Lovely 007b

Pharolvir will retire to his room.

Zubaidah, 2:12 AM

There's a knock at the door!

Pharolvir, 2:13 AM

"S'open!"

Zubaidah, 2:13 AM

Ulisse steps in, soundlessly.

Pharolvir, 2:14 AM

"...look, it all worked out.  No one had to go before a council or get executed."

Zubaidah, 2:16 AM

Ulisse: Of course. … I wanted to ask if you had some sort of an issue with my presence. If I am bothering you.

Pharolvir, 2:17 AM

"No.  You're a good person and you are very useful to have around."

Zubaidah, 2:18 AM

Ulisse: You seem... annoyed with me a great deal of the time.

Pharolvir, 2:19 AM

"Well, it doesn't especially help that you tend to arrive during high stress situations."

"I was mostly annoyed that you were against me."

Zubaidah, 2:20 AM

Ulisse: I wasn't. I was trying to find a middle ground that might prevent reckless political actions.

Pharolvir, 2:21 AM

"I know, and that would've been very useful.  Except no one was finding one."

"Turns out Chance was the only one who actually knew how to solve the problem."

Zubaidah, 2:22 AM

Ulisse: Or simply tried a different tactic.

Pharolvir, 2:23 AM

".....why do you hang around us?"

Zubaidah, 2:24 AM

Ulisse: Two reasons. First, I rather like all of you.

Pharolvir, 2:24 AM

"I mostly believe that."

Zubaidah, 2:25 AM

Ulisse: Why would I lie about that?

Pharolvir, 2:26 AM

"What's the second reason?"

"Then we'll go back to the first."

Zubaidah, 2:26 AM

Ulisse: I am also extremely attracted to you.

Pharolvir, 2:27 AM

"Yeah, that's what I figured."

Pharolvir stands up and turns to him.

2:28 AM

"I am not annoyed by you, I like you.  But your drow fetish is leading you into crazy things and I am not entirely sure where to stand with you on anything.  Especially since, while I think you're a good person, I also think you are kind of dangerous."

Zubaidah, 2:28 AM

Ulisse: … Drow fetish? What makes you think I have a Drow fetish.

Pharolvir, 2:29 AM

"Please.  The first night we met you came in with Shihan, draped off of him, hit on me, and then had a drow woman come to your room to do things I am sure were not gonna stop at Spider Chase."

"And given your past interests seem focused on some gorgeous women, I assume this strange homoerotic fixation is only a byproduct of this first fetish, especially since I am well aware how I compare to the two lovers I met."

Zubaidah, 2:31 AM

Ulisse: Shihan and I aren't and have never been lovers.

Pharolvir, 2:32 AM

".............what?"

Zubaidah, 2:33 AM

Ulisse: I've never been involved with Shihan. … I do suspect he has feelings for me, or did at one time, but we've never been together in any sense.

Pharolvir, 2:34 AM

"...well...ok then."

Zubaidah, 2:35 AM

Ulisse: Back then I was far too smitten with someone else to notice.

Pharolvir, 2:35 AM

"The Sky Hawk?"

Zubaidah, 2:35 AM

Ulisse: No, no. That was long before I met any of the brothers.

Pharolvir, 2:36 AM

"...Lola?"

Zubaidah, 2:37 AM

Ulisse: … you have a very strange idea of me, you know that? Ylyndar. I was excruciatingly in love with Ylyndar. And before you ask, no, we were never together either.

Pharolvir, 2:38 AM

"Oh......and now you're into me?"

"......why?"

Zubaidah, 2:39 AM

Ulisse: You seem to have a very strange idea of you as well.

Pharolvir, 2:42 AM

"I know me.  Let's just ignore the physical flaws I have, which drove my mother insane with worry about my future.  I'm mean and abrasive, you yourself have said I seem annoyed when around you.  I am impatient.  Mouthy.  I think I am smarter than I am and make myself look like an idiot in the process.  And your ex-lovers include a strong pirate with...I have to say a very ripped figure, a...very confident woman with a lot of brains and even on the homosexual end which I still find odd you have gorgeous men like Shihan and Ylyndar.  I know where I stand on these scales.  And it's fine, I'm ok with it.  But I do know."

Zubaidah, 2:49 AM

Ulisse: Apparently you do not. I've not found you generally abrasive; apart from me, you seem to be over-polite, in fact. And perhaps you are as smart as you think you are. We nearly came to a draw when we played Spider Chase; I am very much hoping you'll be willing to give me another game soon. I am also not sure what physical flaws your mother saw, but I suspect they were entirely imaginary.

Pharolvir, 2:50 AM

"...................well that's...very nice......."

Pharolvir blushes slightly.

2:51 AM

"...I am sorry that I snapped at you earlier, about the vomit thing.  ...I do not find you annoying.  But I also don't want to lead you on.  And I just...I can't like men.  I'm not one of those guys, even if you do have...well, anyway.  I hope that clears things up."

Zubaidah, 2:51 AM

Ulisse: Those guys?

Pharolvir, 2:56 AM

"You know.  Like tons of guys make out at parties to stir women up.  But then there are those who are a little more...into it and they're...like they dress down, they get a lot of spiders, they're super aggressive.  I mean, I know you're not like that, but you are very confident.  You have a certain strength in your money that makes someone feel...protected.  Which is not unattractive, but in a guy it's...confusing.  It's not expected.  Not the way it goes.  And I mean, what if I want kids someday.  I don't now, I'd be a terrible father.  But you never know.  And biologically that's not an option. *awkward snort laugh*"

Zubaidah, 2:57 AM

Ulisse: What makes you think that isn't an option?

Pharolvir, 2:57 AM

"....................it's just.....not done."

"The guys who do that are the ones who get cast out of the family and go live in a shack with their 'friend' Drizzt."

Zubaidah, 2:59 AM

Ulisse: … I certainly don't relish the thought of it, but it certainly is possible, in theory.

Pharolvir, 3:01 AM

"...I just...I...I mean there has to be a reason."

Zubaidah, 3:01 AM

Ulisse: A reason for what?

Pharolvir, 3:02 AM

"WHY I CAN'T DATE GUYS!"

".............."

Zubaidah, 3:04 AM

Ulisse: … I feel there's a cultural difference in this regard. That's... normal here. It's very normal. Most people don't much care about gender. Of course you'll have people with preferences, just like some people prefer short people, people with green eyes or people with feathers. But it's... not unusual.

He folds his arms, probably in an attempt to seem nonthreatening.

Pharolvir, 3:07 AM

"...it's very different up here."

"I wanted different.  But it's also...scary."

Zubaidah, 3:10 AM

Ulisse: But you came anyway. You are brave, intelligent, and … I don't wish to make you uncomfortable, but you really are very physically attractive.

Pharolvir blushes very deeply.

3:11 AM

"...ok...I'll be nicer in the future.  ...I'm still not saying yes just yet, though.  I've got enough to consider right now."

Zubaidah, 3:13 AM

Ulisse: More than enough. And I am dangerous, unfortunately.

Pharolvir, 3:13 AM

"Tch, I keep an incredibly poisonous flower as a hair piece and have a pet gelatinous cube.  ...I'm also dangerous."

Zubaidah, 3:15 AM

Ulisse: I thought I recognized the flower. And I have very little sense of self-preservation.

Pharolvir, 3:16 AM

"I did notice that.  As a friend, I find that worrying."

Zubaidah, 3:18 AM

Ulisse: ... I think I want to cash in one of those favors now, please.

Pharolvir, 3:18 AM

"...oh?"

Zubaidah, 3:19 AM

Ulisse: Yes. It's related.

Pharolvir, 3:19 AM

"...what is it?"

Zubaidah, 3:20 AM

Ulisse: I need your help. Ylyndar's… painfully observant at times.

Pharolvir, 3:21 AM

"...are you trying to duck him?"

"I thought you two talked it over."

Zubaidah, 3:22 AM

Ulisse: No, no. Nothing like that. He saw the...

Ulisse gestures vaguely at his own eyes.

Pharolvir, 3:24 AM

"...are you on the absinthe right now?"

Zubaidah, 3:24 AM

((Absentia.))

Pharolvir, 3:24 AM

((Right, sorry))

Zubaidah, 3:25 AM

Ulisse: That wouldn't be possible. As soon as it takes effect you're unconscious.

Ulisse: Habitual users develop ragged pupils; it's the most common sign of an addict.

Pharolvir will pull his eye open for examination without much regard for his personal space.

3:26 AM

"Fascinating."

Zubaidah, 3:27 AM

Ulisse: … well. The body is unconscious. Your mind is … out experiencing another person's life.

Ulisse doesn't object, and tries to keep his eye open. Fortunately he's not very blinky. He has very dark brown eyes, nearly black.

Ulisse: The stress of this will eventually kill you, of course.

Pharolvir, 3:29 AM

"Yeah, and given your self-destructive attitudes it's not surprising that doesn't deter you."

Zubaidah, 3:29 AM

Ulisse: … I can't stop. I've tried.

Pharolvir backs off. "But this sounds kind of like business as usual.  What's the favor?"

Zubaidah, 3:30 AM

Ulisse: Generally absentia addicts don't die. They just don't come back.

Pharolvir, 3:30 AM

"..........that sounds horrifying."

Zubaidah, 3:31 AM

Ulisse: It is. I need your help.

Pharolvir, 3:32 AM

"To quit?  I can probably help with that."

Zubaidah, 3:33 AM

Ulisse: Yes. For a long time I didn't much care if I died; I've tried to set everything up so that no one will be hurt.

Pharolvir, 3:34 AM

"How long has it been since you last took absentia?"

Zubaidah, 3:35 AM

Ulisse: Yesterday.

Pharolvir, 3:35 AM

"Hmmmmmmmmm...can I take a blood sample?  I should have a recently cleaned vial over here."

Zubaidah, 3:36 AM

Ulisse: Of course.

Pharolvir, 3:39 AM

"There might still be trace amounts in your bloodstream.  If I know the chemical compounds I might be able to create a couple of potions.  One to act as a cleanser, help flush the remains from your system, cause if you use it frequently enough that it does permanent changes to your body chemistry that it visibly effects your eye, there are traces left.  But I can maybe create a formula to help restore some of the chemicals your body has likely stopped producing naturally to make up for the drug.  Give your body some recovery time."

Pharolvir takes some blood to do that.

3:39 AM

"...how much of the stuff do you still have left?"

Zubaidah, 3:39 AM

Ulisse: Quite a bit.

Ulisse: … do make sure you don't simply clean any magic out of me, I'm not sure what that would do to a half-demon.

Pharolvir, 3:41 AM

"Pretty sure I can't do that.  But whatever you have left, you should give it to me to either be destroyed or so I can test it.  Find out what I'm working with."

Zubaidah, 3:43 AM

He reaches into his pocket and drags out an intricately-carved wooden box, about the size of a thick paperback book, and hands it to Pharolvir.

Pharolvir takes it.

3:43 AM

"...you realize this is going to be decidedly not fun and you will be showing me some of the ugliest sides of yourself."

"Given you've been blatantly trying to seduce me since we met, not a great tactic."

Zubaidah, 3:45 AM

Ulisse: … are you sure? I have been doing my best not to do so. … I've been extremely careful not to even let slip a double entendre.

Ulisse: It's very tempting sometimes.

Pharolvir, 3:47 AM

"Seduce is maybe not the right word, but your interest has been well known.  But feel free to use all the double entendres you want, I promise not to think less of you."

"...I'm glad we're friends though."

"Now...if you don't mind, I need to work so I can help you."

Zubaidah, 3:48 AM

Ulisse: I don't want you to feel uncomfortable.

Pharolvir, 3:49 AM

"You handling me with kid gloves while buying me and my friends anything you can think of makes me uncomfortable."

Zubaidah, 3:50 AM

Ulisse: Don't be silly. I haven't even offered to buy you a pony yet.

Pharolvir, 3:50 AM

"I am begging you, don't buy me a pony."

Zubaidah, 3:51 AM

Ulisse: I won't. I do owe the others something, however. No more after that.

Pharolvir, 3:52 AM

"Don't buy any of them ponies."

Zubaidah, 3:52 AM

Ulisse: I don't think they'd get the joke.

Pharolvir, 3:52 AM

"It is a delightful fantasy when you're eight.  Then you see the inside of a stable."

Zubaidah, 3:53 AM

Ulisse: I like horses.

Pharolvir, 3:56 AM

"Horses?  ...oh, sorry.  Undercommon to Common translation error.  I meant a baby Strider.  It's like a...huh...not sure how to describe it."

Zubaidah, 3:57 AM

Ulisse: I won't get one of those either, in that case.

Pharolvir, 3:58 AM

"Better not.  They breathe fire."

Pharolvir hugs Ulisse.

3:59 AM

"Thank you...for what you said.  ...now please leave."

Zubaidah, 3:59 AM

Ulisse goes very still at first, and then hugs back. Very carefully. "It was true. And of course."