(no subject)

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie turns away from the little kitchenette's counter, and carries the two mugs of cocoa over to the couch.

"So you think it's helping, then? Cumulatively?"

Comments

[thisfatefulhour]

Accepting the cocoa -- "Thanks. It seems to be."

He takes a sip, and adds, "I can't be sure without going back to Milliways, but" -- a grin -- "I feel better."

[ladyfirestarter]

"That's good." She smiles. "I'm glad."

Charlie seats herself on the second chair, and sips her own cocoa.

[thisfatefulhour]

"Not half as glad as I am. I owe you -- all of you."

[ladyfirestarter]

"It's been mutual, as far as that goes. Having you around has been great for the kids' overall morale."

[thisfatefulhour]

"I heard. It's a relief."

If he listens -- it doesn't take any effort, just a switch in focus -- he can hear the good-mind humming, not quite as insistent as that first day, but steady.

"They're all so . . ." He waves a hand, grinning. "They take it all in stride. It's enough to make me feel like an amateur sometimes -- which is new."

[ladyfirestarter]

A bit wryly: "It's probably good for the soul, or something."

[thisfatefulhour]

Positive -- "Yes. It's learning to adapt."

[ladyfirestarter]

"Which we all have to do, now and then." She tilts her head. "Some more dramatically than others, I guess."

[thisfatefulhour]

He nods. "You've done your share, too."

[ladyfirestarter]

"Yeah."

Her head lifts a little at that.

"A few times. The last major one was ... I think the arrival of the kids here. It changed everything."

[thisfatefulhour]

"For everyone, I should think."

Thoughtful -- "You told me last time that taking care of the kids wasn't this place's original function."

[ladyfirestarter]

"No. We had ..."

She stirs her cocoa thoughtfully, the spoon clinking against the sides of the mug.

"We were watchmen, I guess you could say. The staff here ... there were about a dozen of us then. Telepaths and precogs for the Tet Corporation."

[thisfatefulhour]

He gives her an intrigued look. "The Tet Corporation?"

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie nods.

"I don't know if I can explain it, but ... I'm going to give it a try. The Tet Corporation was founded for three main purposes. Two, really, since two of them are essentially the same purpose."

She holds up two fingers. "Protect the two things that hold the worlds together. And work against the ones who would bring it down."

[thisfatefulhour]

Charles is suddenly sitting up straighter, eyes very blue and very bright.

"You're fighters. You're fighting against the darkness."

[ladyfirestarter]

The abrupt rise in intensity startles her for a moment, but she answers it with a lift of her head and a smile.

"That's about the size of it."

[thisfatefulhour]

(and my, but it's a grand and exciting battle)

"And what are you protecting? These two things?"

[ladyfirestarter]

"One of them's a person. And ... I don't think I can explain why he's important, but ... let's just say a lot depends on him, even things he's not consciously aware of."

[thisfatefulhour]

Leaning his elbows on his knees, he nods for her to continue.

[ladyfirestarter]

"The other ... this might make even less sense," she says, half to herself.

"Do you believe there's a center to the world?"

[thisfatefulhour]

"You don't mean a physical center, do you."

He taps his fingers against his mug, considering. "I'm not sure. I've seen more than one world. I don't know that I ever saw a single center to any of them."

[ladyfirestarter]

"Someday," she says with quiet certainty, "someday I'll take you to see the Rose. The other thing we protect."

[thisfatefulhour]

". . . It's a rose."

His eyes are alight again.

"Someone told me once -- roses have the most purifying flame of all."

[ladyfirestarter]

(and the fire and the rose are one)

"You could look at it that way," she says softly.

[thisfatefulhour]

"All Heaven with its power," he murmurs, leaning back.

"Those are heavy tasks."