Private Tales Cherry Rose Inc. Reunion

[Isak Lavelle]

As a businessman, Isak enjoyed a good deal. He always liked to strike bargains and ensure the most leverage to himself, but it was a different business altogether when someone he cared about, the woman he loved, was throwing herself at the mercy of a unknown deal with a powerful man like Gilgamesh.

Of course, Isak wouldn't think so low of the man that provided them with resources and security to do as they pleased in Alliria, and by her stories, Charity had been kindly accepted into his 'family' when she had no other but herself, having to fend alone in a treacherous city.

Still, it was Eilerias' wish, and Isak respected her above everything. He felt her fingers reaching out to his, their hands entwining as she asked to remain with him, and still be able to commune and take care of her church as a priestess. Isak noticed that Gilgamesh seemed particularly interested in her religion, but his motives were still unknown.

If by joining the Briarthornes, Eilerias would be ensured to continue her dreams as a devoted priestess while still being with him, then perhaps Isak had judged Gilgamesh a bit too harshly, and he could even come to trust the man, in time. Lavelle would certainly be immensely grateful for this 'small favor', even though he suspected that that wouldn't be the end of it.

No businessman worth his salt would ever forget the people who owed him. Isak lived by such words, and he imagined that so did Gilgamesh Briarthorne.

After Eilerias had given her answer to Gilgamesh's offer, Ogden would appear from the kitchen with another crate of wine, seemingly being one of the few people there who were yet more worried about the wasted drinks than the matters being resolved. Perhaps the reunion could yet be salvaged, with some sort of harmony.

As the dwarf started pouring wine, Isak turned to Gilgamesh, now a bit more friendly in his demeanor. "Gilgamesh, may we share a few words?" He suggested, a small and almost unnoticeable smile on his face. "In private."

Isak walked the man to one of the side rooms, reluctantly letting go of Eilerias' hand as she looked at him, almost as if begging him to not be rude again. Lavelle had been considerate enough to take slow steps, glancing at Gilgamesh's cane for a few seconds. It didn't take long until they arrived at one of the rooms across the lobby, now with much more space and quietness so that they could discuss their own matters freely.

Isak took a brief pause, gauging the man before him for a while. "I fear I may have been... a tad hasty in my doubts. I'm in gratitude, for what you're doing for Eilerias." Isak took a look towards the lobby, watching Eilerias have some measure of fun with the others. "I care for her greatly, and I would not wish to see her work squandered because of me. I believe this can be the beginning of a proper partnership, so to speak. As ambitious businessmen of Alliria, there is yet so much to be accomplished in this city, and we both have the means for that. The Cherry Rose could blossom towards new heights, wouldn't you agree?"

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias looked down at the floor as Gilgamesh continued to question her. The truth was, she couldn't tell him that with the absolute certainty he requested of her. That moment in which she broke her vows was not initiated by her, but rather the darkness taking over her temporarily and putting her in the position where she could proceed further with Isak or run back to Gwendolyn. When she came to, in that bathtub upstairs, she made her choice. She chose Isak.

She looked back up, intending on giving him a half truth to make herself feel better but when she made eye contact it felt like she couldn't control the words coming from her mouth. She spilled more than he needed to know about that night. When she lost her vision and found herself watching the two of them from the shadows as they were in a most compromising position. She spoke of trying wine for the first time, the same one that had just made her violently ill. She told him of the moments after when she was back in her own body, in control, still making those same decisions that the shadows wanted her to.

Something within her, not him, pushed her to make that decision and she did not regret it. And she would tell him that if given the option again sans the body swap with the shadows, she would do it again. She was head over heels in love with Isak and would make that choice a million times over just to be with him.

She watched him shut his eyes and speak, offering her the favor and explaining what she would give in return. "Your daughter?" She raised an eyebrow, looking to Charity. She sat there for a moment before agreeing, not really having any options but to do so. "Of course Gilgamesh. I will agree to these terms, but please could you tell me what I might discover soon enough?" It felt like everyone in this room knew something she didn't and it was getting rather annoying to feel left out.

She watched Ogden emerge from the kitchen with more wine and fill them up as an attempt to revive the reunion. Letting go of Isak's hand, she waited for Ogden to bring her some of the wine, however he passed out glasses to everyone, including the young Urchin, skipping over her. "You forgot me!" She complained as Isak and Gilgamesh made their way to some other room to talk about something that didn't interest her before she could get an answer from Gilgamesh.

Ogden let out a hearty laugh, giving her a glass of water before encouraging the group to play some cards and other games while he questioned Eilerias. "Sorry Lady Priestess, but I don't think it wise for you to drink this wine after what happened upstairs. Tell me, have you been feeling well of late? Eating? Vomiting? Are you tired?" Eilerias was confused at the dwarf who was so keen to know her medical history in front of their friends.

Still, she found no use lying to him. "Um. No, I have not been very well to be honest...for the past few weeks. I already told Isak I was eating, but everything makes me ill. Food, smells, even looking at certain fabrics or textures." She shuddered, speaking of the triggers of her nausea.

A large smile creeped upon Ogden's face and he grabbed her hands. "By the gods! It is true!" The dwarf cheered and pulled her up from her chair barely able to contain his excitement as he appeared to be celebrating her illness.

She laughed awkwardly, "What are you on about this time Ogden? It really is quite strange to celebrate being ill." She said, wondering if maybe he was the one who was not alright.

He realized she was completely clueless and exclaimed rather loudly. "Why Lady Priestess, the gods have blessed you! You're pregnant!" He continued his celebrations, rather delighted that his boss and the priestess had decided to start a family.

Eilerias went white as a ghost and her smile faded. Her eyes went to Charity first, searching her face to see if this was some cruel joke they were playing on her, but her expression made it clear that Ogden was serious. "W-what? I'm...what?" She set the glass down and quietly turned away. "I'll be back. I just need fresh air. You can tell Isak I'm alright so he doesn't worry." Quickly, she made her way to the front door and outside, her mind racing with too many thoughts as walked the streets of Alliria.

So this is why she hates me?

I'm not ready for this.

What am I going to do?

Maybe I should just leave...again...

Could I really do that? Start over a third time with nothing but myself and some other tiny being? I can hardly take care of myself as it is.

She had no real plans on where to go or why she needed to get out of the Raven Club, but she soon found herself at the door to Gwendolyn's archives. "Please let me in Cleo." She begged Gwendolyn's assistant who seemed to sense she was on her way well before her arrival. "Please, I need to talk to Gwendolyn. I really messed up. Please."

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

"I never once asked you to trust me, Gwendolyn. I don't need your trust. I've lied to you from day one and you were no fool. Because you chose to believe my lies you stood by my side and remained there until the day my lies could no longer shield you from the truth. At the time you loved nothing better than being my pawn but when the realization hit you that a pawn is what you were you grew to hate me..."

“Because I thought I was your queen Amadeus.” She said after a moment. “A mother to your adopted sons and daughters.”
Her hands clenched to fists. “A right hand that would kill for you quickly and efficiently...Without question..” Her hands shook but calmed. “To find that I was a pawn was...humbling..” She admitted with a slight stutter. Her fists began to shake. “But it was finding our love was a tool that broke me.” She finally spat. Turning away.

"Why? Where you disillusioned by an illusion you chose to accept? In spite of my deductions I've yet to come to a satisfactory answer... Yet. But you've built your entire new profession on learning secrets, you've no doubt replayed that night a thousand times over in your mind so I have to ask... Have you figured it out yet? Have you figured out why it had to be you?"

“Because my love for you blinded me to the fact there was none returned.” She said clenching her teeth. But shook her head as he asked his next question. “What do you mean?” She asked. Her eyes narrowing to suspicious slits. It’s true she had played that night over and over again. A million times..and still found no reason..Her defeated silence would be answer enough.

"I will leave you, if that is what you truly desire. Believe the lies again, I craft them carefully and thoughtfully and you've always been happy in them... Has the truth brought you any happiness yet?"

“No.” Gwen admitted. “Not often..” She continued. “But at least I know the happiness I have gained is real.” She said. “And not some construct that can be shattered at a whim by you.” She finished still turned away as he left.

....................
It was a small time later that Cleo found herself summoned to the front. A friend of Gwens was close by. She knew Elirias, Gwen, and Charity by scent at this point. She smelled her as soon as she turned on to the street. “Oh dear..” She muttered.

"Please let me in Cleo." She begged Gwendolyn's assistant who seemed to sense she was on her way well before her arrival. "Please, I need to talk to Gwendolyn. I really messed up. Please."

The office doors would reluctantly open to the plain lobby. Cleo sitting behind her pristine black marble desk. Luminous cave flowers hung from the walls undoubtedly cared for vigorously by the demon. “Welcome..” She began with a slight smile.

“I took the liberty of making tea.” She continued gesturing to a chair off to the side with a small blanket and a chipped mug.

“But I’m afraid it’s after hours and Mrs. Vollmund is..Not seeing anyone at the moment..The doors have been locked..I haven’t seen her like this in..In a long time..” Cleo admitted.

“And I am not sure if that will change for the time being..” She said with a deep sigh.

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias stood at the doors as they opened, trying to catch her breath before entering and being welcomed in by Cleo. "Thank you," She stepped inside and made her way to the chair that Cleo pointed to.

She stared at the tea, but shook her head saying "I'm alright, thank you though." She felt rude, turning down the tea, but she was more unsure than anything. Unsure she may repeat the events from the club, once again in front of Gwendolyn, when she only came to talk to her and try to salvage whatever was left of their relationship.

Her head turned back to the desk as Cleo spoke once more. "Please Cleo, I know you can go in there and talk to her. Can you just tell her I need to speak to her?" Eilerias voice was desperate as her eyes watered. "I really need to apologize. I know its too late, but I am begging you...please..I don't know what to do." She turned away, staring at the cup of tea as Cleo continued speaking.

Eilerias was a mixture of emotions fighting one another as she sat there in silence, her face expressionless. She was sad. She was confused. She was angry. She felt guilty. The only thing she wanted was Gwendolyn. How foolish was she to think the woman she betrayed would provide her wisdom or comfort now in this moment?

 

[Amadeus Greywood]

“Because I thought I was your queen Amadeus.” She said after a moment. “A mother to your adopted sons and daughters.”
Her hands clenched to fists. “A right hand that would kill for you quickly and efficiently...Without question..” Her hands shook but calmed. “To find that I was a pawn was...humbling..” She admitted with a slight stutter. Her fists began to shake. “But it was finding our love was a tool that broke me.” She finally spat. Turning away.

He considered her words carefully. It was bold of her... Very bold indeed... To call him Amadeus. But he let it pass, she was very much interested in truth at the moment, from what he could tell she was not hiding or holding anything back.
She spat her last retort, and all he could do was give her a look that said 'Believe what you want'.
And that was really it, wasn't it? Even if he denied it she wouldn't believe him... But ironically if he agreed with her she wouldn't have any problem believing him then, if he confirmed her beliefs.

“Because my love for you blinded me to the fact there was none returned.” She said clenching her teeth. But shook her head as he asked his next question. “What do you mean?” She asked. Her eyes narrowing to suspicious slits. It’s true she had played that night over and over again. A million times..and still found no reason..Her defeated silence would be answer enough.

Indeed her silence told him that she still had no idea why this had to happen to her... But everything she said previously told him that she was on the right track, perhaps she just didn't know it yet...

“No.” Gwen admitted. “Not often..” She continued. “But at least I know the happiness I have gained is real.” She said. “And not some construct that can be shattered at a whim by you.” She finished still turned away as he left.

Before he left he paused at her door, his hand on the latch.
In order to get as far as she has into the organization she had to uncover thousands of lies and falsehoods that were set up to protect him. Her obsession with him drove her to learn these things about him, the Greywoods, the name Amadeus, the nature of his clones, untold falsehoods and she was still no closer to the truth... But nobody has come as far as she had, and it disappointed him to see her giving up... Perhaps it was finally time for a hint.
A queen... A mother to his sons and daughters... She was so close to realizing why it had to be her yet she was almost unwilling to take that final leap.
"A queen, Gwendolyn... It had to be a queen."

And he was gone.

________________________________​

"Your daughter?" She raised an eyebrow, looking to Charity. She sat there for a moment before agreeing, not really having any options but to do so. "Of course Gilgamesh. I will agree to these terms, but please could you tell me what I might discover soon enough?"

He gave her his grandfatherly smile but was soon distracted by Ogden and then Isak.

"Gilgamesh, may we share a few words?" He suggested, a small and almost unnoticeable smile on his face. "In private."

He nodded and limped with Isak over to the private room, his knee squeaking with every step.

"I fear I may have been... a tad hasty in my doubts. I'm in gratitude, for what you're doing for Eilerias." Isak took a look towards the lobby, watching Eilerias have some measure of fun with the others. "I care for her greatly, and I would not wish to see her work squandered because of me. I believe this can be the beginning of a proper partnership, so to speak. As ambitious businessmen of Alliria, there is yet so much to be accomplished in this city, and we both have the means for that. The Cherry Rose could blossom towards new heights, wouldn't you agree?"

Gilgamesh listened politely while Isak spoke, both hands resting on his cane as he nodded on occasion.
When Isak finished there was an expression both of agreement yet a slight disappointment.
He placed a hand on Isak's shoulder.
"While I couldn't agree more with that sentiment, mister Lavelle, I must say I am disappointed. Your instincts to mistrust me are good, I am not a trustworthy man and I will never ask you to trust me. Don't trust me, only believe my words. As my daughter Eilerias will be safe, she will not be forced to stop worshipping with the church of light. To that end I believe it may be necessary for you two to be married under the guidance of the church of light. If that's the case, could you do it? I know you are not a religious man."

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

"I will grant you this favor. Your honesty will be most valuable in persuading the church to allow you to continue to fellowship with them... And in return, you will become my daughter. I will adopt you into the Briarthorne family."

A happy, yet somewhat confused grin spread across Charity's face. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was her father really saying he would adopt Eilerias?! A confused look from Eilerias was answered by a smile and a slight nod. "Woohoo!" Charity yelled, punching the air above her head as Eilerias accepted her father's conditions. After such a long time of considering Eilerias as her sister, it was finally official! She wasn't looking forward to being related to Isak, but she was still ecstatic to have a new sister.

Charity looked over as Ogden appeared out of the kitchen carrying glasses and wine. She looked on with a small smile as Ogden began questioning Eilerias. The thought struck her that Eilerias seemed to be the only one who didn't know about her condition already. She responded to another glance from the priestess with a look that confirmed what Ogden had said. Charity got up to hug her new sister in celebration, but before she could Eilerias ran out the door. Frowning in disappointment, Charity sat back in her chair. It was probably for the best to leave Eilerias for the time being to process these new parts of her life.

After Isak escorted Gilgamesh to a side room for a private talk, Charity refilled her glass and leaned back in her chair. As she swirled the wine around in the glass, a new thought formed in her mind. A question she had never thought to ask. Yet it was something that had dramatically changed her life for better or for worse. There were other questions she had been dying to ask her father the next time she saw him in person but they weren't nearly as important.

When Gilgamesh reappeared from the side room, Charity got up and ran over to him and grabbed his hand. "Daddy! Come sit down! There's some things I want to ask you!" she said gently tugging on his hand, and leading him to a small table. Charity sat directly opposite her father and looked him in the eyes, contemplating the best way to ask her questions.

"Um... So... Daddy... As long as I've known you, you've been bringing useful people into your organization. And all of these people were strong and very skilled at what they did, or had connections that were useful to you." Charity paused, unsure of how to continue. "So... Why me?" she finally asked softly. "I was just a young orphan when you met me, and I had no real skills. Really, the only thing I was good at was running away from bullies and Guards. Some of the other children I played with at the time were skilled fighters, or could use magic already, even at their young age. So how could such a talentless child like me been of any use to you? Why did you choose the most plain, ordinary one out of all the other parentless children running through the streets?"

Charity looked away from her father and down at her hands. She hoped she hadn't come across as feeling sorry for herself because she wasn't as good as the other children. Honestly, she couldn't have been happier about the way her life had turned out.

"Also... Umm.. If you don't mind me asking... What's the deal with you and Gwen? She told me you use to be very close in the past. Why didn't you ever tell me about her? I would have loved to have known her when I was younger! It would have been so nice to have a mother figure growing up." Charity asked looking down at her hands, hoping her last question wasn't too out of line.

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

"A queen, Gwendolyn... It had to be a queen."

Gwen froze where she stood. “You..” She didn’t finish as she turned to see he was gone. After that there was a brief moment where her anger and sorrow bubbled to the surface.

The truth of her finally being alone washed over her...and she went insane... darkness spread around her as she vented everything she had been holding in.

Screams of anger and sobs of sadness coupled to an almost manic cackle as she laid waste to everything around her. The archives always righted themselves no matter what was destroyed.

She had no need to hold back..



.....................

“I..She..” Cleo seemed to struggle to find more excuses but faltered.

She sighed stepping from behind her desk. Her beautiful figure seemed to shimmer as she walked.

Her never blinking blue eyes remained on the girl. She smiled but like most of her expressions it didn’t carry to her eyes. It seemed..fake..Which in all honesty it was. Cleo didn’t understand how to express her emotions.

It was simply done so that those around her’s benefit or so others could see how she felt. Demons didn’t have words or expressions like humans did.

Behind the doors there were sounds of crashing and general chaos.

A final mighty crash as silence reigned.
The doors were flung open as Gwendolyn strode through the doors.

The scene behind her revealing a destroyed office in her wake before the doors snapped shut cutting it from view. She was sweating and her breathing reduced to panting. Her eyes burning twin holes in whatever found the misfortune of falling under their gaze.

“Oh..” Her mood seemed to shift as her eyes fell on Eilerias and extinguished. She wanted to be angry..

She wanted to throw the girl out to the streets like she should have done all those years ago! Lying little bug... She raised her hand almost as if to strike her. Her anger flared for the briefest of moments before collapsing in on itself.

She was simply too tired both physically and emotionally to stay angry at the girl.

The hand lowered slowly on to her Snow White head giving her hair a quick, gentle run through with her fingers..As she had in those older days when the young woman had found it difficult to sleep in the archives when she first arrived.

“There now child..” She said giving her head a final pat before taking a finger and placing it under her chin.

Tilting her head up to look at the information broker. Her eyes the same calm hazy grey like the fog over a battlefield.

“What is wrong.” She said simply. Her tone carrying the gentle warmth she knew the girl would be needing desperately. h

A calm voice to steady her stormy mind.

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias kept her eyes locked on the cup of tea in front of her, paying no attention to Cleo moving about the room. The sounds of crashing within the archive made her flinch briefly, but still her eyes did not move from the chipped up teacup. She had no idea what she even wanted to say to Gwendolyn, but still something was telling her she needed to talk to her. She was always the voice of guidance in her life, teaching her and warning her of the dangers everywhere.

Gwendolyn's lecturing had always been a source of dread, something she avoided as best she could, but now it was all she wanted. She wanted to be lectured, even yelled at. As long as Gwendolyn would talk to her, she was satisfied.

The sudden swinging of doors broke her focus and she turned to look at Gwendolyn as she stormed out of the archive. She looked angry with her. Rightfully so, Eilerias thought, unaware that it wasn't only her that was hurting Gwen. She watched her hand raise as though she intended to hit her, but she didn't move from her position. She didn't blame her if she were to strike her. She deserved it after betraying her.

"I'm sorry." Eilerias looked into Gwen's hazy eyes as she apologized. There was really nothing she could say to fix what she had done, but still she tried her best. "I am so sorry for betraying your trust." She wanted to throw herself into Gwen's arms, wanting the motherly comfort she used to provide back when she first brought her to Alliria.

Her eyes went back to the teacup. "I don't know what to do, Gwen." She could feel her eyes watering again. "I planned on telling you as soon as I could bring myself to....but I was afraid. You always warned me not to lie to you and not to be careless and I fear I have done both. I don't know what to do..." She repeated the last statement a few times, gently resting her hand on her stomach. "I'm...I'm pregnant...at least I think I am...I'm so sorry."

Soon enough, the tears had started flowing from her eyes and she sat hunched over, sobbing loudly into her hands. Gwen now knew it all and Eilerias didn't expect forgiveness for her actions. She wanted comfort and advice as Gwen had always provided for her, though she knew she had no right to ask for it.

 

[Urchin]

"Why Lady Priestess, the gods have blessed you! You're pregnant!"

... Well, that had certainly done it! If she hadn't clued on before, than she certainly knew now. Probably just as well that Ogden had taken it upon himself to tell her, because poor Eilerias seemed absolutely clueless to her own situation.

"Uh... Congratulations, Miss!" Urchin declared enthusiastically. "Ain't it great? A teeny tiny little Eile toddlin' around? Yer gonna make the best Ma, I can tell. Ya got that whole motherly instinct about ya." Unfortunately, Eilerias didn't seem so much excited by the idea as she did terrified. The poor woman ran terrified from the room as she was given the news. "Miss Eile!" Urchin called after her, feeling very worried for the poor woman and getting to his feet to follow her, put Ogden put a firm hand on the lad's shoulder and shook his head.

"Let her be, lad," the dwarf told him. "The lady priestess needs a little time to get used to the idea, that's all."

Reluctantly, Urchin sat himself back down looking back to the food on the table and nibbling away at a bowl of dry roasted peanuts like a squirrel. "I dun like this," he said awkwardly to Charity. "Poor lady seems real upset. Ain't right for 'er ta be all on 'er own right now. Ya reckon we aught ta tell Mr Isak? I mean fer one, I'd be fuckin' terrified if I was... Well, ya know, if I were gonna 'ave a kid. Babies are scary. I can't 'andle 'em. They break too easy." Still, he felt like it wasn't exactly his place to tell Isak. Maybe that was something Eilerias would want to tell him herself.

Once Isak and Gilgamesh returned, the lad sat quietly, feeling the awkward tension of being privy to a secret that wasn't his to tell and hoping that nobody asked him any questions lest he accidentally spill the beans. Charity soon started asking Mr Briarthorne a few personal questions that left the boy feeling slightly surprised.

"So how could such a talentless child like me been of any use to you? Why did you choose the most plain, ordinary one out of all the other parentless children running through the streets?"

"You ain't talentless," Urchin objected, surprised that Charity had ever considered herself so. "Yer good at lots o' things. An' yer real smart, an' fast an' yer good at magic, an' pretty. Ain't nuthin' plain or ordinary 'bout ya." As far as Urchin was concerned, any parent would be lucky to have a daughter like Charity.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Trust? Isak always had used that word loosely. How could a man who barely trusted his own shadow come to trust someone so mysterious as Gilgamesh?

Isak looked to the man's hand as it rested on his shoulder, before facing him again. He took a moment to think about his words. He was indeed right, Isak wasn't a man of religion, but he would do what he could to ensure that Eilerias would be protected and free to continue her work as a priestess, knowing how much she cherishes that.

"You are correct, Gilgamesh. I am not one for religion, but I realize what it means for Eilerias, and I would do anything for her." He opened a short and confident smile. Perhaps a ceremony in a church wouldn't even be that bad, if only a bit boring to his tastes. "I will marry her under the guidance of the Church of Light."

With the air between them much more clear and at ease, it also conveyed a sense of achievement between both men. What started out as a tense meeting had turned to a mutual success, and perhaps even some sort of understanding and respect. There could be yet something to be salvaged after the rough start to the night, and hopefully it would please Eilerias to see that everything would go on well.

Isak and Gilgamesh made their way back to the lobby, but Isak was confused to see that Eilerias was missing. His calm demeanor turned into clear frustration, with Lavelle quickly turning to Ogden in search of answers. "Where is she?" The dwarf shrugged at the question, almost too untroubled, as opposed to Isak.

"She's just catchin' some air, boss! The miss said she'd return shortly, so no need to worry!" Ogden spoke, trying his best to calm him down.

Isak wasn't fond of the thought of Eilerias, alone and possibly still ill, walking through the streets of Alliria at night, but if she so wanted, Isak would trust her word, only hoping that she would return quickly and unscathed. Isak let out a deep breath before taking a seat, sipping down a good amount of wine in order to ease his thoughts a bit.

Charity had started to question Gilgamesh about some more private family matters, and Urchin looked to be enjoying the conversation as well, which left Isak alone to dwell on his drink.

 

[Amadeus Greywood]

"You are correct, Gilgamesh. I am not one for religion, but I realize what it means for Eilerias, and I would do anything for her." He opened a short and confident smile. Perhaps a ceremony in a church wouldn't even be that bad, if only a bit boring to his tastes. "I will marry her under the guidance of the Church of Light."

He nodded and removed his hand with a smile, "Good. This gesture may just seal the deal on their trust. Naturally we should do more research on the church to be sure, several more deals may have to be made but I believe we have a good chance of sweeping this transgression under their proverbial rug."
He extended his hand to shake and seal the deal before going back out to join the festivities.

___________________________

When Gilgamesh finally came out of the side room he started limping back over to the group. He was pleased to see a renewed mood of happiness as the reunion got back on track, but Eilerias's absence didn't go unnoticed.

"Daddy! Come sit down! There's some things I want to ask you!

He nodded and squeaked his way over to her, cautiously bending to sit down next to her. In light of the event he gave her a fatherly smile.
"I suppose there is no harm in it. Ask away."

"Um... So... Daddy... As long as I've known you, you've been bringing useful people into your organization. And all of these people were strong and very skilled at what they did, or had connections that were useful to you." Charity paused, unsure of how to continue. "So... Why me?" she finally asked softly. "I was just a young orphan when you met me, and I had no real skills. Really, the only thing I was good at was running away from bullies and Guards. Some of the other children I played with at the time were skilled fighters, or could use magic already, even at their young age. So how could such a talentless child like me been of any use to you? Why did you choose the most plain, ordinary one out of all the other parentless children running through the streets?"

Gilgamesh considered the question for a minute, she brought some good points but there was a common factor she missed when she compared herself to these others he'd brought into his organization or adopted... But those reasons had to be hidden because even that hinted at his true past, and that information couldn't be discovered without some effort.
"Their talents are useful to me, that is correct. But why you?"
His smile widened slightly with a look of affection that almost reached his eyes.
"There are many talented people in the world... But in you was potential. I found you young and inexperienced so that I could teach you the skills I needed you to know. You had little talent, thus you had no bad habits already formed that would make training you that much more difficult. And as your father I took pride in teaching you to surpass those around you."

"Also... Umm.. If you don't mind me asking... What's the deal with you and Gwen? She told me you use to be very close in the past. Why didn't you ever tell me about her? I would have loved to have known her when I was younger! It would have been so nice to have a mother figure growing up." Charity asked looking down at her hands, hoping her last question wasn't too out of line.

This was actually the easier question to answer, though he still couldn't give her all the details, not all of them were his to give even though it had little to do with his true self.
His smile faded but couldn't entirely disappear, he was pleased that she was asking him questions and trying to learn more.
"Miss Vollmund and I have a complicated history and I'm not at liberty to share all of the details. We were amorous at one point and she was my most devoted follower. She will no doubt explain to you exactly how things changed, but it was her choice in the end to remain detached."
He leaned back in his chair and leaned his cane against his braced leg.
"But I can tell you that I suspect, when all was said and done, she greatly underestimated her value to me."
He stopped there... That was a tad more than he intended to share and it was getting closer to the truth... And he didn't like that. Perhaps even he underestimated Gwendolyn's true value to himself... He'd need to reassess his evaluation of Gwendolyn, this was very unexpected.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

"You ain't talentless," Urchin objected, surprised that Charity had ever considered herself so. "Yer good at lots o' things. An' yer real smart, an' fast an' yer good at magic, an' pretty. Ain't nuthin' plain or ordinary 'bout ya." As far as Urchin was concerned, any parent would be lucky to have a daughter like Charity.

Charity smiled sweetly at Urchin. He was a good kid and she loved him to no end because of it. "You're right. I'm certainly far from talentless nowadays. But you would say otherwise if you had known me when I was but a wee child. I wasn't trying to make myself sound pitiful when I said all I was good at was running away. Its the Gods honest truth. Thanks for trying to defend me though kid!" She reached over and ruffled his hair as her father began to answer her questions.

"Their talents are useful to me, that is correct. But why you?"
His smile widened slightly with a look of affection that almost reached his eyes.
"There are many talented people in the world... But in you was potential. I found you young and inexperienced so that I could teach you the skills I needed you to know. You had little talent, thus you had no bad habits already formed that would make training you that much more difficult. And as your father I took pride in teaching you to surpass those around you."

She was delighted to hear that, despite what she had thought, she had been just as useful to her father as any of the other organization members, since day one. Charity happily hugged her father's arm in leaned into him. "I see... So you weren't looking for a young child who already had talent. You needed an ordinary child who wasn't already set in their ways, so you could teach them the ways of your world. Somebody you could teach important life skills to, and raise as your own." Charity snuggled in closer to her father.

"Miss Vollmund and I have a complicated history and I'm not at liberty to share all of the details. We were amorous at one point and she was my most devoted follower. She will no doubt explain to you exactly how things changed, but it was her choice in the end to remain detached."
He leaned back in his chair and leaned his cane against his braced leg.
"But I can tell you that I suspect, when all was said and done, she greatly underestimated her value to me."

A sad look formed on Charity's face and she looked down at the floor. What could have happened between Gwen and her father to cause Gwen to detach herself? She would have to ask Gwen about it at some point.

Charity was eternally grateful to have Gwen in her life, but wished she had met the woman sooner. The closest thing she had to a female role model growing up was her father's personal guard and assassin Jexa. And she was far from a motherly figure. To Charity, she had been more akin to a mean older sister who was always beating her up in an attempt to toughen her.

Another question presented itself to her as she sat there. "Daddy... Do you still love Gwen?" Charity asked quietly, hugging her father's arm tighter.

 

[Urchin]

"You're right. I'm certainly far from talentless nowadays. But you would say otherwise if you had known me when I was but a wee child. I wasn't trying to make myself sound pitiful when I said all I was good at was running away. Its the Gods honest truth. Thanks for trying to defend me though kid!" She reached over and ruffled his hair as her father began to answer her questions.

Urchin smiled happily as Charity ruffled his hair. "Ah, I dun know 'bout that," he insisted. "Honestly, ain't no talent I can think of what's more important than runnin' away. Far as I reckon, folks what're good at runnin' away are better at stayin' alive than folks what're good at fightin' an' stuff." And besides, the vast majority of children weren't really talented at anything. The only difference between Charity and all the other useless children was that most of the other children had parents to swoon over them like they were the most intelligent creature on the planet, every time they so much as blew their nose or tied their shoelaces.

Well, it seemed that Charity was having a rather serious discussion with her father, so Urchin decided to leave them to it and wonder over to Isak. "Hi there again," he said in his friendly way, though looking rather awkward, not really knowing how to talk to someone so serious. Sitting himself down on a stool beside him, urchin poured himself another glass of wine. He didn't really like the taste of wine, but like any other teenager, he simply enjoyed the consumption of alcohol. Plus wine tended to get him drunk faster than ale or rum. "So, the pretty priestess lady... She's nice! Ya known 'er a long time?" Obviously Urchin didn't know Isak very well and was trying to gauge how well he would take the news of Eilerias's pregnancy.

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

“I see..” Gwendolyn said with a small nod. Stepping back from the white haired priestess she simply took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

Taking her tear streaked face in her hands and gently kissing her forehead before pulling her into a hug.

Gently patting her back as the priestess continued her sobbing.

“There now child. Let everything out..” Gwen said with the same warmth she had all those years ago. Her mind drifted back to that time. When a white haired slave girl had knocked on her door.

A harsh cold front had left many shivering in the streets. She had been covered in thin rags that clung to her skinny frame simply walking door to door and receiving many a slammed door and even a kick from the tavern owner down the road. The spooky archives did little to repel the child from her course. She was too cold and hungry to care. Cleo had met her at the door.

“I’m sorry young one but...” The demon had began before the silent pleading look made her pause. “I-one moment..” Cleo had said shutting the door for a moment before it was reopened and Gwen stood before her. Granted she didn’t look much different, the child melted her heart like an ice block over a furnace.

She had been grabbed up so quickly it was almost a blur before she was wrapped in a blanket by a fire with the same tea in that same chipped mug.

Gwen had held her that entire night. Allowing her to fall asleep in her arms before having Cleo carry her off to Gwens own bed while quickly making arrangements for a small side room she could call her own the next day.

“All is forgiven.” Gwen said gently before the hug went from gentle to almost painfully tight. “But do not lie to me again young one.”

 

[Amadeus Greywood]

"I see... So you weren't looking for a young child who already had talent. You needed an ordinary child who wasn't already set in their ways, so you could teach them the ways of your world. Somebody you could teach important life skills to, and raise as your own."

He chuckled with an almost genuine sense of mirth.
"That is a pretty good summary of what I just told you. Yes, a protegé is what I wanted, and you haven't disappointed me yet."
With her hanging on his arm and the members of the Cherry Rose once again uniting she could feel a smidge of tension release from his shoulders as he allowed himself a moment to relax and enjoy no responsibility for the brief moment.

Another question presented itself to her as she sat there. "Daddy... Do you still love Gwen?" Charity asked quietly, hugging her father's arm tighter.

He was prepared for her last question.
"That term is often subjective in its meaning, you will have to give me your definition so that I can answer you properly. If you had been alive to have known us back in the day, we would have been inseparable. I have never had a more skilled spy master at my side, a more devoted member of the Cherry Rose doesn't exist. We spent nights together in passion... Again, Miss Vollmund will tell you what happened, and because of that she would likely say I do not love her..."
He picked up a glass and sipped the drink thoughtfully.
"... She may go so far to say that I am incapable of love. Perhaps that is true... But that would depend on our working definition of love and discovering whether I meet the prerequisites."
He took another sip from his glass, pondering and waiting for her definition of love. That time on the cliff wasn't a turning point for him... But it was unique. He didn't regret what he did because he knew why it happened, why it had to be her, and why he had to do it. She didn't understand at the time but she is highly intelligent, perhaps with his hint she could figure out what he couldn't tell her... She followed the right trail of breadcrumbs to the actual truths, knew more truths about him than anyone... She could do it if anyone could...

 

[Eilerias]

Eilerias cried as Gwendolyn pulled her in for a hug, taking her suggestion to let everything out. The guilt of hiding things from Gwen was so overwhelming that there was little to do but cry. Gwen was more than just an associate or even a friend. She knew the parts of Eilerias that no one else knew, aside from Isak who only found out some recently on their trip to Vel'Anir.

She knew Eilerias before that was her name. She knew the dark acts Eilerias committed to escape that damned city before coming to Alliria and starting fresh. Gwendolyn helped her bury the past, hiding her identity on the corpse of another child so she could start anew. She gave her the name Eilerias, and it seemed like a joke as she told her it meant she was brave and strong. Who in their right mind would think of the tiny, malnourished child as strong? Maybe Gwendolyn really did think that.

She was ashamed of herself. Gwendolyn had been the first person to offer her a hand, giving her everything she needed and more when she had nothing and Eilerias threw it away for her own selfish desires. Gwendolyn could tell her she was forgiven by her, but Eilerias wouldn't forgive herself for hiding things from her first friend.

"I'm sorry." Her eyes were no longer producing tears as Gwen held her tighter. "I promise, never again." She said as Gwen finally let go of her and she sat back in the chair, drinking some of the tea. The taste was unique, one very familiar yet one she had not had in a very long time. "Did you know I was coming here?" She asked, looking up as she realized the similarity to the first time she had spent in the archives. She waited for Gwen's response as she sipped more of the tea.

Looking back at Gwen, another matter seemed a bit important to mention. "Oh! Gwen, Mr. Briarthorne is at the Raven Club right now. I didn't think he'd actually respond to an invite, but he showed up right after you left, probably looking for you honestly. I suppose I should let you know that I told him everything...probably a little too much...just about the relationship between Isak and I, not the child though. Actually, I didn't know until Ogden told me and that was when Gilgamesh was speaking with Isak about something." She paused, trying to get her thoughts back on track. "Anyway, I think I am safe with the church for now seeing as I broke some key vows. I don't know how he plans to do it, but he's going to get them to overlook it all if I join the Briarthorne family. Isn't that kind of him?" A smile sprouted on her face as she told Gwendolyn about what she perceived to be great news for her. "Would you consider coming back just to have dinner?"

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak was just sitting at one of the tables, looking at his own drink for the longest of times. He could hear Charity and Gilgamesh conversing, sharing some heartfelt memories and even something about Gilgamesh and Gwendolyn that Isak couldn't quite understand, too uninterested to focus on anything else but his own boredom.

It was like everything felt less colorful without Eilerias, and now he didn't know where she went, and if she wasn't still feeling ill. He wanted to get up and scream at Ogden for being so reckless, for not even trying to stop her, but he knew it would be of no use, and it was looking like the reunion was finally going back to more peaceful places.

If he was feeling miserable, the least he could do was avoid passing that to others.

Surprisingly, Urchin came to sit next to him, drink in his hand and somewhat of a awkward smile as he tried to befriend the lonely businessman. And right on cue, he had to ask him about Eilerias, as if Isak's thoughts hadn't been solely focused on her already. He swung his glass around slightly, glancing at his own reflection at the drink as he pondered over what to respond to Urchin.

"She... Eilerias... She is one of a kind." It was probably the most kindhearted thing he had ever said out loud to anyone other than Eilerias herself, which surprised even Isak himself.

He started recalling the day, or rather the night, that they first met. Gwendolyn had only just brought her to Alliria, a innocent priestess who was seeking to start over in the worst of places, in a city like Alliria. He remembered being smitten by her smile almost instantly, even if she looked a bit terrified of him, even without knowing his true line of work. Gwendolyn had only said he was an associate and that she should be wary of every person in the city, which was justified. In times before, even Isak himself berated her for being so naive and kind to every stranger she met, but deep down he knew she would never change, and nor did he wanted her to.

It was only when she first attended to his injuries that he could see that she was indeed genuine, too good for a place like that. And when she started getting involved in their jobs, Isak felt the need to protect her, even if he had never cared for someone other than himself before. Many months, a year even, and that care slowly turned into love, and now he was sitting like a fool looking at his drink and wondering if she would ever come back, and why she'd run away in the first place.

"I've known her for a while, enough to know that she is the only good thing in this terrible city."

'And that I would be lost without her', Isak thought to himself. He truly was a lovestruck fool, and a very worried one at that. He hated the thought of Eilerias wandering by herself at night, but if she wanted some time alone, she would probably resent him for chasing after her. Hells, everything was so complicated.

Briberies and negotiations were often so much easier.

He would need much more wine to get through that night if Eilerias didn't come back soon.

 

[Urchin]

"She... Eilerias... She is one of a kind."

"True that, she's lovely," Urchin commented as he took a sip of the wine, giving a little cringe at the taste, though still determined to make the most of the free alcohol while it was on offer. "Don't get many like her, s'pecially in this city. She's like one of 'em princesses ya get in the story books what's nice an' kind ta everyone an' all the animals love 'er an' shit. Honest, I'm surprised ta see a guy like you with a lady like that... No offense or anythin'! Is just... Ya know... Runnin' an establishment like this in this kinda area... You gotta grow a thick skin fer that kinda work. Is like yer polar opposites or summin'. Not that that's a bad thing mind. She seemed real 'appy with ya. Seems like she trusts ya an' all... An' I'm guessin' that ain't misplaced trust or nuthin', right? I mean, ya love 'er a lot, right?" Not going to bale on her at the first sight of a baby bump, right? Most men Urchin had met in his life had a habit of disappearing whenever a baby was mentioned. Isak though didn't come across as the type to shirk his responsibilities. Besides, he seemed completely besotted with Eilerias.

"I've known her for a while, enough to know that she is the only good thing in this terrible city."

"Ain't so," Urchin objected, gesturing over to the two Briarthornes. "Charity's 'ere." And Charity was by far the best thing that had happened to him. She'd pulled him in off the streets and was helping him to finally make something of his life. As far as Urchin was concerned, he was on top of the world right now, all thanks to her, and Urchin wasn't likely to forget that any time soon.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

"That term is often subjective in its meaning, you will have to give me your definition so that I can answer you properly. If you had been alive to have known us back in the day, we would have been inseparable. I have never had a more skilled spy master at my side, a more devoted member of the Cherry Rose doesn't exist. We spent nights together in passion... Again, Miss Vollmund will tell you what happened, and because of that she would likely say I do not love her..."
He picked up a glass and sipped the drink thoughtfully.
"... She may go so far to say that I am incapable of love. Perhaps that is true... But that would depend on our working definition of love and discovering whether I meet the prerequisites."

"My definition of love?" Charity asked confused. She wasn't even sure where to begin. "Um... Well... I'm not sure... Can't really say that I've been in love before." There were things she would call "love" Like the way she felt about Eilerias and Urchin could be considered love. And the feeling she had towards Gwen could also be called love though that was slightly different than the feeling she had for the other two. But the feelings had clear common threads.

"Umm... Are you happy when you're around her and miss her when she's not there? Do you often find yourself thinking about her? Would you do things for her that you wouldn't do for somebody else? Does the... "amorous" feeling return whenever you see her?"

Charity paused, unsure of how else to define love. "Sorry Daddy... I guess I ended up asking more questions and not really "defining" anything. But those are all things I think I would think about if I was in love with somebody." Charity hugged her father's arm tighter and leaned her head against him. She secretly hoped that, by her definition at least, he still had feelings for Gwen.

 

[Amadeus Greywood]

"Umm... Are you happy when you're around her and miss her when she's not there? Do you often find yourself thinking about her? Would you do things for her that you wouldn't do for somebody else? Does the... "amorous" feeling return whenever you see her?"

Charity paused, unsure of how else to define love. "Sorry Daddy... I guess I ended up asking more questions and not really "defining" anything. But those are all things I think I would think about if I was in love with somebody."

"Clarifying questions are as good a definition as any. Let's see...
Am I happy when I'm around her? I suppose in an emotional sense I used to.
Do I miss her? She still serves me loyally, though she's no longer by my side which is an unfortunate inconvenience that I have lived with.
Do I think about her? I think about everything, but have my thoughts dwelled on her longer than practical? Yes.
Would I do things for her that I wouldn't do for anyone else? I've done things for her that I haven't done for anyone else, though that's not to say I wouldn't do it for anyone else given the right circumstances.
As for the "amorous feeling", that's similar to the question of happiness, a matter of the heart..."
He looked down at her clinging to his arm almost as if she were afraid he'd get up and walk out.
"In all my years I've never known of anything more deceitful or wicked than a heart. My heart led me astray once too many times in my life, I had stopped listening to it decades ago."
He absently rubbed the thigh of his crippled leg.
"Mark my words, Charity: Don't make any decision based on an emotion, they are fickle and blinding, Miss Eilerias and mister Lavelle are a perfect case-in-point. Had either of them stopped to think everything through perhaps this whole drama could have been avoided. We can't change what happened but we should learn from it."

 

[Gwendolyn Vollmund]

“Good..” Gwen gently released her. At the mention of the rest she simply shook her head.

“I’m not sure I would speak with Mr. Briarthorne tonight. I would rest if you would allow me..” Gwen said with a small smile. An expression that spoke to her genuine exhaustion.

The night burning her reserves she had gained from her rest. “And while I’m sure you will wish to speak with everyone further I would suggest rest for you as well.” She would say giving the woman’s hair another gentle stroke. “Now be on your way and know that I love you.” She whispered.

“Cleo will escort you.” And with that she stood and left the doors shutting behind her. It seemed the events of the night still hurt her. She was simply no longer angry.

 

[Isak Lavelle]

Isak filled his glass with more wine as Urchin spoke, glancing at him a few times as the kid spoke about Eilerias.

His description of the priestess had been spot on. She was definitely a princess, only she stumbled upon a terrible place and happened to be involved with a complicated man like Isak. He hid his smile under the glass as he took another drink in response to Urchin's questions about how Eilerias chose him. Isak often wondered that himself, not believing how lucky he was that Eilerias loved someone like him.

They were so very different, like day and night. Light and darkness. Eilerias, even with shadows of her own, was always so bright, her light gently reaching out to everyone she met, while Isak was a man who had become too accostumed to living in the dark, away from others and only caring about superficial things, like money and his business. Perhaps it wasn't sinful to wish a life of riches, but he had never done much effort to care about other things - until he met Eilerias.

Urchin's round of questioning were becoming more and more inquisitive, which beckoned Isak to put down his glass and glare at him, almost too suspicious of what he was intending with that interrogation. "What are you? A poet?" He asked, bluntly. "Why are you so invested in my private matters, Urchin?"

Isak paused, almost regretting his rough tone, when the boy was probably only wondering if Isak was indeed genuine about what he was saying. He let out a sigh before looking at his drink again. "But to answer your question... Yes, I do love her, more than anything else in this world. She's seen the worst of me, and yet she's never pushed me away."

In his mind, Isak recalled the hardships they fought in Cerak and also Fal'Addas, both seeing the darker sides of each other, and never once running away. Urchin spoke about Charity when correcting Isak about the good things in Alliria, looking at the girl as she talked with Gilgamesh. In truth, they weren't the greatest of friends, often getting in each other nerves and sharing nothing but scolds and curses, but Isak cared for her as well, in his own 'brotherly' way. Charity was a valuable associate after all.

"I suppose she has a good heart... for a thief." Isak replied, a short smile on his lips before he took another sip of his wine, looking at the two Briarthornes conversing.

 

[Urchin]

"Why are you so invested in my private matters, Urchin?"

Oops! Looked like he'd taken his questioning a little too far. "I ain't, I ain't!" he objected, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Sorry, didn't mean nuthin' by it. Forget I said anythin', okay?" Maybe Urchin should learn to be a little more cautious among known crime lords, should he want to keep both of his kneecaps intact.

"But to answer your question... Yes, I do love her, more than anything else in this world. She's seen the worst of me, and yet she's never pushed me away."

"Oh, well that's good," the lad said, resuming his smile. "Was only askin' because she seemed kinda upset before. Like there were summin' on 'er mind. Summin' really, really important. Were thinkin', maybe would be nice if ya did summin' for 'er. Ya know, summin' ta cheer 'er up. Summin' ta let 'er know that ya love 'er an' yer gonna be there for 'er no matter what. Then maybe she wun be upset no more."

"I suppose she has a good heart... for a thief."

"Yeah, the best 'eart!" Urchin agreed enthusiastically. "Ya know, she took me in right off the streets an' let me stay with 'er. Gave me a mat ta sleep on an' a blanket an' everythin'. Even bought me lunch! Cleaned me up an' got me new clothes... Well, I got the clothes, but it were 'er idea. Ain't never met nobody like 'er before... An' that magic she can do! The magic what tricks ya inta seein' stuff what ain't really there! That sure is summin', right? Damn, I wish I could do summin' impressive like that," the lad thought to himself as he looked over at Charity and Gilgamesh together. It wasn't just the magic he envied either, it was the fact that Charity seemed to know everyone, and was loved by everyone who knew her. He wished he had that kind of skill with people. Still, Charity seemed to like him well enough for who he was, despite the fact that he had all the social graces of a bull in a china shop. And so long as he had Charity, he didn't really give a fuck what anybody else thought. Her opinion was the only one that mattered.

 

[Charity Briarthorne]

Charity looked up at her father with a pout on her lips. "But Daddy... You didn't really answer-" She knew whining would be useless. Gilgamesh liked to keep things vague and she had learn to just accept it over the years. His need for secrecy was one of the few things she disliked about her father.

"Mark my words, Charity: Don't make any decision based on an emotion, they are fickle and blinding, Miss Eilerias and mister Lavelle are a perfect case-in-point. Had either of them stopped to think everything through perhaps this whole drama could have been avoided. We can't change what happened but we should learn from it."

"Don't make decisions based on emotions?" Charity mulled over her father's words for a moment, pondering whether or not to tell him that almost all of her decisions were based on how she felt in the moment. "I'll... try to remember that..." she murmured.

"Oh! Hey watch this!" Charity exclaimed excitedly, remembering that she had wanted to demonstrate her new abilities to her father. She released her father's arm and stood. Raising her hand towards a bottle on a nearby table, Charity focused and the bottle rapidly rose towards the ceiling. She released the bottle, and as it fell she closed her hand into a fist, and the bottle exploded into a fine cloud of dust.

"Did you see that Daddy? I only discovered this new power not too long ago. I showed it to Gwen, and she wasn't sure where it had come from, but figured it had slowly been growing over the years. And I've been spending a lot of time with her learning how to control it. She's the best instructor that I have ever had! Even better than Jexa!" Charity couldn't help but gush about Gwen whenever she had the chance. She wondered if that was how people saw Urchin when he was talking about her.

"Speaking of Gwen... I suppose I should go check on her and try to apologize." In all her excitement of getting to spend time with the real Gilgamesh, Charity had almost forgotten the events that had transpired earlier in the evening. She spent a few more minutes chatting with her father before waving to Isak and Urchin as she exited the club.

---

Charity was met at the archive's door by a grumpy looking Cleo. "Hey Cleo. Is gwen here?" She tried to push her way past but the demon seemed intent on blocking the doorway. "I'm sorry Miss Briarthorne. Miss Vollmund has specifically requested that you not be allowed into her archives for the foreseeable future. Now please be on your way." Cleo really seemed to be enjoying the opportunity to turn Charity away.

"S-She... what?" Charity asked in a mix of hurt and confusion. She knew Gwen was upset with her, but not being allowed back into the archives was overkill. "I don't believe Gwen would never say anything like that! Please! Just let me in! I need to see her!"

Tears began to well up in Charity's eyes as she tried in vain to push past Cleo. Time and again, she was met with resistance from Cleo, who shoved her back each time.

Charity was determined to see Gwen and set things right, even if that meant having to get through Gwen's assistant first.

 

[Amadeus Greywood]

"But Daddy... You didn't really answer-"

She stopped herself out of habit, she was being careful about prying into his affairs but Gilgamesh had decided he was in a good mood.
"You're right, Charity. I suppose that doesn't quite answer your question... And given its nature I'm not sure I can."
He took another sip of his wine as she continued to mull over his words and warnings.
"The way I understand love... The way someone else explained it to me anyways that I rather agree with... Love is a decision, an action that you choose rather than an emotion that you feel... Whether I chose to love her or not... That will remain my secret."

"Oh! Hey watch this!" Charity exclaimed excitedly, remembering that she had wanted to demonstrate her new abilities to her father. She released her father's arm and stood. Raising her hand towards a bottle on a nearby table, Charity focused and the bottle rapidly rose towards the ceiling. She released the bottle, and as it fell she closed her hand into a fist, and the bottle exploded into a fine cloud of dust.

"Did you see that Daddy? I only discovered this new power not too long ago. I showed it to Gwen, and she wasn't sure where it had come from, but figured it had slowly been growing over the years. And I've been spending a lot of time with her learning how to control it. She's the best instructor that I have ever had! Even better than Jexa!"

She changed gears quickly and he watched patiently while she focused. The bottle flew up and exploded and he felt a familiar surge... He smiled to himself as well as for her, he was pleased that she too began to inherit a bit of his power.
His voice had a hint of approval.
"Either your illusions are improving or you've discovered a new gift, my child. Gwendolyn is the perfect teacher for this talent."
He sipped his drink again as he watched the powdered glass drift to the floor.

"Speaking of Gwen... I suppose I should go check on her and try to apologize."

He gave her a concerned look, "I would advise against that at this time. I've been keeping her fairly busy of late and she has a lot on her plate right now..."
He scoffed humorlessly, "She about blasted my head off when I saw her last. Better if she gets some rest."

______________________________

After Charity left he looked around. There were very few of them left, just Isak, Urchin, and the dwarf. This event was turning into quite the walk in and walk out sort of reunion.
But still, it was a break from work. He refilled his glass and continue drinking and thinking.