Life After Death
chapter 9
The night that Teller and Banker came back from Iron Forge changed something inside of the couple. They were a bit more comfortable with each other than they had been and they started to spend more time together through out their work days, tormenting townspeople, insulting strangers and having loads of loudly obnoxious sex with their windows open so that they could extend their harassment of the neighbors long into the nights.
This went on for weeks, much to the dismay of the Trade District but to the joy of perverted flocks of Druids who would hang out on the window sill nightly and watch the shows. About a month after their excursion to Iron Forge, Teller was busy running between the counting house and the auction house when she ran into Liutiemo, one of Marshall Stormfury's people, standing on the bank steps.
Liutiemo had a reputation for being a very wise Draenei monk who had befriended the Stormfury family the year before. Rumor had it that she had managed to snag one of the most eligible bachelors in all of Azeroth, the Marshall's own son, Enoch Stormfury. That wasn't surprising considering the gentle, yet outspoken nature of the monk, not to mention her unassuming beauty but none of that explained what she would be doing on this side of the city. The Marshall's family and employee's tended to stay in the Dwarven district which was less crowded and serviced the more elite of the city. What was more curious was why the monk was staring at Teller.Narrowing her eyes, Teller looked fully at the monk and said, “what?”. Rude, she knew, but not caring, she walked past the monk and into the counting house without waiting for a response. Glancing back she rolled her eyes when she saw that the monk was following her inside the building. “Well, what do you want, are you coming to talk my husband out of some money like the rest of the Stormfury clan does?”, Teller asked pointedly. Since Banker was the holder of the Stormfury fortune there was always someone looking to get him to give them a loan for one thing or another.
“Oh no, I would never do that.” Liu stated. Glaring at her for a moment longer, Teller sighed and turned to give instruction to the personnel at the banking window. “ We haven't gotten to talk before have we?”, Liu said, more stating a fact than she was asking a question. “ I don't 'talk' to people.” Teller replied snappily. “ I may talk AT people or give instruction but I don't talk TO anyone.”The monk continued to keep her gaze levelly on Teller which was beginning to both annoy and unnerve her. Stepping close to the death knight, Liutiemo tilted her head slightly and continued to regard her as townspeople bustled past them to see to their personal business. Annoyed at being scrutinized, Teller turned back to the assistant at the window who needed help making a trade with a patron.“You're different from other death knights.” Liu commented, clearly intrigued. Brow furrowing, Teller finished with the assistant and the patron and turned to once again, focus her attention on the monk.
“Oh yeah, how so?”, she said, folding her arms over her chest.
“Well,” Liu started, “your aura is very different.”
Sighing, Teller had forgotten that monks had the ingrained ability to see and read the aura's of others.
“Well, what does mine say then?”, Teller asked sarcastically. Ignoring her sarcasm, Liu shrugged and said,”Some death knight aura's are very dark, full of hatred and bitterness. Some like your cousin Thassarians' is troubled, very turbulent and full of anguish. His girlfriend Bashemath's is lighter and brighter, probably because she gets so much enjoyment out of the trouble she causes but...yours....yours is soft....feminine....gentle.”, she finished. “Soft...” Teller repeated, her stomach turning itself in knots. “Impossible, anyone will tell you that I'm anything but soft.” Teller retorted, heart pounding all of a sudden.“No, I can clearly read it and it tells me that you are not what you pretend to be,” Liu calmed commented. “That's just ridiculous.” Teller spat angrily, turning to leave the bank. “Ok then let me ask you a question,” Liu called out, stopping Teller. “ When I mentioned Thassarian your aura shifted. Tumultuously yes, but there was a softness even there. If he were to die, would you not care?
Teller laughed, her metallic voice echoing through the now mostly empty counting house. “He's already dead”. “ You know what I mean”, the Draenei said, showing the first signs of annoyance, “ if he were to cease to exist, can you honestly say that you wouldn't care?”Thinking of her death knight cousin, the one who betrayed her memory by bringing her back this way, the one she was stubbornly loyal to because she'd overheard him stick up for her countless times in the face of Banker's disrespect, the cousin who openly admitted his wrong doing and his shame....Looking at Liutiemo, Teller said “ I would care less.”“Fine, have a good day dear,” Liu said, patting Teller on the shoulder as she stepped around her and walked towards the open doors. Liu knew she was lying through her teeth but if that's how she wanted to play it, then so be it.“UGH!”, Teller sighed, frustrated. “FINE, what do you want from me?” she said, resigned. Stopping in the doorway and turning around Liu looked at Teller with a look that resembled sympathy and said, “ I don't want a thing FROM you dear, I want to help you.”Those last words rang in Tellers ears as she remembered Eutropia several years previously saying the same thing. Sighing, Teller motioned for Liu to follow her and they walked the short distance from the counting house to the Inn. Knowing it would be a few hours before Banker clocked out of the Auction House for the day, Teller lead Liu to their quarters upstairs.
“How is it that you think you can help me?”, Teller asked as she took off her bandit boots and sat them down next to the door. Liu sat down on the edge of the bed and watched as Teller almost nervously tried to appear busy.
“Teller, your aura is so soft and sweet and gentle and your demeanor is the complete opposite. Why do you act the way you do when that isn't who you are?”
Putting her hands on the dresser top, Teller gripped the sides and looked straight at the wall as she answered softly, “because I have to.”Sensing the inner struggle Teller was battling, Liu asked quietly,” why do you feel that you have to?”
“Because if I didn't, Banker's attitude and indifference would crush me.” Teller said, aggravated. “Teller,” Liu said exasperated, “I've seen the two of you together in the square and I've met with Banker for business on my own. His aura shines so brightly when he's with you that it's almost blinding.”Turning to face Liu, Teller leaned against the dresser as she digested what the monk had said. She wasn't sure she understood what it meant. “What does the brightness of his aura have to do with anything?” Teller asked, confused.
“Teller, his aura shining like that when he's with you means that he loves you,” Liu said with a smile.“ HAH, yeah sure.” Teller spat with a venom she didn't really feel. “ Like I said, if I tried to be soft with Banker like I tried back when I was first resurrected, he'd chew me up and spit me out.”
“Do you love Banker?” Liu questioned, standing up and walking over to stand beside Teller. Dropping her head and sighing, Teller nodded. “Then maybe you should try again. Have you told him you love him?”“Uh yes, of course I have.” Teller huffed, folding her arms defensively.“Before sex or after”, Liu asked knowingly.
Glaring at Liu, Teller stomped across the room to the bed and plopped down. “After”, she responded. “ OK, now how about when sex isn't involved, have you told them any other times?”“......once....”“Once. One time you've said you loved him other than after sex. When was that time Teller?”“Back after I'd first been resurrected....”“And what happened?” Liu prodded, taking a seat next to Teller on the bed.“He left the next day for Gilneas and we see how that worked out. He immediately jumped into the bed of another and managed to get himself bit...”, Teller whispered forlornly.“I still think you should give it a try. A lot can change and I am telling you, when he's with you, you light him up from the inside out.”, Liu said, patting Tellers leg as she stood to leave.Teller dropped her head into her hands. “ I can't...what if he doesn't...”Liutiemo put a hand on the door knob and looked back at Teller. The picture of sadness, Teller sat, all essence of attitude gone from her aura as she looked at her hands, lost and grasping for the focus she'd built to fight off this rush of emotion. “ Do you think he loves you Teller?” Liu asked softly.“ I think...deep down...” Teller whispered, “ maybe he does.”“Then try to show him you love him. Maybe he will crush you as you say. But there is a chance that just maybe, he won't. Give it...and him...a chance.” Liu said as she quietly opened the door and stopped out, closing it behind her.