#rawlithkhaj

The nightmares close in when you’re not around, Kriijo. 

Brielle, as ever, is not a morning person. She also doesn’t expect a cautious knock from Kriijo, and almost ignores it in favor of more sleep. It is, thus, an eventual open door. Brielle’s hair is poking every which way, her clothes are still being un-twisted from sleeping.

Kriijo feels like one of the few safe places left. How weird is that? After everything that’s happened, recently, you would think it’s the last place I’d feel alright. But, whether or not it’s warranted, it’s just nice to have someone I can relax around.

With Sparrow gone, the work is doubled. This one has a moment to spare for the Listener, of course.

Good. With me. [He nods his chin towards the adjacent corridor and heads up towards the Night Mother’s chamber on the upper level. It’s usually quiet up here, and tonight is no exception. As a formality, Az regards her with a polite nod before he turns to face Kriijo.] 

Yes, alright.

Brielle is absolutely lovely.  I mean that literally and figuratively.  She does wonders with machines and she always knows how to fix what’s broken.   She’s a wonderful friend.  Supportive.  Patient.  I’d like to be more like Brielle.  We should all strive to be a bit more like Brielle. 

Kriijo is terrifying, and especially so when he thinks you have a weak grip and shoddy footwoork.  All the others seem to get on well with him, though, so it must just be me.  I wish we got on better, but I suppose that won’t happen until I work up the courage to actually go and speak with him. 

It’s strange having Jean back again.  I feel as though we’ve all been tip-toeing around the mammoth in the room.  He died.  He was gone for months.  I’d already done my grieving, and then he came back.  And now he actually looks as though he could kill someone.  I didn’t know Bretons could be so muscular.  He’s bigger than I am.   What did they do to him?

Azarath doesn’t like me much, I don’t think.  He keeps me around because I’m useful, but I don’t think he’d mourn for very long if I didn’t come back from an assignment.  I suppose he has to be that way, though, doesn’t he?  He wouldn’t be a very good Listener if he got hung up every time someone ended up dead.  Especially not in this business. 

Brielle sighed, waiting outside Kriijo’s door for probably a little too long. She hadn’t wanted to ask him for this favor. It made Sparrow’s being gone feel permanent, and, as much as she didn’t want her friend to leave, she was afraid for her to stay. That meant finding a replacement for the work she needed to do, and Kriijo was the best option.

In one hand she clutched a small leather satchel. It had taken a good deal of wheedling to get it out of M’khali, mostly because he didn’t want to lose his position as Rugar’s apprentice, but he’d finally sold her some moon sugar. It would help to put Kriijo in a good mood, maybe, but really she wanted to at least relax for some of this conversation. She’d spent too much time lately, cooped up in her workshop, sulking. She missed him.

Brielle is my closest confidant. That’s as close as I’ll ever come to favorites. I admit members to the Dark Brotherhood based on merit and, when they occur, on the recommendations of the Night Mother. 

Brielle is a gods damned genius, and this shithole wouldn’t run half as well without her. That said, she could stand to grow up a little. However, butting heads is healthy, and she has been known to play den mother now and again so that I don’t have to. She and Nazir might as well be the fucking spine of this place. 

Maksim is a suck-up if I’ve ever seen one. He’s too cutthroat and out for himself for me to give him any more responsibility around here, but I see potential for him to learn some humility. He’s young. Once he learns to play to his strengths and rely on his companions, he’ll do very well.