(no subject)

[lastgunslinger]

Roland's standing under the stairs in the cargo bay, by the weight bench. His back is to the door. He's looking into the infirmary...or looking inward, maybe.

Comments

[aj_crawley]

A shrug, and a wry grin.

"I'm not planning on going anywhere soon."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland's mouth twitches a little.

"Then the next time one of the Endless shows up in the bar, tell them to tell the First that I said hello."

The First.

"And the Second."

[aj_crawley]

He salutes ironically.

"Will do."
Andy Crowley: Messenger Demon, many other functions.
"Any other messages?"

[lastgunslinger]

Roland considers.

And then smiles.
"Give my love to Jen-really-Genevieve-but-don't-call-me-that-or-I-will-hurt-you Giry, Milliwaes Sedai of the Paisley Ajah."
"Send a note through the bar, mayhap, if she doesn't still come in -- tell Moiraine I said hello."

[aj_crawley]

All of a sudden, his eyes widen.

"Oh, zāogāo - forget my own head next, I dunno..."

He fumbles in various pockets, until he locates a piece of paper, folded neatly into quarters, and hands it over.

Inside, in a neat and graceful, script:

"In the Garden, I told you once that there are things worth remembering. You are remembered still. Light illumine and protect you.

-- Moiraine."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland reads it, and looks up at Crowley.

"Woman never forgets anything." Shaking his head.

He refolds it, and puts it in the inner pocket of his

(browncoat)

duster.

"Say thankya."

[aj_crawley]

He looks at Roland a moment, fingers tracing absently along the scar that divides his right cheek.

There's a lot of things Crowley thought to himself he'd say, if he ever saw Roland - or any of the people he'd known - again.

He lowers himself to the floor, back to the crates, and crosses long legs at the ankle in front of him.

[lastgunslinger]

"How'd you get it?"

It's almost abrupt.

[aj_crawley]

His fingers drift up to it again.

"Tet. Anonymous donations, you know? Had to go myself once. Jumpy new recruit caught me polishing my sunglasses," a vague gesture indicating Crowley's slitted eyes, "thought I was a can-toi."

He snorts at the memory, shaking his head.

"Wouldn't've scarred, only they caught on a while back that sometimes my lot and Blue Sun work together - short-term goals're the same, sometimes. Started soaking their bullets in holy water."

Good thing I'm fast, he doesn't say.

[lastgunslinger]

He doesn't have to say it.

Quietly: "Say sorry. Ought to have known better than to turn out someone as green as that, though I gather Tet's not as established in this 'verse as in the other."

[aj_crawley]

"Well, was a routine drop and collection, not a raid or anything."

Pause.

"Almost wet himself when he figured it out."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland snorts. "Don't suppose he'll be making that mistake again."

[aj_crawley]

"Good old Karl. Still, we were all young once. Er, in a manner of speaking."

[lastgunslinger]

"Karl."

Flat disbelief.

And a pause.

"...makes sense. He was the one who greeted us on Taschen. And he was there on Praxed. Said he'd gotten a promotion. Still young. Don't think he understands what it's all about, really."

[aj_crawley]

He hmphs quietly.

"'Spose it's just hard to wrap your head around the concept of, you know, all the universes ending. I mean... you can understand it on a... theoretical level. But it'd be hard to really comprehend, you know? Was difficult for me to believe the Apocalypse was coming until it was almost on top of us."

[lastgunslinger]

Roland nods. "Aye. Had to convince a few folken of it in the bar." Pause. "Karl told us he joined up to get his brother out of the Academy. To do what he could."

[aj_crawley]

A short silence.

"I didn't know."

[lastgunslinger]

Without any humor at all:

"One does what one can."