Everheart: Chapter 2

It was a good decision, the lovers agreed, to uproot their lives and join these Pathfinders.  After spending an entire day meeting with their new fellows, the Lancer and the Dragoon felt a sense of purpose that had been missing with their previous employer.  Misfits seemed as appropriate a word as any to describe this new group, for these men and women were as uncouth and eclectic a group of people as you could find.

Sunset was enveloping the Goblet, and Selah decided to throw on some comfortable linen trousers and matching vest and tend to the company's garden before the light faded.  She knelt beside the bed, and had just finished planting a new patch of seeds when she realized she had forgotten the watering can.  As if by some divine intervention, the very can appeared over her shoulder, along with a soft tickle along the back of her neck.

"Thank you, love," she said with a smile, accepting the watering can.

"You'd be helpless without me," Ginal teased as she loosely wrapped her tail around Selah's neck.

"Oh yes, and then it would have taken all of a few minutes to retrieve this and come back.  Why, it would be the cruelest fate!"

Selah rose and the two shared a laugh and an embrace.  The miqo'te brushed a strand of auburn hair from her beloved's face, and they shared a simple, loving, lingering gaze.  

"Do you feel better?" Selah inquired.

Ginal nodded and pressed herself close to her hyur, taking a moment to indulge in the strong lavender scent that she so often wore.  

"Especially after we..." her voice drifted off as a light blush took hold.

The dragoon softly giggled in reaction, "Mmm yeah?  Did you like when I...?" 

The miqo'te bit her lip and nodded, "And when you let me..."

"Ha, yes.  Truthfully, I rather enjoyed that this time.  You were much more tender than normal."

"Really?" Ginal looked up with a quizzical expression.

Selah gently shrugged, and smiled, "It's still not my favorite, but... Yes, I did enjoy it."

"I don't think that's a good way to get much gardening done, ladies," said a young, melodic voice.

The lovers turned their attention to a moderately muscled hyur woman passing by, easily taller than Selah by at least a head, clad in a form-fitting outfit consisting of a subligar, harness and tall boots.

"Hello, Elysande," Selah called.

"Don't mind me," their employer remarked with a knowing grin.  "Just promise to take it back to your room before it gets too steamy, hm?"

Ginal turned away to hide her flushed face, and Selah simply laughed.

"Yes ma'am, will do."

Their employer offered a playful wink as she opened the double doors into the tall company manor, and vanished inside.  The dragoon found her lover's reaction irresistibly cute and demanding a response, but as she moved to join lips, she felt the tug of small hands on her shirt.

"Excuse me," the moogle mailman happily chirped, "but I'm looking for a Sea-lah Po-chi-nah.  Is this the correct residence?"

Selah could only blink in confusion as Ginal snickered, trying very hard to hold in a full laughing fit.

"Yes, she's Seh-lah Fo-sina," the miqo'te answered.

"Right!  Here you are, then!"  The moogle handed over a sealed letter from his bag, and was on his fluttering way with what sounded like a song of happy chirps and squeaks.

The hyur opened and scanned the letter, as her face broke into an excited smile.

"What is it?" Ginal inquired.

"Do you remember my friend from that art show, the lalafell woman Hanama Nama?"

Ginal thought for a moment, then nodded, "A letter from her?"

"Yes, she's inviting us to her manor for dinner and a tour of her own gallery."  Selah quickly noticed the down-folding ears and slight frown from her beloved, and tilted her head to meet Ginal's gaze.  "Love, I know the last time didn't go well, but maybe this time could be better?  I'd... really like to go and see my friend."



Ginal shifted uneasily as she thought over the request, her tail swishing about anxiously.

Not another one of these hoity-toity things... I wish she'd give this pretentious crap up already.  Why can't we just go stargazing or something?

She absently stared off for a moment, as a simple realization came to mind. 

Still... She doesn't ask this of me that often, and it is to see a friend... I really shouldn't deny her something that means so much to her.

She smiled up at her hyur, "Yeah, maybe it will.  Let's go."

"Thank you, lo..."

She placed a finger over Selah's lips, a devilish grin forming on her face.   "I have conditions."

Selah silently nodded.

"You're wearing a dress.  Something low cut and slinky.  And I wanna see sexy, heeled sandals."

Selah could only frown at the idea.

Why in the world would she want me in something like that?  Doesn't she remember how uncomfortable that would make me?

She shook her head, "I don't even own anything like that, Ginal."

Ginal giggled with a playful glint in her eye.  "Neither do I, but I bet you'd like to see me like that.  We'll treat ourselves to something nice."

Won't that just cause problems when someone takes notice?  She's still got that jealous streak in her...

"Ginal..." 

Selah began to protest, wanting to explain all the reasons why it was a bad idea.  As she began, though, her miqo'te clasped her hands around her own, and locked her gaze with Selah's through a soft smile. 

"My Lady Selah... let me show the city how beautiful and sexy you really are.  Please?"

I'd like to show you off, as well.  Oh, those shining emerald eyes... It's not fair.

The hyur returned the smile, and nodded her agreement.  "All right, Kitten.  Just this time."

Over the next few days, the two searched through Ul'dah's markets and found a dress maker who could do custom work on short notice.   As dusk loomed over the Thanalan region, Ginal and Selah were finishing readying themselves for their grand evening out.

The hyur's face was twisted in an unhappy frown as she looked herself over in the tall mirror.  No matter what angle to she turned to look at herself from, she found herself displeased with the picture she presented, and genuinely uncomfortable in the nearly form fitting dress, even if it was a lovely sapphire shade of satin.  Ginal wrapped her arms around her beloved and began affectionately nuzzling, clad in an emerald-colored evening gown of the same design, with a black sash around her waist that matched the one Selah wore.

"Darling, please relax.  Trust me, you look amazing."

Selah gazed down at her miqo'te, and couldn't fight back a soft blush as she saw how Ginal's petite but shapely figure filled the dress.  She admitted to herself that Ginal certainly looked amazing in such an outfit.

I wonder if I should tell her, before we go.  If she knew ahead of time, she may not get so jealous.  Oh, but it was years ago, and just one night.  It shouldn't even come up.  No, I think we'll be fine.



With a soft, but discontented sigh, Selah shrugged and tried to simply resolve herself to enjoying the evening.  She focused her eyes on her newly altered hairstyle, a basic, yet neatly pulled back pony-tail, and allowed herself a smile as she made sure the hair clips were holding.

"The violet highlights suit you, dearest."

Selah smiled down at her beloved, "I think so, too.  I'll probably keep them for a while."

Ginal pulled away to find her jewelry, a set of silver earrings, rings, choker, and bracelet, all set with lovely peridots.  The miqo'te stood back and watched her beloved don her own jewelry, setting a silver circlet with a single, stunning sapphire on her brow.  The miqo'te thought it looked almost like a third eye, as it matched Selah's eyes so perfectly.

Oh, my love... I could drown in those deep pools of sapphire ocean.

The lancer felt a swelling of pride in her heart as she basked in her lover's magnificence.  Whatever reservations Ginal may have had initially, she knew now that this would be a very good night.



Even Ginal couldn't deny that there was no place in Eorzea quite like Ul'dah after dark.  Though the desert air might have cooled, the endless circle of stone that was the city seemed to retain the day's heat for hours every evening like a comforting, ghostly embrace.  As the couple strolled arm in arm down the lamp-lit street, Ginal noticed their cluster of guiding stars, shining as bright as ever.  Selah instinctively followed her gaze, and they shared loving smile at the sight.

"Gods be good!" exclaimed a young hyur man.  "Look at the way that dress hugs her ass!"

The women turned to see the man nudging at lalafell companion, and indicating Selah.  Their mismatched assortment of leathers and chain mail indicated local sell-swords.

"My, oh, my.  I bet she's got some high quality legs that lead up to it, too." the smaller man remarked.

Selah turned away in disgust, her jaw clenched in irritation.  This was one of the several reasons she didn't want to wear such an outfit.  Ginal's eyes narrowed on the two as her tail shot up, and she practically leaped upon them.

"What was that?  You two have something to say about my lady?"

The adventurers were clearly taken aback at the miqo'te's reaction, and could only stammer out an attempt at clarifying their words.

"Don't you dare speak to her like that, you slimy toads, or I'll rip you apart!"

As her ears twitched, she displayed her short and sharp claws to reinforce the promised punishment, prompting the two to hastily trip over each other as they withdrew from sight.  The dragoon rested her hands on her lover's shoulders as she shook her head, her expression mixed between genuine amusement, and "I told you so."  The miqo'te looked up at her beloved, relaxing as her shoulders were softly massaged.

"What's that look for?"

"Nothing, Kitten.  Thank you for coming to my defense."

Selah kissed Ginal's forehead and offered her arm, and the two resumed their stroll.



Down the Emerald Avenue, and past the Gate of the Sultana they went, and approached the grand yard of a lavish manor.  The sections of steel fencing were set between sturdy stone spires, with an open gate under a sprawling archway centered at the front of the yard.  The front face of the building was easily twice as wide as their own company's house, and the window panes were set in elaborately carved arches all across each floor of the grand structure.  Ginal's eyes were wide with astonishment as she let out a long, sharp whistle while they headed down the cobblestone walkway, with an ornate iron lamppost set every several steps.

"Gods be good...THIS is your friend's home?"

"Oh yes, her husband is quite wealthy."

They were greeted at the towering manor doors, under a grand archway, by a finely dressed elezen man servant, who nodded curtly to Selah as they approached.

"Madame Phocina."

"Ah, Cedrifort, it's good to see you!"

The servant nodded again and opened the great door into the manor.  The pair followed him in, and after closing the door behind them, the servant silently ambled away up a large, carpeted stairwell in the center of the foyer.  If the art show in Costa del Sol had made Ginal feel out of place, then this luxuriously furnished palace was nothing but alien.  Other, meticulously groomed and finely dressed servants strolled gracefully across the polished marble floor.  Silk drapes fell over the windows, and the lancer could see that within the dining hall off to the side, all the furniture was carved from magnificent cypress.

Ginal looked around the near cavernous space of the manor house, and began to feel lightheaded as the color drained from her face.  If there was ever a place she didn't belong, it was here.  Selah looked to her with concern and gently nudged her.

"Hey, it's okay.  I'm here with you, Kitten."

Ginal gave a hesitant nod. The fear gradually subsided as the hyur placed a gentle kiss on Ginal's forehead, and she softly smiled.

"Selah, darling, so wonderful to see ya!"

A lalafell woman who reached the dragoon's knees strode up to them, and the hyur dropped down to meet her in an embrace.  The gray of her neck-length hair and the lines developing in her features suggested to Ginal a woman of her mid forties.  Though the smallkin woman beamed quite happily at Selah, the miqo'te thought she saw a glint of sadness in the older woman's eyes.

She also noticed how the older woman's eyes remained on her lover's cleavage for a moment.  She fought her irritation down, and accepted it.  Maybe this was one of the reasons Selah was hesitant to wear this kind of dress.  Point taken.

"I'm glad ya could make it, darling!"

"It's good to see you, too, Hanama."

The lalafell finally took notice of the Ginal and extended her hand, "Erm...Julie, was it?"

"Jih-nahl," she corrected, as she fought to stifle the annoyance in her voice.

"Of course, my apologies!  I do sometimes struggle with names, don'cha know."

The smallkin woman led them deeper into the foyer as she gestured to the dining hall, "Dinner's still being readied, but I thought I'd get your thoughts on some new pieces I recently added to the gallery."

"Sounds lovely," Selah agreed.

Ginal's tail swished anxiously as she forced a smile.

They made their way into a long, rectangular room, with paintings of various sizes displayed along the walls and on easels on both sides.  The center of the room hosted a few comfortably padded benches arranged in a circle, with sculptures small and large spaced between the seating.  The silver haired elezen, Cedrifort, stepped deliberately into the room,bearing a silver tray of crystal glasses of wine.

"Chardonnay, Madame?" he asked Hanama.

"Ah, lovely!" she replied.  "Ladies?"

"Yes, please!" Selah merrily replied.

The servant handed a glass over to each of the women, then ambled away.  Ginal briefly hesitated, but accepted the glass and watched as the others slowly swirled the glassware under their noses.  She recoiled as she tried to follow along, and the wine's scent cut sharply into her nostrils.

"What's wrong, darling?" the smallkin inquired.

Ginal forced her grimace into a false smile, "Um, nothing.  It, um...smells great."

Hanama looked to the hyur as she sipped the wine.  "Mm, this is one of my favorites.  I love the citrus blend."

Selah nodded as she held the wine in her mouth for a moment, "Was it aged in a new oak barrel, Hana?"

"Why, yes, it was!  I see you haven't lost your tastes."

The hyur softly laughed, "It has a distinct vanilla tone that, if I recall, comes from newer oak barrels.  What do you think, Kitten?"

As the wine washed over the miqo'te's tongue, it was all she could do to not spit it back into her glass.  She forced it down in a gulp and paused for a moment.

"Yes...vanilla.  Very good."

"Dearest, would you like to try a lighter wine?  Maybe something that...your miqo'te senses could stand more easily?"

Ginal shook her head, and forced another smile as she took another sip.  "No, it's...quite all right."

Selah hoped the phrasing was as delicate as it sounded in her mind, but recognized the meaning of the sharply swishing tail and twitching ears.  She knew her beloved was already uncomfortable at best, and might quickly grow frustrated.  It was time to move on.

"Ah, Hana, you said you have some new pieces in the gallery?"

"Oh, yes, yes!" the lalafell chirped.  "One of them is Sisifu's newest experiment, actually.  She's trying her hand at cityscapes."

Hanama led them several steps into the gallery, past a portrait of some young looking lalafell woman Ginal assumed was probably a famous leader, and past a still life of a bouquet of roses that Selah found pretty, but not particularly imaginative.  They stopped before a wide canvas covered in dashes of brown, splashes of green and swirls of blue, all nestled between jagged gray blocks.

"This is her interpretation of Gridania," the lalafell explained.

"Mmhm, I like the way she uses straight dashes for the buildings alongside splashes for the trees," the dragoon mused.

"And the city's streams as those wild swirls!  Oh, it's such a vibrant piece, don'cha know!  I can almost smell the lumber being cut at the carpenter's guild!"

Selah smiled wide as she admired the work.  She could feel the gentle breeze through the boughs as she focused on the splashes of green, and felt the security of being within the Black Shroud's mountains as her eyes drifted to the sharp blocks of gray.

"Kitten, what do you think?"

Ginal clenched her jaw as she stared at the canvas.  Her eyes drifted from one corner to the next, and back.  She stared, and stared, but for the life of her, she could only find the most vague representation of her home on this canvas.

"I think...it's a very lovely piece of art," she carefully drawled.

The hyur leaned down to whisper to her lover.  "Remember, love, it's not to be taken as a literal representation.  The use of color and wild..."

"I know."  Ginal closed her eyes and bit her lip, realizing the sharpness of her tone.  "Thank you, dearest, but I know."

Once again Selah noticed the sharp swishing of Ginal's tail and the twitching of her ears, and knew that she was becoming increasingly frustrated.  The dragoon didn't want to make her beloved feel so alienated, but she found herself feeling irritated that Ginal seemed so incapable of just trying to enjoy something new.

"Madame Nama, dinner is being served," Cedrifort curtly informed the group.  He bowed, and meandered out of the gallery.

Selah felt a sense of relief.  Food was an uncontroversial pleasure.  Maybe this evening could be salvaged over a nice dinner.



The ornately carved dining table could have easily seated twenty people.  It stretched the length of the room, the fine lacquer coating glowing as it reflected the light of the candelabras set along it.  The women were seated at the edge of the grand table as waitstaff carried in large bowls of salad and platters of roasted meat.  Ginal didn't realize how hungry she was until she caught the scent of the meal placed before her, but now she was eagerly grinning, and nearly drooling.

"Ooh, it smells so good!"

Cedrifort was making his way around the table, pouring water into finely etched crystal glassware, as a miqo'te manservant in similar dress dished the first serving of salad into each woman's bowl.  Ginal looked longingly at the roasted meat, then shrugged, licked her lips and reach for her utensils.  But she was halted by Selah's own hand.  the miqo'te gave a puzzled look, but followed the hyur's eyes and head inclination toward their host, and watched as Hanama chose the smallest fork of their place setting.  The miqo'te looked at her own setting and found the same kind of utensil, offering an embarrassed smile.  Selah silently responded with a smile of her own as she squeezed Ginal's hand.

"Ginal, darling, I saw your performance at the tournament a while back.  Very impressive to take down those two armored brutes, don'cha know."

The dragoon proudly smiled upon her beloved.  "Yes, she's amazing at what she does.  There's nobody I'd rather have at my side in a fight."

The lancer smiled shyly at her lover's compliment.  She searched through her mind for something to say in return, but decided to stay focused on her salad as she bowed her head in gratitude.

"I was wondering, though.  I saw you standing at the balcony, Selah, and I was curious about what it was you were mouthing to Ginal."

Ginal couldn't help but laugh with a mouth full of salad as she recalled the memory.  Selah quietly cleared her throat to get the lancer's attention, and deliberately covered her mouth with her hand.  With an embarrassed blush, the miqo'te stifled her laugh and closed her mouth.

"Oh, it's quite a tale in itself," Selah finally answered, grinning shyly.

"Yeah, Selah was just reminding me of how she would let me cover her in whipped..."

The miqo'te winced and mentally chided herself at letting her mouth run, and the hyur could only stare in disbelief.  Hanama's face flushed crimson initially, but after a moment had passed, Ginal thought she saw the older woman's brow arching as her gaze lingered over Selah, followed by brief and saddened smile.

She balled her fist under the table as she felt her heart beginning to pound.  Yes, her Lady was a stunningly beautiful woman, but that wasn't an invitation to check her out.  Selah was hers, gods damn it all, and... And she knew it was time to take a breather.

"Yes, well..." the dragoon began, "We have a very healthy bedroom life."

"That's certainly a good thing, don'cha know," the lalafell replied with a forced laugh.

Selah knew Ginal didn't speak the words on purpose, but she felt embarrassed and annoyed anyway.  Would it really kill Ginal, she wondered, to keep a better mind on social etiquette?  She had also caught sight, out of the corner of her eye, the way that Hanama just looked her over, and desperately hoped her beloved hadn't noticed.  That would be the last thing this evening needed.  The hyur was beginning to think this dinner might have been a colossal mistake.  At the very least, the lovers were going to need to sit down and talk some things over later.

Ginal softly cleared her throat as she slowly rose and offered the most polite smile she could to her hostess.

"Excuse me, Hanama, but might I use your bathroom?"

"Of course, darling.  Cedrifort, show her the way please?"

If Cedrifort had already been there, he had a talent for making himself go unseen.  He curtly bowed his head to the miqo'te with a gesture toward the foyer.

"This way, Madame."

Ginal followed the elezen through the Foyer and into a hallway she hadn't noticed before, stopping before a closed door.

"Thank you, Ced."

He again gave a curt bow of his head, and departed.



"Oh, dear me, darling, she's quite uncomfortable here, isn't she?"

The hyur nodded with an annoyed frown, "Yes...but I really wish she would at least TRY to have some fun.  These things aren't nearly as bad as they seem when you get a little used to it."

The lalafell hopped down from her seat and beckoned her friend to follow.  The two made a few steps to one of the windows that stretched from the floor to the ceiling, and looked out at the night sky.

"Don't you remember how imposing all this pomp and circumstance was when you first were introduced to it?  Did you stop to tell her anything about these formal outings and etiquette?"

Selah sighed when she realized that she hadn't.  The last time she had wanted to, things got out of hand quickly, and then Ginal almost died, and then... They had made good progress, with their dedicated talking time and insistence on not holding back feelings anymore, but it was clear there  was still some work to do.  This night was hanging by a thread, and Selah knew she'd need to make Ginal sit down and talk to her about things before it could fester.

"Well then, maybe that's somewhere to start," Hanama suggested.  She reached up to pat Selah's arm with a smile, "And maybe something with less a chance for embarrassment?  Dinner for just you two, for example?"

"I rather wish I had thought of that, sooner," Selah admitted.  "It's just..the mercenary life keeps us busy, and then we get lost in our down time.  I relish the chances to just stay in bed and hold her close for a few extra hours so much that I don't really think about going somewhere formal with her until it's right in my face."

The hyur folded her arms under her chest as a dreamy expression formed.  "I mean, I enjoy these types of outings, but... I've been perfectly content to just lie under the stars with her, or relax in a bar with a mug of mead and some stew.  If she'll let me have a next time, I think I'll just take your advice and visit one of the restaurants in this section of the city."

Hanama regretfully looked away from her friend.  "It..sounds like things have been going well with her."

Selah smiled to herself with an absent nod.  "I love her, Hana.  More than anything, and certainly more than I ever thought would happen for me, I love her, and she loves me.  We've got our rough edges to smooth out, but it's a strong bond, and...I..."

"You what?"

"I'm going to ask her to bond herself to me."  The dragoon's heart swelled at the thought, for she knew she had never meant anything more than this.

She shook herself from her reverie to find her friend wiping tears from her eyes, and knelt to meet her gaze.

"Hana..."

"I'm...I'm sorry, darling..."  The lalafell drew in a long breath and slowly let it go.  She turned her sorrowful gaze upon Selah with a forced smile.  "I just... had hoped..."

"That was years ago, Hana.  I learned a great deal from what we shared, for which I'm grateful, but... You know that we wouldn't have worked."

Hanama sharply exhaled, offering a knowing nod.  She wiped at her eyes again and smiled a softer, but less forced smile.  "I know.  I had still, foolishly, hoped, don'cha know."

"I think it's time you started learning from your own advice and example, Hana.  It's not too late for you to be happy, too."

The friends held each other in a long embrace, and separated with a smile.  The smallkin clasped her hands around the hyur's, "I will always treasure what we shared."

An enraged growl came from behind them, and they quickly turned to see Ginal raise her arm and throw a wine glass to the floor.



Ginal stared at her reflection in the mirror for a moment longer and nodded confidently.

"Okay, Ginal.  It's just one night, and you need to get over your hangups.  Relax and have some fun.  It's not like you're in battle."

She thought of the other woman, and those lingering glances toward Selah.  Her heart sped and her tail flicked anxiously.

"I know... But it's something I'm just going to have to start learning to deal with, right?  Selah's a goddess, and someone is bound to notice eventually... Gods, I'm such an insecure little bitch sometimes."

She drew in a lengthy breath, and slowly let it go.  She smiled at herself, and exited the restroom.  Cedrifort was waiting in the foyer, holding a tray of glasses of wine, and he offered his customarily curt nod.

"Would Madame like to take a moment before leaping back into the fray?"

She accepted a glass and examined the sleepy eyed man, realizing that he was much more aware of people than his mannerisms initially suggested.

"No, but thank you Ced.  I think I'll be quite fine."

No sooner were the words spoken, than she had entered the grand dining hall to find Selah and Hanama embracing and holding hands.

"I will always treasure what we shared," the smallkin stated.

It was all Ginal needed to hear, and the anger swelled in her heart so quickly that felt like she would burst.  A low, enraged growl escaped her throat as she raised her arm and threw the wine glass to the floor.

"So that's it?  You dragged me out here so you could show yourself off to your old flame?"

Selah reached out for her beloved.  "Kitten, I..."

"Oh, shut the fuck up!  I'm out of here."

The miqo'te turned on her heel and stormed away, pulling the entrance door open as quickly as she could manage to make her escape.  The hyur collapsed into a chair, her shoulders dropped in defeat.

"Darling, you didn't tell her about us?"

"I didn't want to risk, well...this happening."

Hanama shook her head with a disappointed sigh as she approached her friend.  "Selah...I can agree that, maybe, she needs to learn to relax in the unfamiliar better, but... There's no good reason for me to know about your life, but not the woman you say you want to bond yourself to."

Selah stared at the lalafell, and felt utterly ashamed that she had to be at all reminded of such a basic truth.  Trying to avoid hurt feelings or reliving unpleasant memories was a very poor reason to avoid telling her lover about things that mattered.

"What are you still doing here, darling?  Move your ass!"

Taken aback, but spurred on by the words, Selah leaped to her feet and made her way out of the manor as quickly as the dress would allow her.  She hurried down the cobblestone walkway, and down a short strip of the city's street before she saw  Ginal storming her way along.

"Wait!" the hyur cried, "Kitten, wait!"

Ginal heard her clearly, but refused to stop.

Not this time, no ma'am.

The miqo'te had every intention of taking the aethernet back to the manor and locking herself in their room.  Selah was just going to have to sleep on the yard, for all she cared.

"Um, dearest?  Yoo-hoo!"

Still the lancer kept her pace, her tail swishing rapidly as she clenched her fists.  Selah felt this was quite enough.  Ginal was right to be angry about the withholding of information, but the dragoon knew they were both in the wrong tonight, and it was time for her to listen up.  She sped her steps and circled around the obstruct the redhead's path.

"Okay, Ginal, this has gone far enough! Will you just talk to me?"

"Fine, let's talk!" the miqo'te growled.  "Let's talk about you dragging me into yet another one of these stuffy, pretentious outings, knowing full damn well that I'm out of my element!"

Selah was aware that passersby on the streets had started turning their heads at the exchange between them, but right now it didn't seem to matter.  Civility be damned, this was getting figured out once and for all.

"Maybe if you weren't so GODS DAMNED bent on wallowing in your discomfort, you might actually be able to relax and have some FUN, Ginal!  Gods, I'm sorry that you're uncomfortable, but all you ever had to do was trust me and follow my lead!"

"You might be right..." Ginal begrudgingly admitted.  "But it would have been nice to have, I don't know, gone over some sort of primer for this shit, Selah.  I drink beer and like paintings that look like the real thing, you know this!  And damn, so many stupid forks and spoons, wha-what's the point of all that?!"

"Okay, I could have done better there, I can admit to that.  It still doesn't negate that you should have been able to trust that I wouldn't let you look foolish on purpose." the hyur sternly insisted.

"Trust?  Like how I trusted that you weren't holding anything else back?  And how I trusted that your attention would be on ME?"

The hyur scowled at the accusation, "What good would it have done to tell you that we had been lovers?  You'd get into a damned jealous fit, just like this, and you'd refuse to let me see a dear friend."

Ginal paused as the words went through her mind, for she couldn't deny their truth.  And hadn't she just told herself in the mirror to not get like this?

"And I wasn't there to show myself off," Selah continued, "I was there to say goodbye."

The miqo'te's expression explained her lack of understanding.  With a soft sigh, the dragoon beckoned her love to a nearby bench.

"Kitten... I met Hanama year ago, when I was still hurting from what I went through at Geoffrey's hands, but now I had my freedom and could defend myself."

Ginal looked up when Selah paused, searching for the proper words.

"We were drawn to each other because our lives were similar.  We had both been young women, pushed into arranged marriages with men we would never love, or even desire.  We were both poor as children, and learned to like the things that money could provide, and we both lived in very finely furnished prisons."

Ginal's ears folded in as she listened, her heart sinking with each word spoken.

"One night, when her husband was away to visit his mistress, things just...happened.  I don't really know how to explain.  And the next morning, she asked me to stay with her and be her lover.  But, I couldn't."

Selah wrapped an arm around Ginal and kissed her forehead.  She felt relieved and vulnerable to be sharing this part of her life.

"You see Ginal, I learned some things from that night.  I realized that Hanama had been trapped in her prison for much longer than I was in mine, and yet she was still able to find a way to be happy, even if it was only briefly.  It taught me that I didn't have to be a victim to my pain anymore.  And then I realized what being her lover would entail.  Being as prominent in the aristocracy as they are,  our relationship would have to be of been hidden.  In essence, a dirty little secret."

Ginal laid her head on Selah's shoulder and silently listened.  She felt she knew where the story was going, but she knew it was important that it be told.

"But I realized that I'm worth more than that, and that it would just be another type of prison.  So I declined, which put me back on the road that eventually led to you.  In a way, Kitten, I have Hanama to thank for finding my self-worth, and finding you."

"So...you were coming to say a final goodbye to your old life."

"Yes, Ginal.  I wanted to make it clear both to Hanama and myself that I've moved on.  That I'm happy."

The miqo'te softly exhaled, her eyes closed as she shook her head.  "Selah, I... I'm sorry.  I got so wrapped up in my insecurities that I..."

Selah tilted Ginal's head up by her chin and offered a gentle smile, "It's okay, Kitten.  We were both in the wrong tonight, I think."

The two embraced on the bench and held each other for a long moment.  They shared a smile, and a kiss, and held each other's hand as they sat for another silent moment.