<Alquas> Alquas and Tez had been walking in silence for several minutes as they trudged towards Agnes' ritual.
<Alquas> Something seemed to be preying on Alquas' tired mind.
<Alquas> "Teyz...?" he says, finally.
* Tez fidgets with the long sleeve of her dress, and looks sideways at Alquas. "Yeah...?"
<Alquas> "I could not help but notice that you had argued with Kherrem and had moved from his room." He coughs. "And, ah, into mine."
<Alquas> He lets that hang there in the air for a while.
<Tez> "Yeah... That's ok right?"
<Alquas> "Um..."
<Tez> "Oh, thanks."
Tez smiles brightly.
<Alquas> Alquas tries again. "You were understandably upset, zhanjiir, and if your objective was to annoy Kherrem then I have every sympathy."
<Alquas> "But I do not feel that such a sleeping arrangement would be... appropriate."
Alquas looks steadily ahead of him as he says this. "Do you understand, Teyz?"
Tez bites her lip. "Yeah I guess. I thought you liked me."
<Alquas> "Oh, I do like you!"
<Alquas> "You are very likeable! Yes."
Alquas smiles uneasily.
<Tez> "Well now you're just being confusing." she lectures.
<Alquas> "But you understand the difference between liking a person and sharing a bed with them, yes?"
<Alquas> Whether by accident or design, Alquas is using a talking-to-children voice.
<Tez> "Yeah... but I wonder if you understand the difference between sharing a bed with someone and sex." She makes illustrative gestures.
<Alquas> Alquas' eyes bulge briefly at the gestures, and then dart around him as if looking for an escape route. Unfortunately, the terrain is rather devoid of them.
<Alquas> He coughs, nervously. "Ah... of course, Teyz." he says, wondering privately which of the two she had in mind.
<Tez> "Oh, good. Sometimes I wonder."
Alquas presses on. "Nonetheless, you would be aware of the impression sharing a bed would give, yes? The lady Salya would... and as for Chimrea, or Agnes...."
<Tez> "Well if they're all going to think that, I guess we might as well."
Alquas stops in his tracks.
Tez looks him up and down consideringly.
Alquas splutters incoherently for a few seconds.
<Alquas> "If you simply need somewhere to sleep I could pay for another room..." he manages.
Tez half-smiles. "I don't like to sleep alone. Something might happen."
<Alquas> "Really? But it would be no trouble, no trouble at all!"
<Alquas> "Perhaps I could hire a guard to stay in your room?"
Tez wrinkles her nose. "I don't need a guard. I need a friend."
<Alquas> "Oh, but he would be a very friendly guard."
<Alquas> "And I would be just down the hall."
<Tez> "You could hire a guard for your room, and he could tell people what we're not doing."
<Alquas> He smiles at her in the manner of one smiling at a person holding sharp objects.
* Tez smiles back in the manner of one holding said sharp objects.
Alquas decides to try a new tack.
<Alquas> "Agnez is you friend, zhanjiir. You could sleep with her." He pauses. "So to speak."
<Tez> "Maybe I'll ask her tonight. She's not afraid of me like you are."
Alquas laughs, falsely. "Afraid of you? Whatever gave you that impression?"
Tez walks up to stand close to him. Extremely close.
Alquas backs away a step, grinning, visibly shaking hands spread in front of him.
Tez grins back. "Where you going?"
<Alquas> Alquas forces himself to hold his ground. "Nowhere, my friend." He looks at his shaking hands. "Forgive me, I am tired."
<Alquas> He studies her intently for a few moments and then sighs.
Tez takes his hands and lowers them gently, then steps away.
Alquas pinches the bridge of his nose, rubs his eyes and starts, "Teyz... I know it... amuses... you to play these games, but I do not need this now."
<Alquas> He looks vulnerable, defeated, his shoulders slumped.
<Alquas> "I mean you no disrespect, but you will need a different sleeping partner. I hope that you understand me."
<Tez> "What's wrong? I mean, not with me, or the room."
Alquas looks uncomfortable. "A lot has changed in my life in a short time. In such circumstances, a man needs his own space."
Tez nods thoughtfully. "I see. Will you be OK?"
<Alquas> "I hope so." He stares at her as levelly as he can manage. "I value you your company, Teyz, as a friend. But for now, I sleep alone."
<Alquas> With that, he turns and stalks off ahead.
<Alquas> **
<Alquas> *
<Alquas> * \\