RP:Treatment of the Immaterial

Summary: Linn approaches Artia on her treatment of the spirits captured in her house in the belief that he could end their existence and suffering. Finding them already gone, he probes the witch on her dealings with them, only to become rapidly infuriated at her approach. The argument spills over into other realms of lost love as he reprimands her, pushing her to the breaking point before trying to make his message clear. The two then departed, friendly relations highly strained.

Artia’s Ranch

Linn came to Artia’s place before lunchtime was even close, giving the door a couple heavy knocks before opening it to make his way inside the house without even being asked first (Provided the door was unlocked anyway…). Already he was prepared for what he planned on doing, his left hand closed into a fist around the violet mana-crystal that contained its own dark secret: the one that would be the salvation of these spirits, and a pivotal point for how he and Artia would see each other from here on. Should he be allowed inside and the trapped spirits nearby, it would be immediately evident something was off, the shadows pulling towards the enchanter who seemed to have something they were looking for. His expression remained just as grim as it was the other day, now even mixed with what looked like some kind of frustration and worry as he either waited or entered.

Sadly for Linn she had already killed the spirits and the ones she didn't kill Banto took with him to release into a place that no one came. The only thing that would respond to the crystal he brought would be the shards of the crystals, a glass of wine in one hand the other a book as she opened the door using her abilities. Glancing up giving him a smile, "Hey, come on in. I am just freshening up on my healing of plants and stuff. So much knowledge, I give myself homework to freshen up on everything. Trying to go back to focusing on life instead darkness, felt myself slipping again." She looks down to the book, moving to sit on the couch, crossing her bare long tanned legs. She wore a small dress that was a plan button up collared cotton gown. "Where you needing a vial of the antidote for someone?" She asked as she marked her page, closing it. Running a finger along the brim of the crystal glass, making it sing.

Without the spirits, nothing in the house would react to the particular weapon he had at the ready. With a glance towards where they were kept Linn found none of the shadows that presumable resulted from the souls trapped there, mixing his mood again. It lightened slightly, though the grim determination had given way to a firey inquisitiveness that might as well be indistinguishable from it. With a glance towards the witch he spoke up, “I see they’re not here anymore.” He stated as he moved over to a couch across from Artia, her questions only bringing him to shake his head. “Nothing like that. I’m here to make it clear just what I saw you playing with. There’s a good reason I insist on not binding spirits, or forcing them to do anything for that matter.” He left the rest of the statement to hang, open for questioning.

She took a sip of her wine, "Linn I understand your concern, I adore that you still care enough to worry. I have dealt with spirits all my life as much as the craft. So please, trust me this once. When was the last time you trusted me with anything? And yes I killed them after I pulled three of them from a house. I don't just summon them from the blue, I pull them from where there are people and either sacrifice or I have someone take them far far away." She stood moved and sat infront of Linn, her head resting in his lap. Not in any way but care, simple friend way. "I have even pulled spirits out of a best friend I had growing up. I do know what I am doing." Her head turned and looked up into his face resting her chin on his knee. "And why did you not like the fact I introduced Banto to you as my boyfriend? I saw your aura flicker like a candle being lit the first time." She left the wine and book behind, "I will always have times I have to have the dark arts, but I keep myself balanced. I have to or I will lose myself. I am not this goody do good witch, I play in everything. This is..me. I hid myself for others before, and I finally dont have to anymore."

“You misinterpret me.” He retorted as Artia mentioned his aura. “Or maybe you just didn’t see my first shift the moment you mentioned the spirits in the first place.” He blew out a sigh and shook his head. “Exorcism, fine. The reason I make this a big deal is that those spirits feel just as we do. They act just as we do, save for having little physical form except under extreme circumstances. What I saw was you binding and forcing them against their will. They’d react to it as anyone would, perhaps even worse without fear of death holding them back. They communicate, interact, band together. And forcing their hands can provoke a very… volatile collective reaction.” Whatever she tried to do he wasn’t swayed from whatever ominous mood had taken hold of him. “I still have to make my own judgement on Banto. Though if you really wonder why I was put off? It was by how soon you seem to have forgotten about Pilar.” He –did- just go there.

Artia listened to everything, "I know they do, Linn. Put there is a red crystal I use that confuses them, they wont remember anything once they leave. I covered all grounds." She shook her head, "I actually been dating Banto for a while, with Pilar I was allowed to have a male. Banto was the male, and Pilar wouldn't listen when she came back. You only know her side of it. Not my side. That really hurts that you even bring her up like that. I am bi, and if I had taken another girl I would understand the way you feel. But Banto has been my guy she allowed me, she wouldve met him if things didnt turn sour. Its been two weeks, or more since we broke up. Believe it or not Banto and I dated now we are a couple." She stood up, pulling out a book opening it, showing a twin heart ruby engagement ring. "I was going to propose to Pilar, I still love Pilar Linn...we just arent ready to be friends. And for the record I did not cheat on her. Even the girl I was accused of cheating on her with spoke up and told her I did not cheat. She wouldn't listen, I left her I broke it off so she could go be with someone that is a lesbian and not need a guy too like I do. I was planning to marry her." Tears fell down from her eyes, "Two days after Pilar, Izabella was taken from me. Her father claimed her back, I am still hurting. I lost an almost wife and what I called my daughter in less then seventy two hour span."

Linn shook his head as Artia continued trying to insist on her dealings with the spirits. “You’re dealing with things that might as well be you or me!” His voice rose with a firey indignation as he spoke, the last word booming through the house before leaving it in eerie silence that allowed her to speak. Even the story of their heartbreak wasn’t enough to cool him down at this point, his face rigid with as much discipline as he could muster. “It doesn’t matter what you or whoever you were with thought of such a thing. You should have thought or asked about what Pilar would have thought first.” When Iza was mentioned a small twitch ran through his expression, some kind of pity. His next words were low, but stern. “Do you want me to give you my judgement on what went wrong with everything?”

Artia didn't flinch at his voice, but the trees near the house sent there branches to rubb against the house trying to comfort the witch. "I did ask her! She was okay for me to have a male, but she came first and she did. I gave and gave her everything I could, I kept myself completely good for her as my darker side scared her. I walked on egg shells to make sure I did everything I could to keep her happy, even if I didnt like it. I don't want to know your judgement, I thought you were friends with us both. So I thought you wouldnt take sides, and none of this has to do with Pilar till you brought her up. I asked her before I did anything more then half the time. I even let her move in to be closer to me. She was done with the spirit talk as they clearly had very different ideas.

Linn eyed Artia with another serious look. “I don’t take any side but my own.” He retorted, her excuses feeling flimsy under his own frustration. “Where I stand is always looking to move things forward, learn from our mistakes. I told her to see you and talk about it. I know it was a misunderstanding. But I feel I’m beginning to see its source. Pilar came up because you seem to think the issue was with Banto when I saw you with him. What did I really see…?” He sighed, shaking his head before staring the witch in the eye, “I saw indulgence. And just before that I saw recklessness. You’re no different from anyone else, we all have our problems. Those are yours. You have to keep an eye out for far-reaching effects, and know how to deal with them and avoid the ones that will bite you. That’s how I see how you and Pilar were broken. And that’s how I see what will go wrong with the spirits.” Back to the spirits it was with the enchanter apparently. “Playing with them as if they were some raw material for magic is seen as a blasphemy for good reason. Because they are just like any other life, and what they don’t give freely should not be taken.”

Artia fell back to her knees, her cheeks beginning to flood with tears. He was hurting her, and she was a visual thinker anything he said she pictured. and right now she pictured the night her heart shattered. She clenched her nails so tight against her palm as she was now shaking, not from anger but hurt. If he could read her, he would see her heart shattering all over again and she hated the damn organ. "Pilar never got to meet Banto, as I had to make sure it would just be her and I when she got home. I wanted to have her for the night, god Linn I loved her more then myself then my magic then anything in my life. And...you toss her in my face like..like." She couldnt help it as she broke into sobs, simply shaking her head as her body shook trying to keep herself together. She just looked broken without Pilar, and truth was she was miserable without the female. "You are an enchanter Linn, I am a witch it is different for me. But if it bothers you so bad I'll stop..Banto is not the problem." She stood up, and moved to sit on the couch, trying to regain her sanity. The witch was grieving and broken all over again like it was that night. Her tanned flesh,looked pale as a ghost.

Linn’s mood seemed to abate as Artia broke. However he saw such a thing and the pain it inflicted it didn’t provoke true apology. When he finally spoke again it was even, but its steel had grown soft and tempered rather than hard and unforgiving. “The differences in our methods means nothing; the only thing that matters is their results. The results can be influenced by the tiniest details though, and that’s what I worry about.” Should she look back at him she would find his rigidity gone. “I do this because I still care for you. Enough to be unafraid of causing pain if it has a chance of letting you build on it. I want you to be aware of what might be causing you these troubles. And if something good does come of this… some pain now for less later is always a fair trade.” A sigh, “If you have anything else to say… I’m listening.”

Artia just sat there, pulling her legs up to her chest. Even when she lost her twins she acted different. Rocking herself now, picking at the scab on her chest above her heart that Pilar inflicted by a dagger at Artia's hand. CLosing her eyes, she shook her head again fading into the replay of the night and how Pilar looked at her. "Its not just some pain, Linn...its the pain that I let almost take my life. Have you ever had your heart break when you swear you have found the one? If I remmeber correctly no, I..I just don't know what else to say Linn. I just won't tell you more of my practices as you might get offended at those too. I don't want to be tossed to the floor and stomped on again." She couldnt look at him, she was just to hurt and tossed back into her depression again. It took banto over a week to let her see him, even Daermon to almost break her door to let him in. "nothing could hurt worse then losing her.." She tiled her head back, tears switching to blood for a moment, and then back to clear. "I still grieve over losing her and my child...how would you feel if Talyara left you? Your sons rightful family took him? I pray you never have to feel pain like this.."

Linn straightened himself up and back into the couch, finally relaxing. “My only issue is the spirits. “ he stated surely as he listened, nodding slightly. “My family tried to stab me in the back. And I tried to take my own life for the pain that came of it. I know what you feel…” He swallowed, “And I know I just caused it. When everything begins to crumble around you…” Another sigh. “But when everything has broken apart, we can finally begin pulling those pieces back together in a better way than before. Unfortunately I can’t do that for you. You’re the only one who can start making something of your broken self… Make it something good.” His mouth shifted to the side as he seemed a little puzzled with himself. “You’ll know how. I spoke my mind enough. Just don’t let it get to you beyond pushing you to be something better.” Apology finally began creeping into his voice. The time for breaking things apart was past. Now it was time to put them back together.

Artia just shook her head, "Didn't seem like it, Linn seemed your whole issue is me period. I am hurt enough I didn't need you throwing her in my face." she sighed, "The only thing crumbling is my heart as you reminded me of the pain. Just...please never bring her up negative around me ever again. I don't think you know of my past fully, but yeah...I was made to be evil Linn. She helped me not revert fully, I've built myself strong. and the mention of how I hurt her breaks me apart again. I am still trying to get over her. I will always be better, Until her I didn't think I needed anyone. I need her in my life like you need Taylara. I am not broken just my heart, and if I block myself from falling in love I can never be broken hearted again." She sighed heavily, and breaking into a deep sob again, this time she cried aloud. "I hate love. There is no reason for love."

Linn only weakly shook his head at the accusation. “I pointed out exactly what I saw wrong with you.” He only found himself shaking his head more and more as she tried to explain herself. “We can change from what we started as, and others can help. But to actually make it something more than temporary we have to do it ourselves.” As far as love goes… “Passion, you mean. Love, at least to me, is something a bit more fundamental. If there was no reason for love, we’d all be dead from tearing at each other’s throats for ourselves.” A long silence as his thoughts wandered back to the first words, “Don’t run from your pain and darkness. Face it. Understand it. Then unravel it and weave it back together into something good. That’s the only way you’ll ever find peace with this.”

Artia stood and moved to him, falling down to sit on his lap resting her head against his chest, "I am changing Linn, and it might now be what others like. But what matters is if I am happy, yes?" She hushed, "I ripped throats out before, I have tortured till I was told the answer I liked before...I have torn limb from limb from living beings before I came to hollow. If was not for Victor, Id be dead or caged away or still just as chaotic." She sighed heavily, curling up into his lap, "I been blending my darkness with my light, so I can be the inbetween. I know you don't like Banto...but between us, he is helping me blend my good with my dark to help me find peace within myself. Yes he is a drow, yes he is a necro but when its just us..he is different and I am showing him light of ways. I am sorry I brought him back up, I care for him. The one I was dating before, Corinth was a holy knight he built the cloud palace you see above my home. He abandoned me and been over two months now. I moved on, I been raised to move on from things that should killed me. Please, do not be so harsh to me anymore. You are the only one I truly completely trust in these lands."

Linn shot Artia a weakly disappointed look as she went on about him not liking Banto. “I haven’t made my judgement on Banto yet. The peculiarities of what he does and how he handles it will likely be what determines what I think of him.” The rest just felt like… excuses. He shrugged. “I don’t care what you have done. I only care what you do now and in the future. But at the same time we learn from our pasts. I’ll be as harsh as I need to be to make my point, but I don’t do it needlessly. Because what do you trust me to do? As nice as happiness and merriment is, our mistakes will catch up to us and we have to acknowledge that.” Another sigh. “And mistakes happen. I don’t hold any of it against you. I just want you to –face- them to learn from them.” All traces of his anger had burned out by now, his eyes even beginning to water slightly, “I’ve said enough and made my points. Just… think on it okay? If there’s anything that doesn’t make sense don’t be afraid to ask. But for now… I think we should give ourselves some time alone to think on what was said. Both of us.” He shifted slightly, motioning for her to get up so that he could stand himself to leave. “And if you have any questions about the details of what I think of spirits… we can discuss that later.”

Artia stood up, once he did she hugged him tightly. Looking into his eyes, "Still love me like a stubborn sister?"

Linn returned Artia’s hug before eyeing her back at her question with half a grin twitching at his mouth. “I want to make things better no matter what. To me, that’s love. I’ll see you later.” He finished softly before turning to make his way from the house, pocketing the crystal he forgot he had kept clenched in his fist the whole time. Hopefully it wouldn’t ever be needed.