Blood from Stone [AU]

[Tethras Clan]

"Agreed," Aveline says with a laugh. "Seli and Lovan can go twice a night most of the time, I'm content with every other day or so."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She nods. "Sex is... nice. But I don't seem to miss it when I don't have it."

[Tethras Clan]

Offering a smile of understand, Aveline suddenly blinks. "This... this is rather nice," she offers slowly. "Speaking with you so... frankly, as equals instead of just... a relation of a dear friend." 

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I.. suppose it is," she says, sounding surprised rather than dubious. "Forgive me, it's... this week has been... I am struggling to feel anything at all, other than numb sadness. But this is... more pleasant than most conversations I've had. I would like to speak like this again, when I am feeling more myself."

[Tethras Clan]

"I would like that as well. I... stills struggle, with making friends. I've lost the knack of it in my grief. Not that I was ever the most sociable," she admits.

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette nods. "Are you... I am surprised that you're still... interested. Knowing that I am on a darker path than yours."

[Tethras Clan]

Aveline frowns slightly. "Darker... Despite Astea holding Light, there is nothing wrong with darkness really. The night is Tessaline's, though personally I think it that one's only neutral aspect. And Mileen holds shadows which describes your path better anyway. You walk a careful line, ignoring law to uphold justice. Very, very perilous. I suppose... Well, it impresses me that you have done as well as you have for so long. And the paladin in me wishes to watch and help you stay on that path without falling."

[Coquette Blacquin]

"There are some who would say I fell before I began," she says quietly. "I have Drow blood in me."

[Tethras Clan]

"Some might say that, yes. I might call those people fools. Or ignorant. What of it?"

[Coquette Blacquin]

Now tears begin to slide down her cheeks, though she pretends not to notice them. "Evil begets evil, as they say."

[Tethras Clan]

"It does. But evil cannot be passed along in the blood. I... I will admit, I might have let myself make a poor judgement of you earlier." Aveline shakes her head sadly. "But not after this. Not after hearing you talk. Evil would not do as you have done. Would not punish itself so for failures those most harmed would and have forgiven you for. No."

[Coquette Blacquin]

She can't ignore the tears now; she buries her face into her hands, wiping at them furiously. "Thank you," she manages to whisper.

[Tethras Clan]

She hesitates a moment, but finally the cracks in her reserve that her lovers created allow Lina to act. Rising to her feet, she moves to the other side of the table to slide in next to Cindy and carefully, slowly, pulls her into an embrace. 

[Coquette Blacquin]

For a second she stiffens, but then her reserve falters, and she turns to sob on Lina's shoulder, taking comfort from her the way she might from Jaina. It has been too long since I let myself be comforted, she thinks ,not for the first time these past few days. 

[Tethras Clan]

"Hush now, it will be okay. You are safe in my arms, under my watch. You are safe now. Shhhh." Aveline slowly rocks the merikos drow, murmuring a very old Vangal lullaby for children out of lack of any idea on what else to say. "I shall hold you close and guard through the night, so sleep safe my darling and dream of love."