|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 1, 2010 21:21:31 GMT -5
Alex blinked, and suddenly felt... shorter. He recognized this woman, more from Hitoshi's pictures of her than anything.
"Hello?" He tensed. Was this some sort of guilt? Was this some other strange effect of... He didn't know.
"It's nice to meet you too, ma'am," he decided to say.
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 1, 2010 21:33:30 GMT -5
"I presume you know who I am," she said absently. She pulled her gaze away from the sun and smiled at him, and for a brief moment, looked rather like her daughter.
"There is much on the horizon for you, Alex." Her voice was strange, distant; her eyes seemed to stare past him at something only she could see. "You would be surprised how much I've seen of you. Of things you've yet to do. I'm only sad that we never truly got the chance to meet in person."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 1, 2010 21:51:45 GMT -5
"Oh, dear." Alex held one hand under his chin and realized he was dreaming. "That sounds cinematically foreboding."
He closed his eyes and imagined something more appropriate. The world faded into steam and reformed, and they were sitting at a table on a balcony, the wide golden sky spread out above them and the whole of the world and all its people spread out beneath them. An illusionary wind ruffled a vase full of softly-glowing violets.
"Miss Gilespi... Toshi and Tomi's mother, yes, I recognize you. You look much like the picture he keeps on his desk." Alex leaned forward on one elbow and smiled softly at her, his features shifting occasionally. "While I would love to hear the whole story, and perhaps pick up a few baby pictures to embarass him with, I'm sure you're here for a more specific reason?"
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 1, 2010 22:14:42 GMT -5
"I'd welcome you to just call me Cassandra, if you like. Like yourself, my current name is one I've held for more than one lifetime. It suits me, I find." She looked out over the scenery and chuckled slightly. "Quite impressive, though I suppose I should expect no less from you."
Cassandra leaned against the railing and sighed. "I will be honest with you, Alex. This is not entirely a personal visit. My primary duty tonight was to speak to you, though I admit to taking a brief detour." She peered back at him, looking suddenly very tired. "It's all about you, you know. The prophecy. It concerns Hitoshi as well, obviously, but when it comes down to it, you're the one they're all watching."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 1, 2010 22:23:02 GMT -5
Alex suddenly felt very exposed, though his face only showed a curious smile.
"Who might 'they' be, who are so concerned about me... doing... whatever it is?" He licked his lips and thought.
"I'm sorry about... quite a lot of things, by the way."
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 1, 2010 22:41:48 GMT -5
Cassandra smiled and patted Alex's hand gently. "I'm not the one to whom you needed to apologize, unless there's something you've done that I'm not aware of. And while I would like to talk to you about my son tonight, I should save that for last. We have much to cover."
She sighed. "As far as 'they'... Well, I don't believe I'm exactly supposed to tell you. I'm not entirely sure what to tell you at all, really, except that I have to say something. It's the dilemma of a prophet--not knowing what to tell and what to keep quiet. So far, my judgment has been less than auspicious."
She combed her fingers through her hair, though she succeeded only tangling it further. "Tell me, Alex, what do you know about the prophecy? You heard it in its entirety, and if I'm not mistaken, you can remember it at least as well as I can, if not better. You've been given many other clues, since the first time Professor Smoke read your fortune. What do you make of it?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 1, 2010 23:18:34 GMT -5
Alex gave her a small smile. "You're right, I am surprised how much you've seen of me. I don't tell people about that."
He rubbed his forehead and tried to think past his fear. "It's bad. That much is obvious. And it scares me in ways I don't understand," he said slowly. "It feels like, like waking up one day and realizing that today is an exam, and you thought it was months from now, you haven't even covered the material yet, but no, it's today."
"Though I guess that makes sense. 'More than one lifetime', huh?" He chuckled bitterly. "And things keeps showing up around the man my parents supposedly named me after and random Greek myths. You know, I did always wonder why a pair of pacifists named me after a conquering warlord; I guess I didn't look much like a 'Tyler'."
"I know that we did something- I did something. Something that got quite a lot of people very angry at us. I'm not sure what that is, or why I know that."
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 1, 2010 23:28:20 GMT -5
Cassandra smirked. "Oh, it's not just people that you've upset. If that were all, your punishment would have ended over a millennium ago. Let's just say that you would be surprised how much you have in common with the Aetai boys."
She looked back at him, tapping her fingers lightly on the banister. "From what I hear, you have a certain Lady to thank for coming off as light as you did. Unfortunately, she seems to have a soft spot for tragedies. She's likely on the edge of her seat right now, watching all of this unfold."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 1, 2010 23:38:02 GMT -5
"...No wonder Hitoshi has such instinctive revulsion of predestination. Dear gods, what did I do? And why is Hitoshi caught up in it?"
He wanted to ask if there were anything he could do to prevent it, but he had heard enough about Greek prophecies to know that that would just make it worse.
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 0:13:27 GMT -5
"You crossed the wrong gods, and you paid the price. As far as Hitoshi goes...let's just say that he's always been this devoted to you, if not quite so possessive." She smiled sheepishly. "You can probably blame that on my parenting, I'm afraid. I was far too lenient with them, and now..." She sighed.
"I hope that you understand why I've been so stingy with my knowledge on the prophecy. A little knowledge can be a dangerous thing..." She trailed off, pressing her lips together and closing her eyes. "I've only been given a limited time to speak to those I need to, and I would still like to see my daughter before the night is over. Do you have any other questions about the prophecy?" She smiled back at him and hook her hair behind her ear. "Or about Hitoshi, for that matter."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 0:20:42 GMT -5
Alex considered that as quickly as he could. The prophecy... well, he supposed this was valuable. Even as a dream, he didn't think he could deny that this made things much more serious, and he could easily scheme to corroborate this by asking Hitoshi and Hitomi the right questions in the morning.
He could think of something, though. "What can I do to make him happy? And to keep Hitomi from stressing herself to pieces over things?"
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 0:44:20 GMT -5
"Making Hitoshi happy is a very difficult task for most people, but I believe you'll find a way. You've known him far longer than I have, after all." She smiled. "When he was a upset as a child, I used to coddle him and ask him to help me bake. Ask him to let you cook with him. The first day you helped him was the happiest I had seen him in years." Cassandra squeezed Alex's shoulder lightly.
"As for Hitomi... I'll talk to her, and see what I can do. I would suggest you do your best to distract her from this." She looked out at the horizon and sighed. "Sunrise is getting close. I hope I have enough time to finish what I need to do."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 0:47:22 GMT -5
Alex felt sheepish. "Thank you, Cassandra, and good luck."
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 0:55:52 GMT -5
Cassandra smiled. "I'm very glad to hear that my son and daughter have made such a good friend in you. You've been good for Hitoshi, and I know you can't see it as much, but you've been good for Hitomi, too." The banister started to wear away, trails of golden dust flying in the breeze.
"One more thing, Alex?" Her expression sharpened into something almost malicious, though her voice remained light, and it was suddenly very easy to see Hitoshi's face in hers. "If you hurt my son again, the wrath of the gods will look benevolent compared to what I'll do to you."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 1:05:22 GMT -5
Alex slumped down in his seat. Never, ever, ever insult the family. Among other things.
"Yes, ma'am," he said. "I'll keep everything you've said in mind."
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 1:15:02 GMT -5
"I hate to end our visit here, but I still have more to do before sunrise. I only hope that this won't be my last chance to speak with you."
The wind picked up, and the woman faded to golden dust in the breeze, glittering in the sunlight.
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 19:45:20 GMT -5
Sunlight streamed in through the window, hitting Hitoshi in the face. He groaned and turned away from the sun. It was too damn early to be so bright. And it was chilly--no matter the temperature of where he slept, he always seemed to wake up cold. He reached off to one side and felt around for the blanket. Where the hell was it...?
He finally found the edge of the comforter, and briefly wondered how the hell it got all the way on the other side of his bed (and when the hell his bed had tripled in size) before giving the blanket a sharp tug.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 19:59:46 GMT -5
Alex was yanked over onto his back just as he felt his delicious, comfy warmth taken away.
"Gah!" He woke up with a start, sitting up straight. The early-morning sun hit him, and he instinctively tugged it over him as a second comforter, suffusing the air with summery warmth.
And then he realized he was sitting next to Hitoshi. He blinked sleepily. "Mm. Hitoshi, are you awake?"
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 20:05:31 GMT -5
"Trying not to be," he mumbled. "Why're you in my bed?" Hitoshi pulled himself upright and blinked at the blurry shapes around him. Hitoshi yawned and attempted to comb a rather large knot out of his hair with his fingers. Something looked...very strange. "Did someone repaint the dorms while I was asleep?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 20:08:06 GMT -5
Alex laughed, and a good portion of the warm sun dissapated. He tugged a little of the comforter back around his legs. "We're on break, silly. In Greece, remembe-"
He remembered the events of the previous day- and night- and looked down miserably.
"If you're still interested, I suspect your sister will be here to collect us for the beach soon."
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 20:13:09 GMT -5
"Greece. Right. I knew that." Hitoshi blinked sleepily in Alex's direction. "Who's going to the beach? I don't think I can go to the beach because I haven't eaten breakfast."
Hitoshi rubbed one eye and felt for his glasses on the nightstand. "...think 'm gonna take a shower."
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 21:28:38 GMT -5
Alex perked up at that and asked anxiously: "Would you mind if I helped you with breakfast? I- would love to learn how to make omelettes? After you get out of the shower, I mean."
Or at least, that was the first thing that occured to him; Alex had no general opinions on omelettes, but he wanted to start off on the right foot today very, very much.
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 22:39:52 GMT -5
"Yeah, omelets." Hitoshi fumbled with his suitcase for a minute before finally managing to find something that looked like his clothing. "After the shower."
It took him a few minutes more to find his shampoo, mostly because he kept forgetting what the hell was he was even looking for. "Get a pan hot and pick out the--the things. For the food." Hitoshi yawned and looked back over at Alex. "Coffee, too?"
|
|
|
Post by Alex Meriweather on Jul 2, 2010 22:53:35 GMT -5
He nodded. "If you want some. I'm not a fan."
Alex padded over to the fridge, hoping Hitoshi wouldn't be long in the shower so he could use the restroom and change. There were eggs in there, as well as fresh mushrooms, spinach, jalepenos, cheese, and ham. Alex wasn't a huge fan of ham, and he wasn't sure he could take jalepenos before noon, but mushroom and cheese and maybe spinach sounded delicious. He washed the pan and started a pot of coffee.
|
|
|
Post by Hitoshi Gilespi on Jul 2, 2010 23:46:02 GMT -5
Hitoshi eventually stumbled into the bathroom and fought with the water until he got it to the right temperature -- the water apparently went very hot compared to Dunehelden -- then stripped down and stepped into the stream of hot water, which helped immensely in waking him up.
About halfway through rinsing the suds out of his hair, a few things occurred to Hitoshi. First of all, he remembered that he and Alex had had a rather serious fight the night before, that Alex had seemed genuinely repentant, and that Hitoshi had been trying very hard not to let himself forgive him.
Second of all, the dream he had the night before seemed...strangely real, and somehow made him feel much, much better. His mother would want him to forgive Alex. There was no need to ruin what was, if nothing else, an incredibly valuable friendship over one stupid fight. And if he was reading this whole prophecy thing correctly, he was going to be stuck with Alex for a very long time, and staying friends would probably make him a little less miserable.
It also came to mind that Alex hadn't shown all that much interest in learning to cook before, and -- a few mental leaps away -- that it might not have been the best idea to think so much about Alex while in the shower.
After a few more minutes Hitoshi emerged from the bathroom clean and dry, as well as significantly more alert, and dumped his nightclothes somewhere in the general direction of his bed before making his way to the kitchenette.
|
|