(no subject)

[lastgunslinger]

He'd found an interesting-looking book in the Library -- More Tales From The Corner, But Only If I Don't Find A Better Title, by a man with the interesting name of F.X. Toole.

So now Roland is sitting in his chair by the fountain in the Garden, reading, with the grey kitten batting at the roses floating on the surface of the water.

Morning-glories bloom around the bottom of the fountain.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

She does not move, but the air around her suddenly sings with tension as Moiraine focuses on Joe Manco.

Having been in my head... Read it, too.

[lastgunslinger]

"Man changes when he grows up."

His eyes glitter, like the hawk's.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

"You've done a heap more growing than either of them," Joe observes idly.

"This really about his fuck-up, or your feelings?"

[lastgunslinger]

Roland is silent.

"My feelings."

He wants both -- the Tower, and a life. He can only have one.

Cuthbert doesn't have to make that choice.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe's silent for a minute himself. "Was hopin' it was the other one. I had an answer for that."

He shakes his head. "Jealousy's a stupid, pisenous emotion that you can't argue with, Roland. I can't help you this time."

[lastgunslinger]

"So what was your answer for the other part?"

Arms still folded.

He's curious.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe shrugs. "You're the dinh, and an old man. He's not. If he fucks up, you tell him so and you teach him better. You ain't students together anymore."

"Now, keepin' your feelings out of it, that'd be the bastard. But then, that's what you wanted him to do, so I reckon you must be up to it." There's a glint in Joe's eye.

[lastgunslinger]

That's maybe the route to go, in talking about this. Teaching. Instructing.

Roland nods. "You say true."

David turns his head to watch Joe better.

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe smirks at the hawk, then turns more soberly to Roland.

"But it ain't gonna change that you're jealous, and that he don't want you to be."

"They want you to be happy. For them, and in yourself. Mebbe you can't be. We've both got a lot of sins to bear. Makes it hard to be happy, mebbe. But at least you can be a man about it."

"Catch." He flicks the packet of cigars in Roland's direction, past the bird.

[lastgunslinger]

Roland catches it. David looks up with sudden interest.

He'd known Joe wouldn't approve. But he'd also known that Joe would understand how he thought.

Diplomatic doubletalk is bullshit, sometimes.

"Why Africa?"

[joewithnoname.livejournal.com]

Joe steps towards the cliffside. "Was a war there. Picked up bad habits in that place." He smirks, and shrugs. "'Least I was on the losin' side." And steps off the cliff.

As he falls, the poncho flares behind him, taking the shape of wings...and he melts away into a hawk, banking and levelling off.

[lastgunslinger]

The cigars go into the pocket of his shirt.

In a swift movement Roland thrusts his arm towards the sky. David flies to join his brethren, the Joe-hawk among them for a moment before Roland turns away, and to Moiraine.

"I wonder why he said it would be a long walk, if he was going to do that." Musing.

[blue_ajah]

"It would appear that he has learned a number of things," is the calm answer, as she watches him.

[lastgunslinger]

"So it would."

Calm.

"I am sorry you had to see some of that."

His eyes never leave her face.

[blue_ajah]

"I am not."

There is no hesitation.

[lastgunslinger]

"No?" Dryly -- and politely -- incredulous.

"What did you learn, then?"

Because that's the only reason to watch two friends fight. To get information.

[blue_ajah]

"A number of things, perhaps."

Some of which she will not speak of, or at least not yet, but her tone is calm.

"It is easier to make mistakes when one is close to another, and such mistakes are often the hardest to forgive."

Whether this is a separate observation or a lesson, she does not say.

[lastgunslinger]

"True enough."

Roland traces the marks left in the skin of his hand by David's talons.

[blue_ajah]

She watches him in silence for a moment, then,

"I would ask what you intend to do when you return, Roland."

[lastgunslinger]

"The job." Calm. "I intend to do the job. Joe is right. The least I can do is behave myself." A small smile. "So I will do the job."

[blue_ajah]

There is a long silence, and then Moiraine sighs and nods, once.

"Light send it will be enough."

[lastgunslinger]

"It will be."

Roland refuses to entertain any other possibility.

[blue_ajah]

She nods again, and glances up to the birds circling in the sky briefly.

"Would you wish to return to the Garden, perhaps?"

[lastgunslinger]

Roland considers.

"I'd return to Milliways, if it's not any trouble, I think."

[blue_ajah]

"It is no trouble, Roland."

Gracefully, Moiraine rises from her seat on the rock and holds out her hand to him once more.