Path of the Vampire forum

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--


Dhara: She had found a comfortable bench in Thornside park to watch the sunset, her lute resting across her lap, she tuned the strings from memory, enjoying the cool night air and people watching.

Jonah: Jonah was wandering. These past few nights had been...odd since Char had left. Her cryptic messages in his mind and on the forums had left him unsettled and he'd had trouble focusing since. It had meant he had stepped on various traps and was badly injured while he did his best to walk upright towards the eyrie. He had become his monstrous form and was giant and pale but with his hood up and in the dark night, he could pass as human.

Dhara:: She settled her lute in place and started picking out a jaunty tune, eyes half closed, a smile on her lips as she played, not really caring if any one heard, she began to sing softly in time with the music. "Looking out and I'm wondering where I am, while I'm stuck in the daily traffic jam..." Her voice blended with the lute, an already unique instrument, and her joy and love of music was clear in the smile on her face and the shine of her eyes.

Jonah: He heard the strange music and moved towards it, intrigued by it. It was coming from the park and he came through the trees, leaning on one of them and keeping in the shadows as he listened to her play. It was nice and relaxing and he closed his eyes and was able to forget about everything going on for a few moments.

Dhara: She continued to sing and play, feeling some one's eyes on her, but she was used to people watching, it was half the love of performing, so she ignored it for now. "I remember the first time I got kissed, by the shy, neighbor guy, who whispered be my girlfriend." She couldn't help the small chuckle at that particular lyric, for she had had a similar experience.

Jonah: He frowned at the lyrics and turned to leave but as he did, a root caught his ankle and he tripped, falling hard to the ground. He managed to catch himself but the thud of his massive frame hitting the ground loud and obvious.

Dhara: She blinked, shaken from her song by the noise, she gripped her lute by the neck and bolted off the bench, findnig the large, shadowy form on the ground. She touched his shoulder lightly. "Are you okay?"

Jonah: He gritted his teeth, keeping himself from hissing in pain. "Fine," he muttered out though the pain he was in was apparent in his voice.

Dhara: "Are not." She shot back, setting her lute carefully aside, she offered him a slender, bejeweled hand, the clink of bracelets echoing softly. "Let me help you up."

Jonah: He pushed up off the ground but allowed her to help him, doing his best to keep his claw like hands out of her sight. "Thanks."

Dhara: She smiled and sat beside him while he caught his breath, picking her lute up and placing it in her lap. "Don't feel bad, the ground attacks me all the time."

Jonah: His hands quickly went in to the pocket over his stomach and he realized tha the'd opened up the multiple gun shot wounds he'd receieved when he fell. Doing his best to staunch the wounds with the cloth, he hoped she couldn't smell the scent of blood. She was a human but that did not mean that she wasn't dangerous. "It should learn some manners."

Dhara: "I have told it that very thing many many times. And it never listens." She peeked from the corner of her eye at him, but then looked forward, not wanting to seem threatening to him. "Are you sure you're okay?"

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Jonah: "Never better," he lied and shifted so he could lean against a tree, a mistake because his upper body was burned from a mine and he hissed in pain again. When he was fighting, it was easy to separate himself from the pain but once the fight was over, every ache and pain came to him tenfold.

Dhara: "Somehow, I don't really believe you. Rude I know, ‘cause I don't know you." She glanced at him between strands of pink and dark purple hair. "I'm Dhara."

Jonah: "Jonah," he let out and nodded in her direction, eyeing her through the edge of his hood. "And I'll be fine, promise. I'm tougher than I look."

Dhara: "Well you look pretty tough to me." She smoothed down her long black skirt and tried to get her wild hair out of her face, finally giving up with a soft huff that blew a curl in the air. "So what brings you to the park tonight?"

Jonah: "Heading home," he gestured towards the west. He was headed to the Eyrie, he supposed that was home now, though the Asylum lay in that same general direction.

Dhara: "You're local?" She asked curiously. "Or transplant?"

Jonah: "Both?" he said. "Born and raised a few towns over, came here for college."

Dhara: She nodded and looked over at him. "What's it like here?"

Jonah: "Different." He straightened up as the pain eased and he felt like he didn't need the support of the tree anymore. "Little bit of everything really, so if you go looking for something, you can find it."

Dhara: "That almost sounds ominous." She joked, watching out across the park again. "I managed to find a nice little park."

Jonah: "Was meant to be," he said seriously. "Just be careful out here. Being alone is rarely a good idea."

Dhara: She blinked at him and inched away. "Well, Jonah... this just turned Creepy and Strange. With a capital C and S."

Jonah: He chuckled. "Welcome to Harper Rock."

Dhara: "Thanks... I think." She held her lute tighter. "Suddenly the park bench doesn't look so good to sleep on."

Jonah: Digging in to his pocket, he found some money loose in his pocket that he hadn't deposited yet. "Here, find you a place for a few nights."

Dhara: She stared at his hand and the cash with in. "I can't accept that... I didn't earn it."

Jonah: He shrugged and continued to hold it out, "You played well and you helped me up, take it."

Dhara: She chewed on her lip in thought, then took it with a small smile. "Thank you, Jonah. It's very generous..."

Jonah: He shrugged. "Just keep helping people if they need it and I'll consider us even."

Dhara: She looked at the wad of cash in her hand, then up to him. "I don't need money to do that. Even if this place is creepy and strange."

Jonah: "I'm sure it helps though."

Dhara: "What? Helping others? I try to. Sometimes I don't know if I'm actually doing any one any good." She carefully tucked the bills away for safekeeping.

Jonah: "I'm sure you are."

Dhara: "What about you? Do you always hand out wads of cash to strangers?"

Jonah: "If they need it."

Dhara: "Man of few words, huh?"

Jonah: "That's what I hear."

Dhara: She nodded, flattening her fingers over the strings of her lutes, bracelets clicking against the wood as she sat there awkwardly.

Jonah: He took that as his cue to leave. "Well Dhara, I hope you have a good rest of your evening. And find someplace inside to rest tonight. Soon." He nodded to her and began to head out of the park.

Dhara: She stared at him, belatedly wishing him and good night. She wasn't exactly sure what had gone on, and it was certainly one of the stranger meetings she'd ever had. She mulled it over as she moved back to the bench to retrieve her bag and her case.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Dhara: She was wandering around Harper Rock, trying to learn the town. Everything she owned was once again stuffed in to a small bag, and her lute was over her shoulder. She looked up to read the signs of the shop, finding a small bookstore that looked promising. Pulling the door open, she paused to look around, adjusting the bell sleeves on her pale blue tunic shirt.

Jonah: Jonah had hired someone to replace Char while she was...gone. He was still working there though, showing them the ropes and getting everything in order. Standing in the stacks, he didn't see the person come in but heard the chime. When no one else said anything, he called out "Welcome to the Book Nook, if you need help finding anything, feel free to ask." His gruff voice was distinct and raw and recognizable to those who knew him.

Dhara: Her curiosity jabbed at her. Find the voice. You know the voice. But she ignored it and simply called back. "Thank you, I will!" in her own muddled and distinct accent. Knowing the voice made her feel slightly more relaxed, but by the same token, Soren's words were still floating in her mind and she wasn't sure who she could trust.

Jonah: He nodded without thinking about the fact that she could not see him and went back to shelving books. While they carried a large range of fiction, it was in the non-fiction that he primarily dealt in and where he was shelving books. Books on mysticism and the supernatural cluttered the shelves and he did his best to arrange them in some sort of way that made sense though he felt like he didn't do a great job. It seemed he, or one of his employees, did though since they continued to turn a profit.

Dhara: She decided to hunt for something specific, something that she still didn't believe existed, so began to prowl the non-fiction section, eyes on the shelves as she tried to find her subject matter, distraction leading her to walk straight in to the large man that was shelving books.
Jonah: He didn't hear her approaching and he stumbled, dropping a few of the books. "Excuse me," he said, still not looking at her and going immediately to picking them up.

Dhara: She bent to help him, freezing in place with a book in her hand. A book on vampires, zombies and another supernatural creatures. "Uh... this is fiction... right?"

Jonah: He looked down at the girl that he recognized from the other night. "I suppose it depends on who you ask."

Dhara: She licked her bottom lip nervously and looked up at him. "Jonah, right?" She asked with a warm, friendly smile. "Do you believe in vampires?”

Jonah: He nodded. "Yep. And you're...I can't remember your name." He frowned apologetically. The question caught him off guard and thought for a moment. "I...don't know. Why, do you?"

Dhara: "Dhara... Dhara Sabria." She smiled again, the unique names always seemed to be harder for people to remember. "I'm not sure. I mean... well it's going to sound crazy so never mind."

Jonah: "Nice to meet you again Dhara." He leaned against the shelf, crossing his arms across his massive chest. "Go ahead and tell me. I don't judge."

Dhara: "Zombies." She said simply, looking down at the cover of a book. "I saw some. So... I mean maybe there was something in the water or whatever. But I swear they were as real as you or me."

Jonah: He tried to keep his expression neutral but was relieved by what she had said. "Where did you see them at?"

Dhara: "Um... I think he called it the quarantine zone if I remember right. He said vampires and stuff are real, too."

Jonah: He chuffed. "The Quarantine Zone is on military lockdown. You might have seen some weird stuff there but...zombies?" He perked his brow up, trying to play off what she was describing. "Who is he?"

Dhara: "Yes. Zombies." She crossed her arms over her chest, holding the book like a shield. "I'd rather not say who he is. But I know what I saw. Zombies. Shuffling, shambling, brainless zombies. I have proof, too."

Jonah: "Can I see it? I don't mean to argue with you but...you can't blame me for being skeptic."

Dhara: She chewed on her lip and looked around. "Not here. I already sound crazy as it is. I know that."

Jonah: She had him intrigued and he needed to know if she was on to something that she shouldn't be on to. "I'm sure they can cover the front while I'm gone. You don't sound crazy though, promise."

Dhara: "That almost sounds like you believe me. Anyone else would call me crazy." She clutched the book and looked around. "Lead the way."

Jonah: He moved to the counter where one of the new hires was standing by, idly surfing the net. "I'll be gone for a while, you know how to lock up," and he dropped a key on the counter. She nodded and went back to whatever she was doing. Jonah would have to talk with her later but for now, he opened the front door for Dhara and let her out.

Dhara: She started to walk out the door, then realized she still held the book. She blushed slightly and set it on the counter, her fingers ridged from digging in to the hard cover. "Sorry... I forgot I had it."

Jonah: "It's fine, you can have it on the house."

Dhara: "Really?" She brightened and slowly picked the book back up. "Thank you so much!" It was certainly a luxury item for her. She could never own books as they didn't travel well.

Jonah: "Not a problem at all." He was surprised she reacted so positively to the gift but it was an unexpected benefit. The more he could get her to trust him, the more likely she would be to forget whatever it was she saw.

Dhara: She clutched the book again, holding it against her chest as they walked, wondering where they were heading to.

Jonah: Once they were out of the mall, he paused. "So where are we going? I don't really know where your proof is..."

Dhara: "Just somewhere private. It's in my bag." She indicated the small bag hanging from a cross body strap to rest on her hip. The strap blended with the lute strap that also ran cross body.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Jonah: He nodded and led her to one of the parks. It was open but fairly secluded and private at night. Finding a bench with a table, he sat on one side of it and waited.

Dhara: She sat on the table itself, not wanting her skirts to get tangled in the bench if she had to make a break for it. Setting her book aside, she reached in her bag and pulled out a packet of pictures and offered them to him. All of them snapped in the qz showing zombies and feral vampires.

Jonah: He thumbed through them slowly, studying each one carefully. What she had proof of wasn't arguable but he would do as best he could. "What do you think caused this?"

Dhara: "I have no idea. I'm not exactly highly educated." She contemplated taking the zippy bag from her satchel and showing him the ears, but he seemed satisfied with the pictures, so she held off. "But it's creepy. And it's obviously something the government wants people to stay away from."

Jonah: "Maybe a virus outbreak?"

Dhara: "Maybe, but what about these ones? Clearly they are some sort of zombie vampire thing..." She paused and looked away. "Oh my goddess I sound completely crazy."

Jonah: He looked back through the pictures and found what he thought she was talking about. "You mean this? Just looks like someone that has it worse."

Dhara: "I don't think it's a disease that affects the living..." She sighed quietly, wondering why she was having this conversation. She was pretty certain she was crazy, but she was also utterly certain in the fact that she was in the right.

Jonah: "What else could it be? All of these people look alive to me."

Dhara: "Okay." She said softly, knowing he didn't believe her. Once again, she thought of showing him the ears, but then he might have her arrested. So she simply said 'okay', not wanting to argue with him anymore.

Jonah: He heard the sound in her voice and frowned. "Dhar, I'm asking honestly."

Dhara: "Dhara." She corrected absently, thinking he simply forgot her name again. "They aren't alive. Living people do not have chunks of flesh falling off them as they shuffle aimlessly around. Living people do not attack and bite other living people." She paused and looked away. "And living people bleed when they get shot or cut. These don't."

Jonah: He nodded. "I'm not arguing that. But is it not possible that these...people were living and had something happen to them? You've seen zombie movies I'm sure. How many of them start with some outbreak?"

Dhara: "No, not really. I don't watch many movies. But I know how zombies are made in theory. Which leads to those." She pointed at the pictures "Real life, shambling dead people come back to life as zombies."

Jonah: "And how are they made in theory?"

Dhara: "You know. Some disease or other takes a person and turns them in to a flesh eating monster who bites other people and infects them and so on and so forth." She waved a hand slightly.

Jonah: He looked at the pictures and pretended to study them. "Would make sense and explain why the military has it shut down and barricaded."

Dhara: She didn't say anything for a few moments, then she pulled back the belle sleeve of her shirt and showed him the white bandage covering her forearm. "One of them bit me."

Jonah: He was confused until he saw the white bandage. "Have you seen anyone about this?"

Dhara: "I went to the hospital. They cleaned it out, bandaged it up and sent me on my way." She shrugged and fixed her sleeve. "They said I'd be fine."

Jonah: He nodded but couldn't' tell if she was worried or not. "Are you feeling ok?"

Dhara: "Yes. No different than usual. It hurts a little but I'm okay."

Jonah: "Are you gonna go back?"

Dhara: "To the hospital? Doubtful. The first visit was expensive. Besides, it's not infected or anything."

Jonah: "Meant to the quarantine place."

Dhara: "Oh." She shrugged a little. "Maybe. It's scary but at the same time I can't help the curiosity. Now that I've been shown it, it's like a moth and flame."

Jonah: "If you go back, let me know. Can't have you getting hurt with no one there to help you."

Dhara: "Well I have a gun." She said hesitantly, she opened her bag to show him, forgetting it was lying near the zippy bag of ears, and that those things were piled on her entire "wardrobe" that was stuffed in her bag. "Not a fan though."

Jonah: "Sometimes their necessary though." He didn't comment on the items he saw, not sure if he was meant to or not.

Dhara: "I guess. I still think it's crazy to walk around with one." She adjusted her bag, holding on to her book like it was the most precious thing in the world. And it was, second only to the lute on her back. "You believe me?"

Jonah: He nodded. "Hard to argue with that. I would suggest not showing it to just anyone though. I'm sure the military doesn't want people knowing what's going on in there."

Dhara: She nodded. "Honestly I wouldn't have even shown you if it wasn't for the books you were putting away..."

Jonah: "I'm glad you did. Honestly."

Dhara: She pushed her brightly colored hair off her face and watched him. "How come? And how come you aren't telling me I'm totally nuts. It's kinda like you already knew about this place."

Jonah: "I've lived here awhile. I've heard of the quarantine zone before. Just...never gone in."

Dhara: She stared at him intently and then narrowed her eyes. "You're lying." She stated. It was a wild guess, but she made herself sound utterly certain and determined that it was the truth.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--


Jonah: He shook his head, meeting her eye and keeping a straight face. "Nope, honestly never been in. Looked through the fence but never even seen anything."

Dhara: "Oh." She said, deflated. She exhaled softly and looked up at the sky for a long quiet moment. "Guess I should let you get back to work."

Jonah: He followed her gaze. "I'm already out and she's going to have to learn to lock up sometime. Tonight is as good a night as any."

Dhara: "Manager?" She asked him curiously, tracing her finger over the cover of the book he had given her.

Jonah: "Owner." He replied

Dhara: "Oh. Cool." She smiled and gathered up the pictures, stuffing them in her bag. "I love books, but I can never have many."

Jonah: "Well, you can stop by anytime and read them if you'd like." He considered asking her why she couldn't have any but decided against prying.

Dhara: "That would be wonderful. I promise I will treat them as if they were my own."

Jonah: "I'm not worried. You seem pretty responsible."

Dhara: "I like to think I am. I've been on my own for a while so..." She shrugged and smiled. "Any ways... vampires. Do you believe in them?"

Jonah: He smiled back. "Depends, have any proof of them you're gonna show me?"

Dhara: She chuckled and shook her head. "No. And I'm not even sure I believe it. I mean this guy, he told me they are here and stuff. Gave me a gun, showed me the zombies..."

Jonah: "He just gave you a gun?"

Dhara: "Yeah." She nodded and shrugged a little. "Said I needed it. I told him I'm a pacifist... but he said it was a necessity around here."

Jonah: "Did he even show you how to use it?"

Dhara: "Yes, but I haven't fired it yet."

Jonah: He frowned and chewed on his lip for a moment. "Well, if you ever want to practice, I'm a decent shot."

Dhara: "Where would we practice around here? Besides, it only holds two bullets." She shrugged and stared at her bag like there was a snake in it. "I don't like guns. Or knives. Or anything."

Jonah: "I'm sure there's a shooting range around here. But if you don't want to, that is fine."

Dhara: "I probably should. But I'm... scared of guns." She whispered the last part.

Jonah: "They are tools. They should be respected but...there's nothing to be scared of." He tried to sound comforting but wasn't sure if he pulled it off or not.

Dhara: She stared at her bag and exhaled slowly. "Well okay. Maybe we can practice sometime..."

Jonah: He nodded. "Just let me know. Do you want my number?"

Dhara: "I don't have a phone." She smiled a little, running a hand through her hair.

Jonah: "Oh...well...you can stop by the store anytime and we can go and do it."

Dhara: She nodded and looked at him. "You can ask you know.”

Jonah: "Ask?"

Dhara: "Why I don't have a phone, or a place to live or anything."

Jonah: His brow raised up. "Why don't you?"

Dhara: "Because I travel. Everything I own is in this bag." She half lifted her satchel. "A few changes of clothes and a spare pair of boots." She grinned at him. "I generally move from town to town, sometimes I earn enough to get a room and a meal."

Jonah: He looked at the tiny bag. "And you...like it?"

Dhara: "I love it. I can't imagine living life any other way. Well sometimes... I wish I could have the little luxuries, like books. But they don't travel well." She chuckled, she was still clutching the book he had given her.

Jonah: "I imagine not. Still, as long as you enjoy it..."

Dhara: "You sound skeptical. Ever try it?"

Jonah: He shook his head. "Lived in this area my whole life. Don't think I could leave now."

Dhara: "Why not? It's never too late to start travelling."

Jonah: "Just...lot of things keeping me here."

Dhara: "Wife, family, job." She guessed, one foot swinging lazily. "Sorry, probably to personal."

Jonah: "Family and job." He replied, thinking about his store, his farm, and the Vedarians.

Dhara: "No wife? Girlfriend then?" She crinkled her nose and sighed. "Sorry. Mom always said I had no filter."

Jonah: He frowned but answered. "No, it's fine. I...had a girlfriend. I'm not sure now though."

Dhara: "Oh. Sorry." She scratched the bridge of her nose and looked down at the cover of the book, feeling awkward again.

Jonah: "It's fine. Honestly. It's just...still fresh."

Dhara: She nodded, toying with one of her bracelets. "That's why I've always avoided relationships. To complicated and I don't stick around long enough any ways."

Jonah: "Yeah." He nodded absently. "But they can be worth it I think."

Dhara: "Really? Why's that?" She plucked some lint off her sleeve, truly interested in his answer.

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Jonah: "It's nice. Being connected to someone."

Dhara: She nodded and shrugged. "I guess if I ever stayed in one place it could happen. Maybe. I don't know. I just don't know of anyone who'd take me for what I am. A penniless, drifting minstrel."

Jonah: His head dropped slightly. "Do you mean that in all ways?"

Dhara: "What do you mean?"

Jonah: "Like, do you have many friends?"

Dhara: She laughed and shook her head. "I don't have any friends." She said, but it clearly didn't bother her. "Coming here, it's the first time I've known any one by name."

Jonah: "Well, you have one now."

Dhara: She smiled at him. "You don't want to be friends with me, Jonah. I won't be here that long. At least I don't think."

Jonah: "Too late. It's already done. It's payment for the book."

Dhara: She laughed again, shaking her head. "Okay, but you can't say I didn't warn you."

Jonah: "I'll take my chances."

Dhara: She laughed again and looked up at the stars, checking the time. "So, you know my story, what’s yours?"

Jonah: "You already know it." He leaned back slightly. "Born a few towns over, came here, haven't left since. Not much to tell.

Dhara: "There's more to it than that. What else do you do besides run a bookstore?"

Jonah: The farm was not exactly legal and not under his name so he knew he could not bring that up. "Very little honestly. Research. Work out. I'm a bit boring."

Dhara: "No hobbies? Really? Are you one of those guys who spends like... every night at the gym and then goes to work?"

Jonah: "Hardly. Just...don't have a lot to do most nights."

Dhara: "Why not? What kind of research do you do?"

Jonah: "Just on the history of the town."

Dhara: "Sounds interesting. Have you learned anything good? Are you going to write a book about it?"

Jonah: "Not a whole lot honestly. Maybe one day when I have more than just scraps of info."

Dhara: She nodded, toying with her hair, running a lock through her fingers over and over again. She wasn't very good at being social.

Jonah: "Well what would you like to do now? You've got me for the evening."

Dhara: "That could almost sound suggestive if I were a different kind of girl." She pulled the strap of her satchel over her head, followed by her lute, setting the instrument gently on the table. "But honestly I have no idea. It's late and you told me not to be out at dark." She reminded him with a laugh. "And then there's the zombies and va... er... other things."

Jonah: His face grew paler as he realized what she thought he was implying and stuttered slightly. "Oh, well, I guess stay safe tonight."

Dhara: She laughed again. "I'm joking. I don't think you're that kind of guy. And I don't think you think I'm that kind of girl."

Jonah: "I don't. I'm not great at this talking thing though. Don't have just a whole lot of friends either”

Dhara: "Why not? You've been here all your life. Seems like you'd have friends to me."

Jonah: "A few. Doesn't mean I'm great at talking to them."

Dhara: "You should practice then."

Jonah: "That's what this is."

Dhara: "Practice? But that doesn't help ‘cause I suck at being friends."

Jonah: "You're doing fine."

Dhara: She grinned at him and played with the fringe on her belt. "I think you are, too."

Jonah: "So what are you doing with your free time here in Harper Rock?"

Dhara: "Exploring. Meeting some pretty strange people. And some pretty nice ones. I found a place to stay, and when I get low on cash I'll either move on, or play on a street corner and see what comes up."

Jonah: "If you ever need funds, let me know. I tend to have some spare cash."

Dhara: She shook her head and smiled. "I can't do that. I earn what I need. Always been that way."

Jonah: "You could work a day in my shop." He didn't like the idea of her playing on a street corner to try and make ends meet.

Dhara: "You would pay me to be around books?" She laughed and shook her head. "I would feel like I was stealing from you if I did that!"

Jonah: "I'm paying other people to do the same thing. Would like to have someone doing it that actually enjoys it."

Dhara: She chewed thoughtfully on her lip. "How about I think about it? I'd hate to say yes and leave you in the lurch."

Jonah: "No pressure. Just keep it in mind.”

Dhara: "I will." She nodded and looked at her hands, trying to come up with something to talk about.

Jonah: He fidgeted slightly, unsure of what to say. Having brought up the last topic, he was unsure if there was anything that she wanted to talk about. "What's on your mind?" He finally asked when the silence drug on for what felt like too long to him.

Dhara: "Nothing really. Like I said, I'm not a great conversationalist." She flashed him that warm smile that seemed to be her trademark. "What about you?"

Jonah: He looked up at the stars. "Just thinking about where everything is headed from here."

Dhara: "only the universe knows that. All we can do is float along like a feather on the wind."

--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--

Jonah: "I don't float too well."

Dhara: She looked him squarely in the eyes and tipped her head slightly. "Maybe it's time you learn?"

Jonah: His brow arched. "Have you seen me? Think I'm a bit heavy for the wind."

Dhara: She laughed and shook her head. "It's not about the physical, it's about the spiritual. You have to just let go some times and see where the wind takes you."

Jonah: "Not the easiest thing to do but...might be good for me."

Dhara: "Do you ever meditate?" She tipped her head again. "I know I know... sounds like hokey new age stuff, but it's a great way to find inner peace."

Jonah: "Sort of. I pray? Not as much as I should though."

Dhara: "That's not really what I mean. When you meditate, you just kind of... let it go. Clear your mind and just let it be free of all thoughts."

Jonah: "I'm not very good at letting go."

Dhara: "Why not? Everyone needs to learn to let go."

Jonah: "It... feels like giving up."

Dhara: "There's a big difference between letting go and giving up. Giving up means stopping before you've reached all possible conclusions and ways to fix a problem. Letting go is realizing you can't fix it."

Jonah: "But what if you can still see ways to try and fix it?"

Dhara: "Are they logical ways? Or is it ways that just result in you hurting yourself more? We are responsible for our own pain. We chose to let others hurt us, and we chose to hurt ourselves by trying to help people who don't want to be helped."

Jonah: "Little bit of both." He looked at her and shrugged. "I know what you're saying. It's just...something I'm working on right now."

Dhara: "Try meditation, sometimes when you think about nothing, you get the answer you need. Which isn't always the one you want."

Jonah: "I know how that goes."

Dhara: "Well then, why haven't you tried it?"

Jonah: "Meant getting an answer that's not the one you want."

Dhara: "Oh." She nodded, shifting slightly. "It happens more often than we'd like, don't you think?"

Jonah: "Yeah. But...it keeps things interesting."

Dhara: "Yeah it does, but sometimes I wonder what the universe is thinking and then I remember that it has its own grand plan that we're not supposed to know."

Jonah: "Yeah..." he trailed off. ”Would make it a lot easier if we did know though."

Dhara: "Maybe but it would take all the fun out of life. Life isn't supposed to be easy, Jonah. It's supposed to be filled with difficulties and a lot of falling down. That's what makes us stronger."

Jonah: "I guess. Just...wish there was more standing."

Dhara: "There is if you want there to be. Failure is not in falling, it’s in not getting back up."

Jonah: He laughed. "I know. More meant I'm just tired of so much falling."

Dhara: "You can't grow and learn if you never fall though. Falling is by your own choice. You make mistakes and you fall. Get up, learn from it. If you repeat those mistakes, you'll keep falling."

Jonah: "I suppose. But by your own thoughts, we have to fall from time to time."

Dhara: "Yeah we do. But we chose to keep making the same mistakes and falling over and over, or choosing to learn and move on."

Jonah: "And fall over in a new way."

Dhara: "Maybe. But Einstein says insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. At least if it's in a new way, then you have something to learn from."

Jonah: "Not disagreeing."

Dhara: "I'm a hard person to disagree with." She chuckled softly.

Jonah: "I'm finding that out."

Dhara: She flashed another grin at him, then looked away to hide a yawn, unsure of what to discuss next.

Jonah: He heard her yawn and nodded, taking that as meaning it was time to let her go. "I hope I haven't kept you out too late. Do you mind if I walk you to where ever you're staying tonight?"

Dhara: "You haven't. I keep strange hours." She paused, considering his offer. "How about to the bookstore?" Even though he seemed like a nice guy, she was a little skittish of letting anyone know where she was staying just yet.

Jonah: He stood and offered her his hand to help her to her feet.

Dhara: She took his hand and hopped off the table, picking up her lute and slinging it across her body, followed by her satchel, and the precious book. "Thank you."

Jonah: Once she was standing, he let her hand fall and began the slow trip back to the store.

Dhara: She walked with him in comfortable silence, realizing with a barely contained giggle that she reached just past his elbow.

Jonah: Next to him, she was tiny but most were so it had ceased being surprising to him. The quiet walk was nice as had been the simple evening they had had together. Thinking that she might want to go the rest of the way alone, he stood outside the mall. "I hope to see you around again soon."

Dhara: "I'm sure you will. I have no plans to leave just yet." She smiled up at him. "Thanks for the book, and for not laughing at me."

Jonah: "Of course not. You're my friend."

Dhara: "Well you never know when someone starts talking crazy what will happen."

Jonah: "You haven't talked crazy yet. Promise."

Dhara: "Well that's reassuring." She smiled and looked at the mall. "So I guess this is good night."

Jonah: He nodded and stepped inside the door, not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable. "Hope to see you again soon."

Dhara: "Agreed." She gave a little wave. "Good night Jonah." She said with a smile, turning away, she wandered off, already humming a soft tune.