
Death, explain to me, Please!

I felt your kisses in every raindrop
Your voice resonated in my mind
Your joy appeared in the sun beams
Maybe I wasn't left behind

Please know that I love you
In my heart you'll always be
But my life must go on without you
That life, I pray, is with Rowsy.

Rowsy...

I give you my soul,
I give you my life,
I give you my feelings,
I give you a knife.
If you maim them,
I shall fade away,
But if you care,
I'm here to stay.

Roxanna... Past.
Rowsy... Future.
Roxanna... Death.
Rowsy... Rebirth.

:::::: And with those final words he finally lays Roxanna's memory to rest. He dresses and heads out for the day, once more placing the mask on his face. A walk? A poem? A visit to Rowsy? A dinner at the Dome perhaps? Perhaps... ::::::

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Lord of Masks

:: She looks about her small home and bites her lip lightly as she curls up with her journal.::

Well it has only been a few weeks that I have been gone, but so much seems to have changed...from what I have seen anyway. I sat in the PD hoping to catch a bit of gossip about the occurances while I was gone.

:: She sighs softly and rubs her eyes lightly::

Well seems that my restlessness has gotten the better of me. I spent the last few weeks wandering around. And I know I will spend many a more week doing the same. I truly believe now that I am not the type to stay in one place for too long. My mother would have called me a lost soul, as she did most wanderers. She would have told me that I have far too much spirit for a lady to have....I enjoy my travels, I learn more songs, and have more tales to tell. Which is what I am, a storyteller.

This time when I leave, I will have no idea how long I will be gone, I would offer my small group of friends my best wishes, but I fear I am leaving early in the morning...

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Lina Metallium

::Waking up after a few days' drunk, he finds his sister's letter and becomes enraged. Sure his brother hasn't come to see him..there's no calling card tacked to the door, he yells to the woman who hasn't yet left his bed to write what he's saying as he says it::

Well, look at you all grown up now, and being smug with me. Seems some days have escaped me, and your ex-husband's returned. I see his ship in its slip. And I hate to tell you this, my sweet, dear, little sister..but do you truly think you can turn Alterio against me? Provide him with a copy of this as well. If you turn your back against me, be sure you're wearing armor. We wouldn't want an "accident" to befall you, would we?

Anthony

::"Hey, wait!" the harlot calls, but Anthony's already dressed and out the door::

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Anthony Carazzi

My most beloved Journal,

It has more than a week since I arrived on the shores of the isle, travel weary and weak from the hard ships of the ship. Since arriving on this beautiful place I have met many people who for the most part have been friendly and kind. I believe I have found a good friend in the Lady Charquin and through her have met some who I know I can at least call aquiantances if not friends. I think that it is time to follow my grandmothers advice and plant my roots so to speak. I believe I have taken a good step in that direction today, I have place an ad in the Sandpaper requesting work, hopefully it will prove fruitful. I inquired about the cost of homes on the isle and found the prices to my liking, I will just have to work hard to earn the money to have one built, it is all very exciting, although I'm not sure that it is what will actually happen. I can't fail to remember my grandmother's dying wish for me to marry a suitable gentleman, alas I will find one, I am still young and people come to this Isle everyday, surely there will be a suitable man amongst them someday. For now I will not worry about those matters and will continue to have fun on the island, I will let fate lead me where it may, if it is to lead me to a life on this isle then so be it or if it is reverse than so be it as well. Well dear journal I shall end it here for my eyes are weary and my hand cramped from writing.

--Journal Entry, 24 October, Rosalyn Lovine

:::sits alone in the pleasuredome, her tartan shawl draped over her head, bent to the parchment, with quill in hand, applying it to paper:::

:::sighs::: Seems e'ery time I think tha I 'ave found someone tae spend m'time with..tis ne'er meant tae be. M'brother tis concerned about Benjamin..e'en despite 'is 'igh 'opes tha Benjamin twould be the one tae make me 'appy finally.

Benjamin came intae the dome injured, quite badly. I didna 'ave the chance tae speak with 'im as I was detained by m'brother. It seems tha m'brother believes judging by Benjamin's outburst this eve tha 'e will nae be will suited tae me. And 'is callin Calhin arrogant did nae 'elp matters much, either. :::sighs:::

I 'ad so 'oped tha fer once, I could 'ave found a man tae be 'appy with. I 'ad tae leave the inside o'the dome...I just couldna take it much longer. I 'ad tae be away from e'eryone fer just a lit'l while. When I went outside o'the dome tae take a walk upon the beach, Benjamin came outside. The look in 'is eyes seemed genuine enough. 'e seemed truly concerned. By Khlamar...'ow I wished it tae be 'im tha made me 'appy. Per'aps, as Laddie said, 'e can regain 'is trust and status o'the Family. Oh, 'ow I pray tha 'e can. I did so wish tae spend more time with 'im, and we seemed tae get along quite well. Per'aps I shall leave 'im a letter at the Idiot...before 'e meets up with Laddie again, and let 'im knae wha is 'appening. :::she nods her head::: Aye, I think I should.

Tikaris Kyra Flynn

::she sprinkles sand upon the journal, and closes it, once dried, taking out a clean sheet of parchment and writes a letter to Benjamin:::::

--Journal Entry, 25 October, Tika Flynn