fandomhighdorms | The roof: Dawn, Wednesday morning

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The roof: Dawn, Wednesday morning

It had been a long time since Karal had undertaken formal morning prayers. While the church had many elaborate rituals, Vkandis Sunlord didn't demand them and here, away from the Temple, they became part of whatever else he happened to be doing.

This morning, however, he felt the need.

Pre-dawn saw him standing near the edge of the roof, dressed in formal robes, patiently waiting. When the sun appeared over the horizon, he closed his eyes, reciting the words of the Dawn Rites in low, even tones, head tilted back to follow the rising sun - and he could feel it, even through the clouds - as it moved across the sky.

Gradually, his voice trailed into silence and he simply stood, breathing slow and even, until he opened his eyes and smiled.

Completely at peace, he let his hands fall to his sides and gazed out over the ocean.

[ooc: it is an open roof and an open post.]

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Lana had fallen asleep curled up by Bel's garden very late last night and woke up at the sound of someone's voice. She struggled awake and sat up, listening to Karal saying... some sort of prayer. It was quite beautiful and somehow made her feel a little better about everything.

Karal hadn't noticed there was anyone else on the roof, and after a time, he turned away from the ocean, began to make his slow way back to the stairs. Still smiling, still with the same sense of peace.

[ooc: he was speaking in Karsite, fyi, but I think prayers sound like prayers, no matter the langauge!]

"That was beautiful," Lana said quietly as he got closer, running a hand through her tangled hair.

[OOC: I figured it was.]

He jumped and stared, startled, then blushed when he recognised Lana. "I am sorry, Lana. I thought I was alone."

"I'm sorry," she said, looking embarrassed. "I didn't mean to startle you. Or to eavesdrop."

Smiling, he shook his head. "The Dawn Rites are not a secret. They are open to any who care to listen. As for the other, my inattention was responsible." He looked at her curiously. "Have you been here for long?"

"They're beautiful. I didn't understand the words themselves, but the feeling... was pretty unmistakable."

She ducked her head. "I, um... fell asleep out here last night, I guess."

Okay, yes, so it was totally intentional, but there was no need to go into that and look like an even bigger loser.

"The Dawn Rites have always been a great comfort." But he frowned more, looking puzzled, because that seemed rather odd. "Did a dog fall through your ceiling?" he asked. Okay, it wasn't so likely, but it could happen.

[and I be crashing soon. SP is yay?]

"Did a dog -?" She looked completely confused. "No, nothing like that. I just... no, my room is fine."

[OOC: Sleep well! SP is love!]

"It happened once," he explained, feeling foolish. "To myself and Aravis and I wondered..." He waved a hand. "Of course not. Forgive me, though now I admit to wondering how you came to sleep on the roof."

"I'm... not so comfortable in my room just now," she said slowly. "I haven't really wanted to sleep there."

Karal moved a little closer and crouched down, uncomfortable with standing over her. "Is everything all right?"

"Jim, my boyfriend... His father pulled him out of the school for good. And doesn't want him to have any more contact with me." She rubbed her face tiredly, trying not to get all teary again. "We've been living together for almost a year and to have him just gone forever..."

"I see," he said sympathetically, ignoring that very Karsite part of him that thought living with someone outside of marriage was questionable. This was not Karse. "That must be very difficult for you. You are sleeping on the roof because you do not wish to be reminded of him?"

[ooc: and I'm going to be molasses slow, I'm sorry. Work is very busy.]

"It's not my room, it's ours," she said simply. "I never shared a room with anyone like that before and it's too hard to be in there alone. I... thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with him. Wanted to. And now he's gone for good."

[OOC: No worries. :)]

"I'm certain he would not want you to sleep on the roof," he said firmly. "It cannot be safe, nor healthy for you, though I can understand how being in the room you shared would not be easy." Karal studied her for a moment. "How long ago did he leave?"

"Saturday afternoon," Lana said, biting her lip to try and keep it from trembling.

It was automatic to reach out a hand, offering comfort in the face of her obvious distress. "Have you been sleeping on the roof for all that time?" he asked worriedly.

She shook her head. "Just the last two nights. Didn't mean to last night," she said. "Just kept putting off going back in and putting it off and next thing I knew I heard you up here."

"You need to leave this roof," he finally said, voice gentle but determined. "Not to return to your room, if you feel you cannot, but you must eat and shower and rest somewhere that is not a roof." Expression earnest, he leaned forward. "You need to grieve, but you cannot hide from your life. Have you a friend you can stay with for a time?"

"Maybe," she said quietly, looking embarrassed. "I... you don't need to worry about me. I'll be okay."

Karal wasn't certain she would be, but he just smiled. "I am happy to worry about you, Lana, for your own sake, and because I can't not." He made a gesture that took in his robes and Vkandis medal. "It is part of my calling, my...job, I guess you could say. I must help if I can, and I would like to, if you will let me."

She swallowed hard, trying to swallow her pride as well. "I would like that," she said. "I think I could use some help."

"I think the first thing we should do is find you something to eat. Unless you have been grazing," he said lightly, with a nod at the garden. "You must be hungry." More quietly, he added, "There is no shame in it. It falls to everyone, at one time or another, to need help."

"No, I... when I get upset like this I find it very hard to eat," she admitted. "I really haven't had much of anything since I found out he was leaving."

She nodded. "I tell others that, but it's so hard to feel that I deserve help or to accept it. But I will try."

"That is all anyone can do," he said quietly and stood, holding out his hand. "Breakfast first, and some tea, and we'll go from there."

She nodded and let him help her up. "All right. Thank you."

"You are most welcome, Lana." Karal walked over to hold the door to the stairs open for her. "I am no sort of cook, but I am sure I can manage some toast, at least."

She smiled a little shakily. "Tea and maybe a piece of toast is about all my stomach could manage anyway," she said. "So that sound perfect."

"I haven't been feeling too well, lately," he confided, watching her carefully in case she needed assistance. "So that is perfect for me, as well."

She looked up at him with some concern. "Oh, I'm sorry," she said. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Glory, it's nothing to worry about at all!" He shook his head. "Truly. Shall we?" He gestured down the stairs.

She nodded and led the way down the stairs to get some breakfast.

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The roof: Dawn, Wednesday morning

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