blue_ajah | (no subject)

She wakes early enough that it is still full dark outside, although the first stirrings of birds hint at the dawn to come.

Some few minutes later, Moiraine is seated at the small table in her kitchen, a cup of tea steaming untouched near to hand as she looks out the window, watching the trees and waiting for enough time to pass that she can make a phone call without waking the person she wishes to reach... and without disturbing his morning meditation session.

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From:

blue_ajah

A slender shadow moves at the window beside the front door, and a moment later the lock clicks.

Moiraine pulls the door open and steps back with it so that he may enter unimpeded.

"True to your word, as always."

From:

tibetanmethod

"I strive to be a credit to the badge, Moiraine." Cooper enters; he can smell the coffee. "Now that we're not on the phone -- are you sure nothing's the matter?"

From:

blue_ajah

"I do not think that anything is the matter," she replies, very carefully. "But something has happened that was ... surprising."

Extremely so, to judge from the care in her words, and the steadiness with which she is holding herself.

She gestures gracefully toward the kitchen, where a mug stands waiting by the coffeepot.

From:

tibetanmethod

If Cooper was a betting man, he'd say it involves either an unexpected opportunity in Twin Peaks, or something that means she's leaving Twin Peaks.

Cooper heads for the coffeepot, and picks up the mug. "Oh?"

From:

blue_ajah

"Yes."

She glides past behind him, toward the small table she has set up at the side of the kitchen, near the window, and rests both hands on the back of one of the chairs there.

"I had a visitor."

From:

tibetanmethod

Cooper doesn't watch her move -- he's pouring coffee.

And once he's done, once she's spoken -- he doesn't say anything. But his head lifts, and his expression is wary.

From:

blue_ajah

She draws a breath, and turns to him.

"It was Morpheus. Here, in Twin Peaks, in my dreaming."

From:

tibetanmethod

It is a testament to his will that Dale Cooper does not drop the cup of coffee.

Still, it's several seconds before he takes a sip, and he's a few shades paler when he does it.

"The coffee's quite good," Cooper says.

From:

blue_ajah

"I am glad you find it so," she murmurs, but she is studying him carefully as she does. Even if she had not been half expecting it, it would have been impossible for one such as the Aes Sedai to miss all the nuances of his reaction.

Moiraine leaves the chair without hesitation and crosses the small room swiftly to stand before him. She looks up into his face, her dark-eyed glance seeking his, and reaches for his free hand.

"I am sorry. I did not know how else to say it."

From:

tibetanmethod

"Well," Cooper says, tone quite mild, "there really wasn't any other way, Moiraine."

From:

blue_ajah

"I suppose not."

She takes a soft breath.

"I do not expect that it is likely to happen again, however."

From:

tibetanmethod

Cooper wants details. He wants a lot of details.

(He wants to get to work and go in Harry's office, with Hawk, and close the door.)

The problem is that, among all the other things, Morpheus is Moiraine's ex-husband.

Morpheus is Moiraine's business.

And Cooper has no right to ask for any kind of information.

No right at all.

Still, his hand squeezes hers briefly, and lets go. "But it didn't go badly?"

From:

blue_ajah

"No, but--"

"I thought you should know, because -- "

It is a rare thing to see the Aes Sedai even this flustered.

From:

tibetanmethod

It is, and that's why Cooper waits, patiently.

If it's bad enough that she called him at 5:15, and asked him to come over immediately, and she can't find the words on her first try, then prompting her for an answer won't do anything but heighten anxiety for both of them.

From:

blue_ajah

She presses her lips together for a moment, visibly forcing herself to stillness, then opens her mouth and draws a soft breath before she speaks again.

"May I tell you from the beginning? I suspect it might be easier, if you are willing to listen."

From:

tibetanmethod

"Of course, Moiraine." Calm. "Please."

From:

blue_ajah

She nods, then takes a small step back. Moiraine rests one hand on the nearby counter as she gathers her thoughts.

"I do not recall when the dream I was having changed, but I recognized it almost immediately. It was the Garden, although not quite as I knew it before."

A tiny hint of a smile, soft and rueful.

"For one thing, there were Douglas firs."

From:

tibetanmethod

This is not an interrogation, he tells himself.

"So that's a change." Quiet.

From:

blue_ajah

"It is," she confirms. "There were others, subtle in distinction but clear all the same, but that was the first I noticed."

"He was waiting for me by the fountain, and asked if we might speak."

From:

tibetanmethod

At least he asked permission.

Cooper takes a sip of coffee.

From:

blue_ajah

"He said..."

She looks up at him.

"I had not noticed, not truly. I knew that I had not seen him at Milliways in some time, but -- I do not know how, but I had not realized the extent of his withdrawal. Had you?"

From:

tibetanmethod

He shakes his head. "I haven't been in Milliways in... quite some time. And we had something like a gentleman's agreement. I wouldn't have noticed, and I certainly wouldn't have gone looking deliberately."

From:

blue_ajah

A gentleman's agreement?

She does not ask, but the look she gives him is briefly very searching before she nods.

"It appears that he has been occupied elsewhere with his work within the Dreaming," she tells him. "So much so that he did not notice, precisely, when the connection between Milliways and the Dreaming ... dissolved."

A beat of silence.

"He wishes to reestablish it, and sought to determine if that would be an issue of concern."