[ P ] Mirror In The Sky - What Is Love?

A

lmost immediately following the gathering of the Trustees carefully chosen by the College of Eòlas, Nimue requested an audience with the Chairman. There had been an unfathomable amount of thoughts upon the woman's mind as of late and she began to feel as though she had nowhere to turn to. These days it was difficult to find her friend without his stocky Outlander entourage and lately she aired on the side of wishing to let them be. It was unusual for her...normally she would have no second thoughts to pry the men apart and insert herself in between to gain the attention she sought.

Recently, however, Nimue would catch sight of them from afar, strolling the campus pressed against one another and she would simply watch. She studied them as she might a subject for one of her lessons in a class. There was something so very different about them...or perhaps...it was her that was the source of the change. Whenever she found herself directed inwards, it was far to difficult to navigate her emotions...at least not by herself. Either way, Board meetings were...wonderful and all, but in this moment she did not need Professor Arythmetik...she needed Aryth, she needed her beloved Poet.

@Arythmetik

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

THREAD TITLE MUSE

A R Y T H M E T I K

After tidying up his thoughts, Arythmetik, scholar and (occasionally) poet, turned to his friend. Immediately the smile he offered her was warm, gentle and honest. Nimue was his dearest friend if he wasn’t counting Grigori, and sometimes the male wondered how different his life might have been if he’d known her sooner. The free-spirited woman could have opened his eyes to so many experiences growing up; what a pair of teenagers they would have been, running around the countryside. Maybe he would have even gotten into mischief. But now she was his spirit, his ear and confidant, and his Lady of the Lake. And he was her Merlin. As such, it was his duty to realize when she needed advice.


He could see the trepidation in her watery, blue eyes. The professor’s smile waned and his russet ears swiveled forward in concern. “Nim…” he started, unsure. “Thank you for all your help today. I don’t think anyone would have shown up if they didn’t see your bright face.” Aryth smiled teasingly, then cleared his throat. “If there’s something I can help with, please…I’m here to listen.” He glanced around. They didn’t exactly have privacy…but maybe this wasn’t a conversation that needed it. Still, he knew of nooks in the mossy stone ruins that few wolves visited. If she didn’t feel comfortable chatting here, he had solutions.

@Nimue <3

A

s Aryth approached, he said her name rather hesitantly. Ugh, it must have been written all over her face. Desperation. Not her typically cool, composed demeanor. The poet attempted a light tease and she had to smile at his efforts. "I believe you are mistaken...whatever allure I appear to bring is only illuminated by how brightly you shine." She urged him and then sighed with a nonchalant shrug, "I assure you, they do not attend these meetings for me..."

As he offered his ear, she watched his eyes scan their likeness on the green, mossy coverings of the ruins. Normally, she wouldn't care who was nearby and could overhear her conversation, yet this one felt the need for privacy. Nimue looked over her shoulder and glared at any passersby as though to tell them to 'flee, or else', before she turned to Aryth. "If there is somewhere you know of that we could spend a moment to chat, I would be most thankful for it."

@Arythmetik

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

Arythmetik offered his companion a wry smile, quite sure that their colleagues didn’t attend for him, either. But the conversation quickly took on a serious tone. So his instincts were right. Nimue needed to talk, and it felt important. Aryth nodded stoutly, rising to his feet with professional urgency. “Of course, dear Lady,” he said affectionately, yet calmly and softly. “This way.” In almost conspiratorial fashion, the professor led his friend through several crumbling hallways in the ruins of the building. Eventually, they were in a cozy nook that was actually walled on all four sides and covered by a roof of thick vines. An archway missing several stones served as the doorway to the small room.


Arythmetik had to assume this conversation was something to do with politics. After all, the Board Meeting just discussed the political climate’s effects on the College. And he’d be lying if he didn’t admit he was on edge since Prince Jacob’s return to Riannach. So as they ducked into privacy, Aryth turned to face Nimue with an expression of incredible attentiveness. His ears perk forward, alert, and his glimmering, emerald eyes sought hers for answers.


Little did he know, this conversation would be about a completely different kind of politics.

@Nimue

T

he Lady of the Lake ducked beneath the vines, gliding after The Poet lightly on her feet. When they were truly alone, she first glanced about the nook that she may have passed by a dozen times without noticing before. Aryth had known it was here somehow. She cut her eyes at him, a wry smile stretching across her maw imagining Aryth whisking Grigori into this private little corner for some much-needed alone time. She'd keep that amusing thought to herself, the grin soon vanishing from her face to be replaced by a rather pensive expression.

"Aryth, you're a man of science..." Nimue began, brushing herself closer to one of the walls and lifting a paw to idly play with the greenery that emerged from in between the cracks. "Tell me..." She paused once more, unsure of how to phrase her question, picking apart combinations of words in her brain until it sounded...reasonable. "...what is it you know of, ehm...matters of the heart? An affliction of wolfkind that one might call...love?"

@Arythmetik

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

Arythmetik nodded slowly, watching as the woman pressed herself to the wall. If it were possible for wolves to sweat, it would have beaded at the back of his neck. Dread was creeping down his spine. What on earth was his friend about to reveal!? Was she ill? Was she dying? Why she caught doing a spell and she needed a scientific excuse to escape the law? And then…she asked about an affliction called…love.


Aryth blinked…then blushed.


“Oh!” The scholar was so confused for a moment that it took seconds for the relief to flood through his muscles. His shoulders relaxed, but even as he started to relax, his mind snagged on processing her question. “Well, erm, I…have read one text on the subject. It seems that, erm, when two wolves grow close, ‘chemicals’ are released from the brain. Dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine are responsible for the warm butterflies in the stomach sensation. Oxytocin makes you happy whenever you see that person. And of course, well, uh…sexual attraction and the release of hormones is a component…” Arythmetik shook his head roughly and peered at Nimue curiously. “I’m sorry, Nim…are you in love with somewolf?”


He couldn’t help it…a tiny smile crept into the corners of his mouth.

@Nimue

I

t was apparent that Aryth had not expected such a question from her. While he blushed and became flustered, she remained seated still, ears perked forward with intense focus on what information had to offer her as though she were in one of the professor's classes. As soon as he'd begun to relay what he knew, she'd wished that she had brought something to notate everything that came out of his mouth...then again, he might have the text he was speaking of, so she let it go...

She was an attentive pupil, until the words 'sexual attraction' were spoken. And now, it was her turn to become flustered. She blinked at him, her ocean eyes widening as she was overcome with the heat that rose into her cheeks. Normally, Nim was able to keep up her cool and collected demeanor, but her mind began to wander to the night of a heavy rainstorm that wound up with her sharing shelter closely with a beloved friend...a bit more closely than she'd originally anticipated. She replayed the memory over and over and over again, reminiscing upon every single detail, every beat of her heart, of their hearts together, every sensation that was nothing that she had ever felt before...

"I'm sorry, Nim...are you in love with somewolf?"

Nimue had not even realized that she'd mentally traveled to somewhere else entirely and she had to blink herself back to the reality. As much as she adored Aryth, finding him standing there in front of her instead of her made her falter in any response. When she did finally speak, she completely avoided his question and instead stood and stepped closer to him, desperately berating Arythmetik with more of her own inquiries. "Can you...can you tell me what comes first? Is it love that takes hold of you before sexual attraction or after?"

She could suddenly feel her emotional state becoming heightened as she was beginning to question that if it was sexual attraction that was tied in with love, why was she alone? Why wasn't Rhiannon here with her? "For you and Grigori...I...I know he loves you...I see it plain as day. In the way he walks with you across the campus grounds...how he looks at you and...and even the tone of voice he uses with you, I can hear it, Aryth." Her composure was becoming more elusive with every passing second as she compared the lovebirds of the college to herself and who she thought she might love. "How was it for you? How did you...how did you get him to...to stay?" Nim's voice shook slightly and she suddenly had to turn away from him, unable to look him in the eyes as tears welled up in her own.

@Arythmetik

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

Aryth’s smile faded slowly as Nimue faltered. Realization slowly manifested in the professor’s mind, crawling and amassing with every soft word, every tortured question. Nim wanted to be alone to discuss this, not because she was ashamed of falling in love—but because she was embarrassed that she was in love…and still alone. Aryth’s jaw clenched faintly, his lips forming a straight line as he gazed intently at his best friend. His heart dropped even as anxiety bubbled in his stomach. Typically, the professor was not touchy-feely. He was calm, aloof and logical; Nim was always the one that initiated physical touch—a playful nudge, a friendly hug. But in this moment, the professor thought his Lady was awash in waves too large, too overwhelming. And maybe she could use a rock to hold steady. The professor pressed forward and, if Nimue allowed, pulled her into a tight embrace.


There were a few moments of silence, and Aryth swallowed heavily. He wasn’t good at this, but he needed to try. Without moving, he murmured softly, “I’m not an expert, Nim…but I think, from what little I’ve seen of the world…that love is different for everyone.” He squeezed her gently, but blushed, conscious of her warmth as he admitted his own romantic stumblings. “F-for me, it was love that came first…because I, erm, didn’t even know I was attracted to males until Grigori.” Aryth’s ears flattened against his russet crown. “He and I just…clicked into place. I…didn’t do anything. I’m awkward and naive.” The professor chuckled lightly, trying to diffuse the heavy sorrow.


After another moment, the male pulled away, if only to try and catch Nimue’s oceanic gaze. “You are brilliant, and charismatic, and…and effervescent. You never do anything wrong. And anywolf would be insane not to love you.” He yearned to know more, so he could comfort her better, but he didn’t want to push for details. Aryth just wanted to mend the tremble in his companion’s voice, the ache in her heart. And if he could, he would hold her until the two halves of her spirit were banded back together.

@Nimue

H

e pressed closer and Nimue nearly fell into his arms, more than welcoming the offering of his embrace instantly. She was so fortunate that Aryth wordlessly seemed to understand that this is what she needed. As many times as she might bump into him, brush flanks, or nudge the scholar, it was all for the simple fact that her early days of her youth had left her starved for physical affection. Her mother was willing to give it, but was guided by the instruction that doing so would 'spoil the child' and 'make her soft'.

How Nimue had wished that she had known Aryth as a young boy...how differently her life might have turn out...yet...if that were the case, Grigori would never had been in the picture...and it meant more for her to know The Poet was loved always even if she suffered the alternative. Somehow, this mental compromise was the only way she could currently bear it. She choked back tears and sniffled against his shoulder, trying her best not to break down fully.

Quieting her crying until it formed soft hiccups, she remained leaned into him as she listened to his words while he stumbled over them. She left her head rested against him, her expression transitioning into one of confusion due to the professor's self-evaluation that she certainly did not agree with and she was positive Grigori would not either. Nimue reluctantly allowed him to withdraw and she peered into his eyes as he looked to her, bathing in their forest green of his irises.

"Awkward? Naive?" She asked, lifting one of her paws to wipe some of the tears away on the back of her wrist as she shook her head. "But, Ayrth...you're not simply awkward and naive...and even so, those are the most endearing qualities about you..." Nimue frowned pitifully as he began to list off the characteristics that he deemed were her most outstanding. As he continued to speak, her gaze lowered until she was staring at her paws.

"I am very good at playing that part, aren't I?" She muttered, though ensured it was loud enough for him to hear. "I believe...that I've made grave error...in allowing anyone to see beneath such a mask...perhaps I was seen for what I truly am and the discovery of that in itself is why I awoke to an empty bed..." Nimue's voice cracked with emotion and the tears threatened to start again, but she willed them away, a bitterness simmering in her gut. "And if there is no love for me in return? Then what? How...how do I make it stop? How do I turn it off, Aryth?"

@Arythmetik

art and code by Yahtzee-Penguiduck

A R Y T H M E T I K

No—no! He made a mistake, an unforgivable fault. He made this about him when what Nimue needed was attention and empathy; he tried to distract her and uplift her, instead reinforcing her self-hatred. The professor’s jaw hung helplessly open, just a fraction, his lower fangs peeking behind his frowning lips. He wanted to reach out and wipe away her tears, but he stood there, frozen, like a gaping moron. Slowly, he started to shake his head. The woman’s words lit a fire of defiance in his belly. In fact, the scholar was sure that he’d never been so angry in his entire life. Neither the senseless war nor the weight of his own failings had ever infuriated him as much as the person who broke Nimue’s heart. And he was angry at himself for that, too, because he should be able to make her see: the Lady of the Lake was not just a mask to him. Nimue was so much more than her best qualities. Suddenly, as the she-wolf began to break down into new sobs, Aryth reached forward in a surprising show of passion and pulled her tight against him.


“No,” he said heatedly. Staccato and fervent. “Don’t ever let anyone make you believe those things, Nimue. Showing who you really are is the bravest thing you can do.” Aryth didn’t realize, of course, how ironic those words were, considering the greatest regret that would come in his own future. Still, that didn’t make the sentiment any less true. “You are more than just the—the fun parts of yourself. The real you is passionate and dedicated. To your beliefs, to your friends. The real you is complicated and genuine. If someone doesn’t love you for who you are…you don’t need them.”


Aryth swallowed heavily, choked slightly by the pressure of Nim’s body against his own as he held her tightly. He squeezed his eyes shut as tears crept into the corners. “I’m so sorry, Nim. I don’t know how to turn it off. I don’t. But I’ll be here until you can. You’ll always have me.”

@Nimue