[GP] Check-in Day: Lurking Out of Habit

[st_ingofthehundred]

The first of the month arrived and Kash took up his usual station at the edge of the Cafe with his eyes on the door. It had been his habit since he first arrived and learned that arrivals had a pattern, and he had kept to it when he realized that a lot of people showed up injured. It had nothing to do with expecting Zahra to come for him any day now. Nothing to do with wanting to be right here should she arrive. He was just doing his work as a healer.

From the new library, he had acquired a text on modern medicine. It sat in front of him, a cup of coffee by his hand that Kitty kept full of fresh, steaming brew, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies by his other hand. He wore the symbol that he refused to consider holy, his dark spear rested against the thigh closer to the wall, and he had prepared all of his healing spells, and a few damage and area of effect spells in case anything came through that posed a threat.

Kitty was on-shift, which used to mean covering the bar, the cafe, and the pool bar. Out of habit, she still watched all of them, but these days, she had plenty of help. Ignis or Emma were almost always in the kitchen and someone usually tended the bakery counter.

In short, there was absolutely nothing unusual about the day, Kitty or Kash. It was exactly like every other arrival day. The only exception, if it was one, was that Kash was almost as interested in his book as Kitty was her research.

Comments

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

"The medallion," he explained, letting his hand fall. "Reacts to magic in the vicinity. As to why I asked--well, she was kind. I was curious."

Re: OTA

[st_oriedqueen]

Regina began to say that she hadn't been using any, but she had, of course. She corrected her eyesight when she didn't wear glasses, maintained a hint of a glamour, to deflect recognition so she would always see old enemies before they saw her. So she nodded an acknowledgment. "Corbie is a sweet girl. And a talented wizard."

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

"I'm glad she's got help here. Things weren't easy for young women with magic where I came from." Not for the students of Aretuza, and not for the most gifted of all of them. Geralt swallowed past the tightness in his chest, carefully keeping his expression blank.

Re: OTA

[st_oriedqueen]

"Magic is just the word for what's left to the powerless once everyone else has eaten their fill," Regina said, sharp voice softened by her love of the daughter who'd spoken it. She rejected the slide toward reverie and lifted her gaze from his medallion. "Life isn't easy for young women without magic. I offer what shelter I can."

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

Once upon a time he'd thought he could be that for Ciri. Charming bit of self-delusion, that. "I don't disagree," he said quietly, but didn't specify with which part. "So there are more magic users about? Between that and the elf I met earlier, this is feeling almost like home."

Re: OTA

[st_oriedqueen]

Elf? Ah, Vax'ildan and Vex'ahlia. "Half-elf, unless we have a new arrival I'm unaware of." Her tone said that was entirely unlikely, even while her gaze was taking in the many things he didn't say. "Many of the Inn's residents have magic."

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

How casually she said that. "So this Inn is welcoming to non-humans and magic-users," he said after a moment, with a certain bitter humor. "Not really much like home at all. Might be an interesting change." He caught himself reaching up to his medallion again, as if reassuring himself that it was there. "...I do a little myself," he said abruptly. "Magic, I mean. Although Signs barely class as that. They're an aid in combat, but there doesn't seem to be much need of that here."

Re: OTA

[st_oriedqueen]

"The Inn is all there is. Everyone here is a refugee from somewhere else." Regina gave an impatient little shrug. It was self-evident they either had to allow them all or turn to all out war. "We've had no need for combat yet, but Kashaw has plans for combat readiness. You'll find him in the clinic, but give it a day or two."

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

And the sense of familiarity was suddenly overwhelming. Here he was, in a different world, and a sorceress was already giving him orders. It even made him smile a little, if bleakly. "Duly noted," he said. "Apologies for earlier."

Re: OTA

[st_oriedqueen]

Regina waved off the apology. "No harm done." She made to be on her way, but her mayoral experiences stopped her before she stepped away. "If you have questions that require answers, or need of company over the age of twenty-nine, you may find me in the hotel office most days, or the orchard, or the stables."

Re: OTA

[st_eelremains]

A few months ago, he'd have said something sarcastic in response; she reminded him uncannily of Philippa, or Yen in her harsher moments. He didn't have the heart for that kind of fight anymore, though, so he just nodded, as politely as any of the women in his life might have wanted to see. "Thank you," he said quietly.