Inner Mind

[Erlind]

"I suppose it is. If you need to go I understand. We all need our sleep."

Regardless of my words I don't stop working the knots in her shoulder hoping to entice her to stay a little longer.

 

[Kaena]

"Unfortunately, as much as I would love to stay longer, I do need to go," I say, sighing in disappointment. "I work tomorrow and have some things I need to do before work. I will be on tomorrow night after work though."

I get up reluctantly from the chair and head for the door.

"I wish you a good night and I will reply to our thread tomorrow"

With these words, I disappear out the door and into the night, back to my own den to sleep.

 

[Erlind]

"Tomorrow night then. I look forward to it. That will be the last night for me for a little while. While I'm working I'll still post if I can muster it, but only once a day if that, just to warn you."

I watch her leave and settle into my leather chair from much earlier in the night and produce a drink in one hand.

"To new friends," I say to no one in particular.

 

[Erlind]

Its not likely I'm in for the night yet, but I settle in next to the fire anyway. I stare into the heat of it and wonder. I know one who will venture to this place looking for me, but I wonder if there are any others that will stop by.

 

[Erlind]

After a bit of a strange night I return to my little corner of the internet. I collapse right next to the sunken stone fire pit, not bothering with a chair or couch. Its hot out in the world, but here is nice and cool and the fire is just what I need to relax. The lights on the wall flicker out and I half close my eyes.

The sign on the door gains a small addition.

All still welcome. Not asleep, just very relaxed.

 

[Kaena]

I wander in a little sunburnt and tired from a long day out in the sun at work. I pour myself a cold glass of lemonade and settle down by the fire.

"good evening, I hope your day went well"

 

[Erlind]

"It did. Got a haircut, light grocery shopping, and awesome food with friends. I can't complain. I'm just very tired today for reasons I can't quite grasp."

My eyes open a bit as I look up at her and then settle back down.

 

[Kaena]

"Perhaps its those late nights writing and keeping me company" I say, smiling. "I am tired myself, but, will probably be up rather late again tonight, though not as late as the last two nights."

 

[Erlind]

"Sounds good. I doubt its the late nights though. I'm working nights right now, so if I don't sleep during the day in my time off I'm going to have some real problems come work."

With some effort I sit up as to not be completely rude.

"If its going to be a short night, I'll endeavor to make it a good one."

 

[Kaena]

"Don't get up because of me," I say, motioning him to get back into his comfortable position. "I am content talking to you like this."

I take a sip of my lemonade and lay my head back against the cushions for a moment, closing my eyes.

"Working in the sun can really take the energy out of you," I say, more to myself than anything. "But, I would rather do that, than sit on my butt behind a desk all day. I worked nights once, for a week as a security guard. It drained me. I don't know how you guys do it. My brother works nights all the time and my dad did it for about 20 years."

 

[Erlind]

I hesitate, but decide I was far too comfortable before and lay back down. This time a little closer to her than I was before.

"I don't know. I just started, its not bad really. Its just a little hard to get out and make good use of my free time when I have it. I've always been a bit of a night person, so maybe that helps."

 

[Kaena]

I smile as I notice he has closed the gap between us a little as he lays back down. I continue to drink my lemonade and let my body relax.

"What do you do for work, if you don't mind me asking."

 

[Erlind]

I hesitate again. I don't tend to talk much about myself, but its a fair question. I'll answer it if not completely. I smile lightly with my eyes still half closed.

"I'm in the Army."

 

[Kaena]

"Oh ok," I reply, not pushing for too much information. I understand when people don't want to reveal too much about themselves, since I am the same way.

I wince as I feel a headache coming on, most likely a side effect of being in the heat for 5 hours.

 

[Erlind]

"Not what I expected to be doing, but it pays the bills."

I stretch out a bit and look up at her.

"How about yourself? How does the real world keep you busy?"

 

[Kaena]

"Well you have to do what you can to pay the bills," I reply, closing my eyes for a moment. "Myself, I work at a gas station at the moment. Not the most glamourous job, but, it pays the bills, if barely."

 

[Erlind]

"I decided when I joined the Army that it wasn't how I made my money that was important, but how I spent the rest of my time. I spend mine reading, writing, hanging with friends, and playing video games. I work on making my future better and working towards a dream even if its not likely ever to happen."

I roll onto my side to look at her.

"I think I like fiction more than the real world, so I work to try to let more of my life be about it."

 

[Kaena]

"Thats a good way at looking at life. You might as well enjoy what time you have away from work."

I sigh and get up from the couch to make myself a stiffer drink. I return back to his side and sink down into the cushions once again.

"My life has had its ups and downs, but, I have kept my head up and I am hoping things will get better on the job front eventually. Until then, I just make the best of what I have"

 

[Erlind]

"They will. From everything I've seen you're a smart creative individual. These are things that will make you valuable to a good employer. I took the easy way out, which is usually the hard way out. I couldn't find any work so I joined the Army. I figured if nothing else I'd have a better resume on the other side."

I sit and give a brief kiss to the woman gracing my little haven and then lay back down just as I was.

"Just wanted a taste of what you were making," I promise.

 

[Kaena]

"I went back to school and just graduated, but, there is nothing available in my field in my area right now,"I say, smiling as he kisses me quickly.

"It is rather frustrating to be looking for work and finding nothing when you are already working a dead end job," I say, offering him my glass. "Want a taste. Its nothing special, just Baileys."

 

[Erlind]

"I know a couple of people in the same predicament. Its tough out there."

I don't pull it off well, but I aim for nonchalance.

"No thanks. I don't drink much honestly, I just like a little taste now and again." Then I muse a bit, "I wonder if I'm about to make Serena angry at all."

 

[Kaena]

"Hmm, I think Serena is going to be very pissed now," I say smiling and taking another sip of my drink. "Now, I just have to think of how its all going to go down from here"

 

[Erlind]

I smile deviously back at the lady.

"I look forward to it, do your worst."

 

[Kaena]

"Sorry if I am a little slow in posting. I am working on a reply, however, I sudden have a sharp pain in my side and stomach, probably indigestion, and it is kinda making it hard to think."

 

[Erlind]

"No worries, Kaena. I'm patient, especially if its worth the wait. And so far everything you've written has been worth time and more."