<Storyteller> Brianna awakens with a start, the room is cold and the window is open blowing
a cold wind upon you
* Brianna shivers
<Storyteller> You notice someone lying next to you,
* Brianna looks over
* Connor smiles up sleepily at Brianna. "Hey. You want me to close the window?"
<Brianna> "Yes, please. It's cold in here."
* Brianna pulls the sheets over her trying to get warm
* Connor climbs out of bed, throws on a robe, and moves over to the window. He looks
out the window, shuts it, walks back over to the bed, and climbs back in. "There
you are, Bri."
* Brianna smiles at Connor. "Thank you!"
* Brianna lies back down and tries to sleep
* Connor shrugs, and then smiles a bit. "No problem."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: "He never loved you. He never would. He never could." }
* Brianna gets a troubled expression on her face
* Brianna looks over at Connor
<ML> {You know that isn't true, Brianna... don't overanalyze it}
<Hindsight> {Brianna: All you are to him is a tool for sex.}
* Connor reaches over to touch Brianna's face. "What's the matter?"
<ML> {See that? Warm and tender. Don't be bitter}
* Brianna flinches a bit
<Brianna> "N..nothing. I'm alright."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: A touch will always lead to him using you.}
* Konnor rolls over and forces a kiss on Brianna
* Brianna pulls back
<Brianna> "Please, not now."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: His penis aches for you, not his heart. That was how it
always was.}
* Konnor gets up off the bed and give Brianna a disguted look
<ML> {Listen to your heart, dear. You know how he really felt about you, and you
about him.}
<ML> {Don't be deceived}
* Konnor goes into the bathroom and slams the door hard
* Brianna looks up at Konnor. "Please, don't be mad. I'm just..tired."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: "Ha, your heart may love him, but he is the deceiver.
Remember, he was a Mage that could manipulate." }
* Brianna sighs, feeling guilty that she's not making him happy. After all, he is the
only one who took care of her after her grandmother died
* Connor comes back out.
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Why do you think he took care of you. Out of pity? HA!
Remember, you were touched by his offer and his scars, but he always had a way of
manipulating you to fuck.}
* Connor sits down on the bed, and sighs. "I'm sorry, Bri. I overreacted. It's
just...you know how I am. I express my love physically."
* Brianna looks up at Connor, hoping to see that his mood has changed again. He was
always so volatile
* Brianna smiles a bit and takes Connor's calloused hand.
<Brianna> "It's ok, I understand."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: :It was always physical. Did he ever once try to be emotional?
NO!}
* Brianna wishes that this sick feeling in her stomach would go away
* Connor strokes Brianna's cheek gently. "You know I love you."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Love. Lust. Whats the difference to him.}
<ML> {Don't be confused by these stray thoughts. Hold on to the memory of your love
for Connor, that can never desert you.}
* Brianna smiles slightly
* Konnor looks away for a moment
<Brianna> "I know that you do, it's just..why are you so angry all the time!"
<ML> {Remember the good that was in him, and the way that only you could bring it out}
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Of course YOU loved him. That was the only love that ever
existed between the 2 of you.}
<Brianna> "You know that I do everything I can to please you."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Remember the times he was angry when you wouldn't please him.
Remember the hitting? The beatings?}
* Brianna swallows, hoping her question won't set him off
<Connor> "I don't know why I'm always angry. I try not to direct it at you, it's
just sometimes..."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: <sounds of smacking and her crying> }
<Storyteller> Suddenly, Connor's face changes, black veins run through his skin as he smiles
a razor blade grin
* Konnor turns from her
<ML> {Whatever happens, never doubt the love that you shared...}
* Brianna gasps and sits back
<Hindsight> {Brianna: <sounds of smacking and her crying> }
<Konnor> "How about now? Love me still?"
* Konnor grins and howls
<Brianna> "W..what's wrong with you!?"
* Brianna stands up, backing away
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Come on Brianna. Let him have you. That is what your good
at.}
<ML> {Illusions, all. Hold tightly to your love}
<Konnor> "I died for you, and then you turn around and kill me again!"
* Brianna feels tears well up in her eyes
* Konnor looms closer and closer
<Brianna> "N..no..I wouldn't.."
* Brianna backs up, frantically feeling behind her for the doorknob
* Konnor points to the spear through his chest
* Connor turns suddenly
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Do what you always do, take your clothes off and let him have
his way with you. Then things will be all right then.}
<ML> {That was not Connor, and you know it. That was Scar. Don't let your hatred for
him blind you to your love for the man he was}
<Brianna> "You hurt me! You hurt other people!!"
<Storyteller> Brianna faints away
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Scar was Conner. One and the same. They both hurt people.
They both hurt you.}
<Storyteller> Brianna smiles as she looks across the dinner table at Connor, the meal is
excellent,
<Storyteller> Light music plays from the stereo in the living room
* Brianna smiles and takes a sip of her wine
<Brianna> "How are you feeling today?"
<Hindsight> {Brianna: image of Conner with another woman.}
* Brianna 's smile falters
<Hindsight> {Brianna: Wonderful honey.}
<Connor> "Mmmn...I'm alright. It's amazing that you're the only person in this
damned cabal who I don't get angry at. Dinner is excellent, by the way. You
always did know how to cook."
<Brianna> "Well, I try.."
<Hindsight> {Brianna: image of Conner with a different woman on the table.}
* Connor smiles "I know. And you succeed."
<Brianna> "I used to cook for my grandmother all the time, she.."
<Connor> "Would you care to dance?"
<Brianna> "Ok.."
<ML> {Look carefully, Brianna. Look with your heart.}
* Connor offers his hand to Brianna
* Brianna folds her napkin and puts it on the table, trying to banish these troubling
thoughts. Connor wouldn't do that to her.. he wouldn't...
<Hindsight> {Brianna: A little song, a little dance, then he'll be looking for a
little romance.}
* Brianna starts feeling sick to her stomach again, but stands and takes Connor's
hand. He's in such a good mood tonight, she doesn't want to spoil it.
* Konnor slow dances with Brianna, being the complete gentleman
<Konnor> "You are a good dancer too."
* Konnor says with a smile
* Brianna smiles up at Connor. "Thank you! I had a good teacher."
* Konnor continues to dance
<ML> {Connor has a hard time showing his love, Brianna... sex was just the best way
he could express how he felt about you}
<Storyteller> Brianna gets closer to him nuzzling his neck, when she smells a perfume on
him...a perfume she does not wear
* Konnor looks down at her and smiles
* Brianna looks up at Connor
<Brianna> "Where were you today, by the way?"
<Konnor> "Out in the desert."
<Konnor> "There is this place that I go out there."
<Konnor> "Why?"
<Brianna> "Will you take me some time?"
* Konnor dosen't answer her for awhile
* Brianna looks up at him.
<Brianna> "Connor?"
<Konnor> "It is kinda boring, just a place for me to think."
<Brianna> "You go out there an awful lot.. I don't like you leaving me alone so much!"
* Brianna smiles up at him, trying to gauge his reaction to her words, hoping she's
not making him angry
<Konnor> "We are not one person you know."
<Brianna> "I know, it's just that I get lonely sometimes. You don't like me hanging
out with anyone else in the Cabal unless you're there.."
<ML> {He's just protective of you because he doesn't want to see you hurt. He loves
you dearly...}
* Konnor steps away from her
<Brianna> "What is it?"
<Konnor> "Nothing."
<Brianna> {oh dear. I shouldn't have said that}
<Konnor> Why do you always have to ruin it when I try to do something nice for you?!?"
<Brishadow> {He does love you, you know.}
<Konnor> "Damn!"
<Brianna> "I...I didn't mean to ruin anything! I'm sorry! I just meant that I miss
you when you're gone. That's all."
<Konnor> "Then what is with the 20 questions?"
<Brianna> "Please, don't get angry. Let's dance some more, ok?"
<Konnor> "Just get away from me."
<Brishadow> {That's it, dear. Appease him. Don't let him storm off, you may never
see him again}
<Brianna> "Please, Connor...I didn't mean to ask you too many questions. I didn't
mean it. We'll talk about something else."
* Konnor turns and walks out the door, slamming it behind him
* Brianna watches him go, feeling hurt and a bit resentful
<Brianna> {Why doesn't he want me to know what he's doing!}
* Konnor comes back in and grabs his coat off the coat rack
<Brishadow> {You worthless bitch! The only man who has *ever* loved you, who could
ever love you, and you let him walk away! Go after him!}
* Konnor dosen't even look at Brianna
<Brianna> "Wait! Connor, where are you going? Please, come back."
<ML> {Don't let him go...}
* Konnor turns to her
<Brianna> "I didn't mean to make you upset. Come back, I made you dessert.. your
favorite! Come sit down at the table."
* Conner slumps against the door
* Brianna looks at him worridly
<Brianna> "Wh..what's wrong?"
<Conner> "Damn it, I'm sorry, Brianna."
* Brianna cautiously moves up to Connor
<Brianna> "I know."
<Conner> "I just...I love you so much. I'm so jealous of you, you're beautiful, and
you could have anyone you want, and it eats away at me."
<ML> {See? You don't have to ever say goodbye}
* Brianna is pleased at the compliment, but then starts feeling herself getting
angry. Why did I start apologizing?
<Brianna> "You don't need to be jealous Connor. You know that."
* Conner hugs Brianna tightly to him.
<ML> {Because when you love someone, you have to make sacrifices. It's part of what
true love means...}
* Brianna hugs Connor back, feeling his rough skin through his shirt. {He's gone
through so much..I should be more understanding. It's just that...oh, why does he
have to be so damned furious all the time!}
<Conner> "I can't help it. I'm so lucky to have you...I mean, *look* at me. YOu
asked me why I'm so angry? It's because I look like this. Can you blame me?
Honestly?"
<Brianna> "You know that it doesn't matter what you look like!"
<Brianna> "You know that I love you! You don't have to worry. I'm not going anywhere!"
<Brianna> {I'm not going anywhere. *sigh*}
<ML> {That's right! Your love for each other is eternal, nothing can separate you!}
<Conner> "How easy for you to say. You've never had to live like this. You don't
know. But...I've never wanted to live in self pity. I just express my hurt
through my anger. I promise, I'll try to tone it down with you."
* Brianna smiles and looks at Connor.
<ML> {See? Even he can make compromises for your love}
<Brianna> "Thanks. I know you didn't mean it. Now come over and let me feed you this
cheesecake.."
<Brianna> {Why does being kind have to be a compromise! Grandmother never told me it
would be like this}
* Conner smiles, then kisses Brianna. "Ok. Let's see if the dessert is as good as the
meal."
<ML> {Perhaps Grandmother didn't have someone quite like Connor}
* Brianna wonders what Tania would do in her position, then thinks that Tania would
never let herself get in such a position. She is so strong!
* Conner goes and sits at the table
* Brianna goes into the kitchen, then returns with the dessert
* Brianna cuts Connor a slice then puts it on his plate
* Conner looks hungrily at the dessert...then looks hungrily at Brianna. "After
dinner, will you...uh...come to bed with me?"
<ML> {Remember, it's the only way he really knows how to open up and show his love...}
* Brianna sighs inwardly. It always comes down to this. But he's so insecure..if I
don't he'll be hurt. Like I'm rejecting him..
<Brianna> "Sure Connor, anything you like."
<ML> {It's not so bad, is it?}
* Brianna smiles at him
* Conner smiles back at her
* Conner digs into his dessert, and smiles appreciatively. He finishes it quickly
<Conner> "That was excellent, Bri!"
<Brianna> "Thank you! Do you want to dance again?"
<Storyteller> "Yes it was," comes a voice from your left
<Storyteller> Connor smiles at you
* Brianna looks over to her left
* Brianna blinks
<Storyteller> You look to find Connor smiling at you through a bloody face, his head is only
half there
<Storyteller> "I wouldn't mind dancing..."
<Brianna> "Ahhh!"
* Brianna jerks to her feet
<Storyteller> "Yeah me either," says Scar
* Brianna whirls around to the other voice
<Storyteller> Scar raises a glass, "How about it hon."
<Storyteller> "Hey who are you looking at! huh, who you looking at bitch!" says another voice
<Brianna> "You!!" Brianna exclaims at Scar
* Brianna turns once again to the new voice
<Storyteller> Connor gets up and slaps you across the face
<Storyteller> "he's got nothin on me! Nothin."
* Brianna cringes back, holding her hand up to her face
* Brianna looks wildly at the three different figures
<Storyteller> The slap hits you hard and you fall to the floor
* Brianna falls to her knees
* Brianna looks up through teary eyes
<Brianna> "No, NO! You promised, you promised you wouldn't do this anymore!"
<Konnor> "So I lied.... it woulden't be the first fucking time."
* Brianna gets to her feet, feeling anger begin to seep in through the fear and hurt
<Konnor> "Would it!"
<Konnor> "Not that your any kind of angel......"
* Brianna points to Scar. "YOU! I killed you! You're gone, destroyed!"
* Konnor begins to change into Scar
<ML> {None of this is real...}
<Konnor> "WRONG!"
<Brianna> "This is ALL wrong!"
* Konnor pokes her in the forehead
* Brianna balls her hands into fists
<Konnor> "I will always be alive in there."
* Brianna flinches back from his touch
<Brianna> "NO! I don't need you! I never did!"
<ML> {Of course you do! Love...}
<Konnor> "No matter what you think Baby, you keep me alive...because you need me."
<ML> {You do, you need him...}
<Brianna> "No, you're wrong. YOU were the one who needed ME."
<ML> {No! That's not how it works at all! Your love was perfect! Eternal!}
* Konnor strikes her again
<Storyteller> Brianna's vision becomes black
* Brianna reels back, stumbling
<Brianna> "You lie! You always lied!!"
* Brianna feels her Avatar's wings fluttering in the back of her mind and calls to her
<Brianna> The blood dripping from her lips hit the floor in small plops, the sound
rushing in her ears
<ML> {No, this is lies... don't turn your back on your one true love...}
* Brianna starts chanting in the sacred language taught to her by her grandmother and
she points at Connor, asking for the aid of her ancestors, and their ancestors
before them. "Spirits! Hear me! Protect me!"
<Konnor> "You are dead remember......"
<Konnor> "Who the hell is going to come to help you?"
<Storyteller> Suddenly a sound of wind as Connor is knocked to the floor
<Storyteller> Brianna stands as her vision goes black
<ML> {Only you can help yourself now; don't turn your back on your love...}
<Storyteller> brianna awakens in the chantry
* Brianna looks around, dazed
<Storyteller> You stand and walk about the living room, you can hear two voices
<Storyteller> It's coming from the bedroom
* Brianna walks towards the bedroom
<Brianna> trying to pin down the voices
<Storyteller> They are muffled youcan't quite tell
* Brianna opens the door
<Storyteller> You see two people lying in bed, holding each other
* Brianna 's eyes widen
<Storyteller> the darkness of the room hides their faces
* Connor 's voice is choked with emotion. "God...she's gone, she's fucking gone...I
can't believe it...I'd do anything to bring her back..."
* Connor begins to sob
<Storyteller> "It's ok,"
* Brianna turns on the light
<Storyteller> brianna's hand passes through the wall
<Connor> "No! It's not...I *loved* her...I love her..."
* Brianna moves closer, wondering what is going on
<Storyteller> "I know, I know. But you've got me now. And that's all that matters."
* Brianna tries to pinpoint the voice
<Konnor> "You are right."
<Konnor> "You are so understanding."
<Storyteller> A hand turns on the bedlamp and Tania smiles
<Konnor> "I am so exausted."
* Brianna pales and stares in shock
* Konnor turns and winks at Tania
<Storyteller> "You put alot of effort into it, honey."
<Konnor> "You wore me out."
<Storyteller> Tania pats him on the groin
<Brianna> {nonononono...}
<Konnor> "Woah.... I am a little sore."
<Storyteller> "So was I better than that niave little girl?"
* Konnor rolls over and kisses Tania
<Brianna> "What are you doing!!!!"
<Konnor> "Much better."
* Brianna walks closer to the bed
<Brianna> "This can't be happening... Tania...."
<Storyteller> Tania smiles, "She never really knew what she was doing in this room."
<BriShadow> {You're dead...he feels betrayed. You can't blame him for feeling bitter}
* Brianna feels more sickened by Tania's insults than Connor's betrayal
<Konnor> "That is for sure."
<Brianna> {grrrrrrrr}
<BriShadow> {He found solace where he could.}
<Storyteller> "She was young, she'd learn."
<Konnor> "Doubt it, some people are naturals, others......."
<BriShadow> {Anger does not become you, my dear. Can you blame him? *You*? He
loved you, which is more than can be said for *anyone* else. Your fates lie
together forever}
<Brianna> {I know you never loved me. I knew it. Connor you bastard!}
<Storyteller> Tania looks over and smiles directly at you
<Konnor> "Do you hear something?"
<Storyteller> "Well hey there sugar, wanna join the party?"
* Brianna looks at the two of them lying in her bed
<BriShadow> {Of course he loved you!}
<Brianna> "NO!"
* Konnor turns to Brianna
<Konnor> "Yeah maybe Tania can teach you a thing or two."
* Brianna glares at Connor
<Storyteller> "Yeah, I could do that. isn't she sweet?"
<Brianna> "Stay here with your whore. I don't need you, I don't need anyone!"
* Brianna turns and runs out of the room
* Conner gets up quickly, and then rushes after Brianna
<Conner> "Wait! Brianna, wait! I didn't mean that...I only love you. Please, I
need you!"
<Brianna> "I don't need you anymore Connor. I finally see you as you are, not what I
hoped you would be. Go away!"
<Conner> "Brianna, wait! I promise I'll change. I'll be whatever you want. Please,
don't leave me!"
<Conner> "I swear on my avatar to change. Please, come back to me..."
<Brianna> "Do you know something, Connor? I don't want you to be anything else. As a
matter of fact, I don't want you at all."
<Eidilon> {You don't need him, you never did.}
<Eidilon> {Find the strength within you Brianna}
* Brianna turns and stares Connor right in the face
<Brianna> "Go away. I Don't Need You."
<Conner> "But I need *you*. How can you turn your back on me? Don't you have a
heart?"
<Eidilon> {stand your ground, make him walk away from you}
<Brianna> "I gave you everything that I had. And you gave back nothing. You cannot
ask me for anything more. I have nothing to give. I don't love you, I don't even
hate you. There is *nothing* left for me to give you."
<Conner> "You...Wait! What if I asked you for your hand in marriage? Just give me
your hand..."
* Brianna folds her arms and stares right through Connor
<Eidilon> {You owe him nothing, not even the time you waste on him now}
* Brianna turns around and starts walking
* Brianna starts humming a tune from childhood, one her grandmother used to sing to
her when she was small
<Conner> "I *did* give to you, Brianna. I cared for you when no one else would. Is
that worth nothing?"
* Brianna keeps walking
<Storyteller> There is a sudden light as Brianna
<Storyteller> looks up at the sun
<Storyteller> The tree shades out most of it
<Storyteller> She smiles and looks down at herself
<Storyteller> A spider is crawling down the tree to you
* Brianna reaches up towards the spider
* Brianna stands on tiptoe to get closer
<Storyteller> The spider climbs into your hand
* Brianna pulls her hand close to her, face near the spider
<Storyteller> The spider stops moving as it seems to look at you
<Storyteller there is a flash as it turns from a spider to a delicate rose made of webbing
to be continued...
