Bad things to Good(ish) People.

[Yva]

((Last night between Jak, Eloim, and Yva. So very good, so very painful.))

*****

Blathering at one another in Ironforge.

Jak: Well! Today's the day. And you're looking stunning.
Darrows: I'm thrilled.
You smile at Jak.
Darrows: Why thank you.
You curtsey before Jak.
Jak: A proper landowner's wife and everything.
Jak: Well.
Jak: Mostly proper.
Darrows: I shouldn't do that overly low.
Darrows puts her hand on her neck for emphasis.
Darrows clears her throat.
Jak: At least until we have our own roof over our heads, aye.
You snicker at Jak.
Darrows: Plus you haven't made me an honest woman. So more like a proper landowner's trollop, which I'm quite fine with, I might add.
You grin wickedly at Jak.
Jak: Proper landowners don't have trollops, dear.
Jak: So they can fuck right along.
Darrows 's eyes go wide.
Darrows: Right then!
Jak: And we'll find something more interesting to be.
Darrows: You know they might have trollops. They just don't talk about it. Rather improper and whatnot, you know.
Jak: They call them something else, I'm sure.
Jak: At any rate. To Southshore, aye?
Darrows: And certainly.
Jak: There was a bit of a line, last time. You may want a book.
Darrows: Oh dear. I - never - have one of them.
Darrows: Ever.
Darrows: Currently reading something I picked up in Ulduar, actually.
Jak: Oh? Is it any good?
Darrows: It's called Ironmender. A bit about the construction of some of the things we deconstruct. Fascinating really.

They land in Southshore.

Darrows: Goodness Southshore brings me back. I think I killed thousands of people here.
Darrows: . . . and it was all sanctioned.
Darrows: Imagine that.
Jak: I've told you I was in the Deathguard, haven't I?
Darrows: Yes.
You smile at Jak.
Darrows looks behind her for a moment.
Jak: Not the best months of my life.
Darrows: I used to sit in . . .
You point over yonder.
Darrows: That pasture with Melciah. I waited like a bloody spider.
Darrows frowns.
Darrows: Strange. Strange, strange days.
Darrows shakes her head.
Darrows leans against him and smiles up.
Darrows: Better ones now, aye?
Jak laces his fingers with Yva's.
Jak: Not a doubt in my mind.
Darrows: Ack, listen to me.
Darrows: Go!
Darrows pulls her hands away and starts shooing.
Jak: It'd disappoint some of my ancestors, I'm sure, but I'll take women over war any day.
Jak: Oh, fine. Ruin our moment, why don't you.
Darrows: I'll make a better one later when we're alone.
Darrows reaches out to squeeze his fingers.
Jak: Oh, now /that/ has me interested. Well, then. I'd best soldier on.
You giggle at Jak.
Jak: Bloody queues.
Darrows: I'll do that lazy woman thing? Where I sit while you wait in line. I'll wave at you if you like.
Jak: Go, run your toes through the grass, read your book.
Darrows: Even better. I'll wave at you in spirit.
Darrows stands on tiptoe to kiss his cheek.
Darrows: I'm very, very happy for you right now.
Jak: I'll be right out.
You wave at Jak.
Darrows is leafing through her book, humming. She flips the page, scrawling something along the page edge.
Jak walks out of the building with an almost mechanical gait, lurching and strange. He stops some paces b ehind Yva, staring out over the coast.
Darrows glances over her shoulder.
Darrows: That was fast.
Darrows stands, wiping the back of her dress off.
Jak 's face is ghost-pale. An uncharitable man might say he resembled a corpse.
Darrows: . . . what's wrong.
Darrows frowns and eyes the building.
Jak says: It's taken.
Darrows says: What do you mean it's taken.
Jak says: Prior claim.
Darrows says: WHAT? I thought you said you and Mara were . . . did someone buy it out thinking you both dead? Did Mara take it?
You blink at Jak.
Jak raises his hands to his face, pushing his hair back from his forehead. When he moves his hands, he is smiling in fear. A strange expression.
Jak says: No.
Jak says: It's registered to the name of...of Eloim Balthasar.
Jak says: Gentleman of Lordaeron.
Darrows says: That's your uncle.
Darrows says this like it ISN"T stupid to reiterate.
Jak says: Uncle Eloim.
Darrows says: I thought he perished going north.
Jak says: That's what Mara told me.
Darrows says: So she was wrong?
Darrows sounds hopeful, though there's a tinniness to it.
Jak says: I....hope so.
Darrows says: That would be good, wouldn't it? You were always fond of him.
Darrows takes his hand and presses near frantic kisses along his knuckles.
Jak says: Aye. He was...
Jak says: He was our hero, growing up.
Jak says: But if Mara was right, then...
Darrows stops and presses her lips to his palm.
Darrows says: Then he's like me.
You peer at Jak searchingly.
Jak says: Or like her.
Darrows says: Mmff.
Darrows says: Did they say where he was?
Jak says: No, I - I'll go ask. I was, well.
Jak says: It was a shock. Excuse me.
Darrows watches him go.
Jak says: He's staying in the old inn.
Darrows says: Jak, we don't have to do this NOW. If you want to go home, to think and recuperate, we can.
Jak looks at Yva like she slapped him.
Jak says: My uncle is /alive/.
Darrows says: Yes, I know, and you look terrified. And I want you to be happy about it.
Jak just stares at Yva.
Jak says: This isn't going to get any better.
Darrows frowns at him.
Darrows says: I didn't suggest that to hurt you.
Jak says: He's in there, alive. After...however long.
Darrows says: I suggested it because I'm worried, and yes, I know, and I want that to be wonderful.
Darrows places her hand on his arm.
Jak closes his eyes and places his hand over Yva's.
Jak says: I know.
Jak says: I love you.
Jak squeezes Yva's fingers briefly and then turns.
Jak says: Come on. Let's...
Darrows nods.
Jak says: I don't know what.
Jak walks like a man in a dream.
You smile at Innkeeper Anderson.
Darrows looks to Jak.
Jak says: Very good, Master Anderson. No, I don't believe we've met.
Jak says: Is...
Jak swallows.
Jak says: Is there a gentleman by the name of Balthasar staying here?
Darrows squeezes his hand, smile brightening.
Jak says: I see.
Jak says: Can you tell him he has visitors?
Jak says: ...I see.
Jak says: Can you tell me what room he's staying in, then?
Darrows clears her throat and looks at the stairs.
Jak says: Alright.
Jak turns to Yva.
Jak says: Do you...
Darrows says: If you'd like I can stay here.
Jak says: I'll bring him down.
Jak says: I just need a moment alone. You know.
Darrows puts her hands on his cheeks and gives him a firm kiss.
Jak gives Yva a last lingering look before he walks up the stairs.
Jak takes a deep breath and knocks heavily on the door.
Eloim says: The hell is it?
Eloim keeps writing.
Jak closes his eyes and leans his head against the door, struck to silence.
Eloim says: If you're not goin' ta answer, shove off, I'm busy.
Jak says: El...Eloim Balthasar?
Eloim stops writing.
Eloim looks toward the door.
Eloim says: ...That's my name, aye...
Eloim carefully picks his way around the junk.
Eloim says: And yours...
Eloim cracks the door and peers out.
Eloim says: ...Funny, you don't look as dead as I'd heard.
Jak looks up, smiling through a veil of wet-eyed terror.
Eloim opens the door fully.
Jak says: Uncle.
Eloim says: Jak, m'boy. Should've figured you'd show up.
Eloim motions to the room.
Eloim says: I'd ask to you come in but...I'm a bit full o' Balthasar in here.
Jak looks temporarily astounded. And much the same from the last time Eloim saw him, a few years older and a few inches broader across the shoulders.
Jak says: ...bloody piss, it was /you/.
Jak says: In the Family Room? All the...
Eloim grins wickedly, showing teeth.
Jak gestures emptily.
Jak says: ...the, /everything/!
Eloim says: All I could find. Don't think I've got it all. Someone else 'fore me.
Eloim slaps a hand onto Jak's shoulder.
Eloim says: Let's have a look at you...
Eloim eyes Jak up and down.
Eloim says: The hell've you been, anyway?
Jak stands up straight. At that, he manages a chuckle.
Jak says: You wouldn't believe half of it, Uncle.
Jak says: Maybe a quarter, if we were drinking.
Eloim smirks.
Eloim says: Try me.
Eloim says: Heard tales o' you bein' in Lordaeron.
Eloim says: You wanna go down, take a seat?
Jak reaches out to put his own hand on Eloim's shoulder. Oddly enough, his eyes are blue.
Jak says: Lordaeron, aye. And further.
Jak says: Give it a moment. There's...someone with me.
Eloim raises his eyebrow inquisitively at Jak.
Eloim says: Who?
Jak can't quite keep the smile off his face.
Jak says: A lady.
Eloim grins slowly.
Eloim says: Finally grew into that, eh?
Eloim chuckles and slaps him on the shoulder again.
Jak grins and steps forward to enfold his uncle in a hug.
Eloim returns it, strong as he ever was.
Jak says: Lothar's bones, uncle, but it's good to see you.
Eloim says: Same, boy. Worried for you so much. Everyone thought I was mad for goin' t'find you.
Jak says: You didn't seem near surprised to see me, not as I expected.
Jak says: And nowhere close to when I heard /your/ bloody name.
Eloim says: Is it a point 'gainst me, then, that you didn't expect me still kickin'?
Jak 's smile fades.
Jak says: Mara said you were dead.
Eloim says: She made it?
Jak says: Eventually.
Jak musters a smile.
Eloim smiles slightly.
Jak says: I can't say how well she enjoys it. But she's alive.
Eloim says: Two, then. Still hope for our lot, eh?
Jak says: Always fools like that.
Eloim chuckles.
Jak says: D'you know if any of the others...
Jak trails off, the question obvious.
Eloim shakes his head.
Eloim says: Not that I know. I was away, 'course, so I could be wrong, but...
Jak says: Damn.
Jak says: That's the problem with persistent folk like us, getting everyone's hopes up.
Jak lets the joke die a natural death.
Eloim smiles, though it's more of a grimace.
Eloim says: Isn't it, though.
Jak clears his throat.
Jak says: Downstairs, then?
Eloim nods.
Jak says: I don't want to sit on Lady Eberrah. Rude of me.
Eloim says: Unless you want t'help me pick through some shards.
Jak says: I would, later.
Jak looks absolutely sincere.
Eloim nods.
Eloim says: Could use you. But for now, I'm keen to meet your lady.
Jak says: Oh, she'll like to hear that.
Jak says: Yva, dear?
Jak is grinning like a god damn loon.
Darrows closes her book and turns her head.
Darrows smiles.
Darrows puts the book aside.
Jak says: You're like to have a few bigger dinners than I first promised.
Darrows 's eyes flicker from Jak to Eloim. Her smile remains.
Jak puts his hand on Eloim's shoulder.
Eloim holds a hand out, palm up.
Jak says: My uncle Eloim. Uncle, this is Yva Darrows.
Eloim says: Pleasure.
Jak says: Be good to her. She's put up with me for some time now.
Darrows 's smile grows. She places her hand in his, curtsying - very carefully - .
You curtsy before Eloim.
Eloim chuckles.
Eloim says: Damn feat, that!
Eloim carefully raises her hand to his lips.
Jak does his best to stay straight-faced.
Darrows says: I am very, very pleased to meet you, Sir. Jak's always spoken fondly of you.
Darrows says: . . . I know what you're thinking.
Darrows glances at Jak.
Darrows sticks her tongue out.
Eloim says: 'ppreciate his sure flattery. And I'm impressed he found a wonder like you.
Darrows says: Oh I'm a wonder all right.
You grin wickedly at Eloim.
Darrows looks between the men again.
Jak says: She found me, really.
Eloim says: I'm expectin' the whole story, here.
Eloim says: We can sit for it, though.
Darrows nods.
Darrows says: Drinks then.
Darrows smiles.
Jak says: We'd best. It's a long one.
Eloim nods.
Darrows whispers to the bartender.
Darrows watches him go to the back room. She smiles pleasantly.
Jak says: The innkeeper's bloody terrified of you, you know.
Eloim grins.
Eloim says: Then I haven't lost my knack.
Darrows welcomes him back. She slides her money across the counter and produces two hefty glasses.
Eloim says: Keeps folk away, gives me time to write.
Jak says: What're you - thank you, dear - writing?
Eloim says: Recopyin' the ledger.
Eloim says: Thanks.
Jak sniffs the glass and looks over at Yva, smirking.
Jak says: Trying to make us maudlin, aren't you?
Eloim snickers.
Eloim says: Won't work on me.
Darrows says: No. I wanted some bloody bourbon and he's gone holy on us and serves juice. I batted my lashes and got us something honest to drink.
Jak says: Here's to more honesty, then.
Jak takes a sip and looks back over at his uncle.
Jak says: The ledger. D'you have it all, then?
Eloim raises his glass and bolts some like it were water.
Darrows crosses her legs. Her bare feet are poking out from the bottom of her dress.
Eloim says: It came out surprisingly clean. Just some water damage, few tears in the cover. What I can't read, I can remember, leastways.
Jak says: Remember.
Jak shakes his head in smiling disbelief.
Eloim taps his temple.
Eloim says: Surprised? You were near's good.
Jak says: I was.
Jak says: I lost some things.
Jak says: More than just the family, I suppose.
Jak cups his whiskey glass in both handsh and looks at the table, exhaling.
Eloim nods.
Jak says: You heard I'd fallen, I shuspect.
Eloim says: Heard your camp was overrun. They said all dead, so.
Jak says: They didn't lie.
Eloim smiles.
Jak looks back up.
Eloim says: Went down fightin', though?
Jak pauses.
Jak says: No.
Jak looks back at his whiskey.
Eloim 's smile fades.
Eloim says: ...No?
Jak says: I meant to.
Jak says: Then we were saved.
Eloim says: I thought...you said you died?
Jak says: Riders, knights in shining armor, with trumpets and banners...
Jak grimaces.
Jak says: Great bloody red banners.
Eloim sneers.
Eloim says: Damn Scarlets.
Darrows sips her drink, her foot tapping.
Eloim spits.
Darrows blinks.
Darrows hides her smile behind her mug.
Jak lifts his glass in ironic salute.
Jak says: Aye. Saved us from the Scourge and then got to butchering.
Jak says: I lost my nerve.
Jak says: Fighting the dead I could do. Our own countrymen...
Eloim blinks at Jak.
Jak looks over at Yva for a moment.
Darrows meets his eyes and nods.
Eloim says: But...they were crazed, as bad as orcs! You just...gave up?
Jak says: I panicked and ran away. When I found my stones, it was too late.
Jak says: Something did me the favor of finishing it. Probably Scourge.
Eloim says: You don't even remember?
Jak says: Uncle, when they woke me, I didn't even remember anything after leaving home that last time, a month before.
Eloim says: You ran. You -ran-.
Eloim says: Lost the sword, didn't you.
Jak says: I didn't have it when I woke. Scavengers, I imagine.
Eloim spits again.
Eloim says: -Hell-.
Jak manages not to flinch under Eloim's gaze, but he can't entirely hide his shame, nor does he try.
Eloim says: You, you of all people, I thought -sure-...
Eloim glowers at him a moment, then lays his face in his palms and mutters something.
Jak looks away, and puts his whiskey down on the tabletop with a clack.
Eloim sighs.
Darrows says: The follies of a young man. If he's learned from them, and I'm fair certain he has . . .
Eloim nods.
Eloim says: Aye. Not my place t'look down on him.
Darrows watches Eloim carefully.
Darrows smiles brightly again.
Eloim gathers himself with a deep breath.
Eloim says: Right, so. They woke you. They...Forsaken?
Jak says: Aye. New Lordaeron, some called it. It suited me to do the same. Gave it some meaning.
Jak says: Some purpose for another chance. I didn't have much else - no surfeit of memories. It took a year before I remembered Father.
Eloim says: That little left, huh. Assume you fought for 'em.
Jak says: I did.
Eloim looks at Jak oddly.
Jak says: There was a woman. A knight before she died. She held to it after.
Jak says: Lordaeron was still hers, she said. Why let a little thing like death dispute her claim?
Jak smiles, looking at the ceiling in misty recollection.
You smirk slyly at Jak.
Jak says: It was an appealing sort of thing to hear. I served under her.
Eloim says: ...Did she lead you into Hillsbrad?
Jak says: Hillsbrad? No, I...not often.
Jak says: I served in the guard at Tarren Mill when I was still finding my place. But she turned her eyes north more oft than not.
Eloim spits at the name of Tarren Mill. The innkeep avoids saying anything.
Jak looks at the gob calmly.
Eloim says: That close. -That close-.
Jak says: You were near? This would've been maybe three years past.
Eloim says: Spent my usual time at the manor, until...they took it down.
Jak says: They?
Jak says: Who's /they/?
Jak looks up, a light coming into his eyes. For a moment, he and Eloim look very much alike.
Eloim says: So not -near-, but....not in the bloody plagues where I went searchin'. Hells if I know. I'd assumed the Forsaken.
Eloim looks at Jak pointedly.
Jak says: Might be.
Darrows clears her throat, putting her mug down on the table.
Eloim says: But you don't know.
Jak says: I don't know.
Jak says: When I remembered, it was gone already.
Eloim grunts.
Eloim takes another long pull of bourbon.
Jak looks at his whiskey for a moment before continuing.
Eloim says: Go on. You remembered?
Jak says: I rose high in the Forsaken, fighting for them. Against mad trolls in the south, war in Ashenvale across the sea...anything I could put my sword to, really.
Jak says: The woman I served, Kaylia Torrea. She took me on as squire, and then knighted me.
Eloim raises an eyebrow.
Jak looks at Eloim expressionlessly.
Eloim says: Like she had the place to?
Jak says: They didn't take the "Sir" off Uther's name when he fell, did they, Uncle?
Eloim says: No, but he wasn't knighting after, either, an' certainly not without a king involved.
Jak looks at Eloim steadily.
Jak says: They had a queen.
Eloim stares icily at his nephew. Fortuntely, he opts to spit on the floor again rather than in his face.
Darrows watches Jak's face, her smile serene.
Eloim says: Sir Jakob Balthasar, hero of the traitor nation. Fantastic. You'll make a book as find as Elios's at this rate.
Jak reacts to that one, his eyebrows drawing down.
Jak says: Think wha you will of the Forsaken, Uncle, and I'd likely half agree.
Jak says: But I've not sworn sword to anyone who didn't damn well earn it, nor lay finger on my kin.
Eloim leans in.
Eloim says: You tell me how that banshee bitch earned your loyalty, boy, and that can be chapter four.
Jak thinks over his response for a moment.
Jak says: She gave a damn about her people.
Jak says: Asking any more from a monarch is pushing your luck.
Darrows murmurs. "Still a horrid bitch, though."
Eloim says: She gave a damn, eh? Which explains the big news out of the Royal Apothecaries?
Jak 's face darkens, and he reaches for his whiskey.
Jak says: I never trusted those bastards.
Eloim says: Which shows you've more brains than she did, if any's to believe she didn't plan it all along.
Jak says: If Dame Torrea had half the voice she deserved, Faranell'd have burned years ago.
Jak says: It was expediency, I imagine. "A general goes to war with the weapons he has."
Eloim says: No general's stupid enough to go to war with his knives pointed at his own allies.
Jak says: Aye. If only the Apothecarium read their history.
You smirk slyly at Jak.
Jak says: By the time that happened, though...
Jak says: Well, I'd have counted myself lucky to be stuck with the likes of Putress.
Eloim says: Oh? Ran from this one too?
Darrows knocks her mug over with her foot “accidentally.”
Darrows says: Oh dear. Look what I did. Pardon me a minute.
Jak says: I was remembering things.
Darrows approaches with a towel.
Jak says: Eventually I remembered how I died.
You kneel down.
Eloim says: And was it Scourge?
Darrows cleans up her own mess. At someone else's inn.
Jak says: The bit before, I mean.
Darrows hums quietly.
Jak says: When I ran.
You thank Barkeep Kelly.
Eloim raises his eyebrow inquisitively.
Eloim says: ...How many times've you died?
Jak says: Just the one. It wasn't until some time into my service that I remembered it. Found my shame where it'd been hiding. This was around the same time that Putress came to power, and the Templars - my order - fell from favor for speaking against him.
Jak says: It didn't serve well.
Darrows pulls a nail file from somewhere - thin air, seemingly - and begins working on her nails, watching the men chat.
Eloim tugs at his beard as he listens.
Jak says: There was a mission. A complex one, arranged by a living man, of all people. A mercenary. Yva was working as his agent.
Jak says: They wanted someone to go north with her.
Jak says: I jumped at the chance. It was...simple. Direct. I knew that whatever else was happening, the Scourge was everyone's enemy.
Eloim nods.
Jak says: Something I could always be in the right fighting. So we went to Northrend, she and I.
Jak says: And when I was given the chance to...erase my shame, I took it.
Eloim raises his eyebrow inquisitively.
Jak says: We were trapped by the Scourge, in Dragonblight. I drew them off to give Yva a chance to escape.
Jak looks over at Yva fondly.
Jak says: I don't think she's yet forgiven me.
Darrows scowls at him.
Eloim glances at Yva briefly.
Eloim cracks a small smile.
Darrows saws at her thumb nail.
Jak says: At any rate, they brought me to bay, and their captain gave me a chance to forswear any prior allegiance and join the...what he called the true King of Lordaeron.
Jak spits.
Eloim does likewise.
Darrows says: . . .
Darrows says: Oh bloody hell, don't pick that habit up. No insult intended, Sir Eloim.
Darrows cringes.
Darrows says: My floors.
Darrows shudders.
Eloim says: Don't mention things worth spittin' on, then.
Eloim says: And I'm no knight.
Jak says: There's a great deal of that in this story.
Eloim says: Carpet's gonna be soaked through, then.
Jak says: I told him what he could do with his offer, of course. I'd die on my feet this time, like a man.
Eloim smiles solidly.
Jak says: D'you know that he said, then, this servant of Arthas?
Eloim shakes his head.
Jak closes his eyes, his voice thick with remembered pain, the first real voluble regret on this whole story.
Jak says: "His Majesty does not give choices."
Eloim grimaces.
Jak looks directly at Eloim, his face set.
Eloim says: Worst truth in this world.
Eloim says: So he turned you.
Jak says: He brought me back, Uncle. To show his master's power, he brought me back over the veil. I bled, I drew breath.
Jak says: And then he turned me.
Eloim blinks at Jak.
Eloim says: He...
Eloim says: You're -alive-, alive?
Jak cocks his head, a little curious now, and presses two fingers to the pulse in his neck with just the barest hint of irony.
Jak says: You meet many dead men here in Southshore, then?
Eloim stares at him.
Eloim holds his arms wide.
Eloim says: At least one.
Jak looks at Eloim for a long moment, then lowers his head.
Jak says: I'd a thought, but I didn't want to say anything. I'd hoped...there's hope again.
Jak says: Persistent bitch.
Eloim says: You won't grow out of it either, pity.
Jak says: I can live with that.
Jak says: It'd be easier without the memories. I was under His power for some months. I'll spare you the memories.
Eloim says: Were you at Acherus?
Eloim says: Light's Hope, an' all?
Jak says: I was. It's where I - where Lord Mograine won our freedom.
Eloim snorts.
Eloim says: Never even knew.
Jak looks at Eloim oddly, but carries on.
Jak says: I swore my sword to the Ebon Blade, of course. It was only right.
Eloim nods.
Jak says: I'd wake, do my exercises, patrol, carry out my missions, and go to sleep. All there was.
Jak says: Until one patrol.
Jak looks over at Yva again.
Jak says: Yva waited for me. She knew I was alive.
Darrows says: Waited makes it sound like I wasted away in a castle pining for you, dear.
Darrows grins.
Darrows says: The truth is I ripped up half of Northrend looking for you, and when word came of the Plagues . . . I tore them in pieces too. And here we are.
Darrows says: Well, there YOU were.
Eloim smiles.
Eloim says: That's a dedicated woman.
Jak says: One worth losing a great deal for.
Jak says: So for all that, I count myself a fortunate man.
Darrows murmurs a thank you, reaching for a fresh, new mug that she may or may not throw on the floor as well.
Eloim nods.
Jak says: Lord Mograine's given me my freedom, but for monthly reports, and my sword is at hsi service when he calls for it.
Darrows says: We have a dog.
Darrows blurts this out.
Jak says: I do some work in the north for Yva's employers. Sellswords. They call themselves the Wildfire Riders.
Jak says: And we have a dog.
Darrows looks at the mug, then looks at Eloim.
Eloim says: A dog. Is that all?
Darrows says: Well apartments as well. And a rabbit.
Darrows smiles.
Eloim says: What kind of dog doesn't eat the rabbit?
Darrows says: Rather special rabbit.
Darrows coughs, takes another drink.
Eloim says: ...I see.
Jak says: He's unusually disciplined. A wolfhound.
Eloim nods.
Darrows says: Rumor has it he'll be bigger than I am before he's through.
Jak says: No sheep, though. I've forgotten all I knew of livestock.
Eloim grins.
Eloim says: No real loss there.
Darrows says: I'd say all in all we have quite a happy little household.
Darrows smiles.
Eloim says: And are you two thinkin' of making it happier yet?
Jak looks at Eloim for a long moment, then turns his gaze away.
Darrows freezes up some, fairly literally. The sides of her glass suddenly have frost on them.
Jak says: Damn me.
Jak says: /Damn/ me for not...
Darrows blinks.
Eloim says: ...What?
Jak says: That won't happen, Uncle.
Eloim says: Why not?
Darrows winces and puts her mug down. The liquid inside - the liquid inside any other drinks on the table - is also frozen.
Jak presses two fingers of his hand to his forehead wearily, frustration in every slouched angle of his body.
Jak says: She can't.
Eloim blinks at you.
Eloim says: You're barren?
Jak reaches over for Yva's hand.
Darrows lifts her face and peers at him.
Darrows says: I'm dead.
Jak says: I met her in Lordaeron.
Eloim looks between them.
Darrows doesn't really react to Jak's hand. She does somehow manage to look even paler than usual, though.
Eloim says: So you're a necrophile, too.
Jak takes Yva's hand firmly, despite the chill. Ice beads on the backs of his fingers.
Darrows looks down at the floor, swallowing.
Jak closes his eyes, his face perfectly composed.
Jak says: You're my uncle. I love and honor you, and you grieve for our family as I do.
Jak says: For those reasons, we'll remain seated.
Jak opens his eyes. They are perfectly clear, like an icy lake.
Darrows says: It's fine, Jak. I'm fine.
Jak says: Any other man, and I would be on the green with steel.
Darrows seems to compose herself and squeezes Jak's fingers.
Darrows exhales loudly.
Darrows says: We met in Lordaeron, were friends for a long while. During our trip to Northrend, we grew closer. I did not expect to find him in his current state when I did. What happened to him was miraculous.
Darrows looks at Jak, her chin elevated.
Eloim says: You don't need to talk, woman.
Eloim says: And you, boy, you don't scare me.
Darrows says: No one will tell me when to speak.
Darrows says: No one.
Darrows 's eyes narrow.
Eloim says: You want to kill me? Either of you? Go ahead, I'm like to do the same when'm done with my task.
Eloim says: You'll be lucky then, Jak, no one'll be around to write your book.
Darrows says: No one wants to bloody kill you.
Eloim says: And you know, I guess in a way, you really are breaking the curse.
Darrows looks at Jak.
Eloim says: No better way than to wipe out the line, at this point.
Darrows clears her throat and looks down.
Jak 's face is glacier-still, the corners of his mouth locked into the flesh like tent spikes holding the thin line of his mouth shut.
Jak says: I came to Southshore to claim my rights as the last living Balthasar.
Jak says: The land.
Jak says: I was told it's in your possession.
Eloim says: So Mara's dead.
Jak says: Mara rescinded her claim. She's always welcome.
Eloim says: That's not what I asked.
Jak says: Mara is alive. The Lich King had her.
Jak leans close.
Jak says: We saved her. Yva and I.
Eloim leans in closer.
Jak says: Yva bled in gallons for no better reason than that she was my sister, and that I love her.
Eloim says: I thought deaders don't bleed.
Darrows says: Some do, some don't.
Darrows says: I do.
Darrows lifts her face. Her eyes are oddly hollow.
Eloim says: Congratulations, what'd you do, let her use you as target practice?
Jak says: Does that disappoint you too, Uncle? That you can't so easily split the world into monsters and the knights who kill them?
Darrows says: Jak . . . don't.
Jak says: How you must /hate/ yourself.
Eloim says: Get out.
Darrows stands, pulling her hand free of Jak's.
Jak slowly pushes himself to his feet, and turns and looks at Eloim - looks /down/ at Eloim - a thousand conflicting emotions swimming behind the trembling mask of his face.
Darrows collects her book from the table, keeping her gaze fixated on the floorboards.
Eloim says: I'm selling the land.
Eloim says: You're gettin' -nothing-.
Eloim says: I'm movin'.
Jak says: You have no claim. Not if you choose to regard yourself as...
Jak says: ...as you do her.
Eloim says: I'm not Forsaken.
Eloim leans in.
Eloim says: And I died -fighting-.
Darrows slips out the door. As soon as she's gone the ice in the mugs explodes into small shards.
Jak closes his eyes.
Jak says: And I ran, and lived to redeem your niece.
Eloim says: Where is she.
Jak says: North. Fighting.
Jak says: She's twice the man either of us is.
Jak turns away.
Eloim snorts.
Eloim says: If you happen to run into a ghoul named Levin, don't bother redeemin' him.
Jak pauses at the staircase and looks over at his uncle.
Jak says: You knew.
Eloim crosses his arms.
Eloim says: She told you?
Jak says: When I found her. Before she was...cured.
Eloim says: She tell you how he died?
Jak says: Drowned, I thought.
Eloim says: Truth enough.
Eloim says: I told you the same.
Jak narrows his eyes.
Jak says: You did it.
Eloim says: And you thought I can't divide the world into knights and monsters.
Jak says: They've been knighting the monsters for a long time now, Uncle.
Jak says: But even still, killing your brother's child might have been the finest thing you ever accomplished.

Yva is sitting outside by herself, looking out over the green hills of Southshore.

Jak says: Yva.
Darrows says: Mmm?
Darrows is looking straight ahead.
Jak wraps his arms around Yva, leaning his head on her shoulder, face buried in her hair.
Darrows, for once, looks as frail as her size. There's a defeated set to her shoulders, an improbable shaking, too.
Jak says: I'm sorry.
Jak 's voice is muffled slightly by her hair.
Darrows says: For what? He didn't say anything untrue. You're the one who lost family this day.
Jak says: Don't.
Darrows says: I'm dead, Jak.
Darrows says: It's not exactly news.
Jak says: I didn't lose anything I hadn't resigned myself to losing already.
Darrows says: You were so happy for a few minutes. I shouldn't have gone with you. I thought about going home, giving you your personal time. This could have waited.
Jak says: I wouldn't have lied to him. I owed him that.
Darrows says: No, but even one day of happiness.
Jak says: It's about all I owe him, now.
Jak says: You've given me more.
Darrows says: I'll be fine.
Darrows looks down at the ground.
Darrows says: I'm sorry I c-ca . . .
Jak says: Shhh! Shhhh.
Darrows catches herself stuttering and snaps her mouth shut.
Darrows says: I'm FINE.
Darrows barks this.
Jak moves his face further forward to kiss Yva on the cheek.
Jak says: We'll talk later, love. Alright?
Darrows says: I want tea, and it won't make itself.
Darrows stands up but keeps her gaze down.
Jak says: I'd make it, but I don't think you'd trust me.
Darrows snaps an icicle off of her pointer finger.
Darrows says: I always trust you.
Jak says: And I trust you.
Darrows says: I know.
Jak keeps a grasp on one of Yva's hands, despite the cold.
Darrows turns around and stares at his shoulder. She finds some lint to pick at.
Jak reaches out to cup Yva's chin with his free hand, gently urging her face upwards.
Darrows lifts her gaze at his urging. There's a blankness to her face that makes her look like a porcelain doll.
Jak unhesitatingly kisses Yva on the lips.
Jak says: Let's go home.
Jak puts a certain emphasis on the word "Home."
Darrows says: Tea.
Jak says: Aye. Tea.
Darrows swallows and pulls her stone forward.
Jak finally has to let Yva's hand go, but he holds her gaze.

[Yva]

[3. Exileic] Yva: Lord Drachmas.
[3. Exileic] Laurus: Lady Darrows.
[3. Exileic] Yva: How are you faring today?
[3. Exileic] Laurus: *Grunt.* Pretty good, I guess. Yourself?
[3. Exileic] Yva: Well enough.
[3. Exileic] Yva: Steeling myself.
[3. Exileic] Laurus: Steeling yourself for -what-?
[3. Exileic] Yva: *clears her throat*
[3. Exileic] Yva: Nothing, don't mind me.
[3. Exileic] Yva: I'm in a mood. Pardons.
[3. Exileic] Laurus: Oh, come on! You can't just let something like that -hang-!
[3. Exileic] Yva: It's a family matter. Truly, it's not that interesting.
[3. Exileic] Yva: Nothing magical or macabre this time.
[3. Exileic] Laurus: Family matter? That's probably worse.
Eloim stares at the wall, drinking at random intervals.
Yva takes a deep breath before balancing a tray of food on her hip. With the flat of her hand, she slaps at the door.
Eloim says: Go away.
Yva says: I cooked for four hours. I'd truly prefer not to.
Eloim looks at the door.
Eloim brings his mug as he shuffles over.
Eloim cracks the door and peers out.
Eloim says: The hell're you doin' here?
Yva is standing there with a tray of food, tall and steaming, and everything smells pretty damned good.
Yva says: Offering you a meal that I can assure you, you won't get downstairs.
Yva keeps her gaze level.
Eloim says: I don't eat much.
Yva says: You should.
Eloim says: I'm dead.
Yva says: So am I, and I can still enjoy food. This cornbread melts in your mouth, and I marinated the steak for six hours.
You peer at Eloim searchingly.
Eloim opens the door wider, and regards her as though she is insane.
Eloim says: Did you...miss yesterday?
Yva says: No.
Yva arches a brow.
Eloim says: Did you -forget-?
Yva says: Eloim, my father was possibly the meanest son of a bitch in all of Lordaeron. If you think a bad introduction is going to deter me, you're underestimating the steel in my spine.
Yva manages a smile.
Yva adjusts the tray so she has a better grip on it.
Eloim stares at her a moment longer, then turns and wends his way toward some furniture, leaving the door open.
Eloim says: Don't step on anyone.
Yva says: I won't.
Eloim clears a set of neatly arrayed stone shards off the bed with a sweep of his arm.
Yva uses her hip to push the door open. Seeing the bits and pieces of family and family life in the room.
Yva turns her head, narrows her eyes, and a cold wind knocks the door closed behind her.
Eloim says: Can shove stuff off the table there.
Yva nods.
Yva carefully places the tray on the table, moving a few knickknacks and books.
Eloim takes another pull from his mug.
Yva steps over more stuff and leans against the wall, peering at him.
Yva takes a deep breath.
Yva says: I hope you like it. The cake recipe was my mother's.
Yva says: She was the best cook I've ever met.
You eye Eloim up and down.
Eloim rolls the mug between his palms.
Eloim says: Why'd you bother.
Yva says: Because since I've met Jak, all I've ever heard about was his Uncle Eloim. I've heard stories of his ancestors.
Yva says: But you . . .
Yva shakes her head.
Yva says: He idolized you.
You peer at Eloim searchingly.
Eloim says: He was a damn fool.
Yva says: For loving you?
Eloim says: For wantin' to be a thing like me.
Yva takes a breath.
Yva says: Every family has angry moments and angry words. If the bonds are tight enough, things can be repaired. I'd like to see that. I'd like to help facilitate that if I can.
Yva loops her fingers together.
Eloim looks at her, then shakes his head.
Eloim says: Hell's it matter? Boy's better off.
Yva says: I don't believe that. If I did, I wouldn't have risked your wrath or rejection.
Eloim says: That's 'cause you don't know. Boy's better off without any of his family around. Me, his father, even Mara. Better off alone. Can't blow it for him that way.
Eloim takes another pull. When he finishes, the mug is empty. Of course, it was before, too.
Yva says: He wouldn't be the man he is now without all of you, and he is a good man. He made mistakes getting to where he is, but he's better for them. He learned from them.
Yva says: . . . he can learn from this too.
Eloim says: What can he learn, eh?
Yva says: Anything worth fighting for is hard.
Eloim says: If he didn't already know that, he's not been paying much attention.
Yva licks her lower lip and stares at the floor.
Eloim says: Look, miss...Darrows, right?
Yva says: Yva, please.
Eloim says: Yva. Fine. You're....what I said, earlier on, still holds. You're a good woman. And I know you're just tryin' to do what's best for him. Tryin' to fix this ain't it.
Yva says: I lost everyone. I watched them die. I was the last of them to go.
Yva stares at him.
Yva says: When he found out you were here, the joy on his face . . .
Yva shakes her head.
Eloim says: Sure it was joy?
Yva says: Yes.
Eloim says: So you're gonna have him watch me die someday?
Yva says: I'm going to try and convince you that it's not so bloody difficult to just let your nephew love you. It's not nearly as difficult as you'd make it seem.
Eloim laces his fingers around the mug.
Eloim says: And how would you see that happen?
Yva smiles.
Yva says: I'm a woman. I'll nag until you give in.
Eloim looks at her. His face has the sense of a smile without actually smiling.
Yva says: I'm rather good at it.
Yva says: I don't deliver quite the wallop my mother did with a rolling pin though.
Yva says: She was a brute.
Eloim says: You've got him whipped, haven't you.
Yva says: Quite the opposite, really.
Eloim says: He's got you whipped? Ain't proper, that.
Yva looks to be contemplating something. She hums quietly for a moment.
Eloim says: What?
Yva says: I . . .
Yva swallows.
Yva says: I believe the term best used to describe me is self loathing. I became forsaken, a thing I knew was reprehensible, and vile, and against the light's way. Before, I believed in the light, you know.
Yva says: I took risks because I did not care what became of me.
Yva says: Because if I didn't give a damn, who else would.
Yva smiles at Eloim. It's the first genuine one he's truly seen out of her.
Eloim says: And Jak does.
Yva nods.
Yva says: He saw my worth.
Yva says: . . . and now I see it myself sometimes.
Yva says: Not always, but sometimes.
Yva says: I don't do so many foolish things anymore. That is how I'm whipped.
Yva 's chin goes up.
Yva says: And I'm quite all right with that.
Eloim grunts, almost a small chuckle.
Eloim says: Used to be he made folk more reckless, not less.
Yva says: As I said last night, and earlier . . . he's a smart man. He learns from his mistakes.
Eloim says: He didn't make any.
Yva tilts her head to the side.
Eloim says: Not last night.
Yva says: He wanted to be honest with you. You deserved it.
Eloim says: He was.
Yva says: Even if it meant weathering your disappointment.
Yva nods.
Eloim says: As I said. He didn't make any mistakes.
Eloim says: Nothin' for him to learn.
Yva says: Eloim, he loves you.
Yva says: He wants you to be part of his life even if he's angry right now.
Eloim says: I'm dead, and he should let me be dead.
Yva looks down at herself, then looks up at him.
Yva says: That's not how he operates.
Yva says: Your worth did not abandon you when your pulse did.
Yva says: No more than mine did.
Eloim says: It's a matter of attitude, miss Yva. I've always been dead.
Eloim motions around the room.
Eloim says: Lived with them all my life. And now they're gone. For good.
Yva says: Jak isn't.
Yva says: Mara isn't, though she wanders.
Yva says: . . . and even if I can't give him children, we could . . .
Yva shrugs.
Yva says: Adopt.
Yva says: I adore children. Had I had my way, I'd have had a dozen of them.
You smile at Eloim.
Eloim smiles ruefully.
Eloim says: Don't think he's much of a fatherin' type. Judah, he was the father of the lot. Wife was pregnant again last time I saw 'em.
Yva says: Oh, if I want a baby, I'll get a baby.
Yva 's lips twitch.
Eloim raises his eyebrow inquisitively at you.
Eloim says: What, you'll steal one?
Yva says: I had orphans this year. The orphanages try to place children for a week so they can see the world.
Yva says: . . . we had an orc, a blood elf, a human and a draenai - all under six - beneath our roof for a week.
Eloim snickers.
Eloim says: And how'd he function?
Yva says: He was as patient as can be.
Yva says: . . . I think he'd do fine with a child about.
Eloim sighs, staring at the floor.
Yva lifts up her skirt and steps over the family heirlooms, careful not to displace anything.
Eloim says: Don't name it Balthasar, and you'd be fine.
Yva sits beside him and puts her hand on his arm.
Yva says: Jak is the only family I have, you know.
Yva swallows.
Yva says: And it'd be nice for him to not have to say the same about me?
You peer at Eloim searchingly.
Eloim looks up at her.
Yva says: If you weren't meant to be here, if you didn't still have a function or a purpose, the light, the naaru, the earthmother . . . one of those lot would have stopped it and they didn't.
Yva says: Please don't walk away from your nephew.
Eloim says: You don't pull that philosophy bullshit on me. You don't tell me Arthas's got a reason to be here.
Yva says: He does. To be brutalized over and over until horrible things seep out where his eyes used to be.
You smile at Eloim.
Yva says: To pay for what he did.
Yva says: That's his bloody fucking purpose.
Eloim says: And in the meantime, he keeps ruining things. Worse. And your Naaru not stoppin' that.
Yva says: I think naaru are really just windchimes, Eloim. I'm not going to defend them.
Yva says: I have no idea what you believe, but everyone believes something for the most part.
Eloim says: You know what I believe, Yva?
Yva says: Mmm?
Eloim says: I believe this world's just as cursed and doomed as my family line, and the quicker I can get out of it, the better off both it and I'll be.
Yva reaches her hand forward, into his empty mug, and fresh water appears.
Yva says: Well that's where the nagging comes in.
Eloim stares at it as though it was always there.
Yva says: . . . I don't know how long you'll be here, but however long it is, I think you'd be stubborn and foolish to not let Jak enjoy you.
Eloim says: You know the last thing he said to me?
Yva shakes her head.
Eloim says: And mind, he made no mistakes last night.
Eloim says: Told me that killin' my brother's son may've been the finest thing I'd ever done.
Eloim looks at her.
Eloim says: Which means he's finally got the truth of me, and you need to let him let go of his illusions.
Yva says: Feh.
Yva pinches his arm before standing up.
Yva says: Your niece . . .
Yva picks her way back to the wall.
Eloim says: Mm?
Yva says: You murdered a man who brutalized a young girl. She was so damaged by what he did, she gave herself to Arthas. I used my expertise, Jak used his love . . . to fix her. In the process, she nearly killed me. Again. She turned my own magic on me.
Yva says: I'd have murdered Levin too.
Eloim shuts his eyes and cringes.
Yva says: Some people need killing.
Eloim says: I'm one of 'em.
Yva says: And what have you done that's so reprehensible.
Yva peers at him.
Yva says: Choose to live in your legacy? By that token, every curator needs to be obliterated.
Yva motions around the room.
Eloim says: I killed my brother, too.
Yva keeps her face even.
Yva says: Out of rage?
Eloim says: No.
Eloim says: Out of failure.
Yva says: I won't ask you to tell me the story if you don't wish to.
Yva sighs.
Eloim says: Ask Jak. He'll be more'n happy to share, 'm sure.
Yva nods.
Yva says: I will.
Yva takes one more trip across the room to stand before him. She smiles down at him.
Eloim looks up at her.
Eloim says: ...Thanks. For the food.
Yva says: I'm sorry I can't give you proper nieces and nephews, but I can promise to love Jak with every ounce of life I have left.
Eloim says: I know you can. And I'm glad that...that he's got someone like you.
Eloim reaches out and awkwardly pats her on the arm.
Yva looks at it, and then leans down to press her lips to his forehead. She leaves a smear of red lipstick.
Yva says: I'll be back.
Yva says: You're not rid of me yet.
You smile at Eloim.
Eloim says: Swear I'm movin'...
Yva says: I'll find you.
Yva says: They call me the Tricky Witch, you know.
You giggle at Eloim.
Eloim raises his eyebrow inquisitively at you.
Eloim says: Do they.
Yva nods.
Yva says: Be well Eloim.
Yva says: I'll bring more dinner when I'm convinced you ate that first lot.
Eloim says: Can't guarantee it. You do the same, but with the guarantee.
Yva says: Fair enough.
Yva finds her way to the door.