"So, why are you carrying me?"
"Because someone bemoaned walking last night."
She blushed. "Ah."
He deposited her on the platform and kissed her temple before going to his own work.
"You know, you're only supposed to be carried over the threshold." Elunara grinned.
Lydia turned crimson. "I'm having trouble walking." She muttered.
"I imagine you are." Elunara whistled.
"Ugh."
"Welcome to the family, sweetheart." Elunara kissed Lydia's temple.
"Sir."
Grogek raised a brow. "Yes?"
"I have decided to quit."
He blinked at the recruit. "What?"
She kept her composure, but her shifting eyes gave her away.
Grogek erupted into laughter. "If you joined this regimen just to get my son, then you are the biggest idiot I have met to date." He shook his head at her blush. "My son has craved a soft woman from the moment he figured out how to use his dick. A hard woman was never his interest."
She turned flame red and began to walk away.
He shook his head. "You were good. Pity you're giving up."
"Sir?"
"You heard me." He shrugged. "Be the forlorn lover, or actually make something of yourself. It's ultimately your decision."
She sighed. "Yes, but now I have shown my poor decision making skills."
He shrugged. "You wouldn't be the first person to make a decision based on your heart. In fact, that's a rule in our family. If you know anything about me, you'd know that I was in the position to decimate Draenor, but I followed that woman." He pointed at Elunara. "A woman incapable of love. Now look at us."
"Sir, can I be honest?"
"That is another rule in our family; absolute honesty, regardless of the cost."
"I..." She took a deep breath and stared through him. "Ever since I was a child, I had... I had a crush on you, sir. But you have Elunara. And then... Susan... a fact that still confuses me. Anyway, when Darguni came of age, my attention shifted. I worked my ass off to get in this program, if only to hear you compliment me just once." She fiddled her fingers. "I guess I thought that one was as good as the other." She sighed and raked her fingers through her hair. "And now I've made a moron of myself. Good bye."
He grabbed her shoulder. "Tabitha, I think you should figure out your priorities. I don't think you should quit." Turning, he walked away. "I SAW THAT! DO IT OVER!" He bellowed.
"Hey, bro. Didn't see you after the wedding."
Bradly shrugged. "I stayed with Bryan last night."
"You know we're on the third floor. I'm fairly certain we wouldn't have been THAT loud."
"It's not that." Bradly winced.
"You're still in love with her..."
Bradly stared at his feet.
Darguni wrapped an arm around Bradly's neck and started dragging him.
"HEY!"
Darguni walked over to Grogek. "Sorry, guess I'm not making training today, I have to deal with my idiot brother."
Grogek's eyebrows shot up. "Alright."
"Darguni!"
He waved a hand. "Lydia, stay."
"WHAT?"
"Just... please?"
She sighed. "Fine, but I want answers."
Bradly struggled, even as Darguni shoved him in the door. "Gods, you have a grip like iron."
"Train under dad." Darguni snorted. "Now TALK!"
"Ugh! So, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, and I've suddenly realized just how badly I've fucked everything up." He shook his head. "So congratulations, you have her. You win."
"This was never a competition and you damned well know it."
"Gods!" Bradly tossed his hands up. "It's just... I never really got over her, and I never realized how jealous I am of the two of you, it's like... It's like I can't find this secret formula that you do so well. Then it got even worse when I realized that I don't actually "love" Bryan."
"You..."
"Yes, I'm using him to alleviate the pain."
"You became a cockmuncher because you couldn't have the woman you wanted?" Darguni just blinked.
"YES!" He tossed his hands up. "At first it was a little weird, but not bad. I thought that maybe I really could get into the whole thing... and for awhile it worked, but then I realized I was..." He buried his fingers in his hair. "Replacing Bryan's face with hers."
"You realize Lydia doesn't have a dick, right?"
"I'm not stupid." Bradly grumbled. "I will take momma's stance on... a sensation is a sensation."
"Yes, but momma doesn't bury her problems in Tulani's pussy."
"I KNOW THAT!" He groaned. "Look, I'm just trying to figure out why the hell, when I finally had what I wanted, I couldn't DO the things that would have made her truly mine. I just... expected her to BE there."
"Fucking WOO her, dammit. Don't just smack her on the ass and go "woo!" You didn't bother to TRY. I did it BY ACCIDENT."
"I KNOW THAT TOO!" Bradly tossed his hands up.
Darguni marched into the library and grabbed one of the special sheets. He scribbled a message and tossed it over his shoulder. "You're a fucking idiot."
After a few moments, Lydia walked in. "What's the matter?"
"TELL her, Bradly!"
He winced. "I... I've been using Bryan to get over you... not particularly successfully."
"But..."
"Look, I started dating Bryan because I thought it was your requirement. I kept dating Bryan because I thought you might find it a turn on. When you chose Darguni over me due to my stupidity, I kept up with Bryan just so you didn't hurt so much."
"You..." She put a hand to her chest. "You're USING HIM?"
"Yeees?" Bradly closed his eyes. "I don't know. I mean, I like him, and he's sweet and all, but it just... it doesn't fit. All I've ever wanted was you, and... Well, I couldn't keep you."
Lydia blinked. "You worthless fucking piece of shit. All you are is a walking dick, who's too busy sticking it in someone; to actually bother to find out anything about that person. You haven't bothered to take the time to MAKE IT work, and WE have to deal with your lazy shit attitude!"