TRP: Goro and Family (Remember)

[Setting: Day 407, the woods outside the castle.]

He wondered if they had food in there.

Probably. What kind of castle didn't have stuff to eat? Might be weird food, though. Or poisoned. Drugged.

He glanced over at the fox, still lazing around nearby. He wondered what foxes ate. They were kinda like dogs, but also kinda like cats. He was pretty sure dogs mostly ate the same stuff people ate, but from the garbage and shit. Cats ate rodents. Maybe foxes ate rodents.

He decided that if he got hungry enough, he'd eat a rodent. Squirrel, or some shit. He had all those knives. He wondered if he was any good at throwing 'em.

He rolled up his pant leg and pulled out the knife that was sheathed above his ankle. He glanced nervously at the castle again, then stood up, eyes fixing on a random tree nearby. He hurled the knife at it, trying to embed it in the bark, but it just smacked against the tree and bounced off. So, maybe they weren't for throwing.

IZZY

The fox yawned, adorably, watching him.

Someone exited the castle -- a young woman, teenaged with long brown hair that she was in the process of pulling into a ponytail. She looked along the trees with a stern expression on her face, and started marching towards Goro, cuffing up the sleeves of her clerical robes.

LINA

Goro frowned at the person coming toward him. He went to retrieve his knife from the dirt and blew on it to clean it off. He thought about leaving it out, casually tossing it around to make himself look dangerous.

Was just a kid, though, from the looks of it. Still. Goro stood his ground, knife in hand, glaring.

IZZY

Her sleeves were fully cuffed by the time she reached him, standing back fifteen feet or so. Her cheeks were pink and her jaw was set. "Goro," she said sternly. "You need to come inside."

LINA

"Who the fuck are you?"

IZZY

She huffed a breath out through her nose. "I'm a cleric. We are both clerics, and we are friends, and you need to come inside where it's safe, and warm, and there is food."

LINA

Food. Goddamn.

"I'm pretty safe and warm out here," he said. "What's there to eat?"

IZZY

"Whatever you want," she snipped. "Just come inside."

LINA

Goro gave her the finger.

IZZY

She scoffed again, angrier this time. "There's a blanket. It's heavy. You said it was like -- like being hugged by Hansel, but Hansel isn't here to hug you right now. You like it. A lot."

LINA

He squinted. "The fuck?" He didn't remember Mishka mentioning anyone who was a cleric. Maybe this was like the dark family secret or some shit. A simple-minded girl. "Uh. Maybe you should go back inside, where it's safe."

IZZY

"I am perfectly safe!" she objected. "You need protection!"

LINA

Ah, this was awkward. He didn't know how to get her off his case. He held up his dagger to show her. "I'm good. Made it this far in life with my knives."

IZZY

"That's absurd. You made it this far in life with Amari, and with us. And with Mask!" she snapped. "Can you even remember your prayers?"

She sounded angry, but she was visibly tearing up.

LINA

"Um." He paused to give that some serious consideration. "Probably. Just -- gimme the first line of one, or something."

IZZY

She recited something in a language he could not understand.

LINA

Goro nodded. "Oh. Yeah. I remember that one."

IZZY

"No, you don't!" Her voice was gradually getting louder and higher pitched. She pointed at him in frustration. "I learned that spell from you! Just -- just yesterday, you used it on -- on a pirate who was trying to hurt me, and you were so angry --."

LINA

Ah. She was really, really upset. "I'm sorry," he said hastily. "I -- I can't help it."

IZZY

"I know you can't! Just come inside!"

LINA

"Um." He looked up at it again, nervously. "Who's in there?"

IZZY

She sniffled, calming down a little. "Mishka. And Amari. Raef, and Az and Tikva. Hansel isn't --." Then she sort of scoffed again, sighing in frustration. "Hansel isn't home. And Larkin isn't either. But it doesn't matter, because you don't know who any of them are."

LINA

"You're right. I don't. And that's too many goddamn fucking people. I ain't going in."

IZZY

"They're your family!"

LINA

"So you say. Got any proof?"

IZZY

She gave another frustrated huff. "How am I supposed to be able to prove that?"

LINA

"You can't, and that's the goddamn point. What makes you think I wanna walk into a house full of fuckin' strangers who all think they know me? That's creepy as fuck."

IZZY

"They do know you!" she insisted. "I know that -- that you like chocolate cake, and -- you like your heavy blanket, and I don't understand why, but Jonn said that you would, and you did -- and -- you keep shortening my name, from Luci to Luce to Lu, and I don't understand that, either, but -- you do it, and I like it because it's you, and --."

Another frustrated sound, and she squeezed her eyes closed, tears spilling out, and clenched her fists at her sides.

"None of that matters, because you don't know anything about yourself!"

LINA

"Alright. Jeez." He didn't have a clue what she was talking about, but it made him feel bad anyway. He opened his mouth to ask what the hell she wanted him to do about it, but -- well, shit, she'd already said. She wanted him to come inside. "Okay, fucking -- fine. Jeez." He looked around, scowling, and tucked his knife away.

IZZY

She sniffled again and opened her eyes to glare at him, blinking a couple of times. "There are -- there are cupcakes. Chocolate ones. Hansel made them for you."

LINA

"Fine. I'm coming. God." He scowled fiercely at her so she'd know he wasn't happy about it. "You said your name's fuckin' -- what? Luci?"

IZZY

"Yes. Luci. Lucienne Sterling." She was still glaring. "I have -- I have a brother named Jonn. You like him, too. We're Hansel's kids. He adopted us when we were little, before you met him."

LINA

"Okay." Goro crossed his arms and stalked toward the castle, not looking at her and trying to keep some distance.

IZZY

She sniffled again, and kept her distance from him, too, crossing her arms. She hesitated, though, and looked back to whistle, and the fox rolled to its feet to scamper and catch up with them.

"There's leftover chicken noodle soup," she said. "Hansel made that for you, too. He likes making you things."

LINA

Goro didn't really register what she was saying. He blinked in surprise at the fox. "Is that thing your pet?"

IZZY

"Um." She glanced at it. "No. She's our friend."

LINA

Goro snorted. "When an animal's your friend, that's a pet, ain't it?"

IZZY

"Well ... I guess," she said doubtfully.

LINA

He squinted at her, then shook his head and kept walking. He had to follow her lead, since he didn't know how to get into the castle and shit.

IZZY

She led him into the back courtyard, across the bridge -- past the stable, fountain, boathouse, and hedge around the barracks with its bell tower -- and into the sun room. She opened the door to beckon him into the kitchen. "I can warm up the soup."

LINA

"Yes please," he grumbled. Still, he hesitated a long time before stepping inside, looking around and glaring at everything like it was about to make fun of him.

IZZY

The fox scampered in ahead of them and hopped into one of the chairs around the kitchen table. Once Goro had gone in, Luci followed, wiping at her eyes, and started bustling around. She glanced back. "If -- if you sit down, um. The fox's name is Ombre. She likes you especially. You can pet her, or if you sit down, she'll probably sit in your lap."

LINA

Goro looked at the fox. "Um." He crossed his arms, and remained standing.

IZZY

"Well. You don't have to."

The fox hopped over to the chair closest to Goro and looked up at him, wagging her tail.

LINA

Goro frowned and took a step back.

IZZY

She stopped, ducking her head and slinking under the table.

Luci glanced over again as she brought the pot of soup over to the stove to heat it up. "I can ... I can tell you about people, if you want?"

LINA

Goro crossed his arms tighter and took another step away. He glanced nervously at both doors. He could feel himself getting upset -- breathing faster, just wanting to run and hide. He really was hungry, though. He kept backing up until he was pressed against the frame of the door to the sun room. He lifted his arms and covered his face, shaking his head behind them.

IZZY

Luci shot him a nervous look. "Um. It'll be warmed up soon. You can sit in the sunroom, if you want. It's quiet out there."

LINA

Goro nodded. He retreated into the sun room and climbed on one of the couches, curling into a ball and pulling his robes up to cover his face.

He really wanted to remember something. Everything was new, and it was too much. There wasn't any fucking escape. Nowhere he could go to feel safe and comfortable. He kept having the feeling like he wanted to go home, but this was his fucking home, everyone said, and he didn't recognize it.

He curled up tighter.

IZZY

Several minutes passed. Then there was a tap at the door, and Luci hesitantly called through, "Goro?"

LINA

"Mhm?" Goro said from his ball, trying to sound normal.

IZZY

"I'm going to come in."

LINA

"'Kay." He didn't move.

IZZY

Luci crept in, a little awkwardly, because she was carrying a blanket and seeming to struggle with it. She frowned at him and came over to the couch next to his, dumping the blanket down with a slight oof. "It's, um. Heavy," she said doubtfully. "You should try it. I promise you like it. Really. I'll be right back with the soup."

LINA

Goro uncurled a tiny bit, scowling at the blanket incredulously. Seemed fucking suspicious. Like it was charmed or something, maybe.

He reached out to pinch the fabric. Was kinda nice. Velvety. He stayed where he was and didn't pull it over himself, but he kept rubbing it between his fingers.

IZZY

She came back with a steaming bowl in hand, buffered by a neatly-folded towel, and small plate with a grilled sandwich on it in the other. "I made a sandwich, too," she said. "In case you're hungry. You forget to eat, sometimes. I don't know if you have today."

LINA

Goro unfolded so he could hold his hands out for the food.

IZZY

She passed it over without getting too close to him. The fox lingered in the doorway between the sun room and kitchen, bushy tail curled around her feet.

LINA

Goro set the sandwich plate next to him and tucked into the soup. He eyed the fox. Between bites, he asked Luci, "Does it bite?"

IZZY

"What?" Luci glanced back. "Oh. No. She's very sweet."

LINA

Goro gulped down the rest of the soup, alternately watching the fox, looking awkwardly at Luci, and peering around the room.

"You said Hansel made that?" he asked, setting the bowl aside and picking up the sandwich.

IZZY

She nodded, standing there awkwardly, then scooted over to sit in a nearby chair. Ombre padded over to sniff at her leg and hop up into her lap, curling up and watching Goro. "He makes a lot of food for all of us. He likes cooking."

LINA

"It was really good." Goro started on the sandwich. "He's my husband?"

IZZY

Another nod. She touched her ring finger. "Um, the gold ring -- the twisted one. It's your engagement ring. And the one with the rose is your wedding band."

LINA

"Oh." Goro paused eating to examine them with fresh eyes. The thought of having a husband had weirded him out at first, but as he got used to the idea, it was occurring to him -- he must have really liked Hansel. He was curious to see what he was like. "Where is he?"

IZZY

"I'm not sure," she admitted, petting Ombre a little. "He's a mercenary. He isn't always home. He and Larkin left to do something today."

LINA

"Mm." Goro ate some more sandwich. "Um. Mishka said my mom lives here?"

IZZY

She nodded. "I can go find her, if you're ... feeling better?" she said doubtfully. "She's very concerned for you. Um. But you get overwhelmed sometimes. Like before, in the kitchen. I ... will ... try to be more considerate. I'm sorry."

LINA

Well, that was fucking awkward. "I dunno," he said lamely. "I was just wondering." He took another bite. "Is she... nice? She a good mom?"

IZZY

"Oh, yes. She's -- she's very nice." She thought for a moment. "Nice doesn't really cover it. Amari is very thoughtful, and gentle, and kind. She's a cleric, too."

LINA

"I think I remember her," Goro said suddenly. Or -- almost. He felt, more than saw, of an image of himself as a very small boy, clinging to someone he knew was mama. It was like a half remembered dream. "Kind of."

IZZY

Luci sat up straighter. "Really?"

LINA

"Kinda," he emphasized. "Just... like a feeling."

IZZY

"I can go get her," Luci said eagerly. "Maybe you'll remember more."

LINA

Goro chewed his lip. "Long as she's nice, I guess."

IZZY

"Extremely nice." Luci scooped Ombre up into her arms to stand, then set the fox down gently. "I'll -- I'll find her."

LINA

Goro nodded. "'Kay. Hey, uh, thanks for the food."

IZZY

"Mmhm." She nodded firmly. "It's proof."

She swept out of the sun room.

The fox yawned and stretched her forelegs out, then laid down to watch Goro.

LINA

Goro scoffed lightly at the proof thing. He leaned over and held a hand out toward the fox, tentatively.

IZZY

She stretched her neck out to sniff at his fingers.

LINA

"You like getting pet?" he asked, which was fucking stupid. It was a goddamn animal. She just seemed to have a lot of personality, he guessed.

IZZY

She wiggled closer to him on her belly, tail wagging again.

LINA

He scratched her gently between the ears.

IZZY

She pushed her head up against his hand a little, eyes closing happily.

LINA

"Kinda people keep a fox for a pet," he muttered. Him, maybe. He'd already inferred he was a fucking weirdo, and now he was talking to the thing.

IZZY

She made a quiet, cheerful sort of yipping sound, and rolled adorably onto her back, tail still wagging.

LINA

"Pfff." Goro considered petting her belly, but thought the better of it. She might bite him, or some shit.

He straightened up on the couch and plucked at the weird blanket again. He slid one arm underneath it. Luci had said it was heavy, and -- well, yeah. It sure was.

He pulled it onto his lap and arranged it into place. Hm. Yeah. That was kinda nice, he guessed. Relaxing.

IZZY

A few more minutes passed, and in the dark outside, Goro could see someone crossing the courtyard, coming towards the door.

LINA

Goro straightened up a little, pre-emptively frowning.

IZZY

The figure came closer, and Goro could make out that it was a tall, youngish human man with dirty blond hair and a bit of a scruffy beard. He spotted Goro, too, through the windows, and brightened a bit and waved before he reached the door.

LINA

Goro waved back, frown lessening a little. That... sure was a strapping man, and he seemed to be just arriving home for the day.

"Hansel?" he said hopefully when the guy walked in.

IZZY

The man blinked at him. "Uh?"

LINA

"Not Hansel?" Goro guessed, grimacing.

IZZY

He looked supremely confused. "What? Uh. I ain't seen him."

LINA

"Oh." Goro fidgeted with the edge of the blanket. "Um. Remind me your name."

IZZY

"Uhh. What?" He frowned, clearly concerned, and started over. "Uh, Goro, you feelin' all right? D'you want me to go get somebody?"

LINA

"Um. Nah. It's okay. Luci's taking care of me. She went to get my mom." Goro just figured that since this guy knew his name and was walking into the castle, he was part of the family, and would know who Luci was. "Are you Raef?"

IZZY

"Do what now?" He sat down next to Goro. "D'you ... not remember me? You -- hit your head, or somethin'?"

LINA

"I got ate by a giant snake," Goro offered.

IZZY

"You what?" Then he seemed to catch himself, and shook his head. "Uh, I mean, shit. Sorry. Uh. I'm Leigh? I'm ... I'm Hansel's brother."

LINA

"Ah. Shit. I'm sorry." Goro grimaced some more. Guy was a fuckin' dish, though, so that boded well for whatever Hansel looked like. "I'm real sorry. My head's all messed up, yeah."

IZZY

"You get, uh ..." He waved a hand around vaguely. "Like, cursed or somethin'? Last I saw Hansel, he mentioned how you an' Mishka were goin' off to help some, uh ... some magic guy. Wizard or somethin'. You get hurt on one of those adventures y'all go on?"

LINA

Goro stared for a minute. "Uh." He shrugged. "I don't remember."

IZZY

"Oh. Huh. Um." He glanced down, then around the room. "You said Luci's takin' care of you, though?"

LINA

"Yeah." Goro kept fidgeting with the blanket. "So. Um."

IZZY

"Hey." He reached out like he was going to pat Goro's shoulder, then hesitated, and rested it on the back of the couch instead. "Uh. Well, Luci's a real smart kid. Shoot, I guess you don't know. She is, though. Promise. You're gonna be a'right."

LINA

"Oh. Yeah. She's hella smart. Kinda weird." Goro cleared his throat. "Mishka's been helping me, too."

IZZY

He nodded eagerly. "Yeah, Mishka's real smart, too. Whole different way from Luci. I'm sure they got you covered. Bet you'll be all fixed up, time Hansel gets home."

LINA

"Maybe." Goro tried to smile, but he wasn't very successful. His face just fell and he looked down at the blanket. "I hope so."

IZZY

"Hey. Hey, even if you ain't, it'll be okay," Leigh said. "Y'know, Hansel's told me all kinda stories about, uh, y'know, stuff when him and Mishka used to be pirates, and -- oh. Shit. Did you ... uh, d'you know Hansel was a pirate? He ain't now," he added quickly.

LINA

Goro shrugged. Didn't matter. Didn't know shit.

IZZY

"Uh. Well, anyway, Hansel's told me all about all the stuff him and Mishka, and then him and the rest of y'all've taken care of. Real, um, what's the word -- competent?" He looked doubtful about his word choice, but then nodded firmly. "Good at fixin' stuff. It'll all pan out."

LINA

Goro nodded. That did help, a little. Mishka had said they were adventurers, and Leigh had mentioned them going to help a wizard or something. Seemed like they were used to dealing with weird shit.

There were footsteps in the kitchen, and the door between it and the sun room opened. Goro looked up, hoping to see a familiar face.

He didn't. Unless you counted Luci. She was accompanied by a small, middle-aged half elf woman. Goro didn't recognize her at all, but he still had a good feeling looking at her, somehow.

"Hi, sweetheart," she said, immediately walking to him and kneeling in front of him. She took his hands in hers and tried to look into his eyes, but he blinked rapidly and looked away. "Are you feeling okay? Did you get enough to eat?"

Sounded like a mom. "Um. Yeah." He looked at the fox, since that seemed easier than looking at a person, right then.

IZZY

Luci drifted off to the side, looking warily hopeful. She waved briefly to Leigh, who nodded in return, then tentatively asked Goro, "Do you ...?"

LINA

"Do I what?" he said. The lady -- Amari -- squeezed his hands.

IZZY

"Remember?" she nudged.

LINA

Goro looked among the three of them, all watching him hopefully. He started to nod, just 'cause he didn't want 'em all to freak out -- didn't want to disappoint them. He doubted he could keep up a lie that fuckin' elaborate, though.

He didn't want to just say no, though. He felt like a fuckin' chicken. And he was having trouble getting in a full breath again. He grabbed the blanket and yanked it up over his head, curling back into a ball.

IZZY

"Oh," Luci said softly, her shoulders drooping.

"Aw, hey, hey." Leigh sat up straighter, putting his hand on Goro's back -- or about where it should be, in the lump under that blanket -- and glancing between Amari and Luci. "It's all right."

LINA

"I know it's probably very overwhelming, sweetheart," Amari said. "But I promise you, you're safe right now. All of these people love you very much. You have a big family, and we're all here for you." A pause. "Ombre, why are you a fox?"

IZZY

"Um," Luci said. "Um."

LINA

"It's alright. But Goro tends to do better with people more so than animals," Amari said. At this point, his confusion outweighed his fear, and he poked his head out of the blanket, frowning.

IZZY

The fox fidgeted in a way that seemed odd, for a fox.

Then it sort of crouched down, and in a ripple of pink flower petals, it turned into a human woman with long black hair and a belled anklet, sitting cross-legged and wrinkling her nose anxiously.

"Sorry," she said.

LINA

Goro blinked at her a bunch, slowly pulling the blanket up to cover the bottom half of his face.

"Who're you?" He didn't remember Mishka saying the name Ombre.

IZZY

"Ombre," she said in a small voice. "Um, we're pals. I thought ... uh, you seemed real spooked of people, but ... I didn't want you to get hurt in the woods, 'cause you're kinda a city boy, so I thought ... maybe I could just keep an eye out ... y'know. All innocuous."

LINA

Goro let out a huff. "God. I got... I got a lot of people."

IZZY

She nodded a lot. "And Hansel and Larkin aren't even here, and they're like, the most your people."

LINA

"You have a big family," Amari said again, firmly. "And you're still ours, even if you can't remember right now. It doesn't matter."

Goro relaxed just a little. It was nice knowing he didn't have to... do everything on his own, he guessed.

"Might wanna be alone sometimes, though," he said quietly, behind the blanket. He wondered if that was how he normally was.

IZZY

"That's very normal," Luci said. "I want to be alone most of the time."

LINA

"Maybe right now," he said, even more quietly. His eyes darted to the windows. The woods had been alright.

IZZY

Ombre chimed in. "Upstairs! There's a table I like hiding under, and it's real comfy -- blankets and pillows."

"You also have a bedroom," Luci commented. "Seeing as you live here."

LINA

"Mm." Upstairs meant farther to go if he needed to escape. "Maybe some fresh air first," he mumbled.

IZZY

Luci nodded and waved her hands at Leigh demandingly, and he quickly hopped up and scooted away.

"Please stay in the courtyard," Luci asked, clearly trying to sound firm, but doubtful, too.

LINA

"There's a garden," Amari said. "With rosebushes. You often find it soothing to walk there."

"Fuckin'. 'Kay." Goro slid the blanket off his lap, watching them all warily. Worried they were gonna try and grab him if he bolted.

IZZY

No one made a move, though Luci was scowling.

A drawling feminine voice in his head suddenly said, Hey, doll, you all good? Missed hearing from you today.

LINA

Goro jumped half a foot off the couch. "What the fuck."

IZZY

Leigh looked alarmed, Ombre stood abruptly, and Luci's scowl deepened. "What's wrong?" she demanded.

In a small, quiet voice, Ombre asked, "You know who we are?"

LINA

"I just heard a fucking voice in my head. Like someone talking to me. Fuck. Guess I'm going fucking nuts all the way, huh?" He scowled and hunched over, pulling on his hair. "Second fucking time today."

IZZY

"Oh," Ombre said. "Oh, oh, hey, hey, was -- was it my voice the first time? I, um, what'd -- I said, hey, where are you, are you okay, or something. Once we realized you were missing."

LINA

Goro kept tugging his hair, but after a moment he looked up at her, squinting. "Huh?"

IZZY

"It's a spell," she said excitedly. "Let's us all keep in touch. Was it some guy with a real deep rumbly voice?"

LINA

He blinked a few times. "What? No. No. It was... I thought it was a lady. Said she missed hearing from me, or something."

IZZY

They looked between each other for a moment, confused. Then, a little grudgingly, Ombre said, "Maybe it was Morgan Wyn. I'm not sure who else it would be."

Luci nodded in agreement.

"I'll Send to her," Ombre groused, then looked to the side and murmured, "This is Ombre. Did you Send to Goro?" A pause. She looked back and nodded. "Um. She's ... a friend of yours? I think you, like, set up a thing where you always Send at each other 'cause she's in -- uh, well, she's far away and she's alone. You wanted to make sure she was safe. I guess you missed a check-in and she was worried."

LINA

"How many goddamn friends do I have?" Goro said, incredulous.

IZZY

"Umm," Ombre said, squinting.

"About fifteen," Luci responded.

LINA

His face scrunched up, still confused. "Okay. Well. Guess you can... tell her I lost my fucking memory, or whatever, so she don't get too worried." He climbed off the couch and creeped toward the door, watching them to make sure they were gonna let him.

IZZY

"Okay," Ombre grumbled.

Luci filled in, "She's being rude because she dislikes Morgan."

"Hey."

"Well, you do."

Leigh touched Goro's shoulder, very lightly and briefly. "I'll walk you out," he said quietly, glancing at the other two beginning to bicker. "I gotta get home anyhow. Won't bother you or nothin'."

He angled his head towards the door.

LINA

"Oh. Mm. Alright." Goro glanced at Amari, who'd taken to stacking his dishes and folding up the blanket. Her face was drawn, like she was in pain. He swallowed guiltily.

When he and Leigh stepped outside, he asked, "Uh, so. You don't live here?"

IZZY

Leigh shook his head. He pointed off through the dark to the east, where there were the lights of a small cottage a ways off. "Me an' Mom -- uh, Hansel's mom, and your mom, now, too, name's Marion -- we got a little farm out that way. We got goats, mostly, some chickens, some barn cats, a dog. It's pretty quiet. You like it, I think."

LINA

Goro snorted. "Your guess is as good as mine, pal."

IZZY

"Y'like the animals," Leigh said, more certainly. "I think you don't like the quiet so much. You get bored, like. Uh, but, y'know, the quiet's nicer when you ain't sure what's goin' on, so."

LINA

Goro nodded a few times. "Yeah. Yeah, fair." He kept stealing glances at Leigh. Goddamn. "So, uh. Good looks run in your family?"

IZZY

"Uh." Leigh blushed. "Uh. Huh?"

LINA

"Just seems like I got good taste, if Hansel looks anything like you."

IZZY

"Uh. Uhh. Uh, well -- well, I -- I actually take more after my dad," Leigh said, still blushing furiously but trying to sound relaxed and fine. "Me an' Hansel, we got different dads. Uh. He takes more after our mom, anyhow."

LINA

"Hm. Ah." Goro realized Leigh might've misunderstood his intent, or maybe he just -- was fucking shy, or what have you. "Sorry, sorry. Didn't mean to embarrass you."

IZZY

"S'okay," Leigh said. "I, uh, I get embarrassed a lot."

LINA

Goro didn't know what to say to that. People didn't usually just admit that kinda thing. (Or, hell, maybe they did. Like he'd know.)

He came to a stop in front of a rose bush. He wondered, briefly, how he could know shit like what a rose looked like and what it was called, but not remember his own goddamn name, or the faces of his family. He frowned.

"Well. Guess this is the garden?"

IZZY

"M'yup. I'll, uh, I'll get on outta your hair." He hesitated, though. "Um. Lissen. I don't wanna make you uncomfortable, or nothin'. And, uh, sometimes you don't like people touchin' you, so I'm just gonna ... ask, I guess? I know you don't know me, right now," he said quickly, "so -- so it's a'right if you don't wanna, but I keep wantin' to hug you. Would that ... be okay, d'you reckon?"

He scuffed a boot in the dirt, awkwardly, shoulders hunched up.

LINA

"Oh. Oh, um. Yeah. Yeah, that'd be fine." Goro meant it, but he wasn't sure how sincere he sounded. So he stuck his own arms out to initiate.

IZZY

He looked a little relieved, but like he was trying to not look it, again. He grabbed Goro in a pretty firm hug and didn't let go.

LINA

"Mm," Goro said, satisfied. "Think I like hugs."

IZZY

Leigh nodded. "Uh-huh. Y'do. 'Specially from Hansel, though. He grabs you real tight, like he don't do with anybody else, and it just -- swear, it looks like he just fuckin' squeezes happiness right outta you."

LINA

"Huh." Goro tried to decide how he felt about that. Sounded kinda nice, he guessed, the like he don't do with anybody else part. It made him feel funny, but kind of good, knowing that he got some special sort of hug.

IZZY

"Anyway." Leigh let go, and cleared his throat. "Uh, I'll tell Mom what's goin' on, but it's gettin' late and you probably don't wanna lotta excitement, so ... we'll come see you tomorrow? Hansel'll be home by then, surely."

LINA

"Um. 'Kay." Goro had a faint hope he'd sleep off the amnesia shit, but he didn't wanna say so, in case it didn't happen. "Uh. Thanks for all your help, and shit. 'Preciate it. You seem like you're taking it all pretty well."

IZZY

He shrugged a little. "Weird stuff happens t'y'all all the time. It'll all work out a'right. Always does."

LINA

"You say so." Goro raised his hand in a wave. "See y'tomorrow, I guess."

IZZY

"Yup." He raised his hand back, took a couple steps back, looking at Goro, and then turned to head off across the bridge and through the field to the warm little farmhouse.

Some time passed, and no one poked their head out to check on Goro or bother him, just letting him mill around the garden quietly. Luci did keep eyeing him through the windows with a frown, but that was it.

Then, the sun room door squeaked open, and a tanned half-elf woman wearing flowy dark clothes stepped out, glancing around and pausing when she spotted Goro. She waved to him. She looked a little out of breath and pink-cheeked, like she'd been in a hurry, but only sauntered over, huffing a little to get her breath back.

Before she got too close, she called over, "Hey, doll," in the same sort of scratchy, low, lazy voice he'd heard in the Sending. "It's Morgan. How you doin' out here, eh?"

LINA

Goro cocked his head at her. He remembered Mishka saying he had a cousin, but he'd lost track of which name the cousin went with. This lady was a dark-haired half elf, so. "You my cousin?"

IZZY

Her eyebrows went up, and she grinned a little. "Fuck, nah. Ooh, that'd be real awkward, 'cause we've --." She made a crude hand gesture.

LINA

Goro's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh. Morgan, you said?"

IZZY

She clicked her tongue and winked, pointing at him. "Nah, your cousin, that's Larkin. She's a tiefling. Just about yea high." She held her hand up around her shoulder. "Always scowling. Trust me, you'll know her when you see her from the resting bitch face alone."

LINA

"Tiefling. Huh." He ran a hand through his hair. "Um. Guess someone told you I lost my memory?"

IZZY

"Yeah, your foxy friend mentioned. Hey, man, it happens, huh?" She shrugged, spreading her hands.

LINA

"Does it?"

IZZY

"Oh, yeah, you bet. I mean, not usually all of it," she allowed. "But my guy Goro Voronin doesn't do shit half-assed." She grinned at him. "You wanna sit down? Tell you a story about it. It's got a happy ending."

LINA

This lady was kinda weird, but Goro liked her. Which he guessed made sense, since he'd apparently slept with her. Seemed they had a fuckin' spark. "Um. Sure, yeah." He looked around, like seeing if a bench might have materialized out of nowhere, then just sat on the ground.

IZZY

She plopped down next to him and patted her lap.

LINA

Goro stared.

IZZY

"Nah? Hey, no worries. I might just lay on you if you don't lay on me, though," she said seriously.

LINA

"I'm married now," he said.

IZZY

"Oh, doll, it's ..." She laughed, then quickly put her hand over her mouth and touched his shoulder with the other. "Sorry, I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you. That's just real fuckin' cute. Wholesome as shit. I'm gonna tell Hansel that and the motherfucker is gonna blush up a storm. I'll make sure you're there. You're gonna love it."

LINA

"Yeah?" Man, everyone had such great things to say about Hansel. Goro was starting to wonder how a weirdo like himself managed to snag someone like that.

IZZY

"Yeah, fucking absolutely. Man, anyway, I was gonna say it's fine, and he wouldn't mind, 'cause that's the kinda thing you boys've got going on, but if I was trying to take advantage --" she whistled and made the hand gesture again -- "that's probably what I'd say, huh? Eh, oh well." She elbowed him a little, grinning again. "I just meant I wanted to fucking cuddle with you, you know. You're a cuddly bastard."

LINA

"Am I?" He squinched his face up. "Leigh said sometimes I don't like it when people touch me. Uh, Leigh, that's Hansel's brother."

IZZY

She waved it off. "Oh, yeah, I know that fool. I met him at your and Hansel's wedding." She slouched down a little and leaned her shoulder against Goro's. "Tall drink of water, huh? You told me I wasn't allowed to hit on him 'cause I'd fuckin' eat him alive."

LINA

"Yup." Goro nodded. He'd known her for five fucking minutes, and Leigh not for much more, but he thought that seemed like a pretty goddamn accurate assessment.

IZZY

"Yeah, I would have," she said, sounding pleased with herself. "Listen, anyway, so here's the thing -- ah, man, fuck, doll, I've got so many stories I can tell you. So, the first time we slept with each other, we were kinda enemies, right? It was fucking hot. Illicit. Clandestine."

LINA

Goro made an intrigued noise.

IZZY

Morgan settled in. "So there you were, this shifty, clever, hot cleric boy, and me, the master spy, guildmaster of the Sanguines, these thieves and assassins. And I was planning on taking over Skyport -- your hometown, right -- and you were like, hey, fuckin' chill, bitch, let's work together instead. 'Cause the church in Skyport, they're dickheads, and you want'em dead 'cause they fucked with your mom. And we keep having these little meetings --" she gestured between them -- "and I'm flirting with you, 'cause, mmm." She looked him up and down and bobbed her eyebrows, grinning.

"But then this one night, you come see me, and you're fucked up -- some shit happened at home, and you need a distraction, and when I hit on you, you're like, yeah, fuckin' sure. And, listen." She scootched closer. "Don't tell anybody, this is between me and you, but you looked so fucking sad, and I was playing it cool, but I really wanted you to feel better. Like, were you smart as a whip and got those eyes that can see straight through to a girl's soul? God, yeah. But also," she whispered, "I liked you." She pressed a finger to her lips for secrecy and winked.

.

"So we go upstairs, to the room I've got over my mead hall. But back then, I was real paranoid -- okay, well, I still am, but these days I trust you, and we were still one bad meeting away from being at each others' throats, so I made you take off all your weapons. And, oh, buddy, I dunno if you've noticed yet, but whoo -- you've got a lot of them. You did it, though, and I was thinking, ah, man, this guy is in a bad way, or else he wouldn't be onboard with this. But we go upstairs, and we're making out, and, man, you asked me some question, about ... I don't even remember. You wanted to talk to me. It was sweet. And I was a dick, and I was like, boy, are we gonna fuck or not, this ain't therapy, it's a one night stand."

She waved off the details. "And we did fuck, and then after -- that's when I found out you're so cuddly. I mean, I made no secret of the fact that this didn't mean shit to me." In a whisper, again, she admitted, "Which was a lie." She bumped his shoulder with hers. "But there you were, all fuckin' snuggling me. I thought you were up to some shit. But it was real fucking cute, too, you know? And I kinda felt bad about it, but -- ah, honestly, it'd been a long time since anyone had wanted to do that with me. And I liked it. Y'know, I liked it a lot. And we cuddled, and talked, and ... it meant a lot to me.

"Anyway, pretty much ever since then, when we hang out, there's cuddling. I haven't told you how much I like it," she admitted, actually looking a little embarrassed. "But I do. I'm telling you now. You don't have to do it now, 'cause shit, it's not like you know me, really, but once we get your brain all fixed up, you'll remember."

She leaned up quickly and kissed his temple, still sheepish.

LINA

"Huh." Goro mulled over everything she was saying to him. "I figured I was like, an asshole, but you're making it sound like I'm a big softie or some shit."

IZZY

"Oh, sweetheart. Yeah, you bet. Absolutely. The biggest softie. You wanna hear the rest? Like, the best part?"

LINA

"Yeah," he said, hesitantly. This was all pretty fuckin' weird.

IZZY

"So, the whole story is, my guild -- me -- we were being controlled by this fucking hydra. This dragon bitch living in a volcano. The Sanguine Queen. I made this deal with her for power, and it put me under her thumb. And I was ... ah, I was really fucking tired, and I didn't want to do it anymore, but I didn't see a way out.

"Enter Goro fucking Voronin. This motherfucker --" she grinned -- "he meets me, and after we bang, and we cuddle, and we chat, I tell him about the Queen. And y'know what you do? God, you just fucking immediately decide, oh, yeah, I'm gonna save this bitch. And I was like, Goro, no. Fucking stop. Chill. It's a hydra. It'll eat you. I mean, that was her whole deal, no joke, the Queen was trapped in that volcano for three hundred years or some shit, and she was hungry. And I was like, Goro, don't get fucking eaten by a hydra, that would suck.

"And you were like, nah, I got this. And you know what, you crazy bastard? You did. You fucking slapped that goddamn hydra and you murdered the shit out of it. You saved the girl. You knew me like a goddamn week and you slapped a hydra for me. The biggest softie. And a badass on top of that. You're a goddamn catch, doll."

LINA

Goro frowned, considering. That all sounded pretty fucking outlandish. "Guess I don't know enough to argue, but yeah fuckin' right."

IZZY

"Oh, yeah, no, totally," she agreed. "Sounds like bullshit. But listen, just today, you got attacked by a fucking dude who turned into a snake, and then you lost all your memory, so like, what the fuck, man."

LINA

"That one did eat me. I don't remember how I escaped." He frowned deeper.

IZZY

"Oh, gross. You need to stop picking fights where you can get eaten," she commented. "I bet ..." She tapped a finger against her lips. "I bet you either sliced your way outta the fucker, with one of those six dozen knives you keep on you, or you teleported out of it."

LINA

"I can't fuckin' teleport."

IZZY

"Pfft, yeah, you can. You just forgot."

LINA

"Shit." He ran a hand through his hair. "Man, I musta had it bad for you. Fuckin' going after a hydra? The fuck. I mean -- you do seem real neat."

IZZY

"I am extremely fucking neat. But honestly, doll -- I think you're just like that," she said fondly. "I mean, you didn't marry me."

LINA

"Do I... often go out killing hydras for people? Guess Mishka did say I'm an adventurer."

IZZY

"Well, not hydras, as far as I know. Other shit, though, sure." She nodded.

LINA

"Huh. So I'm a softie, but also a badass. Neat."

IZZY

Morgan grinned at him. "Yeah, babe, that's what I'm saying."

LINA

"Wait, so. How long we known each other?"

IZZY

"Ah, lemme think. We met in ... oh, fuck, you know what, we met on New Year's Eve." She laughed. "There was this party that night that one of my thieves was working, and you guys tracked him down, and he got in touch with me. So we've known each other exactly, like eight months. Wild."

LINA

Goro smiled faintly. Somehow, it felt nice having history like that with someone, even if he couldn't remember it. "Huh. Neat."

IZZY

She nodded. "Yeah, it is. Ohh, hey, how about another story? I'm not in this one, but you're the hero."

LINA

"Mm." Goro grumbled uneasily, shifting around. "I dunno. I..."

IZZY

She nudged him with her shoulder, grinning. "Or we can cuuuddle."

LINA

"Nnn." He frowned and started chewing his nail.

IZZY

Her grin faded to a sad smile. "Hey, it's okay, doll. We can just hang out, or I'll fuck off, if you want, give you some alone time. I'll come back, though."

LINA

He chewed fiercely on his nail for a minute before he managed to get words out again. "Maybe you could, uh. Tell the story, but make it like it's about someone else."

IZZY

"Hmm. I get it. You're humble." She winked at him. "I know a lot of stories. I can just tell you another one." She thought for a moment, quietly, then said, "Okay, but, you know how if someone tells you not to think about pink elephants -- shit, you probably don't know that, actually."

LINA

"Uh?"

IZZY

"So, the saying is that if someone tells you not to think about pink elephants, all you can think about is pink elephants. Point being, now all I can think about is stories that make you sound cool."

LINA

"Pffff." He scrubbed his hands over his face.

IZZY

"The problem is, you're just so damn great, and -- ooh, I was about to say that I love you. Which I do, and we've said that whole thing before, but as far as you know right now, I'm some weirdo you met about fifteen minutes ago, so that would probably be a bit much, huh." She stopped. "Ah. I said it anyway, though, didn't I. Hm."

LINA

"Pfff," he said again. "I mean. It seems like I got people who love me, yeah. I met my mom in there."

IZZY

"Oh, yeah, Amari." She sounded relieved. "Aw, she's great. She's something else."

LINA

"Everyone's saying that, yeah. Seems like I got real lucky. I got a great mom and a great husband and fifteen friends."

IZZY

"Fifteen, huh?" She grinned at him.

LINA

"'S'what Luci said. She's Hansel's daughter. Uh, my stepdaughter, I guess?"

IZZY

"Oh, yeah. Man, that kid's weird. She's neat, though. Hey, she's in the story I was going to tell you," she said thoughtfully. "Maybe I can make it about her, instead, if you want."

LINA

Goro nodded. It was a good idea.

IZZY

"So, I heard this one secondhand," she started. "Luci's got this older brother, right? Jonn. Real shady boy, thief, killer -- he was part of my guild when I was in Skyport. He's great. After I left Skyport, that dickbag church I was telling you about, they plucked him up off the street, trying to get info outta him about me -- I don't fuckin' know why they thought he'd know anything," she admitted. "I don't know all the details, anyway.

"But that kid Luci, she don't fuck around. Jonn got her a message, and she got you for backup, and you and her just fucking marched right into the abbey or whatever the fuck in Skyport. You're both clerics, right? So you just acted like you belonged there. Luci, I don't know if you noticed, but that girl has a hell of a poker face, and you --" she winked -- "got a hell of a silver tongue. So between the two of you, just walked in, got that boy, and walked out. Easy as pie.

"This is the thing I was gonna tell you about memory," she went on. "See, when Jonn worked for me, there was this traitorous bitch in my guild, named ... well, we all called her Blue. And she didn't fuckin' like Jonn, and she went behind my back making him do shit I hadn't signed off on, and to keep him quiet she fucked with his memories -- made him forget he'd even done it. It was upsetting shit, too, shit he didn't wanna do, and when the church got ahold of him, they realized there was some secret shit locked up in his head, and they ... fixed it, I guess." She sounded openly doubtful. "I mean, Jonn didn't want to remember, I guess, and they just wanted to know what he knew. It wasn't like they were doing him a fucking favor."

Morgan paused, looking at Goro, and lifted a hair to brush some of his hair back.

LINA

It was all a little fucking complicated, and Goro wasn't sure he followed, but it sounded pretty cool what him and Luci had done. Assuming Morgan wasn't exaggerating or just making shit up.

"Wonder if the church could fix me," he says. "But... guess they probably might not want to, if I fuckin' hate 'em."

IZZY

She snorted, and kept petting his hair idly. "Nah, doll, I don't think those fuckers can do anything that your mom and your kid can't do."

LINA

"Wait. Wait. I got a fuckin' kid?" He pulled away, staring at her in horror.

IZZY

"Luci!" she said hastily. "Stepkid!"

LINA

"Oh. Oh." He relaxed back into place. "Oh. That girl? Uh, she doesn't seem like she's anyone's kid. Think she's pretty on top of shit on her own. Basically grown."

IZZY

"Oh, yeah, I mean. Whew." Morgan relaxed next to him again. "I don't know, she's ... eighteen, maybe? She's grown." She waved it off. "She's still someone's kid, though. You're Amari's kid."

LINA

"Huh." Goro went over the things he knew again. "Hansel's got two kids. Was he married before?"

IZZY

"Uhh." She squinted. "Oh, buddy, I'm not the one to explain your family to you. I'm kind of on the outside of it, here. Luci and her brother are adopted, though -- Jonn is like, twenty ... five, iuno. They're to old to be his."

LINA

"Huh. Oh." He wondered if he and Hansel had adopted them together, or -- Morgan probably didn't know. "You don't live in the castle. Do you?"

IZZY

"Fuck, nah. I'm, ah --." She stopped herself and cleared her throat. "I actually live pretty far off, right now. See." She scooted upright from her slouch and drew a finger through the soil around a rosebush, sketching out the two halves of the continent. "I'm hanging out over here, in the east, and we're over here. On the west part, right, down south. Close to the ocean. Ah, man, someone should take you to see it -- fuck, you know what's cool? You get to experience shit for the first time again." She grinned. "Silver lining, doll."

LINA

"Maybe." Didn't seem much fun when fuckin' everything was the first time, but. "Wait. How the hell did you get -- ah, let me guess. You teleported."

IZZY

She clicked her tongue and winked at him. "Yeah. I can't do it myself, mind you. I'm not as cool as you are." She nudged him with her shoulder. "Your pal Ombre came and picked me up."

LINA

"Psh. Not very cool if I can't remember how to do it." He squinted and scratched his head. "Luci asked if I remembered my prayers, and then she just... rattled off an example one, and I didn't understand a goddamn word. Wasn't any language I speak."

IZZY

"Hm." Morgan looked at him for a moment, thinking. "You know, one time, you told me that you're, like ... one of Mask's favorite guys. I'm pretty sure you're full of shit, but still. I bet you can still do some stuff, even if you don't remember all the words to ask the big guy nicely. I don't know anything about magic, though," she admitted.

LINA

"Me?" Goro looked down at himself incredulously. "One of Mask's favorites? Yeah. Full of shit, I think."

IZZY

"Pfft. Well, you can fucking bring dead people back to life," she said. "And you can just fuckin' talk to the guy, and he'll give you spooky one word answers. I mean, it's kind of impressive."

LINA

Goro blinked, and jerked a little, like he was startled. A chill went down his back.

"Oh," he said. He twisted his head around to look at the roses on the bush right behind him. And... he felt something. Deep, somewhere, his heart or his gut or his soul or something. Maybe all three.

It wasn't that he remembered. He just noticed something that was already there, that he hadn't noticed before.

"You're right," he said. That was fucking weird. He wasn't sure how he knew; he just did.

IZZY

"Of course I am, doll," Morgan said easily.

LINA

"Huh." He faced forward again and settled back into place. "I can raise the motherfucking dead?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh." She leaned her head against his shoulder and relaxed. "I told you, you're a badass."

LINA

"Sounds pretty fucking outlandish," he said. "I'm gonna have to ask someone else to back you up. No offense."

IZZY

"Oh, yeah, no, I don't blame you," she agreed. "Hey, not to overwhelm you, but in that story where you saved me from the fuckin' hydra, I was like, fuck you, Goro, if the hydra dies, I'll die -- that being how the deal I'd made with her worked -- and you were like, psh, don't even worry about it, I can raise the dead. I was like, fuck you, Goro, you're full of shit. You weren't, though."

LINA

"Oh." Goro chewed his nail and stared thoughtfully into space. "Huh. Am I always that confident?"

IZZY

"Huh. I don't know. Kind of?" she said. "I dunno if I'd say confident so much as impulsive, maybe. I mean, brave, for sure, you bet."

LINA

Goro mumbled discontentedly. "Not anymore."

IZZY

"Hey." She patted his knee. "Shit, man, who would be? You don't know what's going on, right now. You know, me and you, we have this thing in common. We like knowing shit. Because knowledge is power, right? So you probably feel ..." She shrugged. "Kind of powerless, right now. But it's all right, doll. You haven't got to be powerful all the time, and know everything, when you've got people to watch your back. You can hang out, you know, out here with the roses. You don't have to be brave."

LINA

Goro didn't say anything for a while. He kept chewing his nail. "That's real sweet. You don't seem like you'd be sweet. You're like, trying to act all cool and shit. But you're sweet. Must be why I'm friends with you."

IZZY

"Gross," she said. "That's gross. Fuck you. I'm not sweet."

She was grinning, though.

LINA

Goro thought about leaning his head on her shoulder. Seemed like it might be kinda nice, and it also felt natural, in a way; probably 'cause of how touchy-feely she was being with him.

But... ah, he didn't know what to think. Was all too fuckin' weird.

He patted her awkwardly on the back.

IZZY

"Hey," she said solemnly. "You're a married man. Don't get carried away."

LINA

"Pfff." He grinned and swatted her with the back of his hand.

IZZY

She grinned back and bumped him with her shoulder.

LINA

"Thanks for... explaining stuff, and keeping me company and all." He hugged his knees to his chest and rested his forehead against them. "I, um. Think I just wanna not talk for a little bit."

IZZY

She hooked her thumb over her shoulder. "You want me to take off? I mean, I can be quiet. Promise. Or I can go."

LINA

Goro shook his head. "You don't gotta go." Please don't go was more like what he was feeling, but he didn't want her to feel obligated, and he didn't wanna sound desperate.

IZZY

"Cool, 'cause I don't want to," she said, pleased. She settled in comfortably against his side.

LINA

Goro leaned against her, just slightly. Enough to give himself plausible deniability.

It was getting late, and the air was cooling off. It was refreshing to him -- he felt like he'd been running on hot, scared and frantic and moving all day. He didn't know if she felt the same, though. "You ain't cold, are you?" he asked, not lifting his head from his knees.

IZZY

She shrugged a shoulder. "Eh, little chilly. It's a lot warmer over in Calimport. I'm not really dressed for this. You gotta cuddle me to keep me warm," she teased, then quickly added, "I mean, you don't."

LINA

"Pfff." After a moment, he unhooked one arm from around his legs and put it over her shoulders.

IZZY

She snickered delightedly and snuggled up against him.

LINA

Goro managed to settle a little. He wished he could just shut off his fucking brain -- well, that'd probably mean sleep, but he didn't wanna sleep.

Just sitting quietly helped, though. Smelling the fragrance of flowers on the air, listening to the sounds of nature around him -- couldn't remember what any of the birds or bugs were called, but it didn't matter. It felt nice.

"You can talk, some more, if you want," he offered, once he felt like he'd had enough of a break.

IZZY

Morgan made a sound like she'd been holding her breath and finally gasped for air. "Oh, thank Mask."

LINA

Goro snorted and snickered. "Talker, huh?"

IZZY

"Hey, usually you are, too." She laughed. "Can't get words in edgewise at each other. It's all good, though. I was thinkin'." She straightened up a little. "You want me to teach you how to play a game? Dragonchess. I don't think we ever played, but I bet you're good at it, even if you don't remember all the rules."

LINA

"Uh. Okay."

IZZY

"I've got a little travel board." She shifted around to pull a little checkered, flat box out of her hip bag. "I don't really get to play anymore. I used to play with, uh, this other friend. She was good at it."

She slid the box open to dump out small ivory and obsidian pieces carved to look like horses, dragons, soldiers, and other little things.

"Here, you take the white ones. Line'em up how I am."

LINA

Goro was puzzled by her having a whole fucking game set in her bag, but sure. He watched carefully and lined his pieces up to mirror hers.

IZZY

"So, it's a strategy game," she said, as she lined her pieces up. "The goal is to capture your enemy's king, which is this guy back here." She tapped the top of her king. "You capture pieces by moving onto the same space as them -- even if your guy is way smaller, like one of these pawns --" she tapped one of them -- "he can still capture a knight, or a bishop, if he gets the drop on them." She indicated the taller pieces. "It's cool like that. Equal opportunity, yeah?"

LINA

Goro nodded. He curled up again, but hunched over the board, intrigued.

IZZY

"They all move in different ways, though, and the little guys are at a disadvantage, there," she admitted. "They can only move one square at a time. Any direction, though." She demonstrated, then moved onto the back row. "Then these guys, the castles, they can move as far as they want, but only in a straight line, right? They're chargers. The knights are weird janky bastards -- they move like this, like an L shape." She showed him, tapping the piece against the wooden board with each square. "Tricky fuckers. You have to keep an eye on them. I like'em." She grinned and looked up to make sure he was following along.

LINA

"How do I know you're not fudging the rules to make it easier for you to win, huh?"

IZZY

She flicked a finger between the two sides, grinning a little more. "We've got the same pieces, doll. How would I do that, huh, you suspicious motherfucker?"

LINA

"Dunno, but you seem pretty goddamn crafty." He grinned a little.

IZZY

"Sweet talk ain't gonna get you anywhere."

LINA

"Psh." He ducked his head and poked at piece with a pointy top. "What do these ones do?"

IZZY

"Those are bishops. They're like the castles -- they can move as far as they want. Except they go diagonal." She demonstrated. "You can remember that because the church is always crooked."

LINA

Goro snorted and tapped the piece next to the king. "This the queen, or whatever?"

IZZY

"Hey, hey, you're gettin' ahead of me, here," she chided. "I didn't even finish telling you about the knights. They're my favorites, see -- not just because they're sideways motherfuckers, but because they can jump over other pieces." She moved her left-hand knight over the front line, in front of her pawns. "No other piece can do that -- if some guy is in your way, you either have to make him move, if he's an ally, or kill him, if he's an enemy. Knights say fuck that. They find the third option. Crafty bitches."

LINA

"Are you friends with Mishka?" Goro asked suddenly.

IZZY

"Huh? Uh, not really." She blinked at him. "We hung out at ... well, at your wedding, a little."

LINA

"Seems like you guys would get along. Or maybe not. Maybe you'd be too busy trying to jump over each other."

IZZY

She laughed a little, awkwardly, and turned the knight over in her hand. "Yeah, you know, um. Maybe. Knights aren't real good at ... meeting other pieces, you know what I mean? They move on different paths from all of the others. Even each other."

LINA

"Uh. What's that mean? You guys exes?"

IZZY

"What?" She squinted at him. "God, no. I mean, he only likes men, for one thing. I know 'cause I tried to hit on him."

LINA

"Pfff. Alright, so, you're just saying you're lonely."

IZZY

She scoffed. "I mean. Listen. Hey, how do you feel about vampires?"

LINA

"Uh? I dunno. I don't know how I feel about anything."

IZZY

She narrowed her eyes and pointed at him. "Hm. Yeah, true. Fair. Good point." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, yeah, this is the queen. She's the most powerful piece on the board. She can move like a castle and a bishop put together -- straight lines and diagonals, and far as she wants. She still can't move over pieces or in the neat little L, though."

LINA

Goro frowned. "You know something you don't wanna tell me, or what?"

IZZY

She frowned back, more disappointed than anything. Then she reached back into her bag and pulled out a little leather-bound book with a multitude of colorful ribbons sticking out of it. She held it like it was precious. "I don't wanna bum you out," she said guiltily. "I'm not going to try to lie to you, either, though."

LINA

"What?" he said nervously. "What is it?"

IZZY

She waved the book a bit. "Uh, you made me this. It's all this information you found out for me, about vampires, 'cause, see, what I'm doing over in Calisham is trying to become a vampire. It's complicated," she admitted. "And I might ... change, when it happens. You didn't want me to do it at first, but then you surprised me, and ..." She tapped the book, and looked down at it for a moment, and back up to him with a sigh. "I'm sorry, doll, now I'm just bumming myself out. This just might be one of the last few times we see each other before that, and now some bullshit has gone and changed you. That wasn't ..." She looked back down. "That wasn't the deal. It's just shitty. I miss you."

LINA

"Oh." Goro looked away, out across the garden. He tugged his robes up to cover the bottom half of his face, and fidgeted. "Oh."

IZZY

"Yeah." She grimaced. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make it weird."

LINA

"Naw. Naw. It's okay." He picked at some grass. He kinda felt like crying, which seemed stupid, since it wasn't like he could even remember any of this.

IZZY

She scooted around the little board to bump his shoulder with hers.

LINA

He bumped her back.

IZZY

"Anyway, I'm gonna stick around until you're back on your feet," she said. "Your friends are probably going to have to go on some --" she waved a hand and rolled her eyes -- "zany adventure to make things right, so I'll hang back with you to keep you company and shit. Cool?"

LINA

He nodded eagerly, tossing her a grateful look. "Then, if they fix me -- you'd -- we'd get to see each other again. Before the vampire thing."

IZZY

"Yeah, absolutely," she said firmly. "And that's a when, by the way. When they fix you."

LINA

"Mm." Goro tried to sound confident. He picked at some more grass.

IZZY

She leaned her head onto his shoulder, again. "How about another story?" she asked quietly. "A nice one."

LINA

"'Kay."

IZZY

"So, once upon a time," she said, "there was this wood elf. His name was Luka. And anyone you could talk to who knew him always said that he was just ... the best fucking guy. He had this great family, but he really wanted to see the world, too. So one day, he decided to pack up, and go out, and ... make something good with his life."

LINA

"Pfff. Yeah?"

IZZY

"Uh-huh. And, man, you know, you're not supposed to skip to the end, but that motherfucker went out and made the best thing."

[end]