[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]

Huh? [ That makes him open one eye. ]

Come on... There is nothing to apologize for.

[sing_for_me]

[ She sinks into the blanket more. The man was too considerate for his own good...

But she appreciated his patience. Alex will definitely try to repay him someday for his kindness.]

Sor-- I'll try to sleep this time, promise.

[futhark]

[ If you thought about easily falling to sleep, you might take into consideration someone who wants to join in the whole "I'm a napping burrito" thing. And a large, white dog suddenly wants to sleep too, and is very excited, with wagging tail and everything.

Nap? Nap? I love nap! ]

Ack, someone let them in!

[ Or they just magically cannot be kept outside, take your pick ]

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex is surprised by the sudden weight she feels against her as the dog looks up at them, as if asking if he could join. ]

It's alright. [ She chuckles. ] I don't mind if he wants to join...if that's okay with you.

[ Cú seemed to find his dogs to be a bother at times, and she wasn't about to overstep on any house rules he may have. Deep down though, she would like for the fluff ball to stay. ]

[futhark]

This particular one can be a bother when he trips the guests over and smothers them with love. Excitement isn't bad, but you're a big dog buddy, have some consideration.

Sure thing, just don't be afraid to push him off if he tries to cuddle too much.

[ And this is how you get a large dog-pillow next to you. The tail wagging is still there, and that huge dog-smile only dogs can do, but Pal is behaving for now ]

He won't bite, but he might be too obnoxiously affectionate at times.

[ Says who ]

holy shit Im behind Im sorry

[sing_for_me]

[ She reaches out to ruffle the fur around his neck with both her hands, smiling as she's suddenly filled with more pleasant emotions. Dogs really are quite healing. ]

You know, he kind of gives me the same feelings when I'm around you.

worry not <3

[futhark]

[ Being compared to dog is almost always annoying. Almost. There are times when he can live with it, because- maybe, just maybe he can get out something good of it. So his reply is immediate ]

Does it mean I will get a headpat too?

[ Besides it was never meant as insult in first place ]

[sing_for_me]

[ It occurs to her after the words leave her mouth that maybe that wasn't the best comparison, but his comment after has her pausing before her follow up apology. She chuckles, reaching over with her other hand to comb through the top of his head and ruffle his hair slightly. ]

I guess it's the least I could do.

[ It really was, considering all he's done for her so far. ]

[futhark]

[ His smile widens as his eyes close, yeah he's a simple man and affections like this wins him big way. While he might be concerned - or not at all - that this makes for a truly goofy image, it does not matter. Because he stays like this as he dozes off into the nap quite quickly.

The big dog meanwhile settles more comfortably between them ]

[sing_for_me]

[ She continues to stroke his hair, even as she notices him start to nod off. Her movements become gentler as he does, until she has to catch him. She moves his head so that it’s leaning against the back rest of the couch, flapping the blanket so it covered him and bringing it up to his shoulders. Once he’s settled in, she’ll gently slip her hand from under him, shifting till she’s settled herself, facing him and leaning on the couch as well. There was a weight on her lap, and Alex moves her hand so she’s petting the dog’s head.

She felt comfortable. This was comfortable. Maybe temporary, but Alex would like to allow herself to enjoy it for now, tuning out the voice in her head that would tell her to do otherwise. Caster seemed to have that effect.

[futhark]

[ Dogs are good at a therapy, as the one sitting on her lap seems to indicate. Or the one dozing off next to her. Even if she doesn't end sleeping maybe this will help her relax and rest just a bit.

Caster is true to his word and wakes up exactly in an hour. That's how long the nap was supposed to take. He doesn't move at first, one eye opening to see if Alex is asleep or not. So he doesn't wake her up with a sudden move ]

[sing_for_me]

[ She actually did end up passing out, holding the rocks loosely in her hand while the other remained on the dog's head. The exhaustion from searching finally getting to her. She moves, but only to hide more under the blanket, settling in again. ]

[futhark]

[ Searching all night... Caster weights his options between waking her up and not and-

From what she said it did sound like Tem was no longer here. His internal cynic and pessimist expected the runes to confirm that. Which will only make her sadder, but grieving is the first step. Not knowing what happened and stuck forever in that is much worse than knowing even the worst truth, at least to him.

She might need few more minutes. So he elects to stay on watch- with eyes closed and wait for a little longer ]

[sing_for_me]

[ Alex wakes with a start. She fell asleep. But where--oh, right. She was with Caster. Why--Temeraire. She was asking him for help to find him.

Looking across from her, Caster seemed to still be sound asleep. Her eyes fall to her hand, the rocks still laying in her palm. Nothing seemed to have happened. Did it not work? Or maybe it had and... Her fingers curl around the stones, bringing her fist up to her face and pressing it against her forehead, letting out a shaky breath.

Deep down, Alex knew. She knew the moment she felt the connection break. But why, why couldn't she be wrong like all those other time? ]

[futhark]

[ Caster managed to drift off to sleep again, but it was a shallow one, and the change of rhythm in her breath wakes him up ]

Alex...? [ He rubs his eyes, but yeah he's woken up now, very much so. Gently, he puts his hand on her head. ] Hey, everything's alright?

[ It's not, definitely not. ]

Show me the runes.

[sing_for_me]

[ Her grip tightens on the runes. Showing him would be confirming--even if she knew. But Alex also knew that she had to face it. Slowly, she brings her hands down, uncurling her fingers to reveal the stones. ]

He's gone..isn't he?

[futhark]

[ There is no reaction but just to be sure Caster covers her hand with his. ]

Search! [ He commands the stones, there is a weird warmth radiating from his hand, which makes all the more obvious that the stones remain cold and unmoving ]

I'm sorry, Alex. The runes won't find someone, not in this world.

[ At least he's not dead, doesn't sound as a good comfort. If there was a body to find, stones would react. But Tem simply no longer exists here. ]

[sing_for_me]

[ She can feel the warmth, but she takes it this wasn't the reaction they were hoping for.

HIs words confirmed it. ]

I see....

[ Taking a breath, she moves off the couch, making sure to move the hound's head carefully. ]

Thank you, Cú. For everything.

[ She places the runes back in Caster's hand, giving it a quick squeeze before letting go to walk away.]

[futhark]

[ Caster tries to catch her hand as she gets ready to leave. On impulse, he hugs her. ]

You're not alone. [ "It's okay to cry" he could say, but tears can make you feel weak. On the other hand, if she cried now no one would see. Even him. But he understands if she prefers to withhold them until alone. So instead the support he offers is a reminder that there are people who care about her here, and they'll still here, even while she's in grief ] Remember that.

[sing_for_me]

Yes you are. [ A hoarse, condescending voice scoffs back. ]

Don't forget, Alex. That's the only ending for you. [ Her eyes close against Caster's shoulder, trying to cling to his words instead. But it was hard when Barry was proven right time and time again. His voice that choked on blood tainted the hopeful words Caster would give her, no matter how much she wanted to believe them. He made her almost believe them. However, it felt like the moment she were to claim such a thing, everything would be lost.

Her sobs are soft, muffled by the fabric of his clothing, her tears dampening his shoulder. Her fingers clung to his cloak, but she couldn't bring herself to fully embrace him. Doing so would feel like embracing all her feelings, and she may not be able to let go.

Just a few seconds. She just needed a few seconds. She was allowed that much, wasn't she? ]

[futhark]

[ As many of those seconds as she wants. Caster's hand soothingly runs through her hair, he won't be the first one to push her away, but he will let her go should she tries to go away. ]

If you ever want to spend time here with us, my temple's door are always open to you.

[sing_for_me]

[ A gentle touch she wasn't familiar with, not since she was a child. Welcoming and comforting as always. He and Archer had done so much for her already, yet she was still allowed to impose. She couldn't understand that. Worick and Nicolas were the same way... They gained nothing and yet they continued to be kind. Though maybe that's what kindness really was. ]

So--Thank you.

[ She'll finally release her hold on him, pulling back enough to wipe at her eyes. ]

Spending time with you guys is always nice. [ More than nice. It was practically guaranteed that she'd enjoy herself around him and his temple. But she couldn't allow herself to get complacent either. They've spoiled her enough. She needed to do something as well. ]

[futhark]

[ Caster lets her pull back, though his hand rests gently on her shoulder as long as she's within reach. ]

Hey, that's what friends are for. Right? [ He moves closer for a moment just for those words, to give her one last head-pat. It's not messing hair when it's almost bed-hair anyway right? ]

[sing_for_me]

[ Such a pleasant yet heavy word that was, 'friend'. ]

Right..[ She relents, not rejecting or correcting him.

She sighs as she looks up at him. She felt like a child whenever he did that. Not that she's pushing his hand away. The weight grounds her. And it's..warm.

But there she was allowing herself to be spoiled again. How much worse would it be if she lost this too, she wondered.

Reluctantly, Alex pulls away, gently ruffling the top of the dog's head before walking away. ]