*she watches him closely...the internal struggle invisible to her gaze....but the exasperation, that is something she hears, cover it as he might she recognizes it easily..but lets it slide...for the moment* I have never even heard of Eshva, its a beautiful word though, almost rolls off the tongue...chalice? *she pauses a moment, the name was familiar, but from where?...* yeah, I remember her...that was a bizarre file to read, and I saw her briefly *the faintest of shivers runs through her body as she remembers the incidents surrounding the sighting of chalice* on the night of the raid. *she stops just outside of the kitchens one hand lightly laying upon his wrist to stop him*Why? *her emerald gaze holding yours, seeking an answer..there has to be more behind all this questioning, all this seeking...what is he after* What are you after?

*He smiles gently down at her, eyes bright and dark* You like it? *he breathes a laugh for no reason and goes on* I have never met her, but she might know things... I should find her, I think. *he grins and looks off ahead, but she notices, notices things he thought he'd covered, and as she lays a hand lightly on his, he pauses and turns to gaze down at her again, dark eyes open, smiling... he sighs so softly, lovely little action and brushes her left cheek with the back of his right hand, his expression gentle, and no pain here... just soft touch. His smile* I am after... answers, Rika. I am after myself, as you should be after yourself. I am after the truth. ((*bites back the temptation to say "and the truth IS out there..."*))

I do. *she shakes her head* don't do that, you don't know what she will do..what she is...besides, what would she know? *her own hand comes up to briefly hold the one that brushes her cheek* Delve too deep and sometimes we will even scare ourselves. *she withdraws her hand, shaking her head as she once more turns to enter the kitchen* I don't want to know myself

She would think I am... *his face makes a tiny expression of distaste* .../Aerik/. And she would probably know more than you might realize. I am confident I could handle any attack she might attempt... *he smiles gently as she takes his hand in hers, and his fingers curl about it in a warm gesture* I know I might scare myself with the truth... *and this last he breathes more for himself than Rika, she might even miss it completely its such a soft confession* ...I am already frightened by what I know now. *she removes her hand and he lets it go like one might a precious butterfly, softly and turns into the kitchen with her. But at her last words, he pauses and gazes down on her fondly. No animosity here, just delicate pleasure in his features* But I wish to know you, Rika. You are my first real friend. Would you deny me that? *he asks it seriously, not rhetorically, and waits quietly for the response before he moves again*

Not for long she wouldn't, you're not like him....and I'm sure she has other ways of telling *she looks up at him, her soft green eyes holding his* and I wouldn't want to loose a friend so soon, not after finding one...what is this truth you seek so hard? *She turns back towards the kitchen then stops and turns as he does* Well then know me as you see *she shakes her head* you don't want to know a lot, *she heads into the kitchen, unsure if hes following or still standing there, she merely wants the conversation over, its going too deep, pushing too far* and there is even less I want known *the last mutered softly to herself once she thinks she might be out of earshot, but she doesn't know how acute his hearing is does she?...*

*he sighs... she was probably right. It was becoming more and more difficult to uphold the facade that he was Aerik... he had developed enough of his own persona, enough of himself, that pretending to be that monster was a chore. Besides, he'd fulfilled the /why/ of the act, hadn't he? They held all the information they were going to get without going directly the source... Aerik himself, or this Valyn character (an elf??!!!)... or the mysterious 'boyfriend. Or Chalyss herself. They were the only ones left now, really, who knew enough about Aerik to make an investigation worthwhile. But still...* I am... certain... she knows something. Perhaps much. I know some of the links she had with Aerik, I know... I know she knows. *Rikky frowns prettily, then his brows raise like graceful arched over his large dark eyes and he smiles* What do I seek? Myself, Rika. I want to know more about me... what I am. Why I am. *he makes a petulant little sound and drops the subject. He found himself divulging an awful lot to this beautiful woman with her ghastly gold hair. Perhaps too much... of course he hears her last quiet comment, and he knows. Hell, he's been in her head before, and while he didn't pry, out of courtesy, compulsion and respect, he still caught things here and there. Her shields were not yet in place... she /leaked/ a great deal of information. He wonders if she's even aware. Most likely, she's never had to really worry about it before. He follows, nodding slowly, and they enter the kitchen. He realizes she's being pushed far, maybe too far, and the conversation was becoming difficult for her... self-realization always /was/ a difficulty. So he tempers it somewhat, murmurs gently* We all have secrets. Secret faces, hidden agendas, a darker side. A haunted past. Do you really expect me to judge? /Me/? I accept what I see already. *he guides the thought a bit, gives her a line to follow, so she might guess* What do you think a -telepath- sees?

Maybe she does... but, what if she doesn't? Can you accept that?..Will you accept that?*She turns to meet his eyes* Well, if you accept me, then accept yourself...*she lowers her gaze and half turns towards the kitchens* I'm sure there is a lot less that needs accepting *a crease briefly wrinkles her brow as she pauses, contemplating his question* A telepath? see? I don't know, I never really thought of it before *she shrugs, in an almost elegant gesture* I guess it would be whatever people let them *shields, the need for them, how to use or build them, these things had never occured to her, no one had ever explained it to her beyond what was covered in basic training....even there a lot of her training was missing because of her instructors inability to concentrate. Few of her trainers lasted beyond a day...the women had tried to kill her, the men possess her.. most of the training she did get was remote, via videolink or written, her only successful trainer had been Herme,an androgenous being, unfortunaately he had been killed shortly after her training had begun and it was never completed.*

I suppose I would have to, would I not? *she doesn't want him to seek out Chalice, that much he knows. Oh, she already said so... she was scared for him, wasn't she? Worried her friend might be taken away, killed. Well, he didn't especially want to die either, not when he was just becoming himSELF. He sighs and drops the subject, but he answers her response to acceptance somewhat cryptically, though to him its quite clear* I do not see as you see. Nor do I judge as you judge. *he turns and scans the kitchen, poised from the doorway, seeking the ever-present, large fruit basket on the counter or on a table... wherever it was placed that morning* No. Lesson number one, Rika. Telepaths see far more than people want them to, or really even think about, them seeing. Did you /let/ Aerik see into your mind? You do not even have the barest shields. You are an open book and a good enough telepath could cut your influence off from themselves for at least long enough to get past your powers and unearth every dark secret you harbor. *he speaks this absently, voice almost hollow and he latches gaze onto the fruit basket across the room* Or, like Aerik, they could simply go in and shut you down. Easy enough, with your mind so unprotected... *he trails off. They had nectarines! and Pears! And slices of watermelon! Oh, he was going to be in seventh heaven...*

*that name still sends involuntary shivers of fear down her back, perhaps it always would* but, but he's different..he's stronger *her voice almost wavers, almost, but not quite* No, I didn't. *she shakes her head...Until Aerik she had never thought that someone could work around her powers,not when she was actually using them, let alone shut them off* ...an open book? *quiet disbelief is in her voice, but in a way she believes you, it was just something she ahd never thought of, never had need to think of...or so she had thought....a smile of amusement crosses her face as she notes your reaction to the fruit basket*

Oh yes, he is different... *Rikky acknowledges this, firmly believing it, an edge to his voice* And stronger... yes, I think he is this as well. *he nods and glances at her, a faint smile on his lips* I think your education has been neglected, Rika, but it is also obvious as to /why/... still, you should know such things. I will have to teach you if you wish to learn. Soon, for there are other out there who can do what he does. *then the fruit... oh, the glorious fruit. Just a piece? he could glutton himself on /this/ variety... he moves forward as tho drawn, on a string, eyes huge and bright. he can smell it... delicious. Peaches... pineapple too... oh, they had everything. There was even a kiwi. Rikky sighs happily and starts to fill up his arms*

*a faint crease mars her brow* I can learn this stuff? Please teach me sometime? *she chuckles as he seems almost drawn by the fruit* well I see your weakness now *she frowns as her communicater comes to life* Oh darn *she almost pouts as she looks back up towards you* I'm sorry, seems I have to go, they want me in the medical lab, I'll see you later *she smiles up at you then turns and heads down the hallway* enjoy your fruit.

*Rikky chuckles as she note his weakness* Yes, I am afraid I could easily be overpowered by an enemy who has a wide enough variety of fruits on hand... *he nods in farewell to her, arms too full to motion with them* I will teach you, and soon, Rika. *he grins gorgeously as she departs* See you later... and I will! *and he turns back to the basket, trying to figure out how to gather even /more/ of the luscious foodstuffs in his overflowing arms...*