Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 25, 2013 12:12:27 GMT -5
Continuation from the Senior Steward's Office (Here)
The silence weighted heavily on both of them after Tybresa had lashed out, and it was tearing her apart. She didn't need her summoner capabilities to tell that her words hurt him far more than the combined spells and abilities all the champions of the League could throw at him on the Fields of Justice. She lowered her hands from her face and instead extended them helplessly towards him, her voice trembling with regret.
J-Jayce ...?
When he turned towards the door, she stumbled lightly as she wanted to step towards him, to grab him by the coat and stop him.
Jayce, wait, I'm sorr- ...
Too late - he already left ...but the look he gave her. That would remain with her forever.
Tybresa collapsed on her knees and began pulling at her hair, sobbing silently, though this time, tears wouldn't be falling from her eyes. Instead, curses would escape past her lips, low enough for just herself to hear.
Damnitdamnitdamnit, damn me! Damn my soul to hell! Why is it that everything I do is turning out so wrong?!
She inhaled loudly and slapped her hands on her thighs as she threw her head back, staring at the ceiling.
Why can't I do anything right...?
She closed her eyes and brought her hand to her neck, her fingers lacing themselves around the purple gem of her Steward choker.
This ... isn't me.
She forcefully tugged at the choker, trying to rip if away from her neck ... but her attempts were weak and futile, for the black silken cord that kept it together didn't tear.
This isn't me! I swore I would serve and help those that fight for a better tomorrow, and I ended up hurting them instead! I'm not ... I'm not worthy of this.
But the choker didn't give in - rather, it felt like it was tightening around her neck, almost painfully, up to the point Tybresa felt she was suffocating. She finally let go, propping her hands on the floor instead as she struggled to breathe - the grip had lessened and she found herself panting. After several moments of calming down, she stared around the room ... it was eerily quiet, without the hummingbirds chirping around. The silence was cold, unwelcoming and hurting - just like the words she spoke out a while earlier.
Tybresa slowly rose and gingerly rubbed the purple gem at her neck, feeling quite helpless ... she was hoping that, perhaps, it would somehow magically tell her what to do to fix things ...
... Fix things.
She was a fool for even wondering. Without any further hesitation, Tybresa went outside her offices, accidentally slamming the door shut more forcefully than she intended, the sound echoing throughout the hallway. She took several steps around, taking in a deep breath as she muttered to herself.
Okay ... okay. If I were a champion who just got verbally abused by the Senior Steward - a very, very terrible woman - where would I go ...?
She looked to the left of the hallway, quite clueless on where Jayce might have ran off to. She stared at the wall ... perhaps? She stepped close to it and pressed her body and open palms against it, taking in a deep breath as she tapped into the magical ley lines of the Nexus Crystals flowing through the Institute's structure ... She was hoping, that, perhaps, if she could somehow pinpoint his location with the help of - ...
She let out a gasp as her eyes opened startled - she had found him. She began running through the halls, each urgent step accompanied with the clicking of her heels against the stone floor.
...
She was panting by the time she finally arrived at the right hallway - it wasn't just her emotional state that was frail, but her physical condition too. When was the last time she ran for so long? She approached the wall and peeked around the corner - Jayce was sitting on a bench, resting his head in his hands as he was staring at the floor.
Seeing him like that made her heart squeeze painfully - no matter the outcome, she will carry the guilt of this to her very grave. She took in a deep breath for courage and slowly walked towards him, slightly hesitating - what was she supposed to say? 'Sorry' won't cut it, that much is clear ... maybe she should just let him calm down first? Should she sit down next to him and comfort him? No - that would be too inappropriate and shallow.
She halted several feet away from him, standing straight with her hands folded in her lap, with her head bowed in humility as she stared at the floor. She was at a loss of words ... perhaps, she should await for him to acknowledge her presence first.
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 25, 2013 12:31:33 GMT -5
Jayce continued to stare at the floor, not looking at Tybresa. His eyes were already dry, but he couldn't think to face her any longer.
He had failed his steward as a champion. Why am I even a champion if I can't protect anybody, let alone Piltover?
He sighed. "Ty... Tybresa..."
He couldn't manage another word, his voice lost. It wasn't her. It was him. A coward like him couldn't possibly protect anyone. His words were lies. Her's the truth.
He beckoned her to come closer, still not looking up. If one looked closely, did could see that a drop of blood - fresh - had mixed with his tears...
Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 25, 2013 12:46:29 GMT -5
Tybresa exhaled loudly, her expression filled with concern. When he called out her name, so weak and fragile ... she winced. She felt her heart stop beating in that one moment - what has she done? She failed him - she failed her duty as a Steward, that /one/ person he knew he could rely on no matter who he was, what has happened and how he felt, and she spurned him. She failed him as a person, too, as a friend ...
No. She dared not call herself that anymore. She was a traitor, an oath breaker ...
A criminal?
When he beckoned to her, in a single, fluid motion, she sat next to him and inched as close to him as possible - she wanted to hug him, to pat his back and tell him everything was okay ...
She bit her lower lip - that was a lie. Everything was /not/ okay. Especially now, out of all the moments ...
She let out a dejected sigh - she raised her hands hesitantly. What should she do? Hug him? That seemed way too inappropriate ... Pat his shoulder? Heavens, Tybresa! She just yelled at him for being a fraud (which he wasn't) and that's the best she can come up with?
Tybresa lowered her hands, wincing painfully to herself. She folded them in her lap and let her posture sag as she stared at the floor ... she felt her blood run dry - were those tears, on the floor?
Did she just make him cry?
Tybresa closed her eyes, mentally making a note to herself - she just got herself a one-way ticket to Hell on this day. She spoke up, saying the most intelligent thing that came in her mind.
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 25, 2013 13:06:26 GMT -5
Jayce shook his head.
No, that isn't true! He tried to say what was on his mind, but his wracked emotions left him searching for the words to piece it together. Why couldn't he speak out? Help her? In the times that he could help her, he can't! How ironic, the "hero" not playing hero.
He chuckled, then he laughed heartily again, without humor. As soon, as he was finished, he took Tybresa by the hand, and looked into her eyes. He still didn't say anything, he had gone silent for the moment, but his expression was still doubtful.
I'm a man. I can deal with this myself. You need not be so harsh on yourself...
But deep down, he knew, her words would sting him, like a wasp's nest stuck on his back, for the rest of his life. It just couldn't fit, his thoughts were all jumbled up, he just didn't know what to do anymore.
Tybresa swallowed dryly as she watched Jayce ... he shook his head frantically, only to begin laughing hysterically and then take her hand ...
She stared back at him, blinking perplexed - looking into his eyes, she saw just how much her words had hurt him ... she shook her head sorrowfully and clasped his hand between hers, squeezing it tightly. Her voice was hoarse and shaky ...
Look, Jayce ... I ...
She clears her throat as she tried her best to muster her courage.
I didn't mean that, entirely. I know ... it sounds shallow. Denying my words like that. I can't take them back, though ... and what hurts, is that they were unfair. I was unfair.
She grimaced and lowered her head, her breathing shaky.
I ... I don't expect you to forgive me, at all. And even if you do, it won't matter - because I won't forgive myself. No matter how hurt I was, it wasn't right of me to just ... just spew out words which I knew that would hurt.
She closed her eyes, letting out a low whine - she tried so hard, but words didn't want to come out from her mouth. She felt so helpless ... despair began creeping over her - she couldn't help her father. She couldn't help the Institute. She couldn't even help her hummingbirds ... and now this.
Her eyes snapped open - wait. Hummingbirds? Humming ... An idea came through her mind, and with it, words - but not spoken words. But words that were meant to be sung ...
She looked at Jayce, her blue eyes shining hopefully. She spoke out, her voice shaky and uncertain ...
Take all my vicious words ...
She cleared her throat - no no no no. Wrong tempo. Wrong rhythm. She has to try again. She stared at him for one moment as her thoughts were now flowing with musical notes, tunes ... and in the back of her mind, memories of happy chirps and peeps that would bring hope in the most dreadful situations. When she opened her mouth, it wasn't just words that came out - a melody came with it, that echoed softly along the deserted hallway they found themselves in.
Take all my vicious words and turn them into something good...
Take all my preconceptions and let the truth be understood.
Take all my prized possessions - leave only what I need;
Take all my pieces of doubt and let me be what's underneath...
She smiled softly - she wasn't certain what Jayce felt, but she felt ... braver ... kinder ... She let out a soft chuckle as she continued with her song, her voice brimming with hope, like the trill of a bird that announces the coming of spring - and with it, the healing of all wounds.
Courage is when you're afraid but you keep on moving anyway.
Courage is when you're in pain but you keep on living anyway.
She shook her head lightly, her expression showing mild sorrow with the continuation of the song.
We all have excuses why living in fear, something in us dies.
Like a bird with broken wings -it's not how high he flies, but the song he sings.
It's not how many times you've been knocked down, it's how many times you get back up.
She paused for a moment, taking in a soft breath before her voice was now a hushed tone, though the emotion contained were intense.
Because courage is when you've lost your way, but you find your strength anyway...
She smiled and blinked her eyes as a small tear was forming at the corners, but her voice resounded louder and louder through the hall, unable to contain the small flicker of hope - and courage - she was holding within.
Courage is when you're afraid;
Courage is when it all seems grey.
Courage is when you make a change and you keep on living anyway...
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 26, 2013 2:27:38 GMT -5
Jayce looked at her in awe. It was beautiful.
That was beautiful. He thought. You are... beautiful.
Her words from before still hurt him, but the song she sang gave him newfound hope. Tears of joy flowed from his eyes, and he embraced Tybresa, kissing her on the lips.
Wait... SHIT. WHAT AM I DOING.
He immediately flinched back. The heat of the moment made him do things brashly without thinking. He blushed in embarassment. With what he just did, what would Tybresa think of him now?
An idiot? A nobody?
He should have thought it through. Now he felt even more guilty than usual. He couldn't even talk. His mind raced frantically, he had just kissed his steward summoner!
Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 26, 2013 12:24:04 GMT -5
When Tybresa finished her song, she smiled sweetly at him - she could tell that her song had managed to raise Jayce's spirits considerably ... and ... were those tears streaking down his cheeks? Tybresa blinked her eyes, wanting to make sure she was seeing correctly, but in that moment Jayce had embraced her.
She was about to let out a surprised chuckle - clearly, he was overwhelmed by his feelings (and she could understand him) ... only to her greatest bewilderment, to see his face inching close as he pressed his lips against hers.
Tybresa rolled her eyes as her brain had stopped functioning properly - she froze up, her blue eyes wide open in horror as she tried to make light on the situation.
He is kissing her !? - ...
Was kissing her - she blinked startled as he suddenly flinched away from her, his cheeks blushing such an intense red that would make Cho'gath jealous. She tilted her head, beyond confused - What. Just. Happened?
Tybresa held her hands in front of her, unsure whether to expect another sudden ... affectionate gesture from Jayce. She was slowly inching away from him as she tried her best to think about her next course of action.
Should she laugh it off and pretend it didn't happen? Should she slap him for the serious breach of personal space? What should she say?
Tybresa tried to smile sheepishly at him - this event overwhelmed her ... she didn't know what to make of it. Was it a mistake? Was it intended!? She nervously bit her lower lip before she spoke out.
O... Okay ... that was, um ... unexpec-... WOAH!
Tybresa felt herself fall - she was so skittish, she continued to inch further away off the bench ... and down the floor. She grimaced, for the stone floor of the Institute was one of the least suited ground to greet you when you fall down. She blinked startled, staring at ... nothing in particular. Her thoughts continued to race around in her mind, trying to figure out what was she /expected/ to do - as his Steward? As a friend ... as a prospective lover?!
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 26, 2013 12:55:55 GMT -5
Jayce could see the nervousness in her eyes. The situation here was extremely awkward, he would have to say something...
He mustered all his strength, cleared his throat, beat his chest. He had to get the words out.
"Ahh... bah... nah..."
He couldn't say anything, the shock still took effect on him. The inventor moved his hand to slap himself, incase that would wake him up. Argh, Jayce! Say something!
"Ty... ty... ti... Tyb... I...'m sorr...y. That wa...s a mis...take."
His words were broken and unclear, but he managed to say something. He balled his fists, and punched himself smack across the face. He had been an idiot, being so brash to kiss her like that! He laughed hysterically, perhaps this was all a dream!
He let himself think that, before taking out a pill. The capsule was blue and red, shining in the dim light of the room.
Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 26, 2013 15:09:51 GMT -5
Tybresa let out a sigh and brought one hand to her forehead as she propped the other one underneath her, trying to raise herself up from the floor ...
Heavens, she thought. This situation was such a mess ... was there a way to somehow redeem it? She blinked her eyes, looking at Jayce - it was the first time he spoke during this whole encounter, and that was ... a relief. At least he seems to have went past the whole shock her words must have caused him. And he did mention the ... 'incident' was a mistake. That ... was a relief too - she guessed.
She shook her head and brought herself on her knees - those ... would be thoughts for another time. She had to focus on the situation at hand. She looked over at Jayce as she tried to speak in a warm and nonchalant voice.
It's okay, Jayce, you -...
She swallowed her words and flinched startled when he began laughing hysterically - whatever sense of relief she had gathered so far had been shattered. She stared at Jayce in disbelief as he fumbled in his pockets - what was he trying to do? She didn't know why, but she began panicking - something was ... terribly, terribly wrong here.
She let out a gasp when he pulled out a pill, holding it aloft between his fingers - what was he trying to do? He wouldn't actually ... no no no .... would he? The way he acted beforehand was so uncharacteristically him. Would it be a mistake to rule out that option - or was it caution?
Surprisingly, Tybresa tackled Jayce with a lot more force than anyone could ever expect from her (including herself), knocking him off the bench and landing on him. Tybresa kept her eyes interlocked on the pill, however, quickly swatting them out of his hand before she'd sit up on him and grab him by his collar, shaking him lightly as she spoke in a panicked, high-pitched voice.
Don't! Don't you dare! You're stronger than that, Jayce! You're far stronger than just to give up like that! DON'T YOU DARE!
Post by The Revered Inventor on Apr 26, 2013 15:30:55 GMT -5
'Well, it looks like I got another meeting to attend to...' he thought to himself as he made his way down the corridor that branched off into the private steward summoner chambers, making his way towards one of the meeting rooms he was to have with some of the summoners in regards to a prospective change to what he would be allowed to bring to the fields.
He wasn't really bringing much, just his normal kit that he came to the fields with, the various devices all stashed in his pockets, his trademark wrenches inside his coat pocket as well, as he lightly hummed to himself, wondering what changes they might propose to him this time around...
...but there was a noise coming out from one of the hallways... and it didn't sound pleasant. The Revered Inventor turned his head, and, initially not hearing anything he felt needed attention shook his head and resumed his walk.
However, the voices then got louder, and hearing a scuffle, he realized that perhaps it was more serious than he initially thought. Scurrying his way over, he rounded the bend to see two people on the ground.
It took him a while to comprehend the situation, as he'd certainly never expected this to be the case... but his eyes weren't lying to him, and indeed, he did see a summoner woman grabbing the Defender of Tomorrow by his collar, and was shouting something at him... while being almost on top? The fact that he'd never seen a woman this - what was the word... passionate? It didn't seem such, but yet the word fit; ah well - with Jayce was enough to tell him that this was not an ordinary situation, and so he made his presence known to both.
"AHEM! What... is going on here!?" The Revered Inventor asked in his normal voice, though it was raised enough so that both would be able to hear him. He wasn't aware of the situation, but from what he could tell, this looked like a botched romance... a very, very botched romance.
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 27, 2013 12:39:48 GMT -5
Jayce flinches back once more, but he couldn't go very far. Tybresa's grip on his collar was tight, and he was starting to feel uncomfortable. He turns to look at Heimerdinger, who had just appeared, and managed a sheepish smile, his face turning red. Out of all the people he expected to be here, he did not expect him to, and especially in this situation!
"H... Hello, Professor... Er... It's not what it seems!"
He quickly grabbed the pill on the floor and threw it away, since he would have no use for it now. He looked to Tybresa nervously, who was still yanking his collar furiously. His body was stuck to the ground.
Had he made yet another mistake? Heimerdinger's presence seemed more than a mere... coincidence. He gagged at Tybresa constantly tugging on his collar, although he couldn't help but feel excited, for whatever reason. He tried to push Tybresa off, but his hands were stuck under her.
Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 27, 2013 14:33:40 GMT -5
Tybresa glared angrily at Jayce, about to give him a piece of her mind in the most angry, high-pitched voice she could muster ...
... only to feel her blood run cold and her heart skip a beat as a familiar voice called out loudly right in front of her. She raised her gaze, staring back at Heimerdinger with her blue eyes open wide in bewilderment, her golden hair disheveled and her purple robes creased and wrinkled. She could but imagine what the Revered Inventor would be making of this unorthodox situation.
Tybresa surprised even herself - for in the blink of an eye, she quickly stood up off Jayce and stepped next to him, nervously dusting her robes and trying to smooth the crinkles before she'd attempt to brush several stray locks off her face. This must have been the first time she ever thought as lucidly at now - how ironic. Seems that even she was a victim to appearances and reputation ... nevertheless, she straightened her pose and clapped her hands together in front of herself as she addressed the Inventor in the most polite yet casual voice she could muster.
Ah, Professor Heimerdinger! ... What a surprise to see you here!
She glanced over at Jayce, who was still laying on the floor and extended her hands towards him, helping him up. She couldn't help herself from glaring at him as she did - for right now, they /both/ looked foolish and heavens knows how else ... that would be open for the Revered Inventor to judge.
When Jayce was up on his feet, Tybresa began to dust off his shoulders, though she put in a little bit more force in each swat that was necessary - it was the best way she could get back at him without any further embarrassment.
Indeed, it was -not- what it may have seemed to be ...
Her nostrils flared angrily as she glanced one more time at Jayce, her blue eyes flickering lightning at him before she turned to look at Heimerdinger with a pleasant expression, a shy smile playing on her lips.
Post by The Revered Inventor on Apr 27, 2013 14:59:44 GMT -5
Heimerdinger's expression slightly soured as he continued to look on towards the efforts of Jayce and Tybresa to get out of the most disturbing positions he had ever seen in a public institution. Hearing both of them say that it was not what it seemed only served as evidence to him that they were not telling the whole truth, and it annoyed him even more.
"Senior Steward... Defender of Tomorrow... I can say that I am neither impressed nor amused with... what I have witnessed," he began, from which he then climbed onto the bench, and turning to face them, he directed his eyes towards Jayce, and began delivering a series of quotes that built up into something... well, it's not certain the situation could even be described with any word in the current dictionary.
"Defender... a person's failure comes from not realizing how close they were to success when they gave up..."
"...and a person can fail many times, but they aren't a failure until they begin to play the blame game..."
"...however, people will experience failure anyway, and you of all people should not fear them! You continue to reach out..."
"...and while you may have forty million reasons for failure, you certainly have ZERO excuses..."
"...and this situation bears no exception! YOU try to disguise a romantic outing by saying it was 'nothing at all!?' That is, bar none, one of the worst justifications I have ever heard for such a thing!..."
"...and you call yourself the 'Defender of Tomorrow'... we might as well start calling you the 'Failure of Tomorrow' for the latest case of actions you have been doing!"
"Now, you've tried to tell me such garbage in the past, but for such an incident as this, I'll let you go on this one and just say that I won't insult your intelligence by suggesting that you really believe what you just said." At this, Heimerdinger finished his rant, breathing somewhat heavily from not taking a single breath in the tirade of verbal... something, whatever it was, he threw at Jayce, and possibly catching Tybresa in the middle of it as well.
Post by Tybresa Farrister-Cassalantar on Apr 27, 2013 16:13:20 GMT -5
Tybresa blinked perplexed at the Professor initial sentence, tilting her head slightly while her expression showed a small trace of concern - and just what was he intending to do right now ...?
When Heimderdinger stepped up on the bench and began admonishing Jayce, she couldn't help herself from clasping her hands on her mouth, trying her best to hide the blush of embarrassment from her cheeks - even though, in a sense, she was grateful, for the yordle was far better versed with words in this situation than she ever could (and let us not forget it was words that brought them here, in the first place), but she felt a tinge of guilt for letting the Defender bear the burden by himself ... not to mention she did not appreciate calling the event an ... 'romantic outing'.
Tybresa raised her finger as she spoke out in a stern but polite voice.
With all due respect, Revered Inventor, but I have to disagree - for what you have witnessed was ... was NOT a-a ... She raised her hands, making air quotes with her fingers. 'Romantic outing'.
She looked at Jayce with a frown.
It was an unfortunate event that almost lead to tragic consequences ... and I would be to blame for that, I fear.
Tybresa let out a sigh and wrapped her arms around herself, a pained expression on her face as she gazed downward.
If anything, you should be scolding me - for I have failed the worst out of the present figures standing here, and I have no excuses for what I have done and said.
She closed her eyes and winced, letting her shoulders slouch as her voice was tinted with regret.
Perhaps I should call myself Failure from now on. For I'm not even worthy enough to be the Senior of that circle.
Post by The Defender of Tomorrow on Apr 28, 2013 4:40:13 GMT -5
"No.... Tybresa. You can't be so hard on yourself like this. I should be the one to take full responsibility for... provoking you."
He quickly got up, noticing that Tybresa had gotten her hands off his collar, but he was still sitting down. Heimerdinger had knocked a lot of sense into him, and he started to feel disoriented. His face went red.
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