Room 504, Friday Late Afternoon

[intraspective]

After her talk with Annette, Ino had retreated to her room and was flipping through a magazine as she tried to decide how to spend her night.

She would’ve liked to go. Stupid Kabuto and his avoiding her.

Ino sighed, and pondered other options. Surely she could do something fun for the evening.

[Expecting one, but totally open.]

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[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

As soon as language club was over, Karal bolted back to his room to retrieve the small wooden box Altra had brought back with him.

With Altra padding beside him, he made his way up to Ino's floor and tapped lightly on her door.

[intraspective]

Ino perked up, then drooped. It totally wouldn't be Kabuto would it?

Totally not.

"Come in!" she called because, hey, people coming to see her was always a good distraction.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He peeked his head around the door, smiling hesitantly. "Ino? Do you have some time to spare?"

[intraspective]

"Karal, hi!" Ino sat up on her bed, tucking her feet under her. "What can I do for you? I'm not busy at all."

Sadly enough.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal came a bit further into her room and Altra padded in, wandering over to look up at Ino. "Actually, I'm here to ask a favour of sorts. It's to do with plants."

[intraspective]

"Need another plant for Evey?" she asked, lips twitching into a smile and shifting so that Altra could join her on the bed if he was so inclined. "It's a bit short-notice if you wanted a corsage for tonight."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra leapt onto the bed and sprawled next to her, in just the right position to be patted, should anyone be inclined.

"I'm supposed to get a corsage?" Karal looked briefly worried, then sighed. "Well, she'll understand that I haven't. No, it's this." He held out the wooden box, which held several small silk bags of seeds.

[intraspective]

"Well, it's traditional, but not really a big deal if she's not the sort." Ino glanced between cat and wooden box... which to pay attention to first? Altra totally won, and she reached to pet him.

That accomplished she turned her mind to the box. "You brought me a box? Of seeds?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra was purring his appreciation. "They're from Karse," he said quietly. "Kitten's Paw for headaches, Sheep's Balm, good for stomach ailments in people and animals, Lemonweed, which is a spicy herb, some trees, Karsite pine and willow, and Sun's Glory," he indicated the red silk bag, "which is a bright red and gold flower that is only grown in Temple gardens."

[intraspective]

Ino considered him seriously. "Did you... like, want me to grow them or something? I mean, sure, I would, definitely--but especially that last one, Sun's Glory--that's a pretty name--doesn't seem just like something you'd give away."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"No, it isn't. Altra brought the Sun's Glory from the Temple at Sunhame with permission. It's, there are things happening in my world. Things we should be able to stop but, in case we can't--" He glanced at Altra for a moment, then back to Ino. "If the very worst happens -and I'm sure it won't - I'd like these to survive. With your gift for plants and the way you care for them, I thought you should be the person to have them."

[intraspective]

"I'd be honoured to," she said honestly. "No matter what happens. That you'd think of me for something like this means a lot." Especially after the week she'd been having.

"Do you want me to start growing them immediately, or just keep the seeds in safe-keeping?" Ino wondered at that. "And, if it's the former, did you have pictures, or books that detail what they look like and what their preferences for growing are? I'd rather not, with these seeds, waste any in trying to learn how they grow."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"They're yours, Ino, to do with you as you will. You can plant them now or later, here or wherever you like. I trust you with them." Karal pulled a folded parchment from his pocket and held it out. "I wrote down as much as I and Altra know about how they grow and what they need. I hope it will be enough."

[intraspective]

She took the parchment from him with a smile. "You anticipated my request for information? I'm sure it'll be enough, thank you. I'll take good care of them."

These plants? Would never ever be flung against a wall in a fit of rage.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"I didn't. Altra did. He's the one who made me write it." Altra stretched and yawned, looking very smug. "Yes, and I'm sure I don't want to know why you spend time in the garden," Karal told him, rolling his eyes.

[intraspective]

She grinned a bit at that and--very daringly--tried to kiss Altra on the head. "Thank you, Altra. And you can come visit my garden anytime you want."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra looked even smugger, going to rub his head on her chin after she kissed him. :I will. And I'll bring Karal. You can make him do the weeding.:

[intraspective]

"I totally will," she told them both, giggling a bit at the chin-rub and petting Altra in response. "Once I make sure you know what you're doing."

That last bit was directed, with a sly grin, at Karal.

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal sighed and hung his head, trying not to smile. "So long as you're willing to be patient, I'm sure I can learn what not to pull out of the ground, and I'm a good hand at shovelling stable muck."

[intraspective]

Ino could be surprisingly patient when it came to helping other people, really. "Oh, you will," she blithely assured him. "I'll make sure of it."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal chuckled and Altra flicked his ears in amusement. "As soon as I return, I'll present myself to you, ready to learn."

[intraspective]

She grinned, then her mood changed in the blink of an eye becoming much more serious. "Is it dangerous, what you're going to go and do?"

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

He bit his lip, ready to deny it, but he couldn't quite make himself lie. Instead, he gave her a small nod. "But I trust in Vkandis Sunlord." To do what, he didn't specify.

[intraspective]

"Trust in yourself too," she urged him, glad he hadn't lied to her.

"Back home, in my village, we mostly believe in the 'Will of Fire' and that means that we all carry the 'will' of our village in every breath. It's in our determination, our drive to get things done. And even if one goes down, the fire doesn't go out and time and time again we'll keep going. Even just a spark can burn brightly enough to save someone." Ino flushed a bit, at her babbling. "I mean, I know you've your own beliefs but I think that much at last can be universal."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal nodded. "It is, I think. Vkandis Sunlord prizes free will above all else. He expects that His people will think for themselves, act for themselves, not simply sit and wait for Him to fix things. People have to work together, strive together, united by their faith, and that faith lasts even if the people die."

Altra flowed down off Ino's bed to press against Karal's legs and Karal crouched to stroke him. "And I know if it goes wrong, He will be waiting for me." He wasn't sure why he was telling Ino this, except that, somehow, it felt like she'd understand. "It could happen, I know it could, but if it does, if it's the price for this to work, I will pay it."

[intraspective]

"Sometimes dying is worth it," she said, blue eyes clear and calm, "and sometimes you can't know if it'll be worth it until it has come to pass and you can only hope you're doing the right thing. But that right thing, even just that hope of it being the right thing, that'll it'll work out is the most important thing. Go with pride, if you must go, not despair."

"Of course," Ino added, "I rather hope you don't die."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Karal bowed his head, then straightened. "Thank you," he said quietly, and smiled. It wasn't a great smile, but it was a real one. "I rather hope I don't either. There's weeds to learn about and a garden to unleash me on."

[intraspective]

"And, if you wish it, a story to tell." She wouldn't pry though, not about something like this. "I'll keep you in my thoughts, while you're gone."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"When I come back, I'll gladly tell you the whole story," he said as Altra gave Ino a look of clear approval. "We will be riding for days across the plains in the middle of winter, so there will probably be a lot about snow and saddle sores. Which should be absolutely riveting."

[intraspective]

"Oh, totally riveting," Ino assured him, trying not to laugh. "I'll hang on your every word." A beat. "Yours too, Altra."

"When are you leaving?" she asked, tugging at her hair a little. "I mean, if it wouldn't be a bother to you, I'd totally come see you off."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

Altra flicked his ears, looking very amused. :I should think so.:

"Tuesday morning, before dawn, by portal from the Causeway," Karal replied. "And I'd like that, if it's not too early for you."

[intraspective]

"Oh, totally," she grinned at Altra. "You'll have all the best dirt to dish on the whole thing."

Then she looked at Karal. "I'll be there for sure."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

:Of course I will,: he said smugly. :I'm a cat.:

"I'll be waiting," Karal told her. "And I should probably go, else Evey will be waiting for me, and that's not a good thing."

[intraspective]

"Go on, the both of you," Ino said, smiling, "and have fun."

[vkandis-son.livejournal.com]

"We will," he said and turned to go, then hesitated in the doorway. "Ino? Thank you." Karal was certain he didn't have to say for what, and he gave her another quick smile before he and Altra disappeared.