Practical Enchantment (AU, ADULT) Thread #8

[FaithfulAngel24]

(Alex's Past Life) *Lysander*

She erases the distance between us so that we are a mere steps away from each other before she answers.

"Well...up until this morning she was the same old Rosa.But when I went to her room this morning she acted like she did not recognize me...I believe her exact words were "What are you doing here?" when she first saw me this morning." That is strange. Why would Rosa find Isabel's presence to be unusual. She does live there after all!

Isabel takes a moment to rack her brain of any other odd occurances."The she said,""Please don't tell me I'm your best friend." when the topic of my marriage came up.There were other little slips here and there but not as glaring as these two." Hmmm. There is defintely something not right here.

She looks up at me with those big beautiful eyes and questions, "Why?"

Taking a much needed deep breath I realize that this is gonna sound completely crazy, but everyone I know I trust Izzy the most. She won't condem me if I tell her the truth.

"It's just that... well It's common knowledge that Rosa and I despise one another. We don't have a particular reason. We don't have to. We both have only met a couple of times ,but there's something about her that just unnerves me. As well there appears to be something about me that irritates her as well."

Shifting uncomfortably from one foot to another I continue, " But when I saw her today she didn't act like herself. Now I pride myself in being a fairly perceptive man and she carries herself completely differnt today then the last time I saw her. Something has changed in her."

Scratching my head as if to solve the complex problem with that act alone I go on, "And you may think I've gone nuts but when I looked deep in her eyes I didn't see the same person. It was like a stranger looking back at me. One less angry might I add, but then she touched me and I... I saw things Isabel." I reveal secretly hoping she won't run away screaming.

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

At last he starts confiding in me " But when I saw her today she didn't act like herself. Now I pride myself in being a fairly perceptive man and she carries herself completely differnt today then the last time I saw her. Something has changed in her."

He can say that again!She's been in a world of her own ever since we had breakfast.

Lysander scratches his head in confusion,an act which is quite endearing and brings a smile to my face,before he continues apprehensively,"And you may think I've gone nuts but when I looked deep in her eyes I didn't see the same person. It was like a stranger looking back at me. One less angry might I add, but then she touched me and I... I saw things Isabel."

I don't quite know what to say...for a moment I just stare at him wondering if I had heard correctly.Did he just say that he saw things when Rosa touched him?How is that possible?

Shaking my head in confusion I look around us,as if making sure this isn't all some elaborate joke being played on me...but then again,Lysander wouldn't do that...I hope.

"You saw things...what do you mean you saw things?" I ask nervously not sure how to react to his statement

[Fehr'sBear]

Scott

My smirk becomes even more evident as Isabel wanders off with my brother in search of water. "Scott unpack the food please. Lysander will you come with me to collect water."

I unpack the food quickly, and then take a seat next to Rosa on the ground.

"What a beautiful day," I say to the air, pretending to be enjoying myself. "Isn't is Rosa? It's almost as beautiful as you," I add, my voice dropping to a whisper.

Isabel and Lysander have disappeared over the hill, and I turn to Rosa, smiling. "It's too bad my wonderful bride-to-be isn't here right now, isn't it."

[FaithfulAngel24]

*Maria*

Shifting slightly so that I can face this guy head on I notice that has the audacity to give me 'that' look, and while he is not completely unfortunate looking (Okay, he's one of the sexist men I've ever seen) he's not my Michael, and that's all I need to know.

"What a beautiful day," He states looking around at the enviroment around us. "Isn't is Rosa? It's almost as beautiful as you," he continues with a cocky smile. What a prick! He seriously thinks that he can marry Isabel and keep me on the side for whenever he wants a roll in the proverbial hay when he gets bored. Well, he's in for a rude awakening Maria Deluca, Ugh. Opps. I forgot. Rosalynn Demarco will come in second place to no man.

When Isabel and Lysander (who just so happens to be the past version of Alex. Freaky I know) disappear from side he turns to me with more confidence. "It's too bad my wonderful bride-to-be isn't here right now, isn't it." Grrr. Okay, so I was going to try to play along with this whole thing but the way he's looking me up and down like some kind of lolly pop I'm going to have to go with a change of plans.

Leaning over so only he and I can hear the conversation I spit out, "Listen bud, I don't know to the extent of this thing we got going on ,but it ends now. Isabel is my best friend. I will not hurt her this way. Besides I'm in love with another man, and you don't hold a candle to him." Smiling sweetly, I lean back to my original postion. "You are absolutely right. It is a beautiful day." I say with a twinge of pride that I stood up to him. Still there's a funny feeling in my stomach that says this isn't over. He won't stop in his prusuit. I guess I'll just have to be extra persistant.

[FaithfulAngel24]

(Alex's Past Life) *Lysander*

She knocks her head around as if to clear her mind of the obsurd thoughts forming there.

"You saw things...what do you mean you saw things?" She asks clearly unnerved by the entire situation.

"Well, I saw pictures in my mind. It was of this goofy guy, and this blonde girl whom I've seen before I think. She reminded me of someone. Then in one of the glimpses you were there, and um..." I trail off unsure of how much to tell her excatly. This is soo embarassing.

"That guy the dark haired one I was telling you about. I think he was me, or I am him or I don't know. It's all rather confusing ,but you and I were standing in this grand leaving room, and the little blonde was on the stairs in the most atrocious attire. She looked upset when we told her.. that... that we were to be married."

My eyes raise up to meet hers and I'm fearful of what she'll say. Will she laugh? Be angry and storm away?

"I know how this must sound, but you wanted the truth... That's it."

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

I listen to Lysander intently,not wanting to miss out on even a single word.Whatever he's telling me is fantastic...it is unreal.

"Well, I saw pictures in my mind. It was of this goofy guy, and this blonde girl whom I've seen before I think. She reminded me of someone. Then in one of the glimpses you were there, and um..." he says nervously and trails off

WHAT!!!OF ME?????????
How is that even possible?Where do I come in to this thing?How did I get involved?So many questions and I am bursting to ask him so many things all at once but I retrain myself.Although I am sure my eyes must be as big as saucers right now.

"That guy the dark haired one I was telling you about. I think he was me, or I am him or I don't know. How does he know that the guy in this so called vision was him...didn't even look like him?

This is getting more and more intriguing and incredible.This is almost like one of those those stories my father told me of the great Michaelangelo who wanted to build a time machine to either go back in time or in to the future.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!
That just might be the key to this.
'Don't be ridiculous Isabel' says a voice in my head 'You're letting your imagination run away with you.You always had a penchant for looking for things that aren't really there.'

Coming out of my reverie I concentrate on Lydsander once more It's all rather confusing ,but you and I were standing in this grand leaving room, and the little blonde was on the stairs in the most atrocious attire. She looked upset when we told her.. that... that we were to be married."

"You and me...to be married!" I gasp as I take a step backwards "But if I looked the same as I do now in that vision you saw,why did you look different?This is all so strange Lysander."

To be honest I am feeling quite shaken up.I don't know how to react,whether to run away screaming in disbelief...or yell at Lysander for these incredulous lies...or simply believe him.I do want to believe him.Oh god I so want to believe him!I run my fingers through my hair as I stand by the edge of the brooke,letting everyhting he said sink in.

One thing that stands out the most out of all he said is "we told her.. that... that we were to be married."

[FaithfulAngel24]

(Alex's Past Life) *Lysander*

Well, I knew she wouldn't be thrilled with what i had to share with her ,but I didn't think she'd be down right disgusted. She must not like me in the least. I know that Scott is more conventionally handsome, and he's always has a way with the ladies (obviously). Still, I thought there was a connection between Iz and me. An unsaid... oh bugger forget this nonsense.

"You and me...to be married!" she exclaims taking a step backward. i sure do hope her poor heart can take it. She must be utterly disappointed to find out that at some point or another she was with me. It offers me a little comfort for even though she shares no intimate feels with me now perhaps she will someday when I look like that fellow. Yeah, and you think your confused?

"But if I looked the same as I do now in that vision you saw,why did you look different?This is all so strange Lysander." She questions right smart actually ,but I have no real answers to give. Now ords of encouragemtn do I offer. Only a still quiet as I let her organize her thoughts.

"we told her.. that... that we were to be married." She stated as if perhaps she was coming around.

"Yes, I did look rather different but you my dear were still breath takingly beautiful." Did I just say that out loud. I must have gone crazy.

"The girl...the girl." I jump in to cover my blunder. "She appeared to have the same reaction you did. The blonde was none to pleased at your announcement. She stared at our joined hands with pain and fear. Contemplating the image again I continue,

"The lady in question had a very distinct presence. The only other preson who vaguely reminds me of her is... Rosalyn." Eureka I think I just had an epiphany.

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

Taking deep breaths to calm down,I try to put my thoughts in order.Now,my heart is beating so fast my breathing can hardly keep up.

Lysander and I are married...no no no...Lysander's other version and I are to be married...I am so confused!!

"Yes, I did look rather different but you my dear were still breath takingly beautiful." he says softly

He called me breath takingly beautiful.As if it has a life of it's own my mouth curves in to a huge smile.I think that is the first time I have ever heard Lysander say anything about me to me.

Turning around swiftly I let my gaze settle on his face "Thank you Lysander...I never...I wasn't aware you ever noticed." I reply suddenly shy

I'm sure I am blushing because my cheeks feel warm all of a sudden.Obviously he is just as embarrassed as me because he changes the subject to the other girl in the vision and begins babbling on about her
"The girl...the girl." he says stuttering and I can't help but be amused

"The lady in question had a very distinct presence. The only other preson who vaguely reminds me of her is... Rosalyn." he finishes off with great excitement

"Rosalyn!!" I exclaim "But...but how do you know that?" I ask suspiciously and I remember him saying he saw other things "What other things did you see...were there any other images of you and me,or just the one?Were there any of this girl and this other self of yours?"

[FaithfulAngel24]

(Alex's Past Life) *Lysander*

"Rosalyn!!" she exclaims as if she is both shocked and in utter disbelief. "But...but how do you know that?" She questions as if that was something I shouldn't have been able to figure out."What other things did you see...were there any other images of you and me,or just the one?Were there any of this girl and this other self of yours?" Oh... so not wanting to share all the nitty gritty details. I'm still trying to process those abstract thoughts myself.

"The girl looked nothing like Rosalyn the only thing that was the same was her eyes and that disarming stubburn streak." I admit trying to piece the ongoing theory in my head together. "Most of the scenes I saw where based around this girl's point of view. It was as if I was seeing them in her eyes. Her perspective if you will. I can't say that I know it's Rosa ,but I have this feeling as if something in me reacognized something in her An instinct thats not entirely physical. As you know I despise Rosa we just don't get along, but in these pictures we.. we were close. It's like I had a flash of memories of something that has never happened."

I turn my back to her so that I can face the brooke and not have to see the look on her face as I utter the next words. "You were only in that one part, but I remember seeing the happiness in my face and the determination in yours. The girl... she knew that you cared about me. That's why she could let me go." Running my hands through my hair as I always do when I'm frustrated I anxiously move back in my original stance so I can see her reaction to the news.

[KarenEvans]

Isabel

So many thoughts whizzing throgh my head,I think I am beginning to get a headache.Too much to process in one go and nothing that makes any sense.I pace the edge of the brooke impatiently my eyes looking at the ground.

I don't like not knowing things...this is something supernatural.Can that actually happen?

"You were only in that one part, but I remember seeing the happiness in my face and the determination in yours. The girl... she knew that you cared about me. That's why she could let me go." Lysander says as he turns to face me once more

I look up at him and smile "I believe you...I know you wouldn't lie about something like this to me on purpose.If that really was another version of you and me,in say perhaps..." I am not sure whether to say this in case he thinks I am insane but I continue nevertheless "...another lifetime,then I am sure I will be very happy.Any girl will be lucky to be with you Lysander."

There I said what I have always felt...that he is a wonderful person.