Post by Ivory on Apr 5, 2021 15:02:56 GMT -8
The night had come.
A call was made and a long overdue dinner date was arranged. Ivory had selected a small restaurant, well-appointed, but out of the way. She knew she couldn't risk hosting Evelyn at home, not with Anthony living there. The reality was that Anthony's passionate hate would complicate things and Ivory needed the space to be controlled.
Evelyn was beautiful, as always, and the night didn't start with the awkwardness Ivory expected. Instead it started out with a kiss and an embrace. Ivory had missed Evelyn and it seemed clear she had missed her as well.
The meal was a pleasant one, which helped. The two spoke of life and the distance that had formed since Ivory's fateful visit to the hospital. Ivory explained things were difficult with Anthony right now and that she needed to work to repair things with him. At the question of a future together, Ivory remained optimistic. She loved Evelyn after all, despite her concerns regarding the Avowed's connections to Stheno. The conversation was emotional, in the silence following their Christmas outing months prior both seemed to worry about what was to become of their relationship. It was a good moment for the talk and, hopefully, the discussion about Anthony and his distrust explained things. Anthony needed Ivory right now and she needed time to explain things and show him that Evelyn was not the enemy.
Eventually, the conversation turned naturally to how much life had shifted since Ivory moved to Las Vegas a year after Anthony's death and, in that moment, Ivory seized her opportunity. The Pale Dragon slipped in the question about why Stheno had been so interested in her husband during their frequent visits in the past. And frankly, Evelyn's answer surprised her.
It was oddly innocuous.
In exchange for the promise to teach her a few Contracts to help her in her scry for her wife, Stheno asked Evelyn to get to know Arthur Cartwright. The senator, while pleasant, was infamous for stonewalling against the efforts of Vegas' Emeralds from getting to know him and the Gorgon felt a human touch would be more disarming. More than that, Stheno seemed content with merely learning Arthur's hobbies and interests. Moreover, Evelyn explained that even she did not believe the actions to learn about him were malicious, knowing full well what Ivory was likely concerned about. The Avowed explained that she had never been instructed to steal his hair in order for Stheno to control his desires. What Evelyn hadn't expected was that Arthur's wife would keep her coming back to him and that the relationship between the two women would bloom into love. Arthur was a job and, eventually, a friend, but Ivory was something much more to the Avowed.
Throughout it all, the Pale Dragon listened. golden eyes searching her lover's features for signs of truth, which she found in abundance. Evelyn was not lying. Insofar as she knew, Stheno's interest in Arthur was not malignant and the Gorgon was not pulling any tricks during that time that would suggest something else.
Did she love him?
Ivory wanted to ask the question, but frankly she doubted Evelyn would be able to give her a clear answer. Stheno could be difficult to read and Ivory doubted she would share something she thought would be seen as a weakness. Nonetheless, even if it wasn't love or infatuation, Stheno had sought to become Arthur's friend and, following his death, Ivory now realized she had done little to speak with the Gorgon and perhaps provide some closure. Regardless of Ivory's personal feelings towards the Gorgon's vocation, she had a responsibility to honor the Gorgon's friendship with her husband. She would have to make steps to at least ensure Stheno saw that she recognized that. It was important to know that Stheno was healthy in her grief as well. Thus, in her silence, the Pale Dragon vowed she would reach out to offer Stheno at least some comfort. An olive branch, so to speak.
With the business of the night done, Ivory would settle in with Evelyn, remaining with the Avowed for the entire evening. It was a quiet, but pleasant and personal evening. Following dinner the pair checked out a few cocktail bars, stopped in for a late-night burlesque number, and, eventually, retired to Evelyn's for the night. There they remained, wakeful into the early morning and allowing their passion to greet the Sun. When they finally did retire, Ivory would not wake until the Sun had completed its daily journey and edged along the horizon.
Thus, with a kiss, the Pale Dragon departed and later nabbed some pizza for herself, Kai, and Anthony on the way home. She grabbed a couple large ones, just in case Anthony had... company.
A call was made and a long overdue dinner date was arranged. Ivory had selected a small restaurant, well-appointed, but out of the way. She knew she couldn't risk hosting Evelyn at home, not with Anthony living there. The reality was that Anthony's passionate hate would complicate things and Ivory needed the space to be controlled.
Evelyn was beautiful, as always, and the night didn't start with the awkwardness Ivory expected. Instead it started out with a kiss and an embrace. Ivory had missed Evelyn and it seemed clear she had missed her as well.
The meal was a pleasant one, which helped. The two spoke of life and the distance that had formed since Ivory's fateful visit to the hospital. Ivory explained things were difficult with Anthony right now and that she needed to work to repair things with him. At the question of a future together, Ivory remained optimistic. She loved Evelyn after all, despite her concerns regarding the Avowed's connections to Stheno. The conversation was emotional, in the silence following their Christmas outing months prior both seemed to worry about what was to become of their relationship. It was a good moment for the talk and, hopefully, the discussion about Anthony and his distrust explained things. Anthony needed Ivory right now and she needed time to explain things and show him that Evelyn was not the enemy.
Eventually, the conversation turned naturally to how much life had shifted since Ivory moved to Las Vegas a year after Anthony's death and, in that moment, Ivory seized her opportunity. The Pale Dragon slipped in the question about why Stheno had been so interested in her husband during their frequent visits in the past. And frankly, Evelyn's answer surprised her.
It was oddly innocuous.
In exchange for the promise to teach her a few Contracts to help her in her scry for her wife, Stheno asked Evelyn to get to know Arthur Cartwright. The senator, while pleasant, was infamous for stonewalling against the efforts of Vegas' Emeralds from getting to know him and the Gorgon felt a human touch would be more disarming. More than that, Stheno seemed content with merely learning Arthur's hobbies and interests. Moreover, Evelyn explained that even she did not believe the actions to learn about him were malicious, knowing full well what Ivory was likely concerned about. The Avowed explained that she had never been instructed to steal his hair in order for Stheno to control his desires. What Evelyn hadn't expected was that Arthur's wife would keep her coming back to him and that the relationship between the two women would bloom into love. Arthur was a job and, eventually, a friend, but Ivory was something much more to the Avowed.
Throughout it all, the Pale Dragon listened. golden eyes searching her lover's features for signs of truth, which she found in abundance. Evelyn was not lying. Insofar as she knew, Stheno's interest in Arthur was not malignant and the Gorgon was not pulling any tricks during that time that would suggest something else.
Did she love him?
Ivory wanted to ask the question, but frankly she doubted Evelyn would be able to give her a clear answer. Stheno could be difficult to read and Ivory doubted she would share something she thought would be seen as a weakness. Nonetheless, even if it wasn't love or infatuation, Stheno had sought to become Arthur's friend and, following his death, Ivory now realized she had done little to speak with the Gorgon and perhaps provide some closure. Regardless of Ivory's personal feelings towards the Gorgon's vocation, she had a responsibility to honor the Gorgon's friendship with her husband. She would have to make steps to at least ensure Stheno saw that she recognized that. It was important to know that Stheno was healthy in her grief as well. Thus, in her silence, the Pale Dragon vowed she would reach out to offer Stheno at least some comfort. An olive branch, so to speak.
With the business of the night done, Ivory would settle in with Evelyn, remaining with the Avowed for the entire evening. It was a quiet, but pleasant and personal evening. Following dinner the pair checked out a few cocktail bars, stopped in for a late-night burlesque number, and, eventually, retired to Evelyn's for the night. There they remained, wakeful into the early morning and allowing their passion to greet the Sun. When they finally did retire, Ivory would not wake until the Sun had completed its daily journey and edged along the horizon.
Thus, with a kiss, the Pale Dragon departed and later nabbed some pizza for herself, Kai, and Anthony on the way home. She grabbed a couple large ones, just in case Anthony had... company.
Quick Edit: Narration of the scene approved by ST to post as a glimpse. To determine Evelyn's honesty, Ivory rolled Wits+Empathy+WP, earning 1 success