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 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:46 pm
Kouyo sits slumped in a chair, still dressed in his sleeping robes, hunched over his jigsaw puzzle. The priest has one elbow on the table and his face resting in his hand, fingers tangled in his red hair. He had tried asking a simple question of Name, maybe just to prove to himself that he still could, and had received no dreams of particular importance in reply. Other things on his mind had troubled his sleep instead, and so the High Priest had given up on rest rather early in the morning.
... But at least he had made considerable progress on his puzzle.
Though the priest had recently been avoiding speaking to Setsushi as much as possible, he keeps half an ear open today for whenever the Knight wakes up.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:04 pm
Setsushi, for his part, hasn't been asleep either -- an uncomfortable temperature, too much caffeine before bed, or troubling dreams have kept him from dropping into a proper restful state since before the light, though he's been trying with limited success. Now that light is beginning to fill the house, though, he gives up entirely, and sits up with a little groan.
And he's supposed to work the morning today...
Like a gigantic, unoiled automaton, he slowly creaks up off the floor and stumbles towards the chest of drawers. Glancing at Kouyo over the top of the screen, he offers a tired morning greeting, carefully directed as to not disturb the still-sleeping Tenkyuu. Did Kouyo have a difficult night, too? sweatdrop
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:27 pm
Either the High Priest did not hear the sounds of Setsushi getting up, or they just did not register in his tired mind. Kouyo jumps slightly at the Knight's greeting and replies with a quiet, polite, and similarly weary-sounding one of his own. Then his momentarily alert posture fades and he slouches again, and he looks back down at the puzzle - the random pattern of nothing but pretzels intended to make the jigsaw difficult is starting to give him a headache, but he is not allowed to finish his work just yet.
Kouyo then tells Setsushi that yes, he hardly slept, the tone of his projections indicating that he would prefer not to have to elaborate. He gently inquires if Setsushi is feeling alright?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:35 pm
Setsushi is not great, but he's all right, he tells Kouyo, projecting simultaneous senses of cranky morning soreness and cheerful optimism that it will clear up as he takes out his café uniform, then starts slowly making his way towards the bathroom.
Setsushi seems to be feeling some concern for Kouyo, but noticing his relative reticence, does not push to inquire about how he is feeling -- rather, he asks what Kouyo would like for breakfast?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:46 pm
Anything but pretzels, Kouyo responds almost immediately. After he has had a few moments to process the question, though, he adds that just a bit of toast with jam would be fine, and that Setsushi need not make him breakfast if he is too tired.
Kouyo does need to talk to Setsushi, though - he has a bit of time before he has to leave for work, correct? The High Priest has a few things he needs to ask.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:04 pm
Setsushi has to feed himself and Tenkyuu anyway, so Kouyo should not feel bad about making a request -- though if toast is really what he would like, Setsushi will hop on that after cleaning up.
It's a bit of time -- Setsushi closes the bathroom door and starts the shower -- before a response to Kouyo's request to speak arrives: Whatever Kouyo needs, Setsushi will try to help. Although the tone is mild and kind, the long pause in answering would seem to suggest a little reluctance, perhaps nervousness...
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:33 pm
Kouyo acknowledges Setsushi's response when it comes but says nothing else, leaving the Knight to his privacy while he bathes. In the mean time, the priest assembles a few more pieces of puzzle - the whole thing is coming together, and seems to be nearly done - and then counts the remaining pieces.
Then, as quietly as possible, he stands and moves to the nearest wall to begin measuring the house. He had not performed this routine while Setsushi was home since the Knight had cornered him while doing so, but the priest was beginning to feel anxious again in anticipation of sitting down and talking to him. Kouyo kept glancing nervously at the bathroom door while he walked, and when he was finished, settled on rummaging through the electric icebox to see what flavors of jam were there.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:57 pm
Setsushi is only in the shower a few minutes; the sound of the water soon stops, replaced with the noise of Setsushi's new favorite Gaian toy, the hair-dryer.
... As he works on the bits of his hair that got wet, he asks Kouyo what the subject of his concerns might be? If he doesn't mind telling Setsushi through the door...
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:12 pm
After noting with disappointment that the orange marmalade seems to be gone, Kouyo decides on strawberry jam instead, and brings the jar back with him to the table. He does not quite feel like assembling more puzzle pieces, and so he just counts them over and over again until he hears from Setsushi.
Trying to keep his fear and worry hidden, the High Priest tells the Knight that his questions primarily have to do with Kumoru, but he has one or two other little things to ask about as well. The latter can wait, he supposes.... Especially since Kouyo is so tired he is not completely sure he can recall what all had been on his mind before he attempted to sleep.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:18 pm
It's perhaps a good thing Kouyo can't see Setsushi's expression at that name -- Kouyo can probably even feel Setsushi's mind twitch a little. But after a moment, he assents, and wonders what it is Kouyo would like to ask Setsushi about him?
It isn't long before Setsushi emerges in his uniform shirt and pants, still occupied in tying back his hair. He glances over to check on Tenkyuu -- still asleep, thankfully -- and then returns his attention to Kouyo while moving toward the kitchen to make himself a fried egg or three.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:40 pm
Kouyo flinches slightly as well, at Setsushi's reaction. When the Knight emerges from the bathroom, Kouyo stands, knitting his fingers together and trying to keep his anxiety under control.
Though he is still desperately afraid he will be scolded again for interacting with the human, Kouyo explains that he spoke to Kumoru several days ago. He told the necromancer, among other things, that he wishes to see little Xiao Huo more often. He knows that Kumoru usually sends Madame Lucretia to keep an eye on the boy, though. And Setsushi knows the icy spirit better than the priest does; does the Knight think it a good idea for her to accompany the little Porcelain when he comes here to visit? Or should Kouyo tell Kumoru to just send the boy home from work with him, so that neither Lucretia nor Kumoru must come by the house anymore?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:46 pm
Setsushi pauses, chewing his lip a little as he gazes at the carton of eggs in his hands. After a moment, he asks Kouyo to clarify -- does he mean to ask if Lucretia can be trusted?
Setsushi doesn't think she is really malicious, but she seems a bit of a wild and fierce-tempered spirit. He feels she is yet innocent and immature, governed by childish caprice, but... he fears that as she matures she may be molded by her master into a dangerous being. Though Setsushi believes they don't have anything to fear from her yet, they may have to be cautious --
... "... Wait." Send Xiao Huo home with Kouyo from work? As some sort of regular routine?
... Is Kouyo going to continue working there after all?
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:52 pm
The High Priest hurriedly assures Setsushi that he still plans on leaving as soon as the storage room is finished and taken care of. It will be another week or so, at least, though; Kouyo will have to make different arrangements for the boy's continued visits after he is through working at Whitestone's Used Books, but he figures he will cross that bridge when he comes to it.
If Setsushi does not think it would be good for the spirit to bring Xiao Huo here after Kouyo is gone from the bookstore, then the priest is open to other suggestions, as well. He of course considers returning to the shop to pick up the boy himself even after he is no longer employed, but does not mention it to Setsushi.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:58 pm
Setsushi seems rather relieved, but tries not to make a big deal out of his reaction. Well then, in answer to Kouyo's question, Setsushi doesn't object to Lucretia coming with the boy -- not right now, at least. He just feels they ought to be a little cautious, to avoid making themselves too vulnerable to her or giving up too much information, for he is not sure that she will be able to be their ally.
Kouyo's concern is valid; it would be good for them to maintain contact with the child, to ensure he remains safe... There is Jilan to watch over him, but...
... Well. Setsushi puts away that thought, shrugging at little. Kouyo's concern is valid, he repeats, as he heats up a pan.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 5:10 pm
Feeling slightly less nervous, Kouyo steps a bit closer to Setsushi, to watch him cook.
Related to what they were just discussing, the High Priest also has a request. Kumoru agreed to allow Xiao Huo to visit, and Kouyo's feeling that the necromancer will follow through have nothing to do with whatever twisted notion of friendship the priest once thought existed between himself and the human. However, it has already been a few days since Kouyo made the arrangement with him, and they have not yet seen Xiao Huo. If, for whatever reason, Kumoru does not end up permitting the boy to visit, the High Priest wants to send the Dragon Knight to fetch the child.
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