<Zoya> ...Kevil, this isn't going to work.

<Kevil> ::soberly:: It worked before, lovely goddess.

<Zoya> ::The scene is in Zoya's rooms. Zoya is sitting on the couch, and Kevil standing in front of her.::

<Zoya> ::sighs:: Kevil... When we were three, you and Darin and I... those were some of the happiest years of my life, even through the pain of Master's death, even when we fought... What we shared was precious and... and more wonderful than I could ever have imagined. It seems like a dream even now.

* Zoya reaches up and takes one of Kevil's hands. "But we were *three*, Kevil. If you take one leg of a tripod away, the tripod no longer stands. You and I, as two, cannot be."

* Kevil raises her hand to his face, then sinks to sit beside her. "I had hoped that... maybe... your Marten would... prop us up." He smiles weakly.

<Zoya> Marten? ::she laughs shortly, almost bitterly:: Marten is of a different tradition, Kevil. *Several* different traditions, if the truth be told, but they all insist that love can only be true in pairs. One of them even holds the woman entirely subservient to the man... He's overcome *that* tradition, mostly, but... ::she looks at Kevil sadly:: He still believes, at his core, that if two men love a woman, they must be rivals.

* Kevil looks indignant. "Rivals? When it would be so much better an homage to the lady to join their wills to please her?"

* Zoya holds up a hand placatingly. "Different traditions, Kevil." She smiles at him, almost. "Do not pretend you have not encountered it before."

<Kevil> ::snorting:: I understand it no better now than before. What cruelty could reside in their hearts, to force those they love to make such bitter choices?

<Zoya> It is strange to you, Kevil. I know. But I'm not asking you to understand the... the feelings behind the tradition. I am only asking you to understand that, coming from such a tradition, Marten could no more be one of a group than you could sprout wings and fly.

* Kevil grins slyly. "Beautiful goddess, if you wished, you could *make* me sprout wings..."

* Zoya laughs at the image, then sobers suddenly. "I could, Kevil." She lifts her hand to touch his face. "But it would damage you irreparably."

* Kevil holds Zoya's gaze for a long time, then sighs and looks away. "He is forcing you to choose between us, then? I must be his rival?"

* Zoya stands and moves over to the window that looks out over Dragonsmere. "No, Kevil. He would, probably, if it were necessary. But what I am telling you is not Marten's message. What I am telling you is that we are no longer three, and we cannot stand together."

<Zoya> ::She walks back to where Kevil sits and kneels before him.:: Kevil... you are precious and dear to me, and I wish only happiness and joy for you. I *do* love you - I will *always* love you... But I can not be your lover, and you can not be mine.

<Kevil> ::tears gather in his eyes:: Must is be so? Is there no hope at all?

<Zoya> I... No, Kevil, I don't believe there is. ::Zoya's eyes fill with tears to echo his.:: I'm... I'm so very sorry, my dear.

* Kevil closes his eyes. "Well. At the least I know you still care for me, bright flower."

* Zoya 's tears spill over as he attempts to regain his composure, and she stands again, pacing back to the window.

<Zoya> ::after a long pause:: Imagine... ::her voice is attempting gaiety and failing:: Imagine only what sort of group we would be, with all of us having such tempers. ::she turns and smiles sadly:: Even if he could conceive of the idea, I fear, it would never work.

* Kevil accepts the attempted humor. "Alas, bright flower - your magnificent Tower would burn down around us in our fiery ways!"

* Zoya chuckles.

* Kevil stands and walks over to her at the window. "Bright flower... If I may not be your lover, may I be your friend?"

* Zoya looks at him in surprise. "Of course, Kevil - always."

<Kevil> Then - as your friend, bright flower, I swear it - I do not know if this man is good for you.

<Kevil> He does not... appreciate you as he should. He is like a wealthy man, jealous of his gold instead of delighting in it.

<Kevil> ::shakes his head:: No, that is wrong. He is a bad politician, holding tightly to his power, using it for his own gain, at his own whim, disregarding the desires - the *needs* - of those in his care.

* Zoya looks at Kevil with some surprise. "Kevil! I have told you, his traditions bring him to this jealousy. Do not echo it, I beg you!"

* Kevil shakes his head. "Zoya, you know me better than that. This is not bitterness. I am only listening to the words you said to him and coming to understand their meaning."

<Zoya> ::She turns away to look out over the Dragonsmere again.:: I was... angry.

<Kevil> It is when you are angry that you speak the clearest truths, bright flower. If the man does not appreciate your love, you should not give it to him.

<Zoya> Kevil... I am very busy. Threefold and more my responsibilities and work have increased since I came to this world. I have so very little time for a lover... Who am I to complain if he finds other things with which to busy himself when I cannot be with him?

* Kevil puts his hands on Zoya's shoulders and turns her to face him. "Zoya. If he is hurting you..." He kisses Zoya's forehead. "At least speak to him of your pain. Perhaps, in his *tradition*, he is focused too much on himself, and does not see it. I hope, bright flower, for your sake, he is only blind, and not so cruel."

* Zoya sighs and nods. "All right, Kevil. I will speak to him, if it will make you happy."

<Kevil> ::smiles slightly:: Your happiness is mine, Zoya. ::He sighs sharply:: I will, I think, no longer guest here. I had taken rooms in the city before I stumbled across the angel, and I will return to them tonight."

* Zoya opens her mouth to protest, then closes her eyes. "You're right. I... I'm sorry, Kevil, that you came so far for so little."

* Kevil pulls Zoya carefully into a hug and kisses her cheek. "I am not, bright flower. I would cross a dozen worlds over a dozen lifetimes only to see you smile. I will see you soon, yes?"

<Zoya> ::Unable to resist Kevil's charm, Zoya smiles:: Yes, Kevil. Soon.

* Kevil bows elegantly, and leaves.

* Zoya turns back to the view of the Dragonsmere, at last allowing the tears to fall.