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 Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2020 6:01 pm
Forever grateful for Destiny City's unending nightlife, Priam packed away the leftovers from the dinner he'd ordered. Soleiyu had spoken with him and Sterling for what felt like years, though his clock indicated it had been only two hours. The Mauvian had stayed to answer all of their questions, but there was only so much information he could give them to process in one evening.
When Priam and Sterling had been ready to end the night, Soleiyu had left them both with his phone number and an insistence to call him if they needed anything, and he promised to check up on them in a few days.
Priam still felt like he was a bit out of his mind when he opened the door so the furry little Mauvian could sneak into the night, but he closed the door behind him and tried to resume some sort of normalcy. Sterling was still on his couch, and Priam had been too tired to worry about what anyone could think of his home.
It was a cozy little place, two bedrooms, and looked like it could have been some lovely little cottage--completely out of place for Destiny City, and it looked like someone had tried to remove all the coziness out of it, with a boring paint job and uninteresting additions.
Priam had always intended to restore it but between studying and then work and then now, he never seemed to have the time. What was the point of making a house a home if you were never there to enjoy it?
There were photos of him and a large, goofy looking dog, photos of a young man who looked very much like him, a few photos with what might have been parents. A dog bed by the couch, and toys in a neat basket, and an empty water and food bowl in the kitchen. No dog, though; Priam lived alone and his house was full of warm, natural colors and it smelled like a bookstore. Books were everywhere, carefully organized into antique looking bookshelves. On the table were ancient looking tomes, some of which appeared in horrible disrepair--and yet, some seemed to be in various stages of restoration. It was the only mess in Priam's house, and even that seemed to be organized.
He returned to Sterling with a cup of tea; when it was taken, he rubbed beneath his eye with one finger and settled onto the chair across from the man, then holding the cup between both hands. There was a bit of silence before Priam shook his head and reached for the television remote, turning it on and leaving the volume so low that it could barely be heard.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I go stir crazy if there's not something on in the background."
The news turned on--today's date. Anchors he recognized. Things to ground him, to reassure him that this was real.
"...I have to say, when I was a child I always dreamed of taking part in some magical story. I don't know when the idea of such a thing coming true turned into such a nightmare. I don't think I'm much of the hero type, I'm not sure...how or why I've been chosen to be any sort of warrior for anything. I'm a doctor," he said, "I've always wanted to help people. I don't think I've ever been in a fight in my life. Well. Until now."
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 11:49 am
Sterling still felt as though the bottom of the ground had disappeared beneath him, and glanced up at Priam, nodding mutely for a moment. “No, I understand. It’s nice…to have something to really…give credence that this isn’t some strange dream. I.” He glanced around the room and swallowed hard. “…A doctor? I’m working towards my masters, I’m hoping to be a psychiatrist when I finish everything…it’s ah. Good to be able to say that I know a doctor.”
The male managed a smile, trying to find some humor in all of this but it fell away after a moment. “…Though, if what Soleiyu said was the truth…you were helping people. We were stopping them from getting their souls taken. Getting killed. I suppose…if we had to be in a fight, at least it was for a good cause.”
It didn’t quite make sense still. What…crazy twist of fate…or luck…or…misfortune perhaps. “…I’m glad that I wasn’t alone when this happened.” Sterling looked over at Priam and managed a smile. “…And we each got a new friend out of it…so that’s good.” If nothing else, he felt much less alone knowing that he would be learning the ropes with someone else. They could mess things up together.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2020 12:28 pm
Priam nodded, taking a few extra seconds to process what Sterling was saying before he could really respond. "I don't know if I'd have been as effective if I was alone," he admitted. "I might have just clammed up. Such a strange thing, you were there and I felt like I had to do something."
He let out a soft laugh and shook his head. There wasn't anything funny about it, but it just felt like maybe it could chase away a bit of the alarm and despair coursing through him.
"It would have been nice to make a new friend without any of that trouble, but. I suppose beggars can't be choosers. I'm glad you were there to run into. Glad that you awakened with me! What are the odds," he sighed, and finally managed a sip of his tea. It was soothing, warm and calming.
"...Two doctors, though." He nodded. "I wonder if there are more out there like us who pursued healing. It's strange--I trusted the news," he confessed. "It's so...overwhelming, that this could all be going on and we're being lied to. I'm afraid I'm going to mess up and reveal it to the wrong person on accident! I'm fortunate I haven't really got anyone close to me to figure it out," he sighed, though there was a sadness there.
It wasn't a good thing to be so alone, but at least he wasn't a risk.
"Where are you going to school, if you don't mind me asking? I didn't graduate so very long ago. Perhaps it's presumptuous of me to offer, I know we're in different fields, but if you need any assistance, at any time, I can give you my card. I do tutoring for DCU sometimes. I've been told I make a good study partner." He tried to manage a little smile. "I don't ever want to stop learning. And this day and age, psychiatry is developing so much, and it'll be useful to so many people. I think, people forget that the mind needs healing every bit as much as the body. I have a few colleagues in the field, I hope you'll let me know if you ever need any help. I can introduce you if you need help getting your foot in the door somewhere."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 7:54 am
Sterling nodded. “Yeah…that…concerns me too. I’m not sure how I’ve managed to live in this city for so long and…not…dealt with any of this until now…It…makes me feel like we’re being taunted. Or like this is some kind of a television show that pranks you. I’m still waiting to see the cameras. Or even just to hear the laughter…”
He took a long drink of his own tea and sighed. “Oh, I go to DCU. It’s a pretty great school, and I’m glad that they have so many higher level programs. It makes things easier when I don’t have to worry about moving and finding a school that can offer me the Doctorate that I need.”
This conversation was much easier to have, and Sterling glanced to Priam, managing a tired smile. “I appreciate all of that, honestly. And…we should work together if we’re going to actually do all that the cat said, you know…I…I’m in the same boat as you, and I feel that I would have frozen up if I had been alone. And, please don’t worry, nothing you say right now could be taken as presumptuous. We’re both in a state of shock. If anything, this will seal our friendship for years to come.”
He gave a laugh that was starting to sound just a bit more settled. “Though, I am glad that you…were on my side, and it wasn’t come crazy ambush situation…”
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:11 am
Priam found himself wondering the same--how had he managed to live in this city for so long while being so absolutely oblivious to such things? Was he really so focused on work, was his nose pressed into a book, was he that blind?
He managed tired smile as he held the warm mug between his hands and savored a slow sip as he considered.
"I agree," he said, not wanting Sterling to think his silence meant he objected. "It seems safer to have someone watching your back. If I had been alone, I don't know what I would have done. Maybe, after I've had time to think about this. Time to find out where the truths are. Ah," he sighed, and leaned back. "It makes me feel like I need to be looking for someone with strength and no fear of battle. I've always admired the heroes in stories."
He looked to his wall of books and sighed. "...But I'm nothing like them. I don't have that bravery. That strength. It makes me wonder what role I'm supposed to have in all of this. He said..."
He was quiet for a moment. "...That there's a world out there. A world...I am bound to, yet a place I have not yet seen. I'm far too tired tonight. But...if what he speaks is the truth...perhaps...it is worth visiting. I don't have the strength, tonight, I know that. But..."
He shook his head. "...They say seeing is believing, after all."
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:43 am
“Perhaps when we’re feeling up to it…we could visit each of them with one another. I know…I’m not really interested in going alone. But…the cat said that we’d have to get our rings from there, right? It seemed pretty important. And the idea of having a way to communicate…that sounds important too.”
He reached up to rub at the bridge of his nose. “I don’t know…this is just so much to take in.” Sterling hesitated. “You have a wonderful taste in teas, I must say…what brand is this? I want to get some for my house. It seems like it’s really good for focusing…”
And honestly, he needed that right now, didn’t he? They both did.
“When would you like to meet again? And, may I have your phone number, I can give you mine, that way if you need help with anything…ah. Maybe not anything normal, since you’re…already in your career but. Anything really. I’m pretty handy. And…we could figure out when we want to go check out these worlds of ours…or, Wonders? He called them Wonders, right?”
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:57 am
"I special order the tea," Priam confessed. "I'll text you the link, though. I used to drink this when I was in grad school. They make a few different types. Good for sleeping, good for staying energized, good for fighting off colds."
He reached for his phone and asked for Sterling's phone number; he texted him the link from memory and then tucked away the device again.
"You can text me at any time. I was earnest in my offer, if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate. I know it can be difficult to juggle school, so," he considered for a bit and then said, "My schedule is pretty static. I stay late at work because I...well, I don't like coming home to an empty house. And I'm a workaholic. But outside of that, I have a fairly flexible schedule. We can take a bit to figure all of this out and...then meet up again? I mean, you and I can meet up at any time. But I mean...the other versions of us. Qingcheng and Nalanda. I'll have to see if I can't do any research. It isn't that I don't trust Soleiyu, only that my rational mind is telling me that none of this can be real. And yet..."
It flashed in his mind, playing back like a movie. The way the name Nalanda had whispered so clearly into his mind.
"...It feels so strange to be in denial. My mind challenges this, but my heart..."
His heart felt it. Believed it.
...But then, he was desperate like that--to have some greater connection to this world. To be tied to something bigger.
Even if it was a small role, he wanted to play it.
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:03 pm
Special ordered…no wonder it tasted so good. Sterling smiled when he saw the text and nodded. “Ah, thank you for that. I’m going to have to order myself some when I get home…I just did a week of exams and I was beat…it would be nice to have something to drink to ward off…well. Everything. Especially with the seasons changing.”
He gave another small smile, nodding. “Thank you, and you…you can text me too. If you’re just lonely. I’m always up for talking. I need a wider social circle…but, I didn’t really have anyone until I moved in with my housemate.”
His eyes lit up a little upon mentioning his roommate and he sighed. “…That’s why I was out. I was getting a kitchen torch…he mentioned liking crème brulee and I wanted to make it for him. I think that the torches are pretty durable, but worst comes to worst, I can always just go back out again tomorrow during the day. If it doesn’t work. But…”
He shrugged. “I think it’s real. I think…this is just life now…but. We’ve got this…you made it through medical school, so obviously you can do anything.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:14 pm
Priam watched as his face lit up when he was talking about his roommate and his smile softened again. "If you'd like, I can pack you a few extra bags to go. I don't mind sharing. I always order extra. I'm afraid to run out," he laughed softly. "And I've already got another box coming in on the first. The benefits of already graduating medical school is that I have disposable income," he laughed, but it was a tired sound.
"I'll try not to text too much. I'm very bad at it! I tend to be too wordy. And, ah..."
He leaned back against the couch. "...I've lost contact with most of my friends, they've moved away. I'm ashamed to say that I don't think I've really got anyone around anymore." He picked his head back up to look at Sterling. "So for all this trauma, perhaps it's the universe giving me a nudge in the right direction. Do you do a lot of baking? Your housemate seems important to you." A soft smile, then. "That's sweet. Mine didn't like me very much. Not because I was a bad roommate, I hope! We were all medical students. It was very competitive, applying for the same scholarships, the same internships. And with all of that stress," he shrugged. "...Tempers are short. But we were young and juvenile. I haven't kept tabs on them, but I hope they're doing well. Though, I doubt they're worrying much for me. Ah," he smiled softly, still a bit sad. "I'm rambling. I'm sure you won't have such a situation. You are kind, and considerate and compassionate. You seem to have a big heart. Your roommate must be lucky to have you."
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:11 pm
Sterling took a long moment to look over his new friend and gave a small frown, but nodded, quickly exchanging it for a warm smile. “That would be wonderful, thank you. I hope that one day I’ll get that kind of a disposable income too…there is so much that I want to do on my house…ah…if you ever need help fixing this place up, just let me know. Renovation is a great stress relieving hobby of mine, and…even if it’s just planning, I can’t get enough of it.”
He hesitated after a moment. “I do a lot of baking, yes, and I’m quite lucky to have my roommate, and…he is quite handy to have around too, Priam. I can bring him to help me if you ever want to fix this place up…ah. He found a pile of bricks in the backyard, or what I assumed was nothing more than a pile of bricks and turned it into a pizza oven…oh it was the best pizza I’ve had in my life.”
The smile that was on Sterling’s face again was warm and bright. “…I’m very lucky to have him for a roommate. And now I’m lucky to have you as a friend. I…agree with you…that this was the right direction. You aren’t alone any longer either. I can come over, or you could come over. You don’t have to feel that you’re against the world. Not if you don’t want to.”
Relationships were crucial to mental health, and if he were being honest with himself, Sterling was more than a little worried about Priam’s mental state. But, that was nothing that couldn’t be fixed.
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 2:30 pm
Priam seemed to consider something he'd said and reached to adjust his glasses. "Actually...it's funny you should mention that. I've--I've been trying to work towards renovating this place for a while. It's been very slow steps. I bought it because I'd seen pictures from before the old owners did their own renovations. I was house shopping back in high school," he confessed. "I thought this place was just gorgeous, like someone had plucked it from the pages of a fairy tale. I wasn't looking to actually purchase something back then, but when I was actually in the market, this place showed up."
He let out a soft little laugh. "I thought it must be some sort of destiny! Oh, but the renovations they made were horrible. I'll have to pull up the old photographs and blueprints from the original home and show you. I just..."
He sighed, but he still wore a smile. "...I just want to come home and have it feel like home, that's all. So I might have to take you up on that, you and your roommate. I can pay, of course, I wouldn't ask for any sort of labor for free. It's just--it's a passion project of mine, I just...haven't found the time. But, maybe you could come over some time and we could talk things out, if you're still interested down the road!"
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 4:43 pm
Sterling gave a slow grin and nodded. “I would be more than happy to help. This place has great potential, I could see that when I walked in…it just needs…a little love and elbow grease. My place is a run down mess, but…it’s starting to get there, a bit.”
Taking another long look around the room, he hesitated. “Are you hoping to get a dog? I see all of the dog things, I might see if I can talk Yu into getting an animal….I’d really love a cat, I think. But…I don’t want to push anything. Ah…”
He gave a smile. “I’ll always be interested in helping out my friend, and fixing things up…it’s a passion of mine, so just let me know when you have free time and we can work at it. One room at a time is my motto.” Sterling finished off his cup of tea and sighed happily. “One thing at a time.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:01 pm
Priam's smile was suddenly tight and remained in a pressed, fake pleasantry for a few seconds too long to be missed. It wasn't something he could just brush aside so easily. "One room at a time is a good motto," he said, instead of answering the first question.
"Cats are very good if you're going to be busy and need something that's just a bit independent. I, ah." He swallowed, and had a faraway look that seemed somehow intimate and pained.
"I actually..."
The silence was sprawling and he likened the experience of getting the words out of his mouth like climbing a mountain.
"...Mine just passed, not so very long ago. I'm not really coping well. It isn't that I don't want another dog, just that...I don't know how long is a respectful time to wait, and with my job being as it is, having a new puppy...I'm close enough I could visit during breaks, but...it's cruel to leave it home alone so often...So, I..."
He didn't have a plan. He didn't want to be alone. He missed all the little joys of having a dog around, but he was afraid of being so flippant and dismissive by finding another so swiftly. It wasn't a replacement, it would never be. But he didn't seem to know where to settle. "...And older dogs can take a while to acclimate, so I --I haven't really...looked into it. I haven't settled on a plan, yet. But I...can't stand the idea of throwing any of this out..."
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 5:48 pm
Sterling paused and looked to Priam, frowning slightly. “I’m so sorry for your loss…I can understand why you would be reluctant to get rid of the things…but…” He gave a soft, comforting smile. “No, you see…I haven’t…I haven’t ever had a pet…but from what I’ve seen of them…I don’t think your dog would want you to be unhappy…They never seem to want their friends to be unhappy. I would suggest…if you are able to…perhaps take some time off from work when you’re feeling up to getting a new dog. I can go with you and we can search the shelters together, if that isn’t too forward of me.”
His eyes swept the room and the smile on his face was slightly sad, but as friendly as he could make it. “And, you’re doing as much good for the dog as they would be doing for you, you know…ah…again, I haven’t…but..I would get a cat, if you were going to get a dog. Plus, on your vacation we could work on a room in here. Either way…I think it might be good for you.”
It could go a long way to dispelling the sadness that he couldn’t help but see behind the male’s eyes. “Again, I don’t mean to be too forward…but you have a support system now.”
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Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2020 6:10 pm
"It's not too forward at all," he promised, and took a moment to digest Sterling's words. "It's a good suggestion," he admitted. "...And a vacation would be nice. I have a lot of time off, I suppose I could...I could manage a little bit of time...ah..."
He looked into his tea and then nodded.
"You'll make a good psychiatrist, I think," he said with a soft smile. "You're very easy to talk to. And you give very good advice." Priam exhaled and then nodded. "We'll set aside some time for that, then. I'd like that. I'm afraid if I go alone I'll adopt all of them, at once." He laughed, but he seemed a bit serious.
"I'll put in for some time off. Between now and then, we can meet up and go over what room to work on, figure out ideas. I'll make sure I have everything we need. But...I'd love some help. I need it," he said, and smiled. "Thank you. I hope I can be as good for you as you are for me, Sterling!"
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