STORY TIME(Open to Everyone in the Sanctuary)

[Iris Timandre]

65th of Fall, 512 A. V.
Every single person in the Sanctuary knew Iris was the type that loved to keep to herself. The antisocial quiet type of Konti. When it really came down to it Iris was able to count the number of words she said to the other people who lived with her in the Sanctuary in a day on one hand. It was that bad.

But today would be much different. Iris had planned to come out of her shell for a little while and let people other than Serrif in. Something to get to know the rest of the people she had to work with. Everyone in the Sanctuary was invited to her private room. But she didn't tell anyone exactly what they would be coming in for. All she said to the group was 'Meet me in my room, I have to get something off my chest.'

Iris sat on her bed dressed in her favorite sleeveless white dress. Her knees pulled in tightly so she could rest her nose on them. The Konti's eyes kept shifting from the door to the wall. And back to the door. Iris was worried. She didn't know these people very well, so they might not be too fond of her. It was clear that they had more than enough respect to give Iris her space when she needed it.

Once Iris stared to hear footsteps she stretched her legs out on the bed and placed her palms on her thighs. "Who's at the door?" Iris would say firmly.

[Serrif Von Chatlyn]

There was plenty to do about the Sanctuary as usual. He hadn’t taken the time out of his daily activities to go and meet Iris personally. Although he had met her personally before the Sanctuary; he half believed he was the reason she ended up here. And he was glad she was here even if he only seemed to see her every now and then. She seemed much more reclusive than the other members of the Staff. She kept to herself more than most; he was the same way when he first got here. He tried not to let himself be seen and he understood she might be doing the same thing. Maybe she was unsure where she fit into the grand scheme of this place.

There were so many people doing so many different things and sometimes it was difficult to determine where one fit in. It took him some time before he felt at home here. And now that he did he really didn’t want to leave at all. Although he knew well that one day he would have to. But he would come back eventually. He would find his way back here to the Sanctuary where he was needed…where he was wanted among the staff. He felt useful here, and he wanted the same for Iris.

She had approached him telling him that she needed to get something off her chest. At first he was worried, knowing well that she was very serious about the matter. She had even invited him to her quarters…which was an odd request to him. He nodded letting her know he would be there for her. He planned on it and well finished up the few things he was working on and then decided to meet her. Knowing well that she likely had something serious to tell him.

His mind prepared him for whatever she was to tell him. He remembered how she called him an angel the first time they met. None had called him that before her. Did he hold a special place in her heart or something? The term was endearing and well he loved helping her. But did she have other feelings? That would complicate things on the staff especially since he was starting to get involved with Gianne…was his love life really about to become a total mess?

Not that Iris wasn’t attractive. She was which he believed was due to her great grandmother Shahal. That woman was beautiful on a level that few could begin to comprehend. She was graceful, well spoken, educated, and above all knew exactly how to hold her power with grace that he had never seen before. But even all that aside she was phenomenally beautiful. He had mistaken her for Avalis once himself; even though he never told her that he was sure she knew; it likely happened all the time. He imagined it was a common occurrence among visitors to the isle. A joke of sorts that Shahal took as flattery if nothing else.

He was worried now, not knowing what to expect nor what to say really. But he would let her speak her peace and then take it all in stride if need be. Maybe it wasn’t about that at all and his mind was playing tricks on him. He might be seeing things that weren’t there and reading too far into things that were there…that was possible. He hoped that was what was going on here that he was seeing things that weren’t really there. Because if he was right there was a possibility that he could end up complicating things for himself; and that was the last thing he needed right now.

Footfalls sounded in the hallway as he made his way to her door. They were his he didn’t hear anyone else right now. That was ok; but did he want to be left alone with her? Anxiety crept up and he shook it away. Whatever she wanted she felt it needed to have him meet with her. So he would do so just like she asked. He knew she wouldn’t ask him unless she felt the need to. Especially since she had been somewhat reclusive since she got here.

He knocked and Iris answered. “Serrif…” He said waiting to see what she would have him do next. She had invited him to her room why would she close the door?

He could think of plenty of reasons why. But none of them fit the scope of thinking he had right now. He swallowed hard and well the tone in her voice told him everything he needed to know. She was firm and direct almost as if she was surprised herself. That told him that maybe he was indeed reading into this too much…which was a relief. He opened the door and came in after he was invited to do so.

“Is everything ok?” He asked as he looked to Iris who was sitting on her bed as if waiting company…was she waiting for him? He really had no way of knowing for sure.

There she was wearing a sleeveless white dress, at least she wasn’t in a black nightgown…that would’ve stopped his heart immediately. He was a little worried for her not knowing what she wanted nor what she needed to tell him had raised his anxiety somewhat. But it was clear that she wasn’t interested in him which made this a little easier.

“You have me a little worried.” That was the truth and she would easily be able to tell it was so. He had saved her that one day on accident and was again here for her now. And he would continue to be here if she wanted his assistance. He was glad to lend a hand to any in the Sanctuary because here they were all family. No matter what race, background or family they came from. They had to function as one, or they would surely fail alone. A concept that while not new to Serrif had definitely found a way into nearly every aspect of his works here. Keeping secrets was deadly to everyone here.