Dear Diary,
I agreed to move in with J.J. today. Things are complicated, of course. He’s married to Anjasa, whom is of course living with him as well. They’ll be sharing a bed, and I’ll have my own separate bedroom. Just as well for that. I prefer my privacy, after all.
I still struggle with the idea of how I’m going to tolerate living with her smug face day in and day out, but I figure that life here will be worth it.
I also dare admit only to you that I relish the idea of the pain this would cause Maglin. Fair game. He hadn’t even bothered to visit in months, so enraptured was he in her claws.
No matter. I’ll be having my books moved in this very eve.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
Week one of the new living arrangements has come and gone with very little cause for alarm or concern. J.J. has spent most of his time with me in my room or the study, and we’ve made a great start on several of our research projects. He said he would be showing me his laboratory later in the day but did not want to overwhelm me so early in.
I look forward to being overwhelmed, all truth be told, but I think it’s best I let him lead the way. I’m groping blindly in the dark, as is. The lady of the house is, thankfully, rarely home. Out sleeping around, no doubt. Women of her calibre have no sense of thankfulness for what they currently have, but only what they can have, no matter if it’s stolen from another woman or not.
She takes with both hands, then lets it all drop when the mood strikes her. I can’t see what J.J. has seen in her, for it’s certainly not anything they hold in common from my calculations.
Perhaps it’s just jealousy speaking.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
It’s been a while since I bothered with you and for that I apologize. Time has been pacing at an increased tempo that I have been unable to take time away from my studies and research to write of my more personal findings. However, I must take time for today, for J.J. had proposed to me. That is to say, he wants to wed me.
Again I’m grabbing around in the dark, unsure of where my footing stands, but I said yes regardless for if this is my one chance to be happy, I want to grab it. That’s what they’ve said, anyways. Those in the ‘Tribe’ I’ve bothered to speak to.
I don’t know how Anjasa has taken it and I’m not sure I care to. I’d rather have nothing to do with her, and I try not to. I haven’t seen Maglin around, but that’s no surprise. He doesn’t know I’m here, anyways. After he left me in the tower, I’d rather he not see me. I’ll let him know after the wedding.
I know this sounds like I’m complaining, but my happiness is written across my face. I’m excited, terribly so. But diaries are not often places for happy thoughts. Regardless of my misgivings, I set up a brilliant welcome home celebration for the two of them and lavished them both in a loving embrace. Let bygones be bygones.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
I told J.J. about Maglin and I.
Wedding is still on.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
Anjasa invited me out for a, what she called ‘Girl’s Night Out’ for the evening before the wedding. I was tempted to decline, but J.J. said he’d like for me to get to know her before we become a ‘family’. Although I’d rather keep my distance, I see his point. I agreed.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
The wedding was pretty fantastic. It was kind of frightening at first due to Fairtide, the woman whom I had requested perform the wedding, was detained. There was a priestess there and she did just fine, though. I can barely remember any of what she said. Luckily both J.J. and I had our vows written down, so I have them saved in my keepsake box.
I had a golden dress tailored for me and it fit divinely. J.J. seemed quite enamoured with it, luckily. I kept my hair long and curled, but it went a bit frizzy in the heat. I don’t think anyone noticed. They never said anything. J.J. was done up just like a knight. My dashing white knight. Well, blue I suppose? Or does that refer to the armour colour?
It was a strange kind of ceremony, I guess, though what can what expect when blending cultures. We still exchanged rings, and vows, but aside from that everyone was asked to volunteer their hands and sacrifice blood. J.J. sacrificed two cuts so I wouldn’t have to – I could only imagine the look of the scar. Besides, his has already healed. Peculiar that trolls are able to regenerate so quickly and yet live so short. Perhaps the stress of having to regenerate uses their life force more quickly than if they had taken the time to adequately heal. Of course their short life span may also have something to do with the warring of the Tribes. [i]A small asterisk is placed at the end of this sentence as though it were a marking of reminder.[/i]
Sorry, diary. Back to the wedding. Of course, I had no idea how it would have gone. The Chieftess did not attend, for which I was grateful. Though she and I have managed to come to a friendly understanding, I still get the feeling that I am not completely welcome. She makes a good show of it, anyways, even offering support and enthusiasm. No doubt of what she’ll be doing behind my back in order to get ‘even’. There’s something strange about her. Honestly I have no idea what the two have in common asides from abnormally high sexual drives. Perhaps that’s all it is. Maybe she’ll come around in time.
We’re on our honeymoon now. Up in Quel’dalar, hidden from prying eyes in a tiny house tucked into the woods. We rented it from a recluse that was in denial about the Scourge attacks. I almost pity him. But not really. To be honest, we didn’t do much different other than pause our studies for the time being. We don’t have our research material and testing subjects out here anyways, not that we could fit them in this house. The temple in Zul’waja is really unparalleled as far as research facilities go. Plenty of privacy.
Jumwa’s outside. He said he wanted to try cooking some fish for dinner. I hope he remembers to remove the bones. I better go check on that.
Forever yours,
Idryl Bitterose Wife to Jumwa’jin
~~
Attached to the entry are two copied letters, obviously Jumwa and Idryl’s vows to one another. On the following page is a small sketch of the two of them holding hands at the wedding.
It seems rather unfitting to try and pledge my words of love to you, Id, in de spoken word when all that has become of us was due to a string of lovely, eloquent and stimulating letters.
But so be it. My dear lady Id. In so innocent a beginning as our academic correspondence, even then, I felt de first twinges of greater feeling. Through our pens came much emotion, even when we did not intend it, I believe.
Your letters were like eagerly awaited parcels of food to a hungry stranded troll. Jour words bright and titillating.
I found in you, in those early days, a brilliant companion. A brilliant prodigy to share in my most secret and precious passions of knowledge and discovery.
Those parts of me so few, if any, other’s have seen.
By our first meeting we were long friends, and yet still more awaited. Today all that has culminated into a true love, that has transcended the boundaries of language, written or not, and of all other barriers that stood between.
~~
When we first met, truly met, I was cold. And alone. And abandoned. True loneliness held me captive in those mountains. But I was studious. And diligent. And every letter I received sent a tiny ray of lights through the darkness of the manor.
And slowly, I regained awareness of the world outside the walls of my prison, and the life that was put on pause. And I remembered about…
The following trails off here, and she’s scratched out the beginning of the sentence.
You made me happy enough to see past the exterior. This from someone who spends her life worrying about exteriors.
Your brilliance lit my heart aflame, as clichéd as that is, and melted my fears and prejudices to a manageable nugget.
J.J., I have never met an intellectual match, someone who thirsts for knowledge and pure unbridled understanding that could parallel my own.
~~
Dear Diary,
Anjasa is balled up on the bed next to me, lightly sleeping. She keeps making tiny sounds as my quill rubs against the paper, as if she’s telling me to shut up.
It was a nice night, as far as I’m concerned. Was a gesture of good will, if nothing else, and she seemed receptive to the idea of family. I’m curious about how much she knows about Maglin and I and whether she knows what she did to me. She holds no guilt on the topic, I don’t believe. We went to a bar and then to a fancy hotel room where we soaked in the tub and drank cold spirits and talked. She’s not as stupid as she seems and asked appropriate questions about my work and research.
We spoke at length about J.J… Jumwa as she calls him, and of what a great troll he is, and how supportive and loving he can be. She warned me of his temper. I’m sure I won’t have a problem, I told her. She nodded as if she agreed. She looked a little melancholy, but perhaps that’s just because she knows what she’s giving up.
No mind to it. We comforted one another before she fell asleep. I’m unsure of how to feel.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
I confronted Maglin today. He denied he did any wrong but apologized profusely. He cried. I have to go to Jumwa for council – he’s my twin but I don’t know I’m ready to let him back in.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
That fucking succubus will never be summoned to this realm under my hand again.
The treacherous woman has been hiding Maglin’s letters from me, refusing his calls and lying to him all this time.
My strength is not as heavy as I had thought and my control over her was weak. I must redouble my efforts and not fall trap into trusting in my own abilities again. I must be diligent and constantly reassess my abilities without prejudice and bias.
I haven’t decided what I’m going to do with Maglin. I feel I owe him an apology, but at the same time, if he wanted to see me…
I B
~~
Dear Diary,
I apologized to Maglin, nothing more. It’s time to rededicate myself to the research and stop being so caught up with these immature mental games. It’s time to move on.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
I had an amazing theory in regards to lichbloom and icethorn. Testing will commence immediately.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
Jumwa took me to the great Black Temple today to study and research their gardens and facilities. I took many samples to bring back home including various interesting species of plants and flower life.
On a more personal note, however, I’d like to state that the temple is awe inspiring and the lavish sin’dorei living quarters were like something out of a fantastical novel.
Absolutely breathtaking.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
Sorry for the delay in writing, but things have been steady with work. I quickly write to inform you of the fact that we are currently packing to leave Zul’waja tonight. We’re relocating to Terrokar for the time being.
I mourn the loss of our research.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
Anjasa has gone ripe mad. J.J. has let me run some testing and experiments, but none of much value. Will need to see the other test subjects from the Temple before proper treatment can be guaranteed. Passage into Zul’waja is not safe at this time.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
We are settled in Terrokar. J.J. asked if it would be fine if Maglin moved n with Anjasa, which, of course, would mean he’d move in with us. I gave them my blessing. I feel no negative emotions in regard to it and actually look forward to having him around once in a while. I have missed him, I confess. We had a lovely, brilliant spark of happiness and it fizzled, but there’s no need to not enjoy the bittersweet afterglow of young love.
He’s my twin, after all. Of one heart. Besides, ever since Anjasa went insane, she’s been looking dazed and lethargic and confused. It will free up more of J.J.’s time for research to have her properly taken care of. Provided my brother doesn’t…
None of that, dear diary.
I have not been able to see my test subjects and assume they have all been terminated. We will have to rebuild, quickly. Anjasa has adamantly refused my follow up examinations and discussions in regards to her psychosis. Her symptoms seem to slowly be improving in that she hasn’t been mumbling the same words over and over.
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
J.J. approached me about the possibility of helping Anjasa become with child. Major restoration magic will be required as well as a possible catalyst to properly direct the restorative flow. Due to the age of the injury, I recommended caution.
Perhaps this would better be stated in my research tomes…
Idryl Bitterose
~~
Dear Diary,
I’m amazed. It worked.
Perhaps this catalyst can be used again in the future for regenerative possibilities precluding the longevity experiments… Will need further research subjects before we’re able to proceed. Due to Anjasa’s state, J.J. is staying with me in the evening. I revel in how much more we will get done without her distractions!
Idryl Bitterose