smash_logs | the solution to all ills, tea

Entry tags:

the solution to all ills, tea

Who: Caim and Riley
What: Tea parties ahoy. Possibly feelings.
Where: A secluded cafe somewhere
When: Sometime in the afternoon.
Warnings: Caim. That's all I need to say.

Riley found himself more settled into his job and his surroundings as the days went past. It was one thing to come here as a student, it was another to be a member of staff. There were papers to fill and things to register and he found himself having to do a tedious amount of admin work - not to mention he still had the majority of his room to unpack.

But all of these eventually fell away and Riley, decided that after the last paper had been filed and the last box placed into the recycling - that it was time to concern himself with the other part of settling in. The human element of it.

He looked up where Caim's room was. He was not entirely sure whether he would get it, but regardless he was sure that he would get the message before long. In his neatest hand, he put a time and a date and the address of a cafe he knew.

The cafe was a rather homey place with mismatched furniture and decor, giving the impression of someone's front room rather than a business establishment. The fresh smells of a kitchen always permeated through, usually of the day's special. Today it was pecan pie. A mixture of jazz and classical filtered through at a low volume.

He ordered a pot of earl grey and two cups of tea. Was he being presumptuous, ordering for them already?

Then Riley reminded himself that tea was not the issue, but more what he wanted to discuss with Caim.

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Caim had not expected a hand invitation. Much less to a cafe. There were a good few different things to consider when accepting the offer. It could have been a trap. It likely wasn't, but close enough that it left the mute prince wary. He'd stewed over it for a few days at least, eyebrows knit together, wondering if he should say anything to someone like Mac and have him watch from a distance. But no. To do something like that might have implied that he was concerned for his well being.

Wouldn't it have been more fitting for him to die? Karma, at the very least. And Caim couldn't stand around and deny that he deserved it. A death of that form probably would have been far too lenient when one took into account the amount of blood that stained his hands.

Darker thoughts clouded his mind when the day approached that he'd been given a prearranged engagement. He dressed seemingly appropriate - tunic and trousers, shoes that resembled those incredibly comfortable Crocs™ that were advertised occasionally. All in all, he looked fairly well-kept. Probably could have used a hair cut, but he'd kept to his personal word that it'd last as long as Furiae did.

Standing in the doorway to the cafe, he showed himself in and almost immediately scouted with his gaze. He looked for anyone suspicious and anyone who coincidentally wasn't, just in the event that his mysterious note leaver had been clever in predicting that he was looking for someone deliberately causing trouble. It was a rather long moment for him to experience the disdain in no longer having his sword.

But perhaps he'd end up wrong and he'd emerge still alive.

At any rate, the mysterious note leaver stood up from his table and approached Caim with a warm smile on his face. Caim looked very much on edge, like he was ready to leave the cafe at a moment's notice. Perhaps he should have put his name on the note, but ah. Getting used to people again was a task that Riley was forever trying to complete.

"Caim." he said as he approached. "I am glad you made it."

He spoke with words, but he did close his eyes and extended his hand. Riley's hand glowed a gentle blue and he opened his eyes.

"I hope you are well. Come, let us sit."

Oh. It was Riley.

That made... the situation a lot more bearable, honestly. Caim hadn't been certain he could handle it being a false lull into security. He didn't doubt his strength and he doubted even without his sword that he could be taken down easily. All the same, it was Riley, the man he considered an actual friend. Even before he'd befriended Mac, there had been Riley.

"Riley. Leaving me notes, now? You could have easily visited my classroom. Is there a reason for such a roundabout method?"

For a few moments at least, Caim had eyed his hand, but swallowing whatever odd rejection he had for that kind of contact, he took it and gave it a firm shake. He was pretty sure that was how average people greeted each other. And while he wouldn't have really done it for anyone, Riley was no simple run-of-the-mill man.

"Where is your sense of wonderment and adventure?" Riley was teasing, clearly. The handshake was firm and it gave him great reason to smile.

"I hope you are not opposed to tea."

He gestured towards the table he was sitting at, where a pot of tea was steaming on it. Neither cup was filled. Clearly Riley was waiting for Caim to arrive.

"But if you are, I am amenable to change."

Caim shook his head, unable to disguise the idea that he found humour in what Riley had to say. It was more or less a reaction of disbelief. And when it came to Riley, he frequently felt like that. In a good way. It was the only time he ever felt that way, admittedly.

At the very offer, Caim approached the table Riley motioned at and he shook his head.

Not at all. I imagine I could use one, admittedly.

Then he motioned for Riley to join him. Two is better than one.

Riley sat back at the table and quickly relaxed, taking off his hat. He looked around briefly as to where to place it, then procured a hook implement from his pocket which he attached to the underside of the table and placed his hat there. The item was normally used to hold women's handbags but he was going to use it as a hatstand because why not?

You, have always intrigued me, Caim.

He began to pour the tea out for both of them, the hot liquid splashing into one cup, then the next.

Sometimes I feel I should believe that fortune chose you as her play thing, as much as I am skeptical of the idea.

Have I now.

Less a question. More like an observation. He remained at a momentary silence as he eyed the tea that Riley poured for them. How was he supposed to take that? Fortune's play thing. He certainly couldn't disagree with it. No matter what he'd done, it'd seemed he was given an intentional ill ending.

Didn't matter what he did, with whom, for whom. A thousand good deeds could not bring him any closer to prosperity and Caim would have been lying if he claimed to be doing so for any sense of peace. His punishment would last an infinite amount of time, he assumed.

That is a very intuitive thing for you to claim, he admitted with a bit of a nod. Yet I could not say you were wrong.

The nature of this connection -

Riley of course, was referring to the telepathic communication that his aura powers lent him. He took a sip of his tea and nodded towards Caim to do the same.

-- relies on a resonance between my soul and yours. So of course, I shall be picking up things. Inevitable, but you and I would not have it any other way, no?

It would seem that to be true, Riley.

After a long drink of his tea, he continued. Although to be fair, he wasn't really sure where he was trying to go. Even with Riley, the only person who could communicate with him so easily, it was no simple task to have such a deep and meaningful conversation. Or a conversation that seemed like it could grow deep and meaningful, anyway.

The sharing of souls signifies the pact that bound me into silence. Odd how having a link to yours gives me a voice yet again, even if you are the only one who can hear it.

Is that not all we need? One ear, to hear one voice.

There was a serene smile from Riley at this point. Riley's life was built around listening - his aura ability gave him the ears to listen to the very essence of someone's life. To hear what their soul was saying, to see beyond most façades. When one is highly attuned to the voices of the universe and all life in it, to lend an ear to Caim causes Riley no trouble. In fact, he even quite enjoys it.

It was better for Caim to be oblivious to just how deep Riley's ability was. If anything, the prince probably wouldn't have liked the concept. But then, he wanted to keep himself an enigma. Someone understanding who he was - better than himself - was something that warranted a rather frustrating realisation.

I suppose that to be true. So many ears do you need to hear multiple voices?

Or one ear which is attuned enough.

Riley placed his head in his hands, cocked it to the side and gave Caim a wink. A little coquettish, yes but he was having a bit of fun. Perhaps he could teach Caim to lighten up slightly.

Your tea shall grow cold if you don't sip it at haste.

And he reached for his cup with one hand and took a sip.

Caim was fairly certain Riley wasn't taking him seriously, but there were worse things. Even briefly he looked a little amused, but he did take what Riley had to say to heart.

A long drink from his tea, he found a little more professionalism creeping into him. Well. If it could even be called as such. Whatever the case was, he still found himself wondering what had brought all of this on. What had he done this time?

If you would not mind the inquiry, what was it that you spurred to invite me for tea?

Because I have a deep fondness for you.

That was a lot more unguarded than Riley meant that to be. He paused, clearing his head of thoughts. He didn't mean for that to be so candid, but he forgot that he was using his aura to communicate. If he were speaking, he would word this in a manner that seemed less like... what it was in its current state. Because he did have a deep fondness for Caim.

Please excuse my, ahem, unguardedness. There is nothing more than a wish to speak to an old friend here.

The words caught him entirely off guard. For Caim had heard many things in his time. Mostly poor things. Especially considering his regard for human life and how he treated it. Or had treated it. If he was going to be completely fair, he had quite the number of people who disliked him.

I was unaware you thought of me so highly.

Unaware and... a little flattered. Kind of. Caim didn't know how to take it. So he tried not to show how much he truly lingered on it. But he sure did keep it well within his mind. Purely because he wanted to. It was nice to be thought of in such a way.

Yet, you could not simply just approach me for this outing. Not that I mind. This has proven to be an educational day so far.

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the solution to all ills, tea

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