Season of Fall, Day 6, 513 AV
Rinya was wearing the dress he'd seen that day when they'd gone to Rosela's. It still looked stunning on her, and Jorin took a moment to appreciate how it accentuated Rinya's form. Jorin had turned to face Rinya just as he noticed a small, shy smile on her face, the same one that always lit her up like a firefly. He returned the smile and walked over to her, and his gaze followed her finger as she grinned and pointed at the building.
"You realize that you are going to have to read everything to me right?" she teased, and Jorin laughed lightly.
"Of course, Rinya," he chuckled,
"For you, I'd read an entire library if you wanted me to."Jorin could feel emotions swelling in both of them. This would have been such a good day...
"There's been a slight change of plans, unfortunately," Jorin said apologetically.
"Someone at work told me that an actress wanted to meet me at the far north of Cliffside Grotto. I'd ignore it and still spend time with you, but you haven't seen how actresses can get when they think you're blowing them off," Jorin half-joked. Ok, so the actresses didn't
kill you, but they can sure make you
wish you were dead.
Jorin just took Rinya's hand and drew her into a light embrace, being careful not to jostle her injured arm too much. Then he kissed her lightly on the lips.
"We can come back later. But come! The Clifside Grotto is pretty nice in the Fall anyway."As Jorin led the way to the Grotto, he tried to make up for their not being in the museum by telling Rinya about his day. He regaled her with stories about flubbed lines, and pratfalls during practice, and someone slipping a toad into someone else's lunch. It was just like the troupe again. And of course, the wonderful joys of actually acting, of putting on a colorful costume and going out onto the stage, eyes bright and arms outstretched, welcoming the audience to yet another evening of drama and entertainment.
Jorin didn't care about being top billing. He could care less if he was in the spotlight, he just wanted to entertain. To see the faces of his audience light up in joy, of seeing his performance brighten their day, even if just for a few Bells.
The blazing red hues of Cliffside Grotto slowly came into view, and Jorin swept his arm melodramatically as he grinned at Rinya.
"See?" he said,
"Isn't it just magnificent?"Jorin continued to lead Rinya into the Grotto. Somewhere in his mind, he recalled that the Grotto was also a romantic destination for many Riverfall residents. He mentally shrugged. So much the better; even though he hadn't picked this place, he figured he might as well go with it. Jorin gave Rinya a somewhat teasing smile as they walked through the Grotto hand-in-hand.
"Jorin!" rang out a cry, and his head shot to the right. And standing there was a sight he'd never thought he'd see.
She stood only about as tall as Rinya, and had tousled brown hair that fell to her shoulders. Dark, but bright eyes were set into a round, smooth face, full lips curled into an easy smile, and her complexion had just a touch of gold. She wore a simple light-blue dress, with a few white frills, and a large bow tied around her waist. Her hair loose was worn loose, with only a simple sparking crystal pin stuck behind her left ear.
"Farline!" he cried, face expressing his surprise. He turned to Rinya and gave her an apologetic smile.
"Farline Darfi," he said, by way of introduction.
"She is an actress with the Traveling Thespians. You remember, the troupe I was in? She was instrumental in helping me become a better actor."Farline laughed, a high, tinkling laugh, demurely putting a hand to her mouth as she did.
"Oh I don't know if that's true, Jori dear," she replied brightly.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" Friend. Jorin wondered if that was all he and Rinya were. Despite their conversations, their kisses, the holding of hands, Rinya seemed unwilling to take any steps forward. Jorin was willing to wait, but where did that leave them? What to call what they had together?
"Ah yes, of course, this is Rinya, I am her bondmate," Jorin replied, with a silent groan. He'd given up. For lack of a good term to describe their relationship he decided to just use the one relationship he knew they
did have. Farline's eyes merely twinkled with some hidden joke.
"Oh?" she asked, giving them both a conspiratorial wink.
"Well, I'm sure you two get along famously. But Jori, shouldn't you come home?" Jorin could feel his blood almost freeze at those words. Come
home. Where was home now? Was it his condo in the Windswept Condos? Was it at his childhood house, where his parents lived?
"I was kicked out, remember?" he groused, trying to remind Farline of the circumstances of his departure.
"Eric did it himself. Said I didn't belong on his stage."Farline smiled, her full lips curling at the edges and her eyes crinkling just so. She approached Jorin, all but ignoring Rinya's presence, and without warning threw her arms around Jorin's neck and hugged him, pressing against him as she did so.
Then she backed off, and laughed brightly.
"Oh Jori, you don't ever change do you?" she said as her laughter died down somewhat.
"Trelaine was just angry, Jori. And you did flub more than a few lines at that last performance. But, that doesn't mean we don't want you!" Farline pouted at the last statement, looking at Jorin with large, clear eyes.
Jorin sighed.
"I can't go back, Farline. You know me, I can't go back, not after what Eric said. I'm at the Amphitheater now ... I can't just abandon them." And I can't just abandon Rinya, either, Jorin thought. But he did not say it, just squeezed Rinya's hand a bit to assure her. He hoped she'd get at least something from their bond to reassure her he'd never leave.
"Trelaine doesn't know, does he?" he queried Farline with a somewhat mischievous smile, but it wasn't really a question. Farline's eyes fell a bit and she flushed prettily.
"If Eric wanted me back, he'd come for me himself. Why are you really here, Farline?""The troupe wasn't the same without you," Farline admitted, fingering her hair in her nervousness.
"We missed your antics. Your stupid jokes. Your energy. You brought life to our art. We missed you."Farline looked back up, and smiled softly.
"I missed you..."
