maskormenacelogs | [ Closed ] And, afterward

WHO: Six and Kel
WHERE: Lucy's farm in De Chima
WHEN: 5/28
WHAT: Shit went down as someone was sleeping in. After a bad day house-sitting, Six is waiting for people to come home, hopefully alive.
WARNINGS: Quaint swearing and feelings

[ By and large, the farm looks serene.

The houses were put to pasture for the afternoon, though someone failed to latch the barn door properly. Water troughs are full, feed bins have been cleaned and latched, and the corner field, just now showing squat, bright green shoots, has been tended. A little of the extra busywork has been seen to as well: a fence patched, a latch mended, a windowsill painted. Things to take up the time.

By the time evening approaches, stretching long shadows between the trees, every small thing that could be done has been done. The horses are back in the barn. A chocobo is sleeping curled up on the roof, having refused his stall or any suggestion to go more than a few yards from his master. The dogs, and the cats, are presumably in the house.

There's one light on, in the kitchen. ]

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[The sounds of people arriving were obvious long before they reached the house. The slop clop of heavy hooves, the soft murmur of voices, the jingle of harness, and the opening of another door in the house.

Lucy's light footsteps head to her bedroom and the door is shut behind her. The sounds of tired horse head the the barn. It's nearly an hour before Kel's solid tread comes up to the kitchen and she knocks on the door as she enters]

Hello, it's only me.

[ He'd resisted running out to greet them. That would have been--

He couldn't say, not even to himself. But he waits, busying himself the only way he knows how: peeling the potatoes he bought at the De Chima farmer's market only yesterday, when things had seemed much simpler and very boring. He's sitting on a stool at the kitchen island, a pile of bare potatoes to his left and a pile of potato skins to his right.

He stares a moment before speaking. ] And...the others?

[Kel sits with a sigh. She's tired, so tired, she can't recall when last she slept]

Her Majesty is unharmed, but tired. Gregor is-

[She rubs at her face, feeling the helpless fury rise again]

Gregor is still missing, but they have a lead. Hawke went with the rescue group, I stayed to guard...

De Chima Seven is a mess. Hawke blew in the front of it looking for Lucy.

[The information comes out disjointedly as Kel foggily tries to think through the important things]

[ Six listens, then scowls deeply.

Then, he gets to his feet. ] Wait, one moment. Before you continue.

[ He pulls another chair up, motioning for her to sit. Then, he moves quickly about the kitchen, gathering a few things: a kettle, a cup, a small blue and silver tin. While he does so, he asks: ]

Does Her Majesty require anything?

Sleep for now, I think. She did not spend a restful night.

[Kel rubs at her face again, not adding that she didn't either]

I'm sorry I didn't let you know sooner, I received word of it and it seemed best to move fast.

[ He shakes his head. ]

It's nothing. You did what you thought was best.

[ A kettle of water is on the stove in no time. The cup and the tin he leaves on the counter and returns to her, a warm, slightly damp towel in his hands. ]

Here. Wipe your face. You didn't ride all the way back, did you?

[Kel accepts the towel with a grateful nod]

No, I walked some of the way. It was the way back from the lake, I had to run ahead of both of them to reach De Chima Seven before...well, more than what happened happened.

[The towel is warm and soothing and feels like a blessing]

[ Then he shouldn't be keeping her up too long.

The kettle whistles quietly and he goes to retrieve it, returning with a mug of tea that he places in front of her hands. ]

Of what importance was Gregor? I don't think I've heard that name before.

He's an emperor. He has several of his people living there, and apparently they made an enemy.

[She looks at the tea and then back at him]

Thank you.

...

[ If there is a Queen, why not an Emperor? Six rubs his hand over his eyes. ]

I can see why that would cause a stir.

[ He takes his seat again, his expression going from pensive to grave. ]

But you involved yourselves, you and Hawke, and Her Majesty. Will this enemy be coming here?

I would hardly say we involved ourselves intentionally, Her Majesty was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Hawke seemed to have been sent after them on bad information intentionally.

[She takes a sip of the tea and sighs her relief]

I don't know. Hopefully this will be the last of it, but-

[Kel rubs her temples]

I have to report this to Sabriel I think.

[ He takes a slow breath. ] At the very least, yes. This strikes me as something that should involve a considerable number of authorities of various types.

[ He's starting to get the feeling that the quietness of today, as tense as it had been, will be the last quiet he'll see for some time. ]

What should I be expecting?

...Possibly a number of house guests. Their house is unlivable for now, and Hawke and My Lady offered to put them up. Once the injured have been discharged from the hospital.

[ He tenses at the word hospital, but keeps the who and how badly from leaving his mouth. ]

How many guests?

[Kel blinks at the table, trying to count in her head, but the names keep sliding away. Giving up, she uses her fingers]

...Five, perhaps? Hawke and I will be giving up our rooms, no fear.

[ So...eight people, all told. That's going to take some doing.

But it's not impossible, and if it's what Her Majesty has decided, then they'll manage in one way or another. ]

Very well. I can begin preparing.

[ He looks at her very pointedly. ]

You should rest.

I-

[Rest sounds good, so good, but things to be done]

-They'll be here...perhaps tomorrow, I ought to-

[She combs through her foggy memory for what she ought to do. Not for the first time since arriving here does she feel like a useless noblewoman]

You ought to rest.

[ He says again, firmly. ] Everything that needs to be done about the house I can do. I'm not the one that endangered my life or left on an emergency rescue.

[ And there's a bitter cut somewhere in his tone, buried beneath his concern, but he ignores it. ]

I'm not above carrying you.

[Kel almost protests once more, but sees his stubborn look and sighs]

Yes, alright.

...Thank you. Again.

[Hoisting herself out of her chair and feeling three decades older than she is, Kel rests a hand on Six's shoulder before heading to bed]

[ He doesn’t say “you’re welcome”, though for once, it actually is on the tip of his tongue. He watches her go to make certain that she goes, then gets to his feet and pulls an apron off its peg on the wall.

There’s work to be done. ]

[ Closed ] And, afterward

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