fandomhighdorms | Caelum Campfire, Wednesday Evening

Entry tags:

Caelum Campfire, Wednesday Evening

Evening found her sprawled on the ground in front of her cabin’s campfire, which, thanks to her, was blazing merrily. She was at somewhat of a loss as to what to do for the evening, really.

Sleep was considered, and then disregarded. No doubt she’d fall asleep eventually anyway, but there was no need to rush it. If it wasn’t for the fact that she had three classes tomorrow, Ino would’ve headed straight back into the preserve for more training.

But, no. Stupid classes.

Ino stared at the fire and wished for some of Reno’s booze. She totally should’ve grabbed a bit of it for… safekeeping, yes, that was it. Safekeeping.

And, you know, drinking. Note to self: Steal Reno's booze at some point.

Yes, she could always buy her own, but the stealing bit would totally be fun if she could pull it off. Hmmmm.

[Open as a campfire is!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The low crackle of the fire combined with Cassandra's naturally quiet movements to make her approach almost completely soundless. She stepped up next to Ino and settled down beside her without saying anything.

Ino glanced up and over curiously, raising herself on to her elbows and offering Cassandra a smile. "Hey, you. How've you been?"

Cassandra flashed a quick grin back. "Good, I think." She cocked her head, "You?"

"I'm alright," she said vaguely then, knowing that Cassandra would be able to tell that she'd been training hard and recently added, "busy though."

The training was worth a nod of approval. "Good."

Then, "Why now?" Not that Ino hadn't been training pretty hard before, but something seemed different.

That got a sideways glance. "I've been thinking."

And really, that about covered it. Up, then under, duck and spin. Each kick, each punch, helped her attempt to unravel the mess her thoughts had become lately.

Understanding blossomed across Cassandra's face. "Oh. I do it that way too."

It was so much easier to think when the body was distracted.

"Did it all night," she confessed, reassured at the understanding there, "and most of the day yesterday. Still wasn't enough."

Another nod. "Some things take a lot of thinking."

Cassandra's lip quirked twitched downward for a moment, "It took me months my first time. And about three weeks when I killed my mother."

"I'm planning on heading out to train tomorrow after classes," Ino said, "I don't have to show up again 'til Tuesday morning, so I'm hoping that'll help. If it helps earlier, then I might show up sooner but, if not..."

A beat.

"You killed your mother?" Curiously.

Cassandra nodded. "Sometimes you just need to be alone. Just... not forever." Years sometimes. She had needed three before she was ready for people again herself.

Her lip twitched again. "Yes." It wasn't a happy memory. "It's all she ever asked."

"Four-ish days isn't forever," Ino said lightly, "and even just one day helped. I didn't argue with Cable-san today."

Mind, they hadn't talked much either.

"...she asked for it?"

Some people might tell Ino that if she wasn't back in four days they'd come looking. Cassandra wouldn't say that because she wouldn't look. Sometimes four days isn't enough.

Instead she swallowed and nodded slowly. "She spent her life looking for someone who could do it. I... was the first one who would."

Ino would be glad to know that her intuition had paid off. Telling Cassandra of her plans wasn't quite like telling anyone else. Cassandra got things like that, wouldn't try to stop her. It was something she doubted most of her other friends would really put up with.

Sometimes you had to fight.

She considered Cassandra carefully, before tugging out a small bag of mini-marshmallows--sugar was totally what she needed, clearly--and offering the bag to her. "Why?"

That was two question. Cassandra shrugged and answered both.

"She wanted to die because she was tired of killing. I think she was tired of what she had become." She paused and when she resumed her voice was barely a whisper, "I did it because she was my mother. And it's all she ever asked for."

Ino shrugged a little, not dismissively, just... thinking.

"...what did you regret most about doing that?"

"Killing her." Cassandra said simply.

"I'd promised never to do it again."

...

...

"Because it was your mother?" she tried. Because, uh, why else? The woman had asked for it, geez.

Cassandra shook her head, "It's... different for me. I... see people die and I know how they feel." Literally. "I promised I wouldn't do it again, but I did."

She still felt guilty about it too.

"Yeah," Ino said, "I hear that's life. And promises like that are just asking to get broken. The bad things don't go away just because you don't want to play anymore."

"Do you think it's bad that I don't feel that way? About people dying?"

Cassandra thought about it for a bit. Eventually she shrugged. "I... don't know. I can... see why people want to kill. See why people don't think it's bad."

"I don't know if they're wrong or not."

"That's a very honest answer," she observed.

That drew a confused blink, and then a slight grin. "I... forget to lie most of the time. No one can do it to me, so I forget I can do it to them."

"Hey, not lying is totally a good trait to have around friends, I wasn't arguing 'bout it."

Cassandra nodded. "It is easier."

"Sometimes," she conceded. "And sometimes it's useful."

...

"Speaking of that, can you, like, not tell anyone that I'm heading out all weekend to train? I mean, I know you just said that you don't tend to lie but..."

Yeah. Or something.

Cassandra's grin widened. "I'm good with secrets. People don't usually ask me things anyway."

"Fools then," she said, with a grin, "because you see so much. Thanks."

An almost invisible shrug accompanied Cassandra's response, "I trust you."

Ino twisted so she could stare up at the sky. "Why?"

Cassandra blinked and shrugged. "You're loyal."

Simple as that.

"Even when I don't really know where my loyalties are?"

Another shrug, "You'll figure it out. As long as you're satisfied with them... that's good enough."

"Maaaan," she sighed, "everything's so confusing, all mixed up in my head, and I still have to get through classes tomorrow before I can even do anything about it."

Cassandra thought about this.

"Can I help?" Maybe she could pretend to be Ino in one of her classes...

She seriously considered it. "No," Ino sighed, "It's probably smart at least for me to show up to the first class of the semester, you know? Even if I don't want to."

"Okay."

Cassandra nodded firmly. "Then you can think."

"Then I can think," she said, sounding almost wistful. "Soon."

"Soon," Cassandra agreed.

Then, "Let me know what you decide?" It's a request, not a demand.

"Maybe if I decide anything worth sharing."

It was the best she could offer.

Cassandra gave Ino another nod.

That was good enough.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Caelum Campfire, Wednesday Evening

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.

Re: NFB, please.