01.Mar.12, 03:19 AM
Talian remained silent for a few moments as he considered her question. His immediate instinct was to say no. He hated Katila. Maybe she had a point, though. The notion of 'starting over' had occurred to Talian in passing, but it was often overshadowed by grief at the loss of his girlfriend. Perhaps a turn ago, if asked rather than forced and was allowed to take Fiora along for the ride, he'd have welcomed the relocation. Having a clean slate would be nice. It wouldn't diminish his skills or knowledge, but it would give people a chance to actually meet him instead of treating him like a medical curiosity.
In a way, that had already happened. Coming to Katila had effectively knocked him to the bottom of the totem pole. People still recognized his talents, but that wasn't the only thing that defined him. But it also deprived him of everything he'd worked for; not necessarily just his rank, but independence. After years of being the hall's whipping boy, he had been building his own life. Funny how this situation arose at the worst possible time.
His face betrayed a swirl of emotions as he looked back at Breccan. Her theory was a sound one, and he found himself wondering why he hadn't taken it to heart more. When it came down to it, he really didn't know how he felt. He was a failure at adjusting and bitterness often threatened to overwhelm, but there were some unsung positives. "Not really," he finally replied in a subdued tone. "You have a good point, but I'm not sure it's worth the losses." No need to mention specifics, though as usual his heart trembled at the thought of Fiora.
He smiled. It was an honest but sad smile, a clear effort to close that particular topic before it became painful for either involved. Talian knew nothing of Breccan as a person, but she seemed to need some kind of reassuring. He drew up a bit in self-consciousness, hoping that he wasn't making her uncomfortable. She seemed so friendly. He smiled again at her next gesture of surprise.
"I didn't choose it," he said smoothly, "But I did come to love it," he said simply, seeing no need to elaborate. He cast a quick glance to Indivara and Par'a, both of whom he was trying to ignore (and doubted he would be successful for long). He didn't have a problem with either of them, per se, but Indiviara was just a child and well...Par'a's dragon was dangerous. He eyed the window, his face momentarily constricting into a comical expression of mistrust. "They would say that though, wouldn't they?" He wasn't sure if that little bit of news made him sad or amused him. Either way, he didn't bat an eyelash at her self-correction. It didn't bother him at all, though he wondered subtly if he'd done something to make her uncomfortable.
"How about you?" he asked Breccan, his eyes still not leaving the window. "Did you choose the craft yourself?" His tone revealed his interest, but he was obviously quite concerned with Grith. His eyes traced her movements up to the ceiling before he blinkewd and shook his head. "Bah! Sorry about that.." he said, returning his attention to his fellow healer.
He shot a brief glance to Par'a. He needed to keep her in his sights at all times!
In a way, that had already happened. Coming to Katila had effectively knocked him to the bottom of the totem pole. People still recognized his talents, but that wasn't the only thing that defined him. But it also deprived him of everything he'd worked for; not necessarily just his rank, but independence. After years of being the hall's whipping boy, he had been building his own life. Funny how this situation arose at the worst possible time.
His face betrayed a swirl of emotions as he looked back at Breccan. Her theory was a sound one, and he found himself wondering why he hadn't taken it to heart more. When it came down to it, he really didn't know how he felt. He was a failure at adjusting and bitterness often threatened to overwhelm, but there were some unsung positives. "Not really," he finally replied in a subdued tone. "You have a good point, but I'm not sure it's worth the losses." No need to mention specifics, though as usual his heart trembled at the thought of Fiora.
He smiled. It was an honest but sad smile, a clear effort to close that particular topic before it became painful for either involved. Talian knew nothing of Breccan as a person, but she seemed to need some kind of reassuring. He drew up a bit in self-consciousness, hoping that he wasn't making her uncomfortable. She seemed so friendly. He smiled again at her next gesture of surprise.
"I didn't choose it," he said smoothly, "But I did come to love it," he said simply, seeing no need to elaborate. He cast a quick glance to Indivara and Par'a, both of whom he was trying to ignore (and doubted he would be successful for long). He didn't have a problem with either of them, per se, but Indiviara was just a child and well...Par'a's dragon was dangerous. He eyed the window, his face momentarily constricting into a comical expression of mistrust. "They would say that though, wouldn't they?" He wasn't sure if that little bit of news made him sad or amused him. Either way, he didn't bat an eyelash at her self-correction. It didn't bother him at all, though he wondered subtly if he'd done something to make her uncomfortable.
"How about you?" he asked Breccan, his eyes still not leaving the window. "Did you choose the craft yourself?" His tone revealed his interest, but he was obviously quite concerned with Grith. His eyes traced her movements up to the ceiling before he blinkewd and shook his head. "Bah! Sorry about that.." he said, returning his attention to his fellow healer.
He shot a brief glance to Par'a. He needed to keep her in his sights at all times!