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[wizard_redfive]

Despite Valentine's Day coming around the corner, I'm so glad January is over. What a month.

Oh yeah, the topic might be a little late, but something's been bugging me. [Now that the crazy month is over.] I know the castle often gives us Christmas gifts from back home. Has anyone gotten something that was...owned by someone else before?

[She stares at the Sunstone on her desk. It actually is hers, not that she’d know it quite yet. The last time she saw the stone it was in Roshaun's possession. The only hint that something was different was the stone's hue, which had changed to a light yellow. What was up with that?]

Comments

[toobravehearted]

[Dairine isn't the only one glad that January is over. Granted he sat most of the end of it out.

He'd much rather have been in. Listening to her voice, normally he'd have lots to say, but he lets it sit a few minutes before he does reply. It's good to hear her voice.]

Hello, Dairine. I-- [He sighs and it's a moment before he picks back up.] No, that's not nearly acceptable. I'm sorry.

[It's clear enough when a journal is shut closed. But a few minutes later there's a knock on Dairine's door instead.]

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine, on the other hand, jumps at the opportunity to talk to the Doctor. She knows it is him — she was there for the Mara's takedown, so there is no question in her mind about that. But she's been worried about him for a while now, ever since the Mara first took over his mind, so she's glad to hear from him.]

Hey, Doctor. I wondered when you'd get around to calling. [She waits for a reply, but what he gives her is not quite what she expected.] No wait! Don't g--

[And the connection is shut. Staring down at it for a moment, Dairine yells and chucks her journal at a nearby wall. Dairine then curls into a ball on her bed, kicking herself for not contacting him earlier, for not getting the Mara out the first time she saw him. 'How am I so useless?!' she berates herself.]

[But then there's a knock at the door. Not wishing to move for just anybody, Dairine calls out.] Who is it?

[toobravehearted]

[Listening at her door and about to knock again, the thought that she isn't here and he'd look for her elsewhere instead comes to mind. She was probably in the library, knowing Dairine, but then he hears her voice and he calls back through the door.]

It's me. Do you have time for a visitor?

[wizard_redfive]

[There's a scuffle of feet as she rushes to the door. The door swings open, and Dairine is standing there, her hair a little out of place in her rush.]

Doctor! ...I mean yes, yes, come in.

[toobravehearted]

[He doesn't notice her hair out of place. For a man that pays attention to everything, young ladies hair and fashion is an area he purposely remains oblivious on. Dipping his head, he steps inside.]

Thank you. Talking to you over the journal really wasn't for the best or nearly anywhere adequate. [Hands clasped behind his back he fidgets slightly and makes a light frown.] And I... [Probably should have said that in the first instance.]

[Head raised to look at her properly, there's concern for her and regret in his voice.] Dairine, I'm so very sorry.

[wizard_redfive]

[Sorry Doctor, but that nervous posture just won't do. Mere seconds after he he gets into the room, Dairine runs over and practically tackles him in a giant hug. She holds on tight, though hopefully not uncomfortably so, as if she's worried he'll run off if she lets go.]

What are you apologizing for, you big dummy? It wasn't your fault.

[toobravehearted]

[It is practically a tackle and it is completely unexpected, to the point that he rocks back on his feet. A hug is such a simple thing to give and he can do that, but to receive one and from another that he thinks the Mara treated so cruelly... It humbles and grounds him. Arms going around Dairine's shoulders, the Doctor hugs back tight.

He is sorry, sorry that he couldn't stop what the Mara did. It was bad enough, but if she had been seriously hurt, and at his own hands no less...

His relief in the hug and that she is all right should be apparent. He stands with her a moment longer, not letting go, before dipping his head to whisper gently down to her, his voice tempered with fondness.]

Did you just call me a dummy?

[wizard_redfive]

[Dairine's hold relaxes a little when he returns the hug, but she doesn't let go. She has no intention of ending the hug anytime soon. This has been a long time in coming. Dairine had even wanted to hug the Doctor when the Mara had been pretending to be him, pained by his fear, though considering what had happened from her simple touch, it was likely for the best that she held back.

It had treated her cruelly, but Dairine does not hold it against the Doctor. It wasn’t him, and she knew that. Heck, other friends had tried worse while under the castle’s influence before, though admittedly none of them quite succeeded. Dairine had been prepared to forgive him even as she was being forcibly put to sleep. Even when she thought her fate would be much worse…

Make no mistake, she hasn’t forgotten what the Mara did. It had shook her in many ways, despite the seemly harmless sleep. It will take a while for the nightmares to die down, but during the day there is nothing to fear.]

Well, you are one. Did you really think I wouldn't forgive you?

[toobravehearted]

[She asks a good question. What the Mara did wasn't him, but he sees it as his fault nonetheless. He has a great deal of fondness for Dairine, for several people here as well, and he sees it as his duty to make sure they are safe and looked after. His fondness for Dairine is probably that little bit different as well. Sometimes, it feels to him like what it was with Susan.

His companions hadn't thought there was a need to forgive him when the Mara took him as a host the first time. He'd tried his best to remove it from Tegan after all and had almost succeeded. In fact it could be said that he did, it had taken him instead. None of that however means he doesn't blame himself, he still sees it as his fault that the Mara affected Tegan in the first place. Meaning he can only answer Dairine truthfully.]

I don't know. I couldn't stop it and after what it did... [He draws a sigh and then looks down, trying to catch her gaze.]

I'm just very glad that you're all right. You are all right aren't you, Dairine?

[deductiongeek]

I doubt it will be improving much.

[Conan was not looking forward to Valentines.</i]

[wizard_redfive]

Hey, if fewer people die or attack me, I will consider that an improvement.

[She wasn't looking forward to Valentines either, but at least last month put it into perspective.]

[deductiongeek]

And more people could die next month. I doubt this is the end of people attacking other people.

[wizard_redfive]

[She sighs.]

Thank you for that stunning ray of sunshine, Conan. Investigation not going so well?

[deductiongeek]

Well enough.

[He was mostly annoyed that an investigation was necessary in the first place.]

[wizard_redfive]

Then what's got you so grumpy today?

[deductiongeek]

I'm not grumpy.

[wizard_redfive]

Yes you are. You're grumpier than usual ...which is saying something.

action because I can

[inlifesname]

[The little pop of a transport spell announces Nita's presence in the room.]

What'd you get anyway?

whooo! :D

[wizard_redfive]

[The moment Dairine hears the pop she quickly covers the Sunstone with her hands, hiding it from sight. She glares over at her big sister.]

That's none of your business.

[inlifesname]

[Which, unfortunately, just makes Neets more curious.]

Wow, you're pretty worked up about this, huh?

[wizard_redfive]

No. [Yes.] Who invited you in here anyway?

[inlifesname]

Same person who always used to invite you into my room. [No one, in other words. She's just being a pest.]

[wizard_redfive]

So nobody then. In that case, why don't you buzz off.

[Sorry Neets; little sister's really not in the mood. She pulls her hand closer to herself and the hidden Sunstone with it. Maybe she can... slip it into her lap or something. Anything to get it away from her big sister.]

[inlifesname]

[She raises her hands in a gesture of surrender.]

Okay, okay. Geeze, Dair, you are touchy. But you di know that asking questions like this over the journal is going to get all sorts of people asking these questions, right?

[wizard_redfive]

Am not. You act the same when I stop by your room unannounced. [Or rather enter her room and mess with her stuff unannounced.]

Ask maybe, but just because they ask doesn't mean I have to answer.

[She keeps sliding the Sunstone closer to her, but as she does, part of the collar slips out of her grasp into clear view.]