Home again, home again

[markofkaine]

[In the end, it wasn't that hard at all. One of those lanterns, like the ones Acedia had - its light could open up a portal home. Everyone made their plans, relieved to be free of the Midwestern hellhole that had kept them in its clutches for all these long days.

How strange. For once, Kaine was glad to have been proved foolish - optimism was never his strong suit, same with nursing such convenient daydreams - but now he felt unprepared for what lay ahead. A chapter was closing. What does he do with himself now?]

Comments

[markofkaine]

[All of a sudden he really misses his stealth suit. The one that makes him invisible and inaudible.

It occurs to Kaine that maybe he should've rehearsed some kind of first impression for like, introducing himself to his boyfriend's best friend in an the world. A friend who has clearly been through the ringer with worry and needs some compassionate reassuring.

He did not do this. Not even remotely.

So, standing there like an awkward, massive, dangerous slab of beef in Adrien's shadow... he shrugs?]

Hi.

[eudaimoniac]

[meanwhile, des HAS rehearsed this moment. a lot, even, but it does him literally no good at all. he guides malise to the settee by the door, joins her, puts an arm around her, gentling

no thoughts head empty]

Err. This is Kaine. He's my boyfriend, and I met him . . . somewhere else. In a different world.

[kaine can see the instant conclusion on malise's face: jesus christ!!!! not again!!!!!! she doesn't know WHAT exactly is happening again, but it's one of several options

"Is that so?" she asks kaine. "Tell me more. Tell me much more. If you please."]

[markofkaine]

[He shifts his weight between his feet and crosses his arms.

Bluntly:]

Well it started when we were kidnapped by some psychos into some middle of nowheresville forest horror compound in the Midwest. Sometimes they made us kill each other, then they'd bring us back t'life. Still not really clear on why. We got lumped in the same house with a buncha other weirdos, mostly from different worlds too.

Pretty sure if I tell you I'm from the United States, it's not gonna mean anything.

[eudaimoniac]

[the incoherence of that seems to relax her, despite how unnerving the words are. good, at least this is not a Florian situation. her defensive bristling smooths over by a degree, replaced by shades of 'nice doctor voice'

but she doesn't jump 100% into assuming there's nothing here but delusion. been down that road before, learned a lesson

"If you were kidnapped, are you two safe now? Does something need to be done?"]

[markofkaine]

[Glances at Adrien. Shrugs????]

I don't think multiverse events are something you prepare for. They just happen every once in a while and you have t'pray you're not caught with your pants down.

[eudaimoniac]

[she

just nods. trying so hard to be calm and professional despite the urge to LOSE IT

"May I?" she says to des, bringing one hand to hover near his temple. a subtle blue glow filters through the air]

All right, my dear. Of course.

[to kaine:] Maybe after she's finished, you could show her an ability.

[markofkaine]

...Sure.

[This seems kind of... intimate, as far as magic goes. Not that he really understands that's happening, but he feels the urge to look away to give them their privacy?

Focuses instead on any spiders in the area. How many are there. Tell me your secrets...]

[eudaimoniac]

[it's pretty intimate! she checks his arms first, then his pupils. while she does some diagnostic magicking afterward, following by a routine healing session, des ends up just resting on her shoulder. tired

there's a normal amount of spiders around, with one living in a potted plant in this office who's not afraid of being squished. as malise reaches the tail end of her assessment and treatment, her bewilderment takes a sharp turn from 'where did my poor sick friend get this other guy' into 'WAIT WHAT. HE SEEMS FINE, SO THEN THAT MEANS—']

Ah. See? I'm afraid we really were transported to another dimension.

[markofkaine]

[sorry Malise...... shit's wild. Even Kaine takes a pause from snooping on the campus across the many 8-eyed spies lurking about just to catch her reaction.

Remarks,]

Yeah, his luck's really just that bad.

[eudaimoniac]

[she crumples a bit, rubbing her eyes. "It never ends, does it?"

after another fierce hug, she musters a smile. "You've no idea how happy I am to see you. Or—I suppose you do, of course. It's been weeks."]

Rather longer for us, I'm afraid.

[markofkaine]

[Oookay, let the besties have their moment. He glances away again, deciding instead to make the little spider in the planter do a little Charlotte's Web.

It starts weaving a little web that spells out HI, for kicks.]

[eudaimoniac]

Kaine's been a truly wonderful companion to me through it all.

[unspoken: please please like him. pleaaaase. malise studies kaine a little more, thoughtful. opens her mouth to say something.

—looks at the spiderweb being made in her potted desk plant??????

"My goodness," she says, with admirable restraint]

[markofkaine]

[we can't prove that kaine's making the spider do this. the spider might have spontaneously gained sentience.]

Okay, 'truly wonderful' is a bit of an overstatement. I'm useful t'have around.

[eudaimoniac]

No, I won't underpraise you. You're wonderful.

[as malise goes to poke gently at the spider in wonder]

[markofkaine]

[The spider seemingly snaps to its senses and scurries back under a leaf.

Meanwhile, Kaine squirms slightly. Grumpy embarrassed awkward grumble,]

Come on....... she's gonna think I'm nice or something...

[eudaimoniac]

There are worse things.

[he turns to malise.] I was hoping you'd be able to let us into my house.

["I've kept an eye on the place for you," she says—maybe a little tremulously. she digs the spare key up from one pocket.]

[markofkaine]

...Wait, I never asked. What kinda place is it?

[Like. What should he be expecting here, size-wise. aND HOW MESSY WILL IT BE.]

[eudaimoniac]

It's small. But it's nice.

[he takes the key from malise, and she hesitates before giving it over. "Promise you won't disappear again," she says, her anxiety evident]

I promise. You can walk with us; we'll have dinner later. But I've been waiting to show Kaine home for a while.

[markofkaine]

[Mumbles as a side remark,]

That's true. You've been talking it up.

[eudaimoniac]

Well, it's definitely better than where we were. There's a piano.

[he coaxes malise to stand, giving her his arm. his other hand goes to kaine]

Here, now. We're all fine. We'll work this out.

[markofkaine]

You play piano??

[He takes the hand without question, out of pure habit - even if a split second later he has the awareness to feel a tinge of self consciousness about it, in front of someone he barely knows. Rubs his neck,]

Okay.

[I believe you.]

[eudaimoniac]

["I haven't been seeing many patients this week," malise says. she tries not to stare at kaine. "Chandra's been reassigning them for me. So I won't be missed for a walk."]

Perfect. Shall we, then? I've missed my kitchen. Once I've gotten groceries, I'll make you both something fancy . . .

[time to start walking, three in a row. des has rarely experienced being the calmest person in a group, so he's just defaulting to trying to keep hold of everyone and hoping for the best?]

[markofkaine]

[you're doing great sweetie

Kaine glances over at the woman Definitely Not Staring at him on the other side of his boyfriend as they leave.]

She's dying t'ask me shit, isn't she.

[eudaimoniac]

["She also has ears and may speak for herself," malise says weakly. "It's not so strange that I wouldn't even know where to start."]

It's not so strange, no.

Kaine, you would protect me, wouldn't you? From danger? You'd look after me.

[he knows what kinds of things malise needs to hear to set her mind at ease]

[markofkaine]

[not strange THAT'S A LIE AND YOU KNOW IT

He huffs, clearly not used to making demonstrations of trustworthiness and feeling embarrassed by it]

I would literally snap people in half for looking at you wrong. Obviously.