|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 4, 2011 16:21:38 GMT -5
"Times change, Lysand." Whether in a Z pattern or not, the blow was still blocked with the blade being held vertically. With a flick of the wrist, the blade was pushed aside, and he lunged forward before completing a forward recover and lunging again before his foot slid forward to try to trip the other up. "But I do tire of this dialog we seem to always have. This stalemate is quite wearisome."
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 4, 2011 21:26:42 GMT -5
"Mm. So I've heard. You've said this before. Next you're likely to bring up the prince and your concerns about how he's ruining the kingdom. I suppose there's not much else to be talked about." Lysand side stepped the first thrust, then parried the other clumsily before he saw Brenthor's foot coming. Luckily for him, the other man was so much slower than him, allowing him to jump it.
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 4, 2011 21:36:20 GMT -5
When Lysand jumped up, Brenthor pivoted, elbow slamming into the advisor's chest, which would probably knock him to the ground. "Oh we'll talk about my concerns alright... Let's start with you." His eyes narrowed. "This country needs you right now, and I'm certain that you're killing yourself." He eyed the bloodied bandage on his shoulder. "It may help me advance politically for you to die, but dammit, that won't help if there's no country left!"
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 4, 2011 21:39:47 GMT -5
Lysand hit the ground hard, and stayed down, a wave of dizziness overcoming him. "Oh, concerned for me in that I'm more useful to you alive right now. I'm touched, truly." He closed his eyes for a brief, trying to stay focused. "Good to know that for this brief moment in time you're not going to stick a knife in my back."
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 4, 2011 21:45:54 GMT -5
"I thought that may be comforting," Brenthor replied with a thin lipped smile. He crouched down, observing the advisor through narrowed eyes. "If this were any other time, I would just stand back and watch you crumble, a smile on my face. Of course the vampires would ruin my fun." He leaned forward, staring at him intently. "Because you're going to, aren't you? You're going to break..."
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 4, 2011 22:00:11 GMT -5
"Tch. Don't think I'm missing the dagger behind that smile." Lysand attempted to get himself up, managing a sitting position. Alright so heavy sword training was not the best thing to do while healing... "If I break, the only grief you'll have this that you would never be the one to break me. You underestimate me. I'm not going to break." He met Brenthor's stare, unsure if he could read the cracks in his usual cold gaze. He had been seeing them multiply ever since he was nearly assassinated.
However, it was not a fear of death that was doing this to him. It was just that he even somehow marked the rushing avalanche that had dragged them to this hell... There were so many things running through his mind. Fears that would go unvoiced; that he could only whisper into the darkness when he tried to fall into the accursed slumber that he needed to live.
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 5, 2011 16:08:27 GMT -5
"Daggers aren't always aimed at you, Lysand. Don't think so highly of yourself." Brenthor leaned in closer to Lysand, eyes staring into his cold gaze. One that he had met often during the years. Yet this time, there was something different about it. He was cracking, he was sure of it. Although his face would have revealed none of it...
The eyes. The eyes always gave men away.
"Something's killing you," he said off handedly. "If you don't find a way to take care of it soon, you're going to crack."
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 5, 2011 22:30:29 GMT -5
"I'll keep your concern in mind, ambassador," Lysand replied icily. he wanted to break off eye contact but managed to hold it steady. Damn Brenthor. Always picking and picking at him until he wanted to scream. He raised a hand wiping sweat from his brow. A thought occurred to him that he voiced. "The commoners who think we're such terrible people..." he smiled grimy. "They don't realize the price we pay for this power, do they?"
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 5, 2011 22:40:29 GMT -5
The question was unexpected and it gave Brenthor pause. "The price we pay for this power...?" He took a moment to understand his meaning before nodding slowly. "I assume you mean the stress on our minds of doing what's right for the kingdom." And by us, Brenthor really meant Lysand. Anything Brenthor did was for the good of Brenthor after all. "So that's what's getting you I suppose. You think that you're going to fail the kingdom."
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 6, 2011 18:25:56 GMT -5
Lysand's eyes dropped to the ground. He was being open. Much to open with Brenthor. The man was going to start picking at his vulnerabilities soon. He couldn't have that. However despite the warning bells screaming in his head, he found his words pouring out without his consent. "I haven't been sleeping." He closed his eyes and took a breath. "At least, not very much. Whenever I do..." He didn't finish the sentence, finally catching himself.
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 7, 2011 16:01:39 GMT -5
"Whenever you do...?" Brenthor prompted, leaning closer to him before he caught himself and kept a more reasonable distance between them. Whenever he did, what? He better not hold out on him and refuse to answer the question!
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 7, 2011 16:10:52 GMT -5
Lysand was silent for a good few moments. He shouldn't be this open with Brenthor. He just shouldn't, but... How could he stop himself from becoming crushed by the weight on his mind? He stared at him, the man he used to tell everything to. Alerick... Alerick would understand what he was going through. But how long it had been since Alerick gave way to Brenthor. He inhaled for a moment before admitting, "I awake in a cold sweat to shadows moving in my room. Moving in to crush me... The secrets that I whisper into the darkness of night turn into wisps that come to strangle me."
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 9, 2011 11:17:59 GMT -5
Oh boy. Another crazy. "Have you been associating with Prince Lorin by any chance?" Oh God. Lysand better not be showing up at his door drunk! He stood up, grabbing the other man's hand to drag him up as well. He stared at him expressionlessly before he spoke. "I have no sympathy for you, Lysand. You did this to yourself. Again and again you shoved your problems behind your wall without facing them. And now... Well, now there's just too much back there for it to hold, isn't there? You're about to burst, and when you do, you'd better not take the kingdom with you."
|
|
|
Post by Tobias Lysand on Jan 9, 2011 13:50:53 GMT -5
"I don't ask for your pity," Lysand replied coldly. "As if I would ever ask for such a thing from you. You don't know what you're talking about. I don't just shove away my problems like a child. I do face them you know." Most of them... The important ones anyway. He turned away from the man, striding forward to start gathering his things. This sparring left him more tired than he thought. "Besides, I would never drag the kingdom down with me. I work for its good and would never do anything to cause its fall."
|
|
|
Post by Alerick Brenthor on Jan 18, 2011 19:44:48 GMT -5
"Tch." Brenthor shook his head slowly. "I never realized just how blind you truly are Lysand. When this kingdom falls out from under you, and you're left standing in its ruin, perhaps then you'll finally see. You'll see how you've sucked the blood out of this kingdom like the leech you are." He backed up a step before offering him a mock bow. "I will take my leave of you."
|
|