November catchall | and every city was a gift

[ruinsprofessor]

Characters: Raine Sage, others!
Date: any November
Location: Keeliai, specifically apartment, Healers' Guild, and others
Situation: a few!
Warnings/Rating: none yet, will update if that changes



A | the usual suspects

Raine can usually be found either in her apartment in Earth sector, usually in the evenings or early afternoons of her few off days, or at the Healers' Guild. She doesn't vary her routine all that much, having relaxed a little from the worries of earlier months.

She's normally happy enough to greet people, though if you go to find her at the Guild she may be in her office and rather engrossed in administrative duties or magical research. Or both, where applicable. She is, however, easily roustable for emergencies.

B | others tba as necessary, inquire to Makari

Comments

[peacefullywreathed]

Valdis--and it was Valdis, now, her soul had more in common with its state before than when she'd been Meira--ignored him, which suited Solomon fine. It was better than a sharp comment back, which was what he expected. But that didn't change the fact she was still stupid.

"You're relying on a loophole," he said tersely, but his ka's presence had faded a little more. The danger was, essentially past--at least in the moment. "What, pray tell, was the wording of the arrangement?"

[ruinsprofessor]

"Lucky," Raine repeated, flatly. Meira's -- Valdis'? -- words did not so much reassure as further concern. "Luck is not to be relied on in matters like this."

She pressed her lips together before she could say something more, tempering herself. In a moment, she inclined her head to Solomon, not for his benefit but to point out to Valdis that he had an important question, one Raine was interested in as well. "I take it the soul you used to bargain with was your own?"

She didn't think Valdis would be so foolish as to have hung some other person's soul on luck, but it was possible she was wrong.

[redlightgreenlight]

She hadn't meant for this to get out, if only the Void hadn't been so intent on messing with Solomon. It was as much a being of chaos as she was, how annoying. She leaned back, crossing her legs, trying to ignore the smell of blood that still hung around her, her lip twitched in disgust.

"When it comes to the Dreaming, Raine," Valdis replied, her voice soft despite the hardness in her eyes, "We don't have anything but luck to rely on."

"The exact wording of the deal I made is unimportant, and I am under no obligation to tell you anything, because it does not concern you or your worlds."

She took a deep breath, "But yes. Raine, you are correct. No one else is at risk, not anymore."

[peacefullywreathed]

Solomon rolled his eyes. "Oh, yes, do forgive me for thinking that an arrangement with a soul at stake, which you've told no one about and on which you're relying on wording to remove the threat, is something that might necessitate some help. Forgive me also for not blindly trusting the word of a woman who has shown herself to have spectacularly bad judgement when it comes to her control of herself."

But Raine was unharmed, and apparently not under threat. Everyone else might be, depending on what this 'agreement' was, but that, apparently, was neither here nor there for Valdis. Why did people who made deals with demons always forget that demons usually wreaked havoc on more than just themselves? That was what demons did: they maximised carnage.

He threw up his hands and turned around. "I preferred you as Meira. She was much less stupid. Let me get the tea."

He went back into the kitchen before he waited for a reply, still intending to bring out three mugs (but anticipating, and rather hoping, that Valdis would leave before he actually had to play at being a host).

[ruinsprofessor]

"We have enough," Raine said, bluntly. "The Dreaming is not without its own logic. It acts unpredictably sometimes, yes, but it's not random. It wasn't luck that carried us through the fight with Malicant, nor this far into the new world."

Solomon's words made her quiet, and sigh very softly. He wasn't wrong; she might wish he had said it more gently, that Valdis would actually listen, but he did have good points. And he confirmed the suspicion she'd been harboring for several minutes now, that she was no longer dealing with Meira.

She watched Solomon go, and then returned her gaze to Valdis. "You're wrong," she said, without bothering to soften it. "'No one else is at risk'... Do you truly find it so incomprehensible, that there are people here who would fight for your sake? You are not fighting alone. On some level you must understand that. You're here, after all." Raine shook her head. "We can't stop you. But don't make the mistake of thinking that should your deal forfeit your soul to the Void, no one would try to save you. You aren't alone, and help is there, if you choose to reach for it."

Her gaze flicked toward the kitchen after Solomon again, and her expression took on a slightly more rueful cast. Sarcastic, yes, but unless she missed her guess, that was what that had been.

"That's all," Raine said levelly, and set her staff to the side. "Are you staying for tea?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Solomon might have been right, except that Meira was more innocent, trusting and young, she didn't have the experience that Valdis had. But she made no comment, merely watching him leave, feeling as if she should apologize to him even if her pride countered it. Then her gaze settled back on Raine.

"I know that people here care," she replied, blinking her eyes and willing herself to stay focused on the point at hand and not what the Dreaming had taken from her or the wish that somehow people would understand, "I know that they would fight for me and that would put them at risk, which is why the terms of the deal ensure that they won't get that opportunity." She sighed, "I know that sounds cruel, but I have been using the Void without paying the price for far too long." She looked down, "I love the family I have found here, but the truth is that someday the Dreaming will send me home, far beyond their reach. Only then will my soul be forfeit."

[ruinsprofessor]

This gave Raine a bit more pause, and her eyes were perhaps a little softer when she spoke again. "For the most part," she said, "it sounds sad."

Sacrificing oneself to ensure that everyone else would be safe? Yes, that sounded familiar, and no happier repeated here. She made her tone a little more brisk. "Then, you're effectively betting with the memory loss, correct? If you and the Void don't remember, then your soul is safe, but in any other case..." A pause, considering, and then another sigh. "If you and it remember, then there is every likelihood that others would. How sure are you that the Void can be counted on to keep this bargain?"

[redlightgreenlight]

It was sad and she wished it could be different, but she hadn't seen another way and wasn't even certain if there was one. She looked up at Raine, not surprised that the woman had caught on so quickly.

"Yes," she replied, "That is probably my only chance if Revelations does not return with me." She fell silent, "The Void will keep its bargain because it fears what I might do if it doesn't. I've stopped it with my blade before and I can do it again, but," she sighed, "That damages me as well."

She didn't even want to think about what would happen if she kept her memories of Keeliai, mostly for the sake of those she cared about.

"Please don't tell Anton."

[ruinsprofessor]

Raine did not like any of this, and it showed in her frown. But there was little more she could do. Valdis was the one connected to the Void.

"On two conditions," she said finally. "First, that if something regarding this changes, even if you don't think you need help, you'll come to me. Us," she amended, tilting her head toward the kitchen. "If it's a positive change, you'll set our minds at ease; if it's a change for the worse, forewarned is forearmed, and there may perhaps be something one of us can do. And second-- I won't lie to Anton. I'll keep your secret, however, and I doubt he'll have cause to ask me about this particular turn of events in any case."

Raine paused then, debating the wisdom of adding the last; but it was important that they understand each other. "Your secrets are yours to keep, so long as they endanger none," she said levelly. "I won't pretend I like it, but for now I'll trust that you have this in hand."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis didn't like adding conditions to something she saw as necessary, but the first one was admittedly reasonable, so she nodded. The second point, however, was one to contend.

"Raine," she replied, "I didn't expect you would like it, and I promise that I will come to you if something changes, but even if Anton asks, you cannot tell him."

She was worried enough about his emotional state that she had taken to keeping tabs on it.

"Anton is not delicate, but something has been stressing him as of late, I don't know what, and the last thing he needs is to be worried about me."

[ruinsprofessor]

"I will not break one trust for another," Raine said implacably. "But you misunderstand me. I said I'd keep your secret, and I meant it. It's unlikely Anton will have cause to ask after these specifics, and if by chance he does, he will understand what it means if I say it's something that isn't mine to tell. If it comes to the point that he has enough information to ask after this, however, he will already suspect something is wrong. I understand that you're trying to protect him, but lying to him is the wrong way to go about it."

She'd seen it unfold time and again, and where once Raine might have accepted it as a legitimate and necessary strategy, she'd too often seen the results. Lloyd had always understood what Colette had been trying to do; but it had hurt him, as well.

Still, as she had then, Raine wouldn't interfere with Valdis' choice. Only advise against it.