Welcome, to the Arena! (D4 - MA)(Expecting)

[Cyprian Kircheis]

He actually had to think about that. "I..." He thinks some more. "There's a very good chance of it. Not that I've any alternative at the moment. I can't exactly return to my home, and even if I did it'd prove pointless." He sighed wearily. "Mysti is here, no doubt she sold everything after waiting a year or two for my return. Gizby is here," he scrunches his face, "the nasty little miscreant. I'm sure I might find Jhaam and Ruf-" he thought about it. "-no... Rufa would have died by now. I don't think Mycanoids live that long."

That thought made him really sad.

"I loved that nefarious little shroom. He was a true rogue, and a most amusing little creature." He took another sip. "Rest in peace Rufa!" He said in under-common.

After a moment he recovered. "Well anyways, I suppose where I end up next largely depends on my girlfriend."

[Illiam'iira]

"Well anyways, I suppose where I end up next largely depends on my girlfriend."

Another big sidehug. "Do you think you could be happy here, Cypri?" There's a little worry in her voice -- as if she's afraid she's about to step in it. Illi doesn't want to hurt him.

[Cyprian Kircheis]

He polished off his beer and ordered another. "Happy?" He chuckled softly. "You are very strange. These are all strange questions." Cyprian is a cheap drunk and this is only his second beer. Or is it third? "Happy... huh? On average possibly. Though I suspect I might be sad on occasion, horny most of the time, and if I'm lucky... content." He laughs at his own joke. "But happy... hahahah, indeed."

His eyes are swimming as he turns to look at you.

"If this week is any indication I rather suppose I'll survive here, possibly even thrive. But that's all I can hope to do." He yawns. "That's all anyone can hope to do right?" He blinks his tired eyes. "The world I lived in was chaotic, there was always fighting in the streets, changes in the political landscape. I never had the luxury of being happy somewhere." His head followed his arms onto the bar. "Maybe that'll change here. Ask me again in a few years."

[Illiam'iira]

"Maybe that'll change here. Ask me again in a few years."

She regards him gently, brushing some hair out of his face like a mother might for her child. "I think you can hope for more than survival, Cyprian. I think you can hope for a good life. Even if maybe your life so far's taught you otherwise." Smiling, she leans back to give him some space, being otherwise afraid of smothering the man; he's not a child, he's not even someone she knows closely, she can't dote over him. "You already found love here. What else might you find?" And then, thoughtfully, "Now that you're here, is there anything you want?"

[Cyprian Kircheis]

"Love? I hope it's love..." Cyprian contemplates his bottle. "Love is another notion I can scarcely parse." He leans on one arm still meandering with his thoughts. "I take pleasure in the moments. Indulge body and soul in those I hold. And admittedly the sex has been..." He grins. "... ravishing."

Another sip.

"But time will tell if it lasts. Or if I can keep myself from cocking it up." And another sip. "What do you want Illi? Have you your own love?"

[Illiam'iira]

"But time will tell if it lasts. Or if I can keep myself from cocking it up." And another sip. "What do you want Illi? Have you your own love?"

Illia regards him with the warmth of an existence defined by loved; of course she believes in him, in his ability to love and be loved, in all its painful, beautiful complexity. Does she even need to say it? Her hand finds Cyprian's to squeeze gently. "I believe in you."

"I want to go home," She answers. "I want to see my baby brother's squishy little face and hear my sisters' laughter again. I --" Illiam grows a little sheepish, admitting it. "I have so much love waiting for me. My family and my friends. I have love here, too. I'm really lucky. But I want to go home."

"Didn't realize how much home meant 'til I stumbled on in here, I guess." Oh, life; you teach some hard lessons.

[Cyprian Kircheis]

He regards Illi. Not coldly but there's a distance to be sure. He doesn't understand her. Not that he doesn't WANT to understand her, just that her life is so far removed from anything he's ever known. Family, siblings, love, comfort. These are luxuries of a sort. Things he's read about, seen a few times. But never experienced. Never known. It makes him think of that sensation he shared with Thaddeus. He wondered if she'd known it her whole life.

"It sounds... nice."

He said the words but really didn't feel them. There's a disconnect in his own experiences. It'd be more truthful to say: different. It's not like he wasn't perfectly satisfied with his life up until now. The good and the bad are what made him who he was after all.

Instead of thinking on it he grinned, "So no boyfriend?" He quirked an eyebrow playfully. "Surely you at least have romantic prospects."

[Illiam'iira]

"Surely you at least have romantic prospects."

There's a little pause as she notices -- her brow furrowed with worry before Illia briefly looks away. "It is. I know I'm lucky. Not everybody gets that."

At mention of a boyfriend Illiam'iira socks Cyprian in the side. (It does no damage. She doesn't actually want to hurt him, and also, her tiny fists do NOT pack a punch.) "Not particularly! I'm not looking, and there's nobody knockin' on my door."

[Cyprian Kircheis]

"Ow," he laughs jokingly, "well that is surprising!" He teases. "But I'm sure if they're not knocking they're certainly looking."

He laughs some more. Legs angled invitingly towards you, "You're funny, cute, and a good person." There's a warmth in the look he gives you. "I mean you are definitely the kind of person a man like me wants to be with." He takes another sip of his beer. A smirk on the edge of his mouth. "And I get it. I know what you're thinking. 'Why would I ever want to be with a guy like you? Gross!'" He does his best Illi impersonation. "And while some might say we're in it only for ourselves." He shrugged, "Which may or may not be true... still there's something you have that we can't have. And we're jealous for it."

[Illiam'iira]

"Which may or may not be true... still there's something you have that we can't have. And we're jealous for it."

"Don't put words in my mouth!" Illi sticks her tongue out at Cyprian, though it's obvious she's a little hurt when she leans back, looking up at him with a mixed expression.

"...what do you mean, I have something you don't?"