The Stories We Keep Secret

[losthunter]

Hunter has received a few phone calls after completing his memorial to Kendra, and getting the opportunity to display the artwork in his dimension. His goal of finding the other people who might have had Kendra affect their lives had been successful. And now he is ready to go speak to them personally.

But first, he didn't want to go alone. And at the same time, he didn't want those he was meeting to know that he didn't trust them. So he called Faris to join him in the adventure. Hopefully he would be able to put more of Kendra's memory to peace by doing this.

Comments

[losthunter]

"We encountered five other versions of fairytales. Do you really want to go there?" Hunter teases Jim.

[boldygoing]

Jim chuckles a little in response. "Depends on the fairytale. Not all of them are bad or depressing. One of my favorites has always been the one about stone soup."

[losthunter]

"The community comes together to bring what they have out of their cupboards, so the whole community can eat." Hunter can figure out why Jim can relate to that particular tale.

"I think we can live up to that one."

[boldygoing]

"Yeah." Jim had already been fond of that story before living through the famine on Tarsus IV, but now he holds it all the more important.

Mostly he just tries not to think of the reason.

He also doesn't want to keep Hunter awake if the other man needs his sleep, so he doesn't immediately ask any more questions about his trip today, before the whole thing was ruined by the curse.

[losthunter]

Hunter is finding that it is difficult to keep his eyes open. He needs a good nights rest. An honest nights rest. And to know it is in the arms of the man he loves, and who loves him back, it just is a nice reassurance.

"Tomorrow, Faris and I will tell you about everything we experienced."

"Right now... let's sleep." He will steal one more kiss from Jim before sleep takes him.

[boldygoing]

"That sounds like a plan," Jim says, returning the kiss. He's not terribly tired, but he is more than content to sit quietly as Hunter gets the rest he needs, with more than enough to think about to keep his mind occupied as his body rests.

[losthunter]

Hunter will rest deeply for nearly six hours. There are no dark thoughts that disturb his rest. And when he does awaken, he feels refreshed.

And a little stronger.

Waking up with Jim in his arms is even better. "Morning handsome..."

[boldygoing]

Jim does manage to nap for an hour or two somewhere in there, but he honestly hasn't been sleeping well for several months, since the events that put him in the hospital. But no nightmares have disturbed him this time, and he smiles at Hunter once the other man is awake.

"Good morning. How're you feeling?"

[losthunter]

"Stronger. And on a better path than before." Hunter strokes his hand through Jim's hair again. "Despite the ending, the journey was good for me."

[boldygoing]

"It sounds like things got pretty exciting for you yesterday," Jim agrees. He's still curious, still new to all this talk about magic and fairytales that are apparently real, but he also doesn't want to push. Besides, Hunter just woke up.

"I too am rested," Faris pipes up from his position on Hunter's chest, and the K'da drops from Hunter's exposed skin onto the floor, now that he can do so without disturbing the two humans.

[losthunter]

"I got to meet a lot of new people. New friends. People who had an aspect of Kendra in their lives."

"She was not known as Kendra in all of their lives. She wasn't even a 'she' for all of them." Hunter notes softly.

"I am glad you feel better Faris. Feel free to add your own opinion on our adventure."

[boldygoing]

"She wasn't?" Jim repeats, a little surprised to hear that Kendra would appear as anything other than female. Mostly because all the little girls they met during their trip back in time were clearly... well, girls. The names being different comes as no surprise, however.

"I shall," Faris agrees, stretching out his paws and back, and curling his whiplike tail to loosen up the joints. "As one who knows little of magic or oracles, the experience was an interesting glimpse into a world I do not know. All persons involved displayed distinct talents that had been gifted to them."

[losthunter]

"Each of the people that we spoke to... had spoken of challenges in their own life. Most had suffered some kind of abuse before meeting Kendra's aspect." Hunter paused for a moment.

"Most also spoke about how, once they were given support and guidance from Kendra's aspect, that she disappeared out of their lives."

Hunter paused again. "Most of them also spoke about making a romantic connection in their lives. Someone who took over that role of providing support and guidance..."

[boldygoing]

Now it makes all the more sense why those doubts plagued Hunter so strongly, why he and Faris had spoken about romantic partners, and Jim frowns a little. Sure, Hunter has said that he no longer feels a need to define their relationship, and that the lack of permanence doesn't bother him, but Jim is an expert at pretending everything's fine when it's not.

"And you don't have that in common."

[losthunter]

Hunter can guess where Jim's mind has gone. His mind has gone the same route.

"My dad was tough on me. But I was never abused..." He has to clarify that there is one more connection that is missing. One more thing that had made him question things.

"But... as for the relationships..." Hunter turns to look at Jim again. "It wasn't until you were in my life, when Kendra disappeared. And I know it was because she finally knew that I had someone who could give me that support and guidance."

[boldygoing]

"I can't pretend to understand how she would know that, but... I think you're right," Jim says after a long moment's consideration.

[losthunter]

Hunter smiles softly at Jim's agreement. "All of them, except for Austin, spoke very highly of their time with Kendra's aspect."

"I had to tell a few of them that she wasn't coming back. That she was gone."

Hunter closed his eyes for a moment. "I think that only Austin and I witnessed Kendra fading away. But for him... it was more gradual. Her aspect was in a hospital. And I get the feeling that she faded away in that sterile environment and that he felt helpless to help her."

[boldygoing]

Jim isn't a big fan of hospitals, and he knows neither is Hunter. So the thought of watching somebody like that just... fade away... it's disturbing.

"So he attacked you?"

[losthunter]

"He got really agitated when I tried to ask him questions. Even more agitated when I tried to relate to him."

Hunter touches his arm for a moment. "I never expected him to get violent."

[boldygoing]

"Of course not. Why would you?" Jim hopes that Hunter doesn't blame himself. It's not his fault this Austin guy flipped out.

[losthunter]

"I'm glad that I had Faris there. It helped me to stay calm. To stay focused."

Hunter doesn't know where things will lead, once he goes looking for Austin. But he feels that it is a continuation of the path that he has already taken.

"He may be lost. He may need someone to guide him, now that he doesn't have that aspect of Kendra anymore."

[poetwarrior]

"A commendable attitude, though I still advise caution," Faris says. "If he has harmed you once, he could do so again."

[losthunter]

"I am going to be wary... I won't let him hurt me again. Or anyone else."

[boldygoing]

"Is there any kind of... I don't know... magical defenses you can use?" Jim asks, unsure of how the whole thing works. "Like some kind of... anti-curse protection."

[losthunter]

"That is a good question. And I know just the people to ask about that." Hunter is glad he has Jim here to advise him.

"It is a little reassuring to know that I have time to prepare. To plan out my next steps."