Away she goes -- Casey (SL, not post)

[DoS Archive]

From: casywideye@aol.com (CasyWIdEye)
Date: 01 Aug 1999 06:20:17 EDT

As the doors to the Outback gave way, Casey Wild Eyes dashed through the resulting space sobbing. For the first time she truly understood what everyone had been saying about Avery or Alex or Jarem or whatever his name was. She had looked into those eyes; those beautiful brown eyes that held no recognition toward her; and simply fell apart. Stumbling to the West Hotel, Casey ran into her room and gathered her few
things swiftly. The night had started so well, and then went so wrong.

It was the second evening of the TDL Finals and Casey snuck in with the crowd to watch. Things may have been her fault and she may have been unwanted; but there was no way the shy wildmage would miss seeing the 'Singers prove themselves the best once again.

Casey sat riveted in her seat as first Quel' then Lisi were in the process of being shut out. She knew they both just needed to score a single advantage for the defending champions to win. With Quel', she sighed in relief at his first advantage, then watched transfixed as he began to truly come back against one of the most formidable ladies in the Arenas, Banda. He may have lost, but he did what he needed to do. Lisi found herself in the exact
same position as last season, and Casey couldn't help but smile.

The very airheaded teal-haired 'Singer was against Kyle, and down 3-0 after three rounds. Casey found herself murmuring, "She only needs to not let him score one round." Luckily, in the fourth, she scored; and the wildmage could relax. Finally able to take her gaze from the ring, she looked around, and saw him. Oh gods, he was there; and with Zen. After the match was lost but the battle won, Avery left the TDL Arena and headed toward the
Outback. Caught between going after him and simply walking away, Casey stayed to watch the celebration and congratulations of her former team.

Suddenly, on an impulse; she moved to the Duel of Fists' home and stepped in. Once there, another pause, but she moved toward Avery after a few moments, grabbing a chair along the way. His eyes widened, and he softly muttered an "uh oh" as he saw her approach. He tried to explain about the night before, the reasoning behind his actions, but she said not a word. Simply, she stood on the chair (she couldn't reach his face otherwise, you see) and
kissed his cheek lightly, tenderly. Sliding from the chair, she remained silent and turned; walking away for what she thought was for good.

Casey wandered about the RhyDin town for close to a half hour, simply thinking, before she came to a decision. That decision led her back to the Outback, and she stared down the double doors, steeling her courage before walking in. A deep breath, then she was inside and moving toward Avery once more, his back turned to the door. She marched right up to him and tapped him on the shoulder and said "We need to talk." in a very calm, authoritative,
and unCasey-like manner. He didn't hear her at first, and she almost lost her nerve. But she repeated herself.

"We need to talk." He turned around, and said "You're an emerald?" After a pause, he continued. "Oh, it's you." He studied the wildmage for a moment, then let her know he was willing to listen. With that permission, she exclaimed (well, to her it was an exclamation, because it wasn't her normally meek self) "What the hell has gotten into you?" He blinked and asked if he knew her, to which she told him who she was; and just how much she knew
about him. Again he blinked, caught off-guard, and at that moment was offered a distraction from Tareth, who asked if he wanted to duel.

"I have to duel, we'll talk when I get done. Zen, will you go sit her down and explain things, please?" Zen agreed, and took Casey off to the side; setting her down. As Avery dueled, the newest Duel of Swords Overlord explained the situation. Realizing what he said to be true (finally) she burst into tears. With a sigh, Zen asked "I've made things worse, haven't I?" At that question she shouted he had; and within a few minutes Avery returned.
He rested his rear on the table; looking to Casey expectantly.

She said nothing, quietly sobbing, and Avery turned to Zen, asking "You upset her, didn't you?" Zen nodded, and Avery sighed, looking to Casey once more. "So what's going on?" was the question he asked her, and the wildmage's reply was "I love you and you don't know me so it doesn't matter!"

"Obviously it does," was his reply, "or else you wouldn't be here." Again she repeated it didn't matter. Again he replied it did matter, but at that point she wasn't listening, her back turned on the man she loved. Suddenly, she told him to just forget she was ever there. "No, I can't do that" he said; and she dashed for the doors.


* * *


It had been a day since she had left RhyDin, and she was still crying. Aimlessly she wandered through the woods, seeking someplace, any place to hide. In her swift departure, Casey had overlooked one important item to bring ... food. As she traveled, she was forced to live off the land.

Finally, after a long, hard day of running, she stopped under the shade of a large tree and unrolled her blanket. It was not long before she fell into a deep, troubled sleep.