Life rarely cooperates with our desires.

[homeless_pard]

Who: Khemrys, assorted
When: Six months into dating Jason.
What: Her first trip home since her arrival.

She recalled the last thing her friends had said, Beryl had told her to enjoy the date, Nathaniel had whistled teasingly and said she looked good, and that was what she had to remember them by as ran pelted down from above in yet another round of fall storms.

The date had been fun, honestly, to a point. Jason had approved of her outfit, she could tell by the curve of his smile and the fact he kept sneaking glances at her as he drove. And well he should, in Beryl's words, she'd adopted some corsetry into her date dresses, and lighter skirts, but still soft and touchable, and her boots laced well and high up the legs visible through various slits in peeks and moments.

A dancing dress, mayhap, for the newer dances they still were teaching at the Circus. There was a club in the next city over Jason wanted to 'research' but no reason not to mix dating with business so they'd set out early to see a museum and the take a meal...

...that had been the plan anyway.

"You should come in out of the rain, lady," a voice murmured behind her.

She shifted slightly, water creasing off the oiled hood of the cape she wore, "in a moment," she sighed. "Do not worry for me."

The scholar she'd been traveling with sighed, "worry is warranted when you look like a tragic illustration in the doorway, lady."

"I miss my home and friends," she sighed. "Allow me that."

"Still?"

"And should such as matter be forgotten in a mere two years?" she countered, a small thread of anger warming her against the damp chill.

"No, never," he sighed, "but you've a life to live of your own as well...here." With...new friends.

Ah yes, the lonely scholar. She'd no doubt laugh later about such, but she'd landed in an old keep where a single man rattled around, taking rubbings and analyzing pre-chaos war history but...he'd jumped at the chance to potentially locate functional gates when she couldn't get the one she arrived through to open again.

And my she had been quite angry when the stone arch in the garden of the ruins had refused to let her return to the museum she'd been taken from. Three months of trying and research before she'd determined it would be necessary to travel to the one she KNEW led to the park on Jason's world.

The only problem being she hadn't exactly been able to draw a map upon her first journey there. And while her companion was actually delighted by her ability toy shapeshift and had many theories about her, essentially, breaking her own bloodline restrictions with her nascent healing abilities, well, it was not best for others in Arvon to know of her ability.

It slowed things, monthly, when they dared not travel in settled lands. Of a certainty her healing ability set them in good stead for travel goods, clothing and food ere easy to trade for health, but it also added complications of people wishing her to stay.

For all Jason's world confused her many days even yet, she had forgotten the burden of expectation every person seemed to have in her own world.

It was exhausting.

Much like the Scholar Nenniv's hopeful attentions.

It made it much easier to stand in the rain outside the small cottage that had been granted them for an evening after she'd healed a harvest injury. Easier to stand and remember those she wished to return to; her own high lord, her friends, her companion in stillwork, and Jason...

Thankfully the rain passed by morning and they were traveling again, they'd been walking the edges of the wastes, hoping to chance upon the route she recalled from her flight, and thankfully they had traced it, they were near two years from her arrival now but the land was finally growing hilly and rocky again. She last remembered scrambling up these stones on four exhausted, feet, and while her two now were no less sore from travel, they at least were shod in abused boots and not bleeding. "There's a path I believe ne-" the call died in her throat as she turned back to spy a dark horse wandering up to the stones below, the rider upon it looking up at her and waving the scholar over to speak.

No.

No.

She didn't need to hear Nenniv's scream to run in order to start moving. However the word had spread didn't matter now, the Hunter had come to check the rumors, and again escape would be found in running...

...she tore up the path, boots skidding and sliding, a sole splitting entire on a sharper stone, but it mattered not if she could reach the cave.

He tried to stop her, how not? The dart gun she'd feared in the Hunt was raised behind her, she could hear darts ping and ricochet around her, stone chips flying from the metal shafts...thankfully the one that finally caught her, tip grounded in her shoulderblade, spun her into the crevasse where her way home lay.

Thank all the Powers honestly, she gasped, fingers, slamming against unyielding stone for a brief moment before she was falling through and down upon the piled stones of a world that smelled far different from the old, misty winds of Arvon.

She was...just going to rest a bit honestly. Darts were...far from a joke yes. Idly as she closed her eyes she wondered how long it had been in this world rather than her own...

Comments

Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"Again?!"

He froze at the voice, barely shifting his head in his hood to confirm, yes, "Anita," he noted coolly. "You are not in need of feeding." He'd checked, he'd been putting in more turns not less to try to tamp whatever being with Belle had done to the woman's arduer, but everyone needed time to recover.

Time to themselves.

"You're leaving again," Anita elaborated, crossing her arms under those lovely breasts to emphasize, well, to distract and tempt. He knew the tricks. "It's been four months, things are finally getting back to normal, why can't you just let it go?"

"Let it go?" he repeated, turning away from the gate to look at her coolly. "Let her go you mean?"

"She's gone," Anita waved in annoyance. "She came, she did her thing, and now she's gone. Everyone else has accepted that except you! With that shop and wherever Thomas drives you..."

"The shop," he noted quietly, "makes me happy."

"It's a waste of your time and Jean Claude's resources!"

Really? "Does my happiness not matter?"

She gave up on the stance, stepping forward to jab a finger in his chest, "it's not happiness! It's just lingering addiction to that woman and it's sad!"

"Sad," he repeated darkly. "You find my dedication sad."

"You know I don't mean it like that Requiem..."

"Don't you? Four months is nothing, Anita. Barely a blink in this world, I have held hope far longer and far more painfully, and have every intention to continue."

"You have duties here! To Jean Claude, to me..."

"Pardon?" he blinked. "I do not serve you, Anita. I aid you to come to terms with a power you didn't ask for, but that does not put me on your leash." Far from, he was more of the canary for the coalmine in this case.

"Don't you care?!"

"I long ago learned the folly of caring for one who does not care in kind. You don't love, Anita, and that is a sad thing. You hold something of yourself back from everyone you touch, yet demand adoration. I do not give what I do not receive." It was only sensible.

"...I...do love you Requiem..."

"Someone who loved me would not ask me to give up happiness and my own manner of hope and respect. Love does not feel petty and threatened by a friend. You do not offer me even caring, but cruelty, Anita, and I will not take it. I am no longer on your list of allowance." He swept her an elegant boy, ignoring the gaping, then turned back to the gate. Tonight was the night he held vigil at the rocks...

...perhaps the night air would cool his head.

Initially the scent of blood just made him think Jason had been by again, the boy had a distressing tendency to beat on rocks these days but the tumbled figure made his heart speed up. Khemrys.

Khemrys was back, some strange, metal flange in her shoulder but HERE and breathing! He didn't slow in the least, dialing Jason of all people, "CALL LILLIAN I DON'T HAVE HER NUMBER. SHOP. SOONEST."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason was sitting at his dressing spot at Guilty Pleasures. He didn't want to be on tonight, but it was a few hours when his mind could be distracted and put good money in his pocket. A few hours to forget before he was back in Khemrys's apartment, sitting alone in the dark living room until he could finally find sleep.

His phone rang and he frowned at the number. He knew where Requiem probably was tonight and he really didn't want to hear it, but if he didn't answer now Requiem would probably be looking for him at the apartment before dawn. And if he knew Requiem would be coming he wouldn't be able to manage any sleep at all. He picked up with phone with a sigh. "Yeah."

He blinked as Requiem's frantic words registered, suddenly more focused on the call. "What? Requiem, what's going on?"

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"Thomas, DRIVE," he snarled on his end. Yes, Thomas was a nice donor, a college kid legit using the Circus to cut his food bills for cheap, and happy to drive Requiem out and sit in his car doing homework but sometimes he could be a bit too laid back...

"I am not happy with her world." No. There was a gasp on his end then, "no, that is NOT common knowledge, Thomas. You will keep it under wraps." Or else.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Her world?

Jason felt everything around him still. His voice was harsh and a little breathless as he choked out, "Requiem. Did you find her?"

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"She came back on her own somehow, same spot," he growled. "Call. LILLIAN." NOW. He wasn't so certain in his surgical skills these days and he had the suspicion the dart was barbed somehow.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason said nothing more. He quickly ended the call and dialed Lillian's number, already on his feet and shoving things frantically into his bag.

"Lillian?! We need you at the shop fast. Requiem has Khem and is on his way."

Lillian didn't need him to repeat himself, which was good because he quickly ended the call and shoved the phone into his bag and grabbed his keys. The other dancers were staring at him in shock as he shoved his feet in his shoes and darted for the door. "Tell them I'm calling off," he yelled over his shoulder, racing for the exit.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

The next call, naturally, was to Jean Claude. How not? "I am afraid I may have complicated your evening," he sighed. It was a calmer call at least? Given he had Jason doing the frantic bit!

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

There was a pause before Jean Claude responded. "Yes, Requiem, I have already heard from Anita. At length. But you know I would not force you..."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"I will relay the full conversation at a point of your choosing," he noted blandly, because they both knew Anita wouldn't. "Khemrys has returned, I am taking her home, she will need medical care."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

There was a sudden silence on the phone. Then, "Who has been told?"

He knew Jason was working tonight and he could be down the hall to the dressing room in an instant if need be. And the rats, they would certainly come if Khemrys has returned...likely the entire Rodere if they had their way.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"Jason, and you," he noted simply. "I did not have Lillian's number, hence my first call to Jason. Thomas is also present as he is my driver this evening." So it was contained info for now?

Depending on what Jason told Lillian anyway.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jean Claude nodded. "I will call Rafael; if Jason has already contacted Lillian as I would assume he has, I would not distract her."

There was a knock on the door and he could see the stage manager giving him a worried look. He held up a hand. "Keep me updated, Requiem? I would not crowd the apartment when she requires doctoring, but I would very much like to see Lady Khemrys when I may."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"I will be staying at the apartment for the foreseeable future, security second will be checking in with me as needed," he assured with a sigh. "I will keep you updated." Because of course he would.

At least the apartment got him in a bed instead of a coffin? Yup. People worried about his odd notions these days. "My apologies for Jason."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jean Claude snorted a dry laugh. "None needed; he has not been at his best lately. I was considering asking him to take a break for a time."

He glanced again at the flailing stage manager. "I trust you, of course, mon ami. I will await your call."

He hung up the phone and waved the stage manager in. He would soothe the poor woman and then make a call to Rafael.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"That comment will prick his pride," he snorted in amusement. "I will be sure to repeat it at need." To get the boy back to himself of course.

But yes, Thomas was speeding enough to be nervous so it wasn't long before he had them both at the shop. "Anything else I should do Mr. Requiem sir?"

Requiem paused unloading the woman and considered, "come in and get a shopping list from Beryl. I will give you my card, the fridge here is currently lackluster."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason must have been speeding himself, as his car was already parked haphazardly on the street and he could already be seen in the doorway of the shop. He started to rush out when he saw Requiem, but then the scent of blood hit him.

"Oh my god, is she ok?" he asked frantically. "Lillian is on her way, but she's not here yet."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"She's alright," he sighed, Khemrys cradled in his arms and a college kid following him like a lost puppy as he swept into the shop. "She was shot...and hit her head on the stones when she came back I think, but otherwise just tired as far as I can tell."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason had no mind for anyone but Khemrys, and the college kid was nearly bowled over as Jason rushed to follow Requiem.

"Shot?! How the hell was she shot?" The air practically sizzled around him with nervous energy that he wasn't even attempting to dampen. Deep down he didn't expect Requiem to know, but he wasn't exactly thinking clearly.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"Obviously her world has projectile weapons," he snorted, nodding to Beryl as he headed up the inside stair. "Get a cloth no the table Jason." If he had the nervous energy to burn the he could be useful!

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

Jason blinked and ran to the linen closet. Khem doesn't like a mess on her blankets.... He grabbed what looked like the cloth they'd spread on the floor for a picnic and raced back, throwing it on the table.

He was trying to stay back while people who knew what they were doing were trying to help her, but all he wanted to do was to reach out and touch her, make sure she was really there.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"You can get her boots and such, Jason," he instructed as he got her settled on the table, they'd need the surface for medical work. "And scissors, the area by the dart needs to be cut away."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

There was a confused look as he glanced around, trying to remember where she might have scissors. He ran to her room and found a pair with her sewing things and ran back, handing them off to Requiem before moving to her feet, pulling at her boots. He frowned at the broken sole, but he wasn't focused on her feet at the moment and he threw them to the side.

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

"Frantic won't help, Jason," he noted gently. "She came home. Judging by those boots she was gone longer than it was here." Which had some weird implications in his head to puzzle through later honestly, but not now.

Not with Jason wired for sound.

"I believe she has a pack under her cloak here..." he noted, peeling up the first layer and snipping the shoulder away. "It may have clues?"

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[jasonpschuyler]

He was trying to stay calm, but she was right here in front of him. And hurt. And he just wanted to hold her...

He pushed everything to the back of his mind, reaching for the pack as Requiem cut things away. He gave her an almost apologetic look and opened it, digging through her things. He recognized the dress immediately -as if he could forget the last moment he'd seen her- and paused for a moment as he lightly fingered the fabric. Small packets of...seeds? It was almost like a little care package for her time in St. Louis. She had been trying to get back.

There was a small, leatherbound journal. "There's a book?" He opened it and scanned the first page. "She was keeping a journal. I don't know if she was writing in English or if her amulet is translating..." he broke off, flipping a few pages, then more...then more. "Jesus Christ," he whispered, his voice breaking slightly. "Requiem..." He held up the journal in shaking hands, flipping pages upon pages between his fingers. "Requiem, it keeps going..."

Re: Some ties are honored, some are severed.

[homeless_pard]

Requiem was aware, it was why he'd given Jason tasks honestly. Something to keep him occupied was best, especially as he was working on the overdress now. "Hmmm? Are they daily entries or more frequent?" It could be easy to fill a book if she sat to write several times a day perhaps?

Speaking of though, he did pause to check if the chain was around her neck? "Ah yes, pendant still worn." Of course, but still.