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[Arcana]

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[Arlin gets joint credit for writing this story about some events last night ]

Arlin sat at the too-small table, on a too-small stool, in the company of Lilyth. However, his mind was in another place, as he mulled over so much that had happened to him in so little time. Almost all of his thoughts swirled around Arcana. The woman who had shown him how to love, how to forgive, and the pain of a broken heart.

Arlin heard the sound of someone teleporting into Poet’s Garden, and more out of instinct than necessity, he diverted his attention briefly to the corner of the tavern. It was Arcana.

She paused, looking awkward, uncomfortable and hopeful, as she looked at him from the teleporter. Arlin mulled over his options. He’d forgiven her, that much was true. But he could hardly believe she’d ever have any strong feelings for him, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever come to terms with the pain that realization caused. He considered politely excusing himself and trudging back to the solitude of his fortress. And then he could do what? Think the same thoughts with different scenery? Bah… thinking was worse than women, and he’d sworn off drinking (yet again) for the time being. He forced a smile, and waved her over. As she sat down, Arlin found that his smile was genuine. Lilyth soon excused herself, citing some business or the other, but from the sidelong glances among the other patrons, Cat Lyxen and Wishbone the most obvious, it dawned on Arlin that their little romance had become a little less than private.

Gradually, they chatted and they laughed, as they had before. It seemed as though they had gone back in time. Being a simple soul, Arlin concentrated only on the here and now, and here with Arcana, right now, he was happy.

“I wouldna change a thing about ya, Arcana,” Arlin stated proudly, and truthfully. His life was better for having had her in it. With a firm realization, he found himself truly wanting her to be happy, no matter what pain it cost him.

Arcana’s smile faded, and she spoke to him in a low voice, “There are a few things I’d change about myself.” Arlin scoffed. What could possibly be wrong with her? She cast her eyes downward, and spoke again, “The way I treated you. I’d take that back, if I could.”

“Eh, Arcy… don’ worry about meh. I can take it. I just want ya t’ be happy, is all.” He shrugged uncomfortably, also looking away. Arlin and Arcana were entirely unaware, but the sparsely populated tavern had fallen completely silent, from almost as soon as she’d walked in. A short distance away, Cat had near sprained her neck, straining to overhear.

Arcana took his large, rough hand in her far smaller, delicate ones. “Arlin, I can’t be happy… unless you’re happy.” She continued, “I know I can’t change or take back what I did, not matter how I wish I could. But let me prove to you that I’m not that person.” She squeezed his hand tightly. “Please?”

Arlin gazed down at her, at her blue eyes, which gazed back at him so earnestly, perhaps even desperately. Once he’d never been beholden to anyone for anything, especially a woman. Now he felt his heart’s armor shatter and fall uselessly away before those eyes. He should tell her he didn’t give a damn, that it was nothing to him. He should walk out the door right now.

“Arcana, you know ah never could say no to you,” he said, squeezing her hand tightly.

As she saw the resigned expression on his face, Arcana’s face fell, but she figured it was better than she had a right to expect, given the circumstances. It wasn’t hopeless… was it? She smiled at him with resolve.

At that moment, Cat emitted a small shriek and narrowly missed tipping over backwards in her chair. She narrowly averted disaster by grabbing onto Wishbone’s arm and the table. Arcana and Arlin whipped their heads around to stare, both startled.

“Are you all right?” Arcana asked her with wide eyes.

“Oh yes, perfectly fine!” Cat said and turned back to her table, sniffling loudly. Wishbone passed her a handkerchief. Arlin and Arcana exchanged glances. What the bloody hell was going on in here, anyway?

In the pause that followed, Arcana couldn’t restrain a yawn. Arlin teased her a bit, and she curtly replied that no, she wasn’t getting old, she just hadn’t been sleeping well. Before he knew it the sentence, “Well that’s ‘cause you been sleeping alone,” had escaped his smirking lips. Oops. Arcy hated when he said things like that in public. He glumly waited for the fireworks.

Arcana merely swatted him playfully on the shoulder. “Arlin!” she exclaimed in mock horror. “You are incorrigible!”

Arlin blinked a few times, both in surprise at her mild response and because he wasn’t really sure what “incorrigible” meant. Women used that word all the time around him. He really ought to learn what it meant. He reflected that whatever else it meant, maybe it also meant she accepted at least some of him, just the way he was.