001. open post // quiet little burials.

[mordechai]

Take a prompt, take your time, post whenever you like.

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[mordechai]

[He didn't know, really. Anywhere beyond where he was now? Friends and family were hard on him, at times.

(Being so close to Hikaru was hard.)]

The Riders always need a good Dullahan on call. Zangyaku has its own issues to handle as well.

[inqdeirdra]

[ She looks at him with a small, amused smile.

C'mon Alistair, give the new Midnight Riders and Zangyaku kids a chance. ]

You know we can ride out together, right? I'm not your mom, nor am I your nurse.

[mordechai]

I wouldn't mind. Maybe we could take Anton with us if he isn't too busy.

[He really wouldn't mind, now that he thinks about it. He's always been better on his own than with people, but 2012 has given him a number of exceptions.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ A quick rundown of the people she's bumped into in the last 30 minutes, and she remembers that Anton is actually home - bit of a surprise, but he is. He probably remembered and chose to be home, just in case. ]

Yeah, he's around.

[ Takes a swig of her beer. ]

We could go now?

[mordechai]

Maybe tomorrow.

[Which was an Alistair Mordechai way of saying that he was actually okay with this, and maybe okay with sitting still for a bit.]

Besides, Calintz and Rilea are in. They're going to get mad at you.

[inqdeirdra]

[ She grins. Alistair is right. Rilea would have a fit for indulging Alistair when he should be resting.

Plus, it's nice to just sit here and chill out with him.

She raises her beer. ]

That's okay too.

[mordechai]

[Lifting his own, to tap against hers.]

How have you been?

[inqdeirdra]

[ She takes another swig. ]

Good. In Vigil terms. You?

[ She slightly narrows her eyes at Alistair, as if to say 'No, really.' ]

[mordechai]

Physically, I could be better.

[A bit of a pause, as he's drinking. And smoking. And drinking.]

Emotionally, I suppose I've been worse.

[inqdeirdra]

[ Her lips form to a thoughtful smile. ]

At least.

[ She taps her bottle with her fingers a couple of times. ]

It's always easier to get rid of physical wounds anyway.

[mordechai]

No kidding.

[He's trying to make light of it, of course, and not quite succeeding.]

I'll manage. As things stand, we're better now.

[He and Hikaru Shinta may always be a work in progress, but they're very good at eventually getting to a better place.]

[inqdeirdra]

That's nice.

[ And she means that will all sincerity. Of course, she won't ask anymore. But at least someone is okay enough to be there for Hikaru, seeing as Aria is... being Aria. Plus, given what Aria told her not too long ago... Yeah...

She knocks back her beer before opening another one. ]

Did you have other plans tonight?

[mordechai]

Beyond setting up at South? No.

[If Deirdra hadn't called him, he'd be back up at the gates of the South District again, playing defense for an estate that didn't really need it.

Go figure.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ Hm. ]

You ought to take a break sometimes, yknow. Or make some time for cake, and that's me talking.

But... [ She's kicking back a bit, accepting that Alistair does as Alistair wants. ]

... I understand if you do things your way. Just a suggestion.

[mordechai]

You know that breaks and I don't mix well, Dee.

[It's the nickname that he's given her since a little before the Darkest Vigil. They've been through a lot together.

That might be why he can speak frankly with her in the first place.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ She smiles fondly at that. ]

Well, it was worth a shot.

[ Her gaze wonders up at the ceiling. ]

But hey, who knows? People change, right? You might come to enjoy them one day.

[mordechai]

Maybe.

[Hikaru used to complain about it often enough, at any rate...

Sigh. Hikaru.]

How's Gideon?

[And, the unspoken question: How are you and Gideon? Maybe he's a little concerned. Can't be easy, having a husband who will most definitely go ahead of you.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ She's still staring at the ceiling. ]

We're good. I've learned to walk leisurely now.

[ She has in fact, learned to slow down her pace so she can walk with him.

And okay, maybe there is a hint of hurt in her voice. She's still a young Riskbreaker, but she's already bid goodbye to a couple of friends. She never asked for them to stay longer, but it still kinda sucks. ]

[mordechai]

[Catching that, of course. Looking at her once again before going for his beer.]

Slowing down isn't always fun, but it has its merits.

[It forces you to take a look around, to think, to remember, to recalibrate.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ She's directed her stare at the cigarette she just lit up. ]

We slow down for the right people.

[mordechai]

Yeah.

[Still watching her, though.]

There's still time, Dee. And even when it runs out... you had a good run.

[inqdeirdra]

[ She eases up now. She doesn't particularly like expressing her uneasiness, even if she's loosened up a lot now. ]

Yeah. Tell me about it. I'm not worried.

[ She says that with all sincerity. ]

[mordechai]

Good. [A beat, and then:] I'd hit you if you were.

[He's only half-joking.]

[inqdeirdra]

[ She jokingly scowls at him, before smiling again. ]

You don't have to worry about me.

[mordechai]

Might as well while I still can.

[And he's not really referring to the possibility of him dying (that probably isn't going to happen), but of the fact that their own time together is limited.]