Fu re ru

[apassingafternoon]

Alain was having none of their shit and that was just by the mere virtue of being completely and utterly out of it. Kaine had thought it would be alright to use an extra drop or two but ... Well, it was that or his own exhaustion that kept him out of it. For as much as Kaine wanted to lie around and ignore everyone, tend to her house and hardly the people inside of it Nariko had a point. They were to rest for a week before moving on. The quicker they dealt with the out of the way errands the sooner she could sit in her room for as long as Nariko would allow before inevitably dragging her back out.

Which explained why they were on the road to The Village, or Arpagio as it was now known. The name changed was ridiculous (Aelious must have somehow gotten his way) but Kaine accepted it with a shrug. The journey was a boring one for her, she stuck to Nariko's side a bit tighter, more anxiously than usual but otherwise kept her words to a minimum. She didn't feel like talking, didn't even feel like going anywhere near town and the last thing she wanted was to even heart Cuthbert's voice, which she had already spent the morning blocking out. And yet he somehow felt well enough to come along. Fantastic.

The doors pushed open in their rhythmic fashion and her first question of the day was directed at Roland even though she didn't bother with looking over at him.

"What are we here for again?" They had barely taken two steps in and she was already quite tired of everything, and it showed in her voice, and the fold of her arms over her stomach. If her oversized sweater and skinny jeans didn't make that just as clear then nothing else would.

Comments

[apassingafternoon]

Kaine waited for Bert to get out his half of the supposedly useless triangle to speak. "It wasn't really all that big, I guess it just sounded that way, and so far it seems like you and I are the only ones that heard it break, Alain. Nariko knows what it is but she's not talking, and that's about the worst sign I can think of." So they had either fucked up substantially or the thing was meant to save a world or house someone's existential being.

"Matilda had it, and it worked like a big projector when Nariko and I were last here." Realizing that neither of them was likely to know what a projector was, she added, "Meaning it showed other people exactly what we were doing, presumably right as it was being done. Does that make sense?" Considering the sizable culture gaps involved it was a genuine question.

[atouchofka]

Alain nodded, catching the glass as Bert tossed it to him, and held it up to the light. Squinting at it, he said "It sounds like nothing I've ever seen, but aye, it makes sense. And it would explain why what I heard sounded so... pained." He frowned, lowering the glass and holding it back out to Bert. "It all but deafened me for half an hour or more. I can't even imagine what it would have been like to be closer. Are you alright?"

[apassingafternoon]

"I'm fine. It sort of tried to kill me, but," Here, her shoulders lifted in an easy, largely unbothered shrug. "Obviously it didn't succeed and that's what really matters." Of course it bore mentioning that there wasn't very much that could make her feel such unbelievable pain. Kaine had gone through limbs being ripped off and snapped back in place and hardly stopped to blink at it, but this thing had forced genuine tears out of her.

"Are you okay aside from hearing it break? Bert worried that the book was eating you alive while you were sleeping." And what she had given him was strong enough to keep him unconscious even if that had been its goal. "Roland, too, now that I rethink his usual quiet during that whole conversation."

[atouchofka]

"I'm fine. Never thought I'd say this, but Bert, you're worrying too much." Alain laughed a little sheepishly, raking one hand back through his hair, and pushed his sleeves back up.

"I'm worrying just right," Bert retorted, hands on his hips and legs akimbo. "Cry pardon, next time you half-collapse with a magical book following you around for no reason, I'll just wander off whistling." He pouted, but under the usual overblown theatrics, did look genuinely relieved.

Alain sighed. "That's not what I meant, and you kennit fine," he said, in a rather long-suffering kind of tone, then looked back to Kaine. "I've still got a splitting headache, but nothing that won't heal. And I did wake up with the book in my bed, but if it's doing anything awry, I can't feel it."

[apassingafternoon]

"Well, that's creepy. Also vaguely reassuring, I guess, but still creepy." Because if it was up to something Alain should have been able to feel whatever it might have been, right? But Kaine and Nariko had very explicitly put the thing in the basement in the morning. "I guess if you're going to be stalked by a magical book then at least it's a relatively polite one." And that would have to be put on the admittedly short list of saving graces.

"I'm going in, do you want something for your headache? That won't make you sleep." Kaine was already untying the strings that bound their purchases to the yak, who had been very docile and accepting. As if to thank it for such benign service, Kaine gave its head a little pet before gathering everything up in her arms to take inside.

[atouchofka]

"If you wouldn't mind." Alain gave her a rather wan smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "You can fill me in on what I slept through. I'm sorry about that, by the way. I hope I didn't get in anyone's way."

"When I tried to sleep on you, you punched me in the face," Bert replied cheerily, "and then I couldn't punch you back because you were asleep. I really wanted to. Can I punch you now instead?"

Alain gave him a flat, long-suffering look that suggested it wasn't the first time Bert had said something like that, and moved to Kaine's side. "Let me help you with those," he offered, nodding to the packages she was carrying.

[apassingafternoon]

The long-suffering look paired with Kaine's own expression of general confusion and moderate exasperation - why would Bert try to sleep on anyone? Was Alain especially comfortable? - must have been utterly comical. She brushed it off with a role of her eyes, chocking it up to the fact that they were understandably comfortable with one another. When Alain came to help her she nodded, but didn't hand him anything particularly heavy, either.

"Aside from the glass breaking, it was sort of a normal day." Well, as far as she was concerned that was the case. Kaine had a way of relating events very frankly, though she referred to the entire affair with Tyler as 'Bert took his anger out on someone else finally so we could be friends again' and Nariko walking away as 'Bert also made Nariko cry but instead of snapping his neck over it she got up and left which was really very impressive, all things considered'.

Through the course of explaining Kaine neatly arranged their supplies in the corner of the day room where it would all be out of the way. As she'd thought, Nariko had gotten a hold of her problematic book one way or another and was at the dining room table with it.

"Basically," Kaine ended, "There were a lot of feelings." So it wasn't as if Alain had really missed anything truly orb-shattering. Hah.

[atouchofka]

"With Bert and Roland present, I can't say I'm surprised." Alain smiled dryly, looking over at Roland, who had headed wordlessly into the kitchen to make tea once he was sure Nariko was all right. "I'm glad you aren't still angry at Bert. He lets his tongue and his temper run away with him, that's all." Then, as a nasty thought occurred to him, "The person he got angry with. Were they alright?"

It wouldn't be the first time that Bert had messed up their standing in a new place by getting into a fight, after all. And it probably hadn't been that person's fault. If they had left with a broken nose or something worse, someone ought to seek them out and make amends before anything escalated into real trouble.

[gunslingerqueen]

"The person in question was invading Kaine's space and wasn't taking 'no' for an answer," Nariko answered, because she didn't need to look up to feel the guilty look on the younger woman's face. "It's a miracle Tyler wasn't physically harmed for that alone. I'm not sure that anyone here thinks his punishment was unacceptable, besides, Roland was right there when it happened." So even if things did need smoothing over he'd have done it on his own.

"All of that," Kaine added, more relieved that she didn't have to put the embarrassing ordeal into words. Since Roland was already making tea and Kaine only needed to put a few things in her fridge she was done quickly, and peaked over Nariko's shoulder briefly. What she saw wasn't words or any kind of spell, but a hand drawn picture, one that made her smile and help Roland gather cups, even though he wasn't likely to need her guidance with something that unimportant. At least she knew why that thing was such a gentle topic.

Nariko shut it a bit suddenly though, turning away from the image of her father to look at the cover. It always looked like a dour, frowning face to her, done in heavy silver, from a material she had never been able to identify, surrounded by dark ink.

"You want to know about it? Why it's followed Alain? Just ask."

[atouchofka]

"As the man in question, I certainly would," Alain said dryly, taking a seat opposite Nariko. "Besides which, I should cry your pardon for taking it. I was hoping to find a way to open the pathway for you and Roland to return, for our ka-tet to be reunited." Sighing, he rubbed his temple and looked around at the unfamiliar little house. "I suppose at least I succeeded in the reuniting. Even if we remain incomplete." Even if Jamie's loss was a great, nagging hole in the fabric of their company, one which sucked at his mind like a loose tooth.

He pushed the thought away, clearing his throat, and folded his hands in front of him on the table. "So, uh. Why is it following me? And why did it bring me here at all, for that matter?"

[gunslingerqueen]

"Because I was told to, of course!"

Nariko hadn't spoken a word, and neither had Kaine (she was, in fact, staring at the book with an accusing and unsettlingly sort of expression). Even if they had neither would be able to imitate the low, deadpan voice that had responded. Through what could only be magic the book rose up into the air, making itself face level with Alain, but it's dour-faced cover remained unmoving and its voice continued to appear out of thin air.

"Unless there has been some gross error in translation - unlikely for a being that knows all language - in the event of the current matara's death," Here, Nariko raised her hand easily, as she hadn't exactly discussed her own title very much. "I was to protect and minimally serve the individual of Roland Deschain's ka-tet that would be most effective at putting, at highest, mid-grade spells to use. The Touch was most present in Alain Johns, son of Christopher Johns. In the event of his death, Cuthbert Allgood, son of Robert Allgood was to follow. These instructions were given with the explicit intent to aid one Roland Deschain in his ka-given quest." With that little chunk of information expunged the tome invaded Alain's space and gave the distinct feeling that it was trying to peer at him very closely.

"My eyesight certainly isn't what it used to be," There was a tiny inflection there, as if the words were meant to be amusing. "But I do believe that is you, young man."

[atouchofka]

Alain flinched a little, rubbing his temple with the heel of his hand. Roland had reappeared from the kitchen, and Bert from outside, to stare at the book; the latter had his hand on his gun and his eyes narrowed. Alain shook his head, just a little, glancing at his friend, and Bert let his hand drop, although he looked no less suspicious.

"Then why are you still following me, and not her?" Alain sounded curious, not accusing. "She may have died, but she clearly isn't dead. She's sitting right there." Then, to Nariko, "Cry pardon. That was a little blunt." Back to the book again: "In any case, could you not have given us more help by shielding Gilead, or giving us an escape route others could take as well?"

Although his voice and expression were still fairly placid, there was a bitter edge to both. Just because he had already done his crying, that didn't mean he wasn't still grieving - and just because he wasn't punching people or cutting them up verbally, didn't mean he wasn't angry.

[gunslingerqueen]

More than just a 'little', but Nariko only waved a hand. No use in getting huffy, the man had a point.

"Frankly, you're more enjoyable company. The inside of your skull doesn't feel like a kaleidoscope of screaming colors. I can be called upon by either of them at any time. Because distance is not an issue I'm free to stay where I please." And that had apparently been with Alain. But in tackling the second question the book finally hesitated, but it also backed away a bit, settling onto the table in an upright position.

"You must understand that I am a vehicle and nothing more. Your gun cannot aim at the correct target and subsequently fire on its own, Sir Johns, I am similarly only allowed to do what I have been tasked with. Nothing more, nothing less. The previous set of orders may have tipped ka to your favor, though in a far bloodier manner, but I was not given permission to make these spells available to you."

While Nariko seemed perfectly content to sit back and let the thing speak, Kaine looked at Bert, but then quickly to Roland. Was it just her or was something off about that explanation? She just couldn't place what it was. "But I was instructed to save the both of you in the moment you spoke your desire, not just Kai and for that I am as grateful as my parameters allow."

[atouchofka]

Alain was quiet for a moment, processing this information. At last, glancing at Roland and Bert, he cleared his throat. "Instructed by whom?" Nariko? It seemed unlikely. He didn't know her hugely well, but she didn't seem likely to have made that her priority. It was possible, of course, but...

"I'm sorry, are we just taking everything the talking book says at face value now?" Bert broke in from the doorway, looking between the four of them incredulously. "Just... I want to be clear on this. The creepy book that knocked Alain out for a day and a half and is currently floating. That book. That's our guide now?"

"Bert. Your mouth's flapping." Roland's voice was low, and allowed very little room for argument. "We'll discuss it later."

[apassingafternoon]

"Of course not you're free to figure it out your damn self!" With a sudden and unnerving, wet noise the once floating book clattered to the table with a harder this than its weight should have allowed but there it lay, as lifeless as before it's voice was found. Nariko reopened it to the page that depicted her father and by doing so took herself out of the conversation without anymore fuss.

"Why." It wasn't a question, but rather the most exasperated version of speech Kaine could put together as she glared at Bert. "Just, why?" Why make bad life decisions? Why not have any situational awareness outside of himself and Roland and Alain? What the fuck was with the complete lack of understanding for anyone else's feelings or intentions or actions? Just, why.

"Since only three of us have been paying attention," Kaine went on, knowing better than to tempt the sudden, uncharacteristic silence of her best friend, "I guess I'll reiterate: You don't just pick up a thing and know how to use it. It would have been ideal to make sure that any specific individuals were saved in the event of utter failure, but while I'm no expert on magic I'm going to say that's not something you just accomplish on a Tuesday morning. Roland, you were there during the entire fight with Claude, do you really think she could pull that off without hacking up another organ, like when she got rid of that pink thing?" A brief pause. "The answer is 'no', by the way. But if it wasn't her, then there's a chance it was that crazy bitch we have to see to get back."

[toweredingly]

"Lay off him," Roland said softly, looking at Bert, whose ears had turned scarlet. "Cuthbert. I'd talk to you dan-dinh for a moment, if you would."

Bert nodded, his expression a little sour, and stepped aside to let Roland out of the front door, following after him. That left Alain, who put his head in his hands, taking a deep breath. "And here I was hoping he'd gotten that out of his system," he muttered, against the heels of his hands, and looked up at Kaine. "He's good at caution. Never was much good at trust. Try to understand, he's an ass, but he's an ass who means well, for you and Nariko as much as for us. There's just a whole lot of pieces to this he won't let himself see."

[apassingafternoon]

"I know that he does." And Kaine really did, despite her frustration. She would apologize later and mean it, but right now it felt difficult to remain where she was. And to think they hadn't even made it to dinner yet. Christ. "There's enough that'll kill us happily if we're not careful, that caution is better aimed at literally everyone else that isn't in this room and that's including the creepy book." But it didn't seem as though caution and logic always came hand in hand so maybe it shouldn't have surprised her so much.

"It's been a day, you're expecting too much." Nariko was still focused on the book in her lap, but it seemed she had turned the page, and half read whatever was in front of her. "Being in a completely foreign world, losing your home and most all of the people in it," Nariko paused, and though she tried her best to hide it she had to put some effort into getting the words out. "Watching the girl you're in love with constantly attempt to die for you when you probably kind of want to be the one to either save her or at least come out on top and be especially impressive? It's a lot. My point is, give him longer than just a day. I'm just not in the mood to be the lightning rod at the moment, so he can hear the answers from you or Roland if it really helps. I'm just here for the Spaghetti Tacos and then alcohol."

Kaine found it in her to laugh, though it sounded much more jaded than she wanted. "So that's why you stayed." And then, wholly mournful. "… And he's not in love with me."

"Yes, Kaine, he really is." Nariko stood to find out what happened with that tea that Roland had been preparing but before that, she looked at Alain. "I cry your pardon, really and truly. I made a promise and intended to keep it, but I should have told you. I should have ton a lot of things differently."

[atouchofka]

"We all should," Alain said, meeting Nariko's eyes. "But you saved all our lives, and did a damned sight more than most people would or could." Getting to his feet, he cleared his throat and pulled her rather awkwardly into a hug. It was brief and a little uncomfortable, but it felt necessary. Pulling away, his cheeks pink, he rested his hands on her shoulders for a moment. "Thankee. If for nothing else, then for what you do for Roland. And I cry your pardon for keeping so much resting on you."

Clearing his throat again, he rubbed the back of his neck and went to sit back down, looking back at Kaine with a rather dry little smile. "As for you... I've known Bert for what, fifteen years or more? I've never seen him look at a woman - or a man - the way he looks at you. And," he added, his smile fading, "I've never met someone who mattered so much to him that I can imagine him leaving us for them. Not until now."

[apassingafternoon]

The hug was unexpected and so for Kaine to witness Nariko, the one true queen of all unnecessary and excessive physical affection, become so surprised was like a gift from the universe. Of course Nariko relaxed into it much more easily - at least until it occurred to her that Alain might feel as if he had to do something like this, and then she was awkward toward the end, too - but just about everything he said was a little confusing. She didn't really do much of anything for Roland! And it was true she had tried to help save at least the ka-tet, whether she actually succeeded might have been up for debate.

But Nariko got a hug and even though it was a slightly complicated one, it made her smile and lifted whatever internal darkness Bert had put there. It was really that simple.

Kaine fought to keep from laughing at the whole thing, at least until Alain decided to round on her. "Well, no one is leaving anyone, so that last part isn't relevant." But it also wasn't entirely true, was it? Because Kaine might be staying and that was as good as leaving. "So we have a book with at least two people controlling it at the same time. It could be worse." It wasn't that Alain's words hadn't meant anything to her but Kaine figured the embarrassed flush on her cheeks was enough of a response. Better to get back on topic and wait for the other two to come back.

[atouchofka]

"Seems to me that controlling may be overstating the situation. At least in my case." Alain seemed perfectly happy to let the subject of Bert drop. In fact, he was rather relieved to - he didn't really want to dwell on the fear that Kaine, with the best will in the world, might be another Susan. Their tet had suffered enough blows lately, without worrying about what might be.

Raking his hands back through his hair, he gave both women a slightly uncertain smile. "Anyroad, you're right. It could be worse. For one thing, we could all be dead. I'll stay grateful for that part for a while yet."

I am still at work but have feelings about your pm I will get to it asap!

[apassingafternoon]

"It's not a bad way to look at it," Kaine answered, and thoroughly meant every ounce of those words. Maybe it wouldn't be an easy life, but it was a whole lot better than not having anything at all.

"It may be overstating," Nariko added as she set the finished tea out, including two cups for Roland and Bert, whenever they returned. "But at the very least please trust me when I say that it isn't going to hurt you. I can live without the other two having much faith in me, but I'd rather you feel somewhat consoled."

"What's taking them so long?" That comment didn't go with the rest of the conversation but it was sort of worrying her now. "I wasn't really that upset," So why was Roland his sweet time?

may be asleep when you do. I am unreasonably tired rn. :/

[atouchofka]

Alain shrugged one shoulder, taking a cup from her with a smile and a little nod of thanks. "My guess? They're not just talking about you. Either of you." His smile faded, and he wrapped his hands around the cup, looking down at the tabletop. "They haven't talked dan-dinh since we arrived. Am I right? They have..."

He trailed off, looking at the door and sighing. "They have a lot to talk about. They'll be back before too long. If either of them has a black eye, I'd suggest not mentioning it."

no problem! I just did not want you to think I was ignoring it.

[apassingafternoon]

Kaine, who had no idea what most of that meant but it sounded important, so she let it go with a pout that could rival a child who had lost their favorite toy. "Well, since Nariko's stopped throwing a fit," To no one's surprise, Kaine earned a slight, non-threatening glare. "I'm starting on dinner. If you need anything just call, I'll be listening."

She just couldn't leave it to Nariko, who had thankfully avoided poisoning Roland for not just one, but three whole days. You couldn't push miracles like that.

"Any questions leftover?" Nariko asked, intent on putting more honey in her tea than anything else.

[atouchofka]

Alain was quiet for several moments, mulling it over and staring into his tea. "Enough to fill the rest of our lives," he said at last, rather wryly, and shook his head. "But only one that matters. Are you alright?" After all of that. She had looked so thoroughly lost back there, and then so determinedly focused, that he couldn't help but be concerned. It was in his nature.

[gunslingerqueen]

"That's a good question." And a surprising one, though she was beginning to take these sorts of things in stride. First Roland, and now Alain. It used to be that the only one who concerned themselves with her emotional state was Kaine. Not that there was any complaining on Nariko's end. And, just like with Kaine, it occurred to her to lie or work around the question without really answering it but that seemed useless. Not only could Alain likely spot a lie (whether he would call her on it would be something else) but he was so straightforward about it that anything but the truth was just ridiculous.

"Not really. I'm terrified, a failure, and I can't do anything for Roland, for you, or even Bert. That's a level of grief and loss that no one can really help but I still want to do something. And I'm not doing a good job of keeping away from certain feelings. But, then, being left alone for a few days makes that pretty difficult."

That was a nice way to sum up 'I'd like to not be in love with my own husband but now I'm even more in love with that idiot', right? Probably. "But, like you said, we're all alive." And that counted more than anything else.