Maybe you Can go home again

[Guest STSF Jcin]

Maybe you CAN Go Home Again

 

Part 2

 

J’cin/Briana

 

 

 

Dinner that night was a cold affair. It was delicious, as it always was when J’cin returned home, and thankfully made by the staff, not from a replicator. But the conversation was just not present. Briana sat in stony silence, pushing the food around on her plate more than eating it, and J’cin had abandoned any attempts at conversation after the 7th one word response he had gotten. Briana’s marked change in attitude had him worried. Briana for her part just stared at her plate, wondering exactly how much of an ass Kris could be.

 

“So how was your dinner?” J’cin asked, having a feeling he’d get another single-word response.

 

“Wonderful…” she replied, not looking up. “It… it was nice to have something home cooked for once.”

 

J’cin nodded. Maybe this wasn’t too bad after all. “Did everything make it up to your room alright?”

 

Briana frowned as she nodded, and looked up at him with a stare as cold as Ice. “Yes. And amazingly, everything that was already there was… already there.”

 

Maybe this was bad after all.

 

“Yeah…” why do I get the feeling I’m treading thin ice? “I made sure everything was well preserved when I came back that first week. Something told me to make sure nothing was lost.”

 

Briana set her fork down, laying her napkin over her plate, and leaned back, still staring at him. When she finally spoke again, sarcasm practically oozed from her voice. “Well… wasn’t that kind of you… .and in all these years we’ve been around each other again, you never just found a convenient moment to tell me that it was here?”

 

Yup. This was Bad.

 

“Umm… I… that is…” Merde “I… forgot?” He ended weakly, doubting it would work.

 

It didn’t. Briana laughed as she raised her hand. “Oh...that's convenient isn't it...you didn't forget about our vows that you threw back in my face, or that pendant apparently...but the only physical possessions that I ever cherished could so easily be forgotten...how convenient for you...”

 

A small group of the kitchen staff had come to clear the table, but took one look at the two seated, and beat a hasty retreat back to the kitchen.

 

“Fine.” He said, his eyes hardening. “You want the truth? Up until about 6 months ago, we weren’t on the best of terms, if you recall, and I had a feeling that telling you it was waiting here would just give you ammunition to throw back at ME!”

 

“Oh how easy for you. If you remember correctly, the only reason we weren’t on good terms was because you made it that way when I came aboard the Excalibur. Besides, I didn’t need my journals as ammunition, I have PLENTY of that on my own.”

 

“You weren’t exactly thrilled to see me either, if I recall correctly, Briana.” He tossed his napkin onto his plate.

 

“No you’re right, I wasn’t. Although I supposed I should have been more comfortable than I was seeing as you were in your favorite place… the arms of another womans.”

 

J’cin winced. “That’s not fair, Briana. I thought you were long dead. And it figures you’d show up the first time I was in a relationship since you.”

 

“Oh yes, lovely. Again you blame me. How like you, Monsier du J’cin… what an easy copout.” She stood quickly and pushed her chair in, but being careful not to damage it, and strode quickly from the room.

 

J’cin just blinked a moment. “What the hell?” he muttered, then stood up to follow her.

 

The staff checked to make sure the coast was clear and came in to quickly clear everything before they came back and started throwing dishware.

 

“Briana, get back here!” J’cin called, striding through the halls after her.

 

Briana spun on her heel and stared him right in the eye. “In case you have forgotten… I’m not your plaything anymore Kris. You can’t just order me around anymore.”

 

That hurt. “You were never my plaything.”

“Oh? It sure seemed like it to me, always pulling me around on a string and trying to keep me out of sight when you wanted to play with your other toys.”

 

The innuendo in her voice was clear, and for once J’cin picked up on it. All color drained from his face as an old suspicion worked its way back into his mind and he finally realized what this was all about. “You knew…” he whispered. There needed to be no explanation what he was saying.

 

“Of course I know you dolt! I always knew! From the first moment you came home with the stench of whiskey on your breath to the last day that you left before...before "it" happened...I knew! I wasn't some childish girl if you haven't already figured that out Kristophe du Jcin...I'm smarter than your average courtier...but that never mattered much to you did it...it was all about the arm candy...looking good to others...”

 

J’cin tried really hard to stay angry, but it too was draining from him quickly as guilt tried to take a stronghold. She was right, and he knew it. “Look, I was..” Excuses won’t work this time, Kris “There were circums…” He paused, and took a long breath. He needed to try a different tact here. “You were never just arm candy to me. I was drawn to you because of your mind and spirit, not just your beauty.”

 

“Yeah but as soon as you had me in your grasp, my mind didn't matter anymore...nor did my opinion. I ran your home and vineyards well when you were away, and that was my job...I stayed because I loved you, and for the boys...I may not have been the image of perfection in all I said and did, but I sure as hell worked my ass off to make it seem flawless...I wasn't the one who went to another’s arms...so don't you dare try to pin that on me!”

J’cin had very quickly run out of any comments to make in response to the charges leveled against him, but it didn’t matter anyway. Fighting desperately against the tears that threatened to spill, Briana spun on her heel and walked out the front door, and for once wished that the doors were not automated so she could slam them shut hard enough to shake the walls. She broke into a run and went to the only place of solace she could think of: the stables.

 

For his part, J’cin stood in the now empty hallway, and sunk into a chair. “I’m sorry” he whispered, and put his head into his hands.

 

Ramsley walked slowly up to his young master and laid his hand on J’cin’s shoulder. “Give her time, young sir. It may be enough.”

 

“And if its not?”

 

Ramsley just stared at the door that Briana had just left through. “It may be all you have, sir.”

 

Briana grabbed a saddle and went up to one of the black stallions in the stable. She had it saddled and ready to ride with a skill she had forgotten she possessed. She climbed up on the horse and rode off, hot tears coursing down her cheeks.