[Closed]

[sing_for_me]

Who: Caster and Alex
When: October 11 (early morning after the event)
Where:Oshun’s Temple
What:Caster checking on Alex after the Orihime’s events

[At this point, Alex couldn’t deny how tired she was. After searching for two days nonstop, as well as helping out with those prayers, Alex felt wiped out. As reluctant as she was to return, she transported herself to the outside of the river goddesses’s temple. She let’s out a sigh as she looks at the entrance, walking towards it until she reaches the front steps. Maybe Tem had returned, she hoped, despite sensing nothing. Letting out a drained sigh, she turns to sit on the steps, hugging her knees and burying her face in her arms. No matter how many times she told herself it was too soon the give up, it was hard to fight off the nagging feeling that told her he was really gone. Heading inside would only confirm that.]

See? I told you I’d always be the only one left.

[A deeper sigh this time as her hands tighten into fists. She didn’t even have the energy to try and fight him off this time. Why was he always proven to be right..?]

Comments

[futhark]

[ Catching Alex wasn't as easy as Caster expected. The temple was empty and silent when he arrived, no one there to answer. Weird, but given the mess a day before was, maybe not that surprising. He ended trespassing and lounging in a shaded spot until he could swear he heard something-

So he emerges from the temple side, making the birds fly away instantly- ]

Morning! [ He greets her casually as if this way most guests visited here, and sits on the steps next to her. ] Were you out the whole night?

[ She was either an incredibly hardworker dealing with the prayers despite the weariness and timezone differences or- something had happened ]

[sing_for_me]

[She almost jumped out of her skin when someone suddenly appeared next to her, but her body relaxes when she sees who it is.]

W-what are you doing here, Cú?

[futhark]

We---ll... [ He drawls that short word a little too long ] I said "see ya soon" when you chased me off last time?

[ Caster never specified how soon exactly, sure, but why wait any longer than necessary. There is probably a lot he needs to catch up to- some that he needs to apologize for maybe. Ah, yes, the ever-growing list.

He never planned to die and disappear for a week, is that a good excuse? ]

Or is today's "soon" too soon?

[sing_for_me]

[She sure as hell didn't think he'd come this soon.]

E-eh? I mean..I don't...Shouldn't you be back at your temple? Did you find Archer?

[futhark]

Oh, I did find him. [ He takes his hood off, and now his face becomes visible- he got a big bandaid stick to his nose. He found Archer, then Archer's fist found his face. Lovely ]

What's up with you? Somehow I can't imagine it was a party that kept you up all night. [ Partying people returning home in the morning look much, much different. ]

((ooc: I'm so sleepy I forgot to add this to the description earlier, so let's assume he had his hood up to hide that detail haha ))

[sing_for_me]

I-I should be asking you that..!

[Although, she couldn't really blame Archer for it. He probably had pretty damn good reason to.]

Erm...well I was up doing those prayers...so...

[At least she could use that as an excuse.]

[futhark]

[ Please, please don't ]

You were doing those caused by me- [ And stayed up so late? Now he feels bad. Not about dying, but about making such trouble for dying ] I have to make it up for you-

[ He hits his open palm with a fist. ]

I know- Let's get inside, I'll make you breakfast. [ Because food solves everything, that's ultimate Fate knowledge- how to feed a dragon though, what kind of breakfasts dragon eats in first place?? ] Then you can nap.

[sing_for_me]

Wai—I didn’t mean it like that..!

[Guilt tripping him wasn’t what she was going for. The moment he mentions going inside though, she grabs his arm before he can make the move.]

I’m fine! [She answers abruptly.] it’s okay, r-really. You don’t have to do that.. [It’s subtle, but her hands are trembling. Whether it was from exhaustion or anxiety, that was debatable.]

[futhark]

[ It's subtle, but noted. He didn't saw a reaction like that from her since-- well since moon festival. Worry levels rising. Caster moves away from the door, not going to push his idea. ]

True, I don't. But I'd really like to. [ Repay kindness with kindness and all that. Alex, allow yourself to be cared for by other people ]

If there's a mess inside and you don't want me to see... not saying that there is! I know nothing about it after all- [ He lightens his voice in an attempt of cheering her up ] -we can always go to my temple?

[sing_for_me]

It’s...noth that. There’s..nothing there.

[No mess. No shinki either. It was just a building now. Just like when she first arrived.

She looks up at him at the offer, but shakes her head after a moment.]

No, I...You should be back there with Archer and Lancer. [Though the way she gripped at his arm may look like she was saying otherwise.]

[futhark]

Something is definitely Very Wrong, but damn, what

...does my company troubles you so? [ Some might feel weird to be around a dead man, which while unfortunate, is what he was all way along. But he gets an inkling that's not the case. He covers her hand with his own. Warm and firm. ]

Alex, you've been up for a whole night, you need rest. [ He puts his other hand on her cheek ]

[sing_for_me]

[She’s taken aback by his question. Was..that what it sounded like?]

N-no! Of course not! [Alex was happy he was back. It was just difficult to show it at the moment. Which wasn’t fair to Cú. Yet there he was being so considerate of her again.

His hand was warm, she couldnt help but lean into it sligh after being out in the cold. She could feel his warmth transferring over to her, and it took quite some strengh to not let her emotions spill just then.]

I promise it’s not that..I just think...that they might need you. They were lucky enough to get you back... Not everyone gets that chance.

[futhark]

[ "Not everyone got that chance", once again she pushes him to spend more time with his shinki. He catches her into a hug, an excuse would be to throw his coat over her, it's getting cold now after all- ]

Who have you lost?

[ Though one possible answer is dawning on him quickly. ]

[sing_for_me]

[It’s even warmer like this, and her head lowers as she rests it against his shoulder. Could she even say it? The last two days have been her looking for her shinki, but even if she knew the truth, it was difficult to admit out loud.]

Tem..I can’t find him...

[Her voice is soft, but the way she grips at his clothes despite her exhaustion was anything but.]

[futhark]

[ Two days. Something could happen to him- dragons don't just disappear. On the other hand, he did hear about people simply disappearing. "Going home", some said. ]

Let's look for him together. [ He offers. ] But first, you have to take a nap, even if a short one. I'll prepare a tracking spell in the meantime.

[ He starts petting her head soothingly ]

[sing_for_me]

[She quickly shakes her head, still hiding her face against his shoulder.]

I don't want to be in there... [Not alone. That's usually when he appeared.]

[futhark]

Can't help it then... [ He almost sounds like he gave up on the idea of her getting that nap, but it's quite on the contrary. Can't help getting her inside her temple? Well, there are other temples to be around. So without as much as asking a question, he teleports them to the interior of his own.

Lounging area of the main hall to be exact, partially separated from the dining area with large fireplace in the middle. ]

You can rest here, I'll make sure the dogs are outside.

[sing_for_me]

[Alex looked up to find herself at a familiar place, well, she'd only been there once, but here she was again.]

Wha-- [She hadn't expected him to just teleport them there.]

Wait--are you leaving?

[futhark]

[ Caster grabs the blanket and tosses it at her, as he looks around the hall to check if there are any furballs lounging around. Doesn't seem so. ]

Nah, I can prepare my spell here. [ It's a hunch but he doesn't want to leave her alone. Also, he wants to make sure he sees her going to sleep, really. ] Hm, a pillow. [ He grabs another one and sniffs on it- then makes a face. ]

Ugh, yeah, no. That belongs to the dog. [ Why would anyone put it on top of the sofa. That will only make them sleep on them too ]

[sing_for_me]

[She'll catch the blanket, watching him as he inspects the couch.]

I really don't mind...and it's okay if the dogs come in. [They were sweet.]

Really..this is fine, Cú [She'll even sit down on the couch so he'll stop. He really didn't have to do all of this.]

[futhark]

I could make you some warm tea or, how was it called- cocoa? [ Warm milk helps with sleeping. He sits on the same couch where she does, but gives her enough space to lie down ]

Either way, I'm not going anywhere.

[ How easy to say that just after he returned from death. Well, it's a promise of this moment of course. No one knows what tomorrow holds... ]

[sing_for_me]

[Alex shook her head.] I’m alright.. [It was enough that he was there.]

[She slips her feet out of her shoes, bringing them up to fold against her as she wraps the blanket around her shoulders. She won’t lie down, but she’ll lean back against thr couch, comfortable enough with the blanket cushioning her.]

Sorry..you just came back from...dying..and you’re already having to take care of me..

[futhark]

[ Alex, plz ]

That's nothing to apologize for, that's what friends are for.[ He says as he scatters colorful stones on his lap. Some already have runes carved on the, but he picks the empty one. If she's decided to not sleep, maybe he could use it ]

Tell me something about Tem. [ What he likes, what he doesn't, where he goes to if he wants to be alone. ]

[sing_for_me]

[She'll scoot a little closer, which probably looked funny with how she was burritoed in that blanket. She eyed the stones curiously, only looking up at Caster when he spoke.]

He likes..big open spaces. Also water, he enjoys swimming. He does like pretty things too...like..shiny or sparkly. Tem's go expensive taste.

[Alex couldn't help but smile as she recalled these things she had learned about him. It always gave her such a warm feeling to see her shinki enjoying himself.]

[futhark]

[ Alex burrito is the best burrito. ]

Thank you- that might be what I needed. [ And he drops the stone he was using, instead searches the pile to find an unused amber. He got no gemstones, but hey a semi-precious stone could work, right? After more looking he also locates a carnelian and shows both stones to Alex, so she doesn't have to unburrito herself ]

Would he like these?

[ No, he's not making a dragon bait, thank you very much ]