Isidor Briar Durant (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
heirtothedragonsfire) wrote2017-06-17 02:02 pm
heirtothedragonsfire) wrote2017-06-17 02:02 pm
Entry tags:
A rocky path - with westfallcorndog
Despite the Archon's reputation for being fierce and unyielding, he and his wife had always taught Isidor that a person should always listen, that they should always know when to act and when to be still. More importantly, he spoke of how humility was a better guide than pride. Although not many would have heard him say it, or guessed he ever would, Isidor had and she remembered it vividly as she walked to Naugus' tower. It was not an easy walk. She was going to the Weatherhills to do something she had little experience with and took no joy in: She was here to admit she was wrong.
As per usual, she is dressed immaculately in a business dress and heels, a choice that ensures she won't have to glare up at Lawrence if he appears, but also means she has to stick to the path. Her reluctance isn't easy to spot with the way she strides into the area the Weatherhills have so expertly transformed. Once she arrives, she scans the area for a familiar face. "Hello?"
As per usual, she is dressed immaculately in a business dress and heels, a choice that ensures she won't have to glare up at Lawrence if he appears, but also means she has to stick to the path. Her reluctance isn't easy to spot with the way she strides into the area the Weatherhills have so expertly transformed. Once she arrives, she scans the area for a familiar face. "Hello?"
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"Lawrence?" She repeats in disblief, frowning in confusion. Clearly that man is up to something... but she has no idea what. This is all very frustrating and confusing. Whatever his angle, she's not going to discover it today. There are more important things to discuss. "I didn't mean to hurt you, you know. I was trying to make your family glad we're your friends. I thought that this was you letting us into your world. That's why I... did what I did."
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His lips shift side to side as he weighs his options on how to explain this. Eventually he knows, and with a serious demeanor he explains, "What I thought when I heard that you called me by that name was... That... I wasn't good enough as the person I am. That maybe you woulda preferred I was someone I used to be, or that was the 'normal' me that's safe to talk about in public. I started to regret bein' who I am – the way I am. It don't make any sense now when I'm tryin' to explain it, but when I heard you called me by that name I... Resented tellin' you that thing I told you when we were in Stormwind. Because I thought that you of all people would know why I'm not that person anymore."
He forces a little smile and jostles her gently to assure her that those feelings are gone. "Lawrence doesn't know what you know. Nobody in the family knows what you know, except Anna. But I think he knew that what I was feelin' wasn't right. He didn't want me to hate you for the wrong reasons. And... Talkin' with him made me realize that I made a mistake, too? I thought the worst of what you did, when I shoulda given you the benefit of the doubt. I shoulda known you wouldn't want to... I-I don't know. You wouldn't want to hurt me, because we're friends. You wouldn't mock me or hope I was somethin' that I'm not. And so I wanna make an apology, too."
He leans away just slightly so that he can get a good look at Isidor's face. The smile that he forced before becomes more genuine, though no larger than the slightest turn of his lips. "I'm sorry for not believin' in you when I shoulda. And from now on when things don't seem right, I'm gonna give you the benefit of the doubt. I'll put my trust in you, 'cause you deserve it."
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The mention of him apologising deepens the creases in her brow until he says his piece. "You don't have anything to apologise for, Harrowheart. We both have things to learn."
"Everyone I've ever known considers their history important. It's a part of us whether it was good or bad. But sometimes it's private and we keep it for special people. I thought your name was like that. I thought you were just... sharing it with us. I didn't think you'd be ashamed of it." She sighs and her gaze dips for a moment. "Viatorus talked to me afterwards. He reminded me of the power names have over us. Just because I say mine freely means everyone else does. He said that your old name is like your True Name. I don't have the right to use it, or even know it, unless you want me to. I understand that now."
"And Harrowheart..." She hesitates and then, very slowly, rests a hand on his knee before looking him in the eye. "Don't be ashamed. Not of who you were, or who you are."
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And then she touches him, which is wholly unexpected. She looks him in the eye and he finds he can't look away. And what she says...
It's easy not to be ashamed of who you are when you're a Durant. It's probably the simplest advice and the greatest truth in the world for Isidor. But for him? His mind fills with the sort of doubts that always plagued him. A dozen reasons to rebut her leap forward in his thoughts until he remembers exactly what he'd just promised her.
Trust her.
He realizes then, past his doubts, the implications of it all. It isn't just a command for him to follow. She's passing her own judgement on him. She isn't ashamed of him. All at once it feels like the answer to so many questions he hadn't been brave enough to ask. His poverty. His history. His curse. His death.
He presses one hand to his cheek and tries to subtly wipe away the tear that's clouding his vision. Despite everything she's said it's hard not not to feel self-conscious about his emotions and he tries to hide them in a little laugh. It's not at all convincing and he knows it, so instead he hides his face by pulling her into a close hug and turning his head away.
It's a brief hold, and it ends with a determined nodding of his head and the hint of a smile despite the moisture at his cheeks. With another little laugh, this one more sincere, he says, "If you're not careful I'm gonna wind up with some self-esteem. I'll... Work on it. For you. Around you, anyway. I can't guarantee nothin' when I finally gotta make eye contact with your father."
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"Don't worry about the Archon." She offers him an oddly gentle, encouraging smile. Then her eyebrows lift and she reaches into her jacket, pulling out two envelopes. She hands one to him first. It's a fine quality paper with elegant writing with embossed gold designs. "Your invitation to Runa and Viatorus' engagement ceremony. You have a plus one. I'll pick you up."
Then she offers up the other envelope. "This is a guide for you. I know this will be a very different kind of event to what you're used to. The people there will be different to the people you're used to. I wanted to give you a few guidelines to work with."
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His eyebrows furrow as he reads the contents, but more out of concentration than disappointment. His lips move along with the words as he reads, which he does not do quickly. Sometimes he has to read sentences more than once to be sure he's understood properly.
He tisks when he reads something and points to the list. "What do you mean don't smell anyone? I don't smell anyone. And even if I did – which I don't! – it would be because smell is a very good way to remember someone." A few seconds of silence pass before he mumbles, "But I won't smell anyone."
Another little tisk, this one more disappointed than offended. "No phone? Not even to look stuff up?" Still, he nods. He accepts this, even though it's going to be difficult.
He then goes on to practice the open-palmed point at various things in the room and nods when he's sure he's got it. That's simple enough, even if remembering it may not come instinctually. He uses that same gesture to address the next point. "Rooms that're protected by magic? How will I know?"
And having asked that he folds up the list and looks at her seriously. "And what should I do when I meet your uncle and your mother?"
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Except maybe the one about smelling people. That may or may not have been a revised version of 'do not smell butts' but that seemed too rude to write, along with 'do not pee on trees'. Really, she's not sure how far the 'dog-person' thing goes, but better to be safe than sorry.
"No phone," she reiterates.
"You'll feel it. A hum of power. If you don't then you'll see runes or a gargoyle around the doorway." It's a general rule, and doesn't cover anywhere that the Archon has decided just that day to protect, but it should be enough.
"Oh." That was not a question she expected. Especially not specifically about her mother and uncle, but not her father. She hesitates even as she answers. "Be polite and respectful... My uncle is a straightforward man, as Durants go. He's not good with idle chatter. He likes conversations to have a point. My mother..." How to describe her... "Just be honest and polite with her, she'll respect you more for it. She's a perfect lady in every regard."
Isidor trusts Harrowheart in a lot of things, but rivaling her mother in social nuances is not one of them. Whatever conversation they might have, her mother will have complete control at all times, but telling that to Harrowheart seems like a bad idea.
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"Xenia," he finally says. "It's all Xenia. Good manners are like respect to the folks who invited me. I-I'll do my best, and if I make a mistake I'll try to fix it." One final nod. He can do this.
He looks up at Isidor again with a small, proud smile. "It's Runa and Viatorus' special night. I'm not gonna be the one to ruin it. You're gonna be proud of me." He taps the list with the back of his hand and says in total confidence, "I'll learn the rules, I'll come dressed up, I'll be real quiet, and everyone's gonna have a good time."