Second attempt

Writers: Eimi, Paula
Date Posted: 24th November 2017

Characters: Fymer, Kiomo, Brella
Description: Fymer tries his luck again...
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 13, day 29 of Turn 8
Notes: Follows "SSH: First attempt

"Alright, this time I'm going to pick for you." Kiomo looked around the crowd sitting at the tables. Towards the back, he noticed woman perhaps a few Turns older than Fymer, but she sat at the table with her chin resting on her hand, alone, and looking miserable. He nodded his head towards the woman. "What do you think of her?"

"isn't she bit old?" Fymer asked dupiously. After the recent incident, he was starting to regret whole this thing.
Shards, that seacrafter had been big and scary.

"She's not so much older than you," Kiomo protested. Leaning closer he said, "Besides, older can be more desperate and more _grateful_ if you catch my meaning."

"If you say so," Fymer still sounded suspicious. "I just hope this doesn't end up being another disaster."

**Me neither...** Kiomo thought with a mental sigh. He really wanted to get laid tonight, too, after all. "So, do you have an opening line in mind?"

"How about, you look lonely?" Fymar suggested. She did look lonely.

"That's a little too direct," Kiomo cautioned. "Why use your status as a widower to your advantage. Grab to drinks, walk over to her and ask if she would mind having a drink with her. Your wife died and you hate drinking alone at Turns End. That way she doesn't feel embarrassed and she feels sympathy for you. Women love a sob story."

"My wife died eight Turns ago," Fymer pointed out. Not that he had any difficulties to lie to people. As a harper, he saw himself as professional liar.

"Pining for a wife this long only makes you seem even more in need of taking care of. If you tell her you haven't had sex since she died, her legs will open wide, I can guarantee you. Just don't lead with that. Work it in slowly." Kiomo did not want another repeat of Fymer's last creepy attempt!

"Won't that make me seem pathetic?" Fymer asked and yes, it was a stalling attempt. He was suddenly very nervous.

"No, not at." Kiomo assured him. "It makes you seem like you need saving and nurturing. There's nothing a woman likes better!"

"I hope you're right," Fymer replied.

"Listen, there is no way that you became Morin's right hand man by being a completely honest sort, am I right?" He put an arm around the Harper's shoulder. "You are playing a role. You are playing a lonely widower who has been faithful to the memory of his dead wife so long... But maybe this woman can be the balm to your wounded heart, if only for a night. You can do this, Fymer. I believe in you."

"If you put it that way, I suppose I can see it a gambit," Fymer replied.

Kiomo waved over a drudge carry a tray of wine glasses over and took two for his friend. "Here. Just remember, your little Lord is counting on you."

Fymer nodded and took the glasses. Then he walked over to the table. "Is this seat taken?" he asked from the woman.

The woman looked up, startled at the sound of his voice. "Uh... no... no, it isn't. Please," she said, nodding towards it before looking off in the distance once more, not expected that he wanted anything more than a place to rest his feet for a few minutes.

"Would you mind sharing a drink with me?" Fymer asked. "No one should be alone in a day like this," he made his voice sound sad and lonely.

She turned back to him, surprised again at being addressed. "I'm sorry, where you speaking to me?"

"Yes, I am," Fymer replied and offered her the second glass.

"Oh, uh..." She took the glass with some hesitation, but gave him a shy smile. "Thank you. That's very kind of you."

"You looked the way I feel," Fymer said with kind smile and took the seat.

The woman looked confused. "How so?" she asked, reaching up to touch her hair to make sure it had not fallen out in an embarrassing way.

"Sad and lonely. I miss my late wife and the company of my children," Fymer said. "I'm Fymer, by the way."

"Oh. Brella. I'm Brella," she said, regaining some of her composure. "I'm not sad or lonely, I assure you," Brella said with a bit of a forced smile. "You said your wife passed away?"

"Yes, and while it was some Turns ago, times like this always reminds me how much I still miss her," Fymer replied somberly, his gesture encompassing the Gather Square and celebrating growd.

"Oh, that is so sad," Brella said, sympathy and empathy, shining in her eyes. "You must have loved her very much."

"Yes," Fymer said and stared the table, taking a sip from his drink.

Brella shook her head slightly as she looked at him, feeling a little envy at the emotion that was so evident to her behind that word. She reached out impulsively to touch his hand. "I'm so sorry for your loss, Fymer. I understand how you must feel."

"Thank you, you're very kind," Fymer replied.

"This time of the Turn can be very lonely, can't it," Brella said before taking sip of wine. Fymer's supposed honesty made her feel bold in speaking her thoughts aloud. "This is my second Turn without my husband. It is no easier than the first."

"No, it's not," Fymer agreed with deep sigh.

"You are lucky your wife died, Fymer," Brella said, a far off look in her eyes until she realized what she had said. "Oh, I'm sorry! That must have sounded so cruel! Please forgive me." She felt a deep need to explain. "You see, my husband didn't die. He left me for a younger woman, two Turns ago."

"Oh, how horrible. That is such a cruel thing to do," Fymer said. "I can't understand why anyone could leave you."

Her small smile was grateful. It was nice to hear a man say so. "It was very hard. Now I am at the mercy of my sons until I can find another husband. It's humiliating. And lonely," she added softly before taking another drink of her wine.

"Perhaps two lonely souls can comfort each other," Fymer said. Hearing that harpers were setting up one of those slow waltzes, he suggested: "Do you want to dance?"

Brella opened her mouth, for a brief moment thinking that she ought to refuse. What would her son think seeing her dancing with a stranger like a young maiden. But he was off gambling and had left her alone in a strange place to entertain herself for the evening. Why shouldn't she accept such a kind offer? No one she knew was there to wag their tongues. And the idea of for once not being alone... "Yes. Yes, Fymer, I believe I would like to have a dance with you."

~*~

Last updated on the November 27th 2017

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Second attempt