tampered | Log; Complete

Log; Complete

When; Sunday, December 28th
Rating; PG
Characters; Mat

notapreacher
Summary; Mat's luck kicks in again when he finds help while on his way towards Rain.
Log; As he thinks about it now, he should have accepted the offer to have Anita and Reeve walk him to Rain's home. His leg is hurting badly and he knows his limping is getting worse. This always happens right now as he walks long distances. That building did a good number on him. But, he was lucky to survive it falling on him.

He lets out a bitter laugh. Luck. It always comes back to that. Anita said it herself. He's the luckiest man she's ever seen.

In one hand, he has a tall quarterstaff with a long curved, vertical blade on the end. It is now being used as a walking staff so he can keep himself steady. To keep him from too heavily favoring one leg. And Light, it's cold out here. Even with this heavy coat of his.

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He notices the look of susupicion but doesn't say anything about it. Gren took the gloves so there is no need to. A man's reasoning for things is that man's own bloody business. He doesn't even really know this man at all. Another reason why he doesn't need to know.

And that question is a good one.

"I've done plenty of stupid things in my life. But, I gave my word years ago that I would never hurt a woman so long as I could help it. That has gotten me into all sorts of Light forsaken trouble. Almost killed me too. I want to see her safe. I like it when she's happy." He stares at the ground. "And, if it ends up being that the best way to treat her well is to leave her, I'll do that too. Light, I care about her. She's a good friend of mine. I don't want anything to happen to her. And I hope she'll find someone who will love her for who she is someday. It won't be me but I bloody well hope it is someone good."

Looking over at Gren, he smiles a little. He's been told that his ways are so old fashioned here. But he doesn't know any other way to be. This is how he was raised. And really, he doesn't want to change.

"Mind if I ask you something?"

Chivalry is chivalry no matter how the words cloak it and he appreciates that for Rain's sake. She needs someone who'll treat her kindly, no matter what type of relationship they have. It sounds like this one's just friendship, not that it's any of his business. He's not the only one in this City free to pick and choose who he shares with and exactly what he shares.

At Mat's question, he smiles a little bit. "You can ask, but I won't guarantee an answer." Horatio circles three times, then lies down just at his feet. A huff of frosty breath spirals up with every panted exhale the dog makes. Bu and Apolline pace, but stay close. It's cold for them too, and they're much smaller dogs than Horatio.

"I don't think this one is too personal. Anyways, you said you were once a solier. Did you want to be one?"

He knows that he didn't. If he could go back, he'd find a way to escape it all. That way he'd have never been a general.

Life was easier when things were simple.

Did he really want to be a soldier? Was it his life's dream to travel the solar system armed with a rifle and shoot people on their home planet? No: he's a musician and he always was a musician.

He can answer this one with detached honesty. "I volunteered for it, but no, I didn't really want to be a soldier." Looking down now, he continues. "Did you ever do something that was so much the opposite of anything else you'd ever done, just to be... oh, I don't know, different or spiteful, or maybe because you thought you needed a good jolt or maybe even an escape? That's why I became a soldier. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole."

It's had its few small benefits, he supposes. But no, the military was not for him. It ruined his life.

The opposite of anything else he'd ever done. He had an easy answer to that. "I did. I ran away once. Didn't want to fight and so I left everyone I cared about alone. Even though I knew they would die, I still ran."

To this day, he regrets that.

"Then I came across a group of men who were about to be killed. What a bloody noble fool I was. I went in and led them to a victory. And brought them back to the others to help save them. Those men have been loyal to me since. I'm no military man. I'm a gambler who was raised to be a farmer."

Standing, he takes a couple limping steps to get his leg moving again. "That's just one thing I've done too. It goes to show you that I'm not the most intelligent of people." He smiles over his shoulder at Gren. "I don't even really know you but I'm glad you aren't a soldier anymore. The bloody world needs music more than it does fighting."

Farmer or not, Mat's more of a military man than he is. He never led anyone to anything. It's probably the best thing in the world that he's not a soldier any more. And honestly, he doesn't know about the world but he does know that he needs music more than he needs fighting.

He wasn't a very good soldier. Oh, sure, he obeyed orders and kept safe, kept his comrades as safe as he could. But he was just a Private. Just a grunt. An expendable.

Just another casualty of the military.

"That makes two of us." He stands, goes through the motions of getting Mat supported for the walk again. "I'm glad I'm not a soldier too." Being a soldier gave him hard edges where there had only been soft ones before; it made him a fatalist where he'd been a daydreamer, it showed him a harsh and ugly side of life he'd been protected from since he was a child. He wasn't prepared for it in the least, and he really doesn't want to think about it right now.

"Horatio. Apolline. Bu. Let's go to Rain's house." As if they know exactly what he's saying, the dogs move off up the path then circle back excitedly: they're going to lead the way. They're smarter than he is.

"You three, let's go that way." He points in a random direction. It's off the path but his luck hasn't led him the wrong way yet. A glance is thrown Gren's way. "Is that alright with you?"

He can't wait to get his memories back. Then he'll know exactly where to go. They're all coming back rather quickly but he wishes they would do that faster. It would be less of a worry then. Less of an annoyance.

And he really would like to sleep again.

"I'll leave it up to you since they're your dogs."

"If that's where she lives, it's okay with me. I haven't been to her house before." If they really do end up lost, he knows someone who can find them without much trouble.

Still supporting Mat, they make their way through the trees and branches and brambles. It's not easy going; staying on the path might have been a better choice but this place, he knows, will exact its toll from them one way or the other. Somehow, somewhere, some day: probably with another curse sometime. Bringing a flashlight would have been smart.

He's not frightened. In a sense, he was a much better soldier than he'll ever give himself credit for being. The only thing he was afraid of on Titan was dying, and Pluto cured him of that fear by about the end of the first month. He still thinks death -- even if it had been the final thing he believed it to be -- would have been preferable to prison.

"The problem is that I don't know where she lives. I'm hoping I'll get lucky again." That's probably the least comforting thing he's ever said before. But, he has the Dark One's own luck according to people in his world.

Anyways, he was raised to hunt in forests. He knows how to track and survive in them. And there is always that Network thing too.

"You probably didn't want to hear that though. Not everyone believes in luck."

Trudging through the woods supporting another adult human -- especially one with a bad leg -- isn't easy during daylight, but at night it's twice as... interesting. Luck? How many times has he thought he was the luckiest man in this City? How many times has he said that exact same thing to Lestat? He can't even remember.

"Oh, I think luck's as good a thing to believe in as anything and better than most." He's not sure if he sees lights in the distance or if that's a trick of the forest; the only other time he was this deep into the woods was that one time with Lestat. But he's self-sufficient; he'll manage to get Mat to Rain's and get himself and the dogs back safely.

He has no fear of these woods.

"I hate to be practical, but... we do have comms. We can always ask her." Asking directions is always the last resort of both men and fools and he knows it, but if it comes down to practicalities, maybe they can make their excuses on it and be done with it. Mat needs to get this leg rested or it will never heal. And Rain needs to know he's on his way, at some point. Or she'll worry, and she was so happy earlier that he'd like to take worry off the table for her.

That, he realizes, is his problem: he wants to make things good for everyone. And he knows he can't. In the distance, he hears Bu barking excitedly.

Hearing the dog, he gives Gren a silly grin. "Or we could keep walking. I think I picked the right way after all."

Thank the Light for small favors. Like his luck. It does come in handy sometimes. At least it did now. He never knows when it will work anymore. But, the more random the chances, the better his luck is.

"Thank you again. I'm glad Rain has a friend like you. She needs that."

Wincing suddenly, he tries to steady himself so he won't knock Gren off balance as he steps off the rock he found. A low groan leaves him and he takes a deep breath. Then makes a note to not let another building fall on him.

He takes one more deep breath as he swallows. "We'll be there soon enough."

"Are you okay?" It's the sudden hesitation at first, and the low sound tells the rest of the story: one very strong arm keeps Mat from toppling over. He's nowhere near as frail as he might look and that surprises people sometimes.

Maybe what he was best at as a soldier, now that he thinks of it, was this exact kind of thing. He helped countless comrades to the medical tent in just this way. Although he's a pretty good shot with a pistol and even better with a rifle, he never really felt like that was why he was on Titan although rationally he knew that's exactly why he was there.

To kill people.

He never liked that part of it and always expected he'd be the one to end up dead in the sand. But that took a few more years before it came to pass. Oh well: he's here now.

"Bu. Horatio. Apolline. Back here now." At least the dogs have the good sense to obey and they're back by their side right away. the last thing he wants is to be separated from them in the dark in the middle of the woods. "Stay by us. No getting too far ahead. We have to go at Mat's pace."

"I'll live." One more deep and he nods that he's fine. Nodding to the dogs, he decides to get the topic on them.

"Those are really obedient animals. I've seen some great dogs but those three are better than most. Did you train them?" Not a personal question. Curiosity without prying. He is pretty good at it most of the time. Especially when he's never seen dogs that obey like these three do.

"Light, if you breed any of them, I would even ask for a pup since they're so bloody intelligent." That's a random idea. But he's not lying. Besides, what he said is supposed to be a compliment to the dogs.

"Lestat trained them. Except for Bu. He's new to the group -- a Christmas present -- but he came to us pretty obedient. He's learning fast from the other two."

And if Mat's fine, then they need to get going to Rain's again; they set off together in the direction the dogs had run and sure enough, there is a light -- lights -- that way. It shouldn't take them long.

"So you believe in luck. Good thing. It looks like it's on your side, if that looks like Rain's house to you." Now all three dogs move ahead a little more slowly, keeping close. They are good, and he'll keep in mind Mat's request for a puppy if there ever are any.

Lestat. That name sounds familiar. As he thinks about it, he remembers from where. There was a time when Lestat read his mind while he was having sex with Waverly. Light that had been embarrassing. But, Anita had gotten him to stop.

He hopes.

"Luck usually is on my side. It tends to follow me where ever I go."

Looking through the trees, he smiles. That's a place he recognizes. "And that is Rain's place up ahead.

His nod might not show exactly how glad he is they made it, and, looking back, he's not exactly sure how he'll find his way home. But he knows he will. He's got the dogs to help him and their noses are much better than his.

And men being what they are -- vain creatures, for the most part -- he has one question to ask Mat before they actually get there. "Do you want me to take you right up to the door, or would you rather get there under your own steam?" Either way's fine with him, and he won't begrudge Mat a thing if he wants to make it look like he got here on his own.

He knows how that story goes.

"If you could get me right up to the door, I'd appreciate it." He's hurt and he knows it. It would be better for him to have the help and he knows that too. So, he's not going to push it aside for something as foolish as pride.

Besides, after being around the Aiel, he lost a good deal of that pride anyways.

A sideways glance is thrown Gren's direction. "Is there any way I can pay you back for this?"

"Yes." The answer comes without hesitation. "You can take good care of Rain. She's young, so be kind to her."

That's about it. He doesn't need anything else and acts of kindness aren't done with payment in mind. Anyone would have (or should have) helped Mat. He's just the one who got there first.

As they make their way up to the door, he calls back the dogs. Rain hasn't met them yet and he doesn't want to frighten her. The gesture he makes toward the door isn't broad and Mat might not have felt the need to swallow his pride and show up alone, but he can let Mat be the one to tell Rain he made it. Injured or not, he and Rain have to start out their roommate situation with it being just the two of them.

"I can do that."

Once they get to the door, he takes the next couple steps on his own. Knocking on the door, he waits and when he hears her voice he smiles at Gren.

"I give you my word that she'll be in the best of care."

"Good." He doesn't have to threaten with see that you do or anything: he's got the feeling it will be just fine. Anyway, Rain knows where to find him if she needs him.

Once the door opens it's time for him to take his leave and he does, stepping back into the shadows after a quick hello. He and the dogs need to navigate their way back through the woods and get home. By now, Lestat might even be wondering where they are.

He should let him know and he will. As soon as they're out of the forest and back on the street. It shouldn't take too long: his eyes are well adjusted to the darkness and he's got Horatio, Bu, and Apolline to help him. His take care, Mat stays silent on his lips; he and the dogs move off into the darkness.

It's good to know Rain doesn't have be here all alone any more.

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