a sterile promontory [introduction]

[mooninherhair]

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[ninja_niko]

Here is someone else who is grieving. Roma also cut their hair, and it's a young man with messily cropped blond hair who might be found pacing the patio.

He's been through the wreckage, over and over again, before the place rose again. Cal couldn't have been there. He spoke to as many of those involved in search and rescue as he could, without even so much as a lead.

And now the place is up again. He doesn't want to stay in it - not without Jaenelle to guard it - look at what happened, it toppled like a house of cards. But he's got a kid on his hands, along with a redhead, and they need to be safe.

Cal would want him to look after them.

But where the hell is he? And his pacing mirrors his circular reasoning.

There has to be a way.

[mooninherhair]

Alice has made her way to the patio, just generally exploring the place, when she sees the young man looking nervous and pacing around.

She stands just to the side, not wanting to interrupt--a little nervous herself. She'll watch him with wide, curious eyes.

"It's cold here," she says, after a little while, trying to make conversation. Somehow.

[ninja_niko]

That startles Niko out of his, well, circle.

"Yeah, it is," he replies.

He looks at the girl, blinks.

"Don't think we've met before."

[mooninherhair]

"We haven't. I'm new," she says, attempting a tiny smile. "I was exploring."

[ninja_niko]

"Nice to meet you, New," Niko says, and whether he's joking or not is hard to tell.

"I'm Niko. Leandros."

[mooninherhair]

"Alice Munro," she says, smiling a little more, amused by his (possible) joke.

[ninja_niko]

This is so odd - so odd.

Being without Cal, and the house just boomed out of existence, but then poofing again.

And he's supposed to make conversation like nothing happened?

".... where d'you come from?"

Niko's polite.

[mooninherhair]

"The American colonies," she replies. "It was 1757 when I...left."

She doesn't want to tell a stranger what happened. Not now, anyway.

[ninja_niko]

Oh, dear, one of those.

Well, Niko thinks - Sugar would be able to help.

"... So do I," he says. "Just not the same... time."

Christ, this is weird.

[mooninherhair]

"Ah," she says, nodding.

This is so strange.

"I'm originally from England."

[ninja_niko]

"... yeah." Pause. "... my sister-in-law's from England. Not exactly the same year, but..."

Niko thinks this is a great idea, actually.

"I could introduce you?"

[mooninherhair]

"What is she like?"

Alice has a feeling that this woman, whoever she may be, hasn't had the same experiences as her own. And that makes her suspicious.

[ninja_niko]

"Red hair, generally pretty friendly but my brother's gone missing, so she's a bit more stern these days. She's got a kid. Nice girl, about nine years old."

Niko smiles.

"She might be able to... I dunno. Better understand you, or something."

[mooninherhair]

"Perhaps she could," she says simply.

[ninja_niko]

".... She's nice, really. And she's bereaved - she could use a friend."

Niko hesitates, and goes on with, "... maybe so could you?"

[mooninherhair]

She finds herself nodding in response to his question.

"Maybe," she replies dumbly.