Welcome to Gaia! ::

Rygear casts one last smile at Karin over his shoulder before disappearing up the stairs. The sound of bolts being drawn open can be heard, a heavy door creaking open, and then shutting quietly, the bolts sliding back into place again.

Rygear mutters to himself, opening some of the books on the table, and pulling out various jars and containers filled with something or other. He draws and lights candles, placing them around his silver circle of magic, whispering words to no one in particular.

Rygear stops in his tracks, thinking for a moment, then pulls out the strand of Karin's hair, wrapping it around a plain plastic card. He puts it down in the center of the magic circle, then closes the loop, and prepares to cast the charm on it. He starts speaking loud enough to just be heard by Karin. his words lilting with the sound music box, words that drifted like snowflakes, melting away as they touched the mind, never to be remembered.

Rygear's voice rose and fell gently, taking more time to weave the spell together, so that he didn't totally burn himself out. After an hour, the last words died on his lips. The candles had almost burned completely out. He strode forward and picked up the plastic card that now had an image of Karin on one side and Rygear on the other. He slipped it into his pocket and cleaned up his work materials.
Rygear silently opened and closed the lab door behind him, noiselessly moving to the bedrooms. The door was ajar, and Rygear could see Karin laying haphazardly across the bed.
Aww, geez. I can't leave her like that. he thought to himself.
Rygear sneaked into the room and tucked Karin into the bed. He was just about to leave when he noticed the music box again. He gently rewound it, listening to it again in silence, then left the room, closing and locking the door behind him. He walked across the hall to the next door over, closing and locking it behind himself, where he divested himself and went to sleep, where his nightmares assailed him.

The next morning, Rygear was awake first. He quickly dressed in light clothing and sneaked past Karin's room to the stairs, heading down, and preparing eggs, toast, and tea for breakfast.

((Gotta bus home. I'll be back in a spell.))
Rygear looks over at her, laughing a little.
"Well, someone's got some energy."
He finishes with the cooking and carries it all over to a table at the fireplace, which had burned cheerfully overnight.
"And good morning to you too! C'mon, the sofa's more comforatble to land on."
He stands waiting for her to join him.

((Back. Sort of.))
Rygear sits opposite Karinafter she takes her seat, and pours them both tea.
"So how did you sleep last night?"
He asks smiling. Then he lifts an eyebrow.
"And what was that for?"

"Hmm..."
Rygear's face changed to that of mock thinking, biting into his toast and taking a sip of tea.
"I wonder who that could have been."

Rygear shrugs.
"If it were someone else, I would have felt their presence inside, so it must have been me..."
He looks up and notices her glare.
"Uh-I-you left the door open and I noticed it in passing and, uhm... yeah."
He stuters, then quickly adds,
"I didn't do anything weird, so please don't look at me that way."