Alrighty then! Never a dull moment.<br/><br/>That was inevitable, certainly. My first reaction was to wonder if Secret had planned that reaction for longer than just since the last post or two, as while it's an appropriate (and<em>great</em>) reaction, it still surprised me (again, despite it's near inevitability). It's great storytelling though, and a fantastic way for the two women to grow closer, if over time. Similarly, I think this event just doubled the potency, durability, and drama of the story.<br/><br/>I need to ponder the subtleties of my post, thought it will go a little something like this. I lay it out here so we can step wisely, as it's a thin wire attached to an awesome hook down the line.<br/><br/>Tarkus is going to have a lot of mixed emotions, and very few of them will be tender.<br/><br/>1) He feels humiliated and cheated from Layla stopping.<br/>2) He's scandalized and furious at Layla's insolence.<br/>3) He feels vile and disgusting at her admonishments at his handling of Layla's addition, despite his spiritual reasons.<br/>4) He's immensely worried that his rule is indeed cursed now due to the ritual's failure. Also his reputation and one or both of their lives are at stake if even the merest whisper of a half of what happened is determined to be true.<br/>5) He's relieved he doesn't have to continue and see Aisha's pain.<br/><br/>It seems unnatural for these emotions to come anything but all at once, especially the way it all happened. How would someone like Tarkus react to these stimuli? Fuck, I have no idea at the top of my head, I haven't been through half of these emotions at the same time. It's<em>amazing </em>drama, I just need to reflect on it.<br/><br/>Here's my plan though, along with suggestions.<br/><br/>1) I'll likely have Tarkus bark a short sentence or two between Layla's, just because I don't see him being idle and letting her talk uninterrupted, though I would let her say everything she had while he fumes.<br/><br/>2) I want to try and avoid a huge inner-monologue, as he's done enough of that. There's too much that he's kept from them, as far as his true hopes and fears. Though he's<em>pissed</em>, I think it's time Layla sees his humanity and knows why he's acted the way he has. He's rather scared of the ramifications of the failed ritual.<br/><br/>3) With Aisha being more in-the-loop, I'm wondering if she too is shocked at Layla's actions, and knows what that supposedly means, both for Tarkus, and them as well. Perhaps the joining ritual being stopped or failed was the last thing she expected to happen, and now that she's in the middle of it, she wonders what it will bring. This is a suggestion that assumes Aisha is at least half as devoted to the spirituality of the land. Tarkus is 100% devoted to the words of the prophecy, though that will be shattered (among other things) with the revolution.<br/><br/>4) Tarkus will be very upset, and will likely speak harshly, but I'd rather not have him say much that he doesn't mean or will regret (this is up for debate, along with everything else). What i mean is, I don't want him blurting scathing words such as traitor or insolence to Layla, or cowardice or weakness to Aisha. There's an immense relief in his heart that he<em>didn't</em>have to hurt Aisha, and Layla's boldness brought that about. Also, Layla told him that she is loyal & desiring Tarkus, as well as conscious of Aisha's feelings. These are all things he cherishes and would not want to shatter that now that he has it. The ritual aside, that's all he ever wanted from this.<br/><br/>5) He say's he has to go to the temple to seek guidance, forgiveness, and absolution. On his way out, in a fit of anger (and self loathing?), I want him to break something, such as to punch a sizable chunk out of a pillar while storming away, or something similarly eye-opening, something that even a strong man would be incapable of. I want to keep playing with the idea that there's something more to Tarkus, supernatural in nature. Explaining his vivacity, virility, and heritage.  I want it to shock him (perhaps as much as it does the women), and he leaves, saying nothing more while he stares at his unbroken hand in disbelief.<br/><br/>*whew*<br/><br/>That was a doozy. Let me know your impressions.<br/><br/>*hugs all around* this is going to be great.<br/><br/>