.~Edelsteine~. Desiderio's Journal by Meepfur

[Meepfur]

That was one of the last things she thought she might hear from Orin, and she went still for a moment in surprise as it registered. Raising her head a little, she took his stained hand in hers and pressed it to her cheek. There wasn't really much to be said, but there was understanding, at least.

[Perri Indiya]

"My hands are red because her blood was on them when I came here." he said quietly, rubbing his thumb across her cheek. "Now its a stain that will never come off. If it weren't for Ea I would have killed myself a while ago."

[Meepfur]

Alex closed her eyes to the gentle sensation, touching the cross-scar on her stomach. "They tried to stop me, but it didn't work." The stranger hadn't left a mark, though, he hadn't been able. Distantly, she wondered who the 'her' was, but that wasn't something she could ask. "I'm glad Ea's around, then."

[Perri Indiya]

Orin blinked, smiling a little, but the haunted look stayed in his eyes. "Yes. He's a godsend, pun intended."

[Meepfur]

"That was terrible," she observed, lips quirking in a smile. "But true."

"I guess I've gone and gotten in you're way, haven't?"

[Perri Indiya]

Orin cocked his head, thinking. "A bit, but..." He smiled, shaking his head.

"We'll just call you a rare night blooming flower and right this off as tending. Okay?"

[Meepfur]

"Okay," Alex said softly, dipping her head in sudden shyness at the comparison. "You're a very good gardener, Orin." She wasn't quite as good with the nice words, but she tried. "Thank you."

[Perri Indiya]

He sighed quietly. "Thanks. I'm just glad to have a friend."

Glancing up at the branches above them, he squeezed her hand before turning to the tray of red orchids. "I got these for you - the color reminded me of your outfit. They're called Cattleyas."

He stood slowly, balancing the tray on one arm while he offered her a hand up. "The Hunt will want me back soon. Want to help me finish up?"

Orchids

[Meepfur]

"Me too," she agreed, nodding slightly.

"You..really?" Alex blushed, glancing at the flowers with new curiosity. They were pretty. "Cattleyas... Thank you."

She took the offered hand up, smiling. "Sure. I wouldn't want to make you late."

[Perri Indiya]

He chuckled, handing her an orchid and showing her how to twine its roots in the branches of the trees. The parasitic flowers would tap into the larger plant and take their nutrients from it as opposed to the soil. You couldn't put too many on one tree or it would die, so spacing and care of the host was key.

Ea thought they were creepy.

[Meepfur]

Far from being creeped out, Alex was fascinated. Diligently following the werewolf's example, she handled the flower with a quiet curiosity. She was very careful with it, unused to these sorts of things and terribly afraid she might hurt it somehow.

That would be awful, especially with Orin there to see.

[Perri Indiya]

"There." he said, stepping back with the empty tray to admire their handywork. "Now just spray their roots with that water bottle over there once a day, and we'll do the next step in their care once they've attached themselves to the trees."

He smiled at her quickly before gathering up the emtpy sacks and throwing them over his shoulder. "I have to go, but it was good to see you."

[Meepfur]

"Okay, I'll remember." And she would, too. No way she was going to forget to take care of those.

"It was good to see you, too. I'm glad you came." Alex nodded, smiling back. "I'll come see you guys soon, okay?"

[Perri Indiya]

"Please do. And Alex?" Orin said, turning back into the room when he had the door open. "Take care of yourself. I don't want you disappearing any earlier than necesarry."

That pronouncement made he fled the room, walking back to the temple swiftly and trying to think of things other than his new protege.

[Meepfur]

"I'm starting to think I don't want me to, either," Alex murmurred after Orin had gone. Leaving the window forgotten and open, she went to find Dinah and her a hug.

She scooped her up from her snapdragon-jungle and sat, cuddling the kitten and scratching carefully behind her ears. Alex stayed there for mose of the rest of the night, even after Dinah got tired of being coddled and wandered off to more interesting pursuits, while Rio remained quiet.