"Well, in fairness," Faith explained to Cyrus. "It was my owner's cat. He had instructed me to get rid of the fleas which it had picked up. I went to where Padraig worked, the apothecary," she smiled at Cyrus and gave a slight shrug, "and he told me that I shouldn't bathe it. But, since I was insistent he gave me the things to do it. There was a rockfall, do you remember?" The last was to Padraig and she frowned as the memory happened. "We went and helped, dug workers out and gave them medical help. I don't think I even paid for the oil he sold me." Her hand in Padraig's moved, her thumb just stroking his with a slight movement. "I was already bathing the cat when he called by to bring me a book I'd left behind in our lessons. So, really, he got coerced into cat-bathing." The high pitched scream like a seven arc girl would remain between the two of them, Faith smiled at Cyrus and nodded at Padraig's words about Mistral. "it was the most vile creature. A failed experiment by necromancers, I'm quite sure. "
Padraig's assurance of her beauty, though, met with a shake of her head and nudge in the ribs. "Beauty amplified by roundness? Is that a scientific equation?" He could stop complimenting her in front of other people any time now and that would be just fine, Faith thought and would have said, but Katie spoke.
"You're inviting him to the wedding?" She tried, it had to be said, she tried really hard not to sound incredulous or judgemental of this man. "The one whose cat it was?" Faith smiled and nodded. "Well," Katie said and meant it completely, "you're a much nicer person than me. I'm quite happy to punch him in the nose, if you like." Faith shook her head, well aware that her relationship with Tristan was odd, to say the least and Katie was being nothing except protective. After all, she was pretty sure that Padraig would enjoy a swift left-hook too and maybe he and Katie could start a queue, but really it was probably best simply least said, soonest mended as far as Faith was concerned.
It had to be said, thoughts of Tristan fled from her as Padraig spoke and Faith looked at him as he explained what he wanted. She watched him describe how he felt and what his ideal was. "You do realise," her voice was soft, quieter even than usual and betrayed her emotions clearly, "that you're saying you want it to be what someone else wants? There's an irony there, Professor, which I believe you see." However, that he wanted it to be what she dreamed of made it a very different thing; Faith lifted her hand and stroked his cheek, her eyes showing her emotion.
"When I picture it?" Faith considered and smiled, "we are standing on a cliff, looking out over the water where those creatures are splashing. It's snowing and you have hold of my hand. I think there are people there but I don't know, they're blurry." She thought about it, as her fingers entwined in his and she grinned, suddenly clear about not just what she wanted, but why they were doing it.
"I am already yours. You are already mine. We don't need anything or anyone to affirm that. This is about sharing what already is. So, lets go to Faldrass where we fell through the ground, that was a beautiful spot on a cliff side. Let's go there and tell each other what we already know. Let's tie our hands together to symbolise our hearts, speak words to try and do justice to our feelings and sit and have a picnic with our closest friends and family. But then?" Faith leaned her head against his for a moment, not even vaguely mindful of Cyrus, Katie and Luna. "Then, let's have a party on the orange sand, dance and have music on the beach and at some point, you and I just go get into a rowboat and you row us out to the boat we've hired for the night, just the two of us, and go and stargaze like we never got to do because of the pirates."
Padraig's assurance of her beauty, though, met with a shake of her head and nudge in the ribs. "Beauty amplified by roundness? Is that a scientific equation?" He could stop complimenting her in front of other people any time now and that would be just fine, Faith thought and would have said, but Katie spoke.
"You're inviting him to the wedding?" She tried, it had to be said, she tried really hard not to sound incredulous or judgemental of this man. "The one whose cat it was?" Faith smiled and nodded. "Well," Katie said and meant it completely, "you're a much nicer person than me. I'm quite happy to punch him in the nose, if you like." Faith shook her head, well aware that her relationship with Tristan was odd, to say the least and Katie was being nothing except protective. After all, she was pretty sure that Padraig would enjoy a swift left-hook too and maybe he and Katie could start a queue, but really it was probably best simply least said, soonest mended as far as Faith was concerned.
It had to be said, thoughts of Tristan fled from her as Padraig spoke and Faith looked at him as he explained what he wanted. She watched him describe how he felt and what his ideal was. "You do realise," her voice was soft, quieter even than usual and betrayed her emotions clearly, "that you're saying you want it to be what someone else wants? There's an irony there, Professor, which I believe you see." However, that he wanted it to be what she dreamed of made it a very different thing; Faith lifted her hand and stroked his cheek, her eyes showing her emotion.
"When I picture it?" Faith considered and smiled, "we are standing on a cliff, looking out over the water where those creatures are splashing. It's snowing and you have hold of my hand. I think there are people there but I don't know, they're blurry." She thought about it, as her fingers entwined in his and she grinned, suddenly clear about not just what she wanted, but why they were doing it.
"I am already yours. You are already mine. We don't need anything or anyone to affirm that. This is about sharing what already is. So, lets go to Faldrass where we fell through the ground, that was a beautiful spot on a cliff side. Let's go there and tell each other what we already know. Let's tie our hands together to symbolise our hearts, speak words to try and do justice to our feelings and sit and have a picnic with our closest friends and family. But then?" Faith leaned her head against his for a moment, not even vaguely mindful of Cyrus, Katie and Luna. "Then, let's have a party on the orange sand, dance and have music on the beach and at some point, you and I just go get into a rowboat and you row us out to the boat we've hired for the night, just the two of us, and go and stargaze like we never got to do because of the pirates."
