JENNA: * In the care of Kalaani's church -- and frequently that of Kalaani herself, Shane and Jo's recovery is, if not rapid, at least steady. Jo wakes before Shane, as her injures are less severe, though not at all mild. At her insistence, she's moved intot he same room as he is, and she spends as much time as she can manage (which isn't much at all) seated next to his bed. Most of the rest of the time she spends sleeping.

JUSTIN: * Shane hovers just below consciousness for the better part of their stay, but after several days his eyes finally open. It isn't much of an improvement, as he doesn't move or speak, but his eyes do search around for something familiar. He recognizes the room, vaguely, by its stylings as a church he's been to on at least a few occasions, though his specific location within the building still eludes him -- not to mention why he's there at all.

JENNA: * Jo stirs from her place in bed, turning her head (as has become her custom) to look over at him. She sits up with a jerk when she sees his eyes open, scooting hurriedly to the edge of the bed. This is more painful than she reckons on, and she stops, instead calling out to him. "Shane? You awake?"

JUSTIN: * Shane stirs slightly at Jo's voice, having found his something familiar, and he manages to turn his head to look at her. "Yeah," his voice sounds fairly hoarse, mouth and throat both dry, "when did we... go to church?"

JENNA: * Jo gives a rasping laugh, easing her legs down and making her way slowly over to sit in the chair next to him. "Church infirmary.. if you want to be exact about it." She reaches out a hand to touch his face gently. "We got kind of beat up on our last job.. remember that?"

JUSTIN: * Shane shakes his head a bit, but then after an uncertain pause he nods instead. "We got ambushed," he says finally, confirming his memory is still working as well as ever. "Didn't even make it past the entrance. I thought it was supposed to be an easy job..." He seems quite disappointed by their early defeat. Shifting himself up a little, he frees an arm from beneath the blankets of his bed and takes her hand. "How did we get out?"

JENNA: "Don't really know.." She lifts his hand to kiss the back of it gently, then holds it against her cheek, watching him. "I saw you go down.. then ..." Her forehead wrinkles slightly, and she shakes her head. "I swear something took off Teague's head ... but I don't really know. Everything after that is.." She shrugs. "I remember carrying you out, mostly. Not much after that."

JUSTIN: * Shane makes a slight face, having hoped for more, but he can't blame Jo for that. He slides over and invites her to lay down next to him, looking fairly exhausted for someone who just woke up. "I still can't believe our luck... You'd think the world was big enough that we wouldn't have to worry about running into your old guildmates like that."

JENNA: * Jo hesitates, then climbs carefully into bed next to him, managing somehow to get under the covers. Once settled, she nuzzles gently against him, taking his hand again. "They were watching us," she mutters drowsily. "They had to be."

JUSTIN: * Shane frowns, giving her hand a squeeze as she takes it. "That's not a pleasant thought... But you saw Teague go down, right? Or... at least you think you might have. If he is gone, maybe they'll ease off." He kisses at her forehead and settles against her, staring off into space. He'd really hoped he'd get to skewer the man himself, but beggars can't be choosers.

JENNA: "He's gone.. I heard them all screaming.." She closes her eyes, sinking wearily down into the bed. "They have more to worry about than me, now .." Personally, she thinks the only reason they came after her at all was Teague, anyway. The rest shouldn't care so much about whether she's dead or alive.

JUSTIN: * Shane kisses Jo's forehead again and sighs, feeling slightly relieved at this confirmation. "Good... only one who needs to be worrying about you is me." He prods her side, then rubs the spot soothingly. "And maybe your parents. But anyone else has to come to me first."

JENNA: * Jo smiles faintly. "You need to rest.. recover. Before anyone comes to you about anything." For now she's quite content -- they're both alive and awake -- but she's also very tired. "They probably aren't going to let us out of here for a while yet, anyway."

JUSTIN: * Shane nods his head a bit, burrowing into the covers and against Jo. "I hope Mr. Malachi doesn't come calling for us, or we'll be in for a real lecture..." He yawns -- apparently half a week of sleep wasn't enough for him -- and closes his eyes. "Oh well... He can't possibly be any more hostile than he already is..."

JENNA: * Jo stirs, frowning for a moment, as the mention of Mackenzie stirs a vague -- and hostile -- memory. Then she shrugs and yawns, unable to recall what it was about. "He'll just have to deal with it," she mumbles, very near sleep again herself. It isn't long, in fact, before she drifts off again, secure and (relatively) comfortable.

JUSTIN: * Shane isn't far behind Jo in the falling asleep department, her proximity more than making up for the aches and pains from his man various wounds. He seems set to be out for the rest of the day if he can help it, but as it turns out he can't, and he wakes up a few hours later in dire need of a drink of water. "Uhn..."

JENNA: "Ah! You really did wake up." This quiet utterance is from none other than the girl they saw at Mack's house all that time ago -- Kalaani. She smiles faintly. "We wondered, since she'd moved ..." Conspicuously, Jo is no longer curled next to him -- apparently the faculty saw fit to return her to her bed. "Are you thirsty? Hungry? You must be, after being asleep that long ..."

JUSTIN: * Shane rubs at his eyes, bleary vision coming into slightly better focus. He recognizes the girl right away, both by her appearance and her tone, and does his best to sit upright. "Yes... a little... mostly thirsty." He's starving, but it's kind of a dull ache next to his burning thirst. "You're the girl who was at Mr. Malachi's house, aren't you."

JENNA: * Kalaani has already moved to help him sit up, nodding agreeably as she does so. "Mmhm. My name is Kalaani." Once he's settled, she moves away again, only to return with a glass of water in hand. "Here you go --" She offers him the glass, waiting until she's sure he can hold it before letting go.

JUSTIN: "Thank you--" Shane takes the glass and immediately chugs down almost all of its contents, looking much refreshed when he finsally stops and relaxes against the headboard of his bed. "Nice to officially meet you, Miss Kalaani." He holds out his other hand to her. "I'm Shane, and I would normally stand in the presence of a lady and my host, but my legs don't seem to be working proper yet." He smiles sheepishly.

JENNA: * Kalaani smiles briefly, taking his hand for a moment, then relieving him of the water glass. "You shouldn't be moving around much anyway," she says, taking it away and returning with it full. This she sets on the table beside him. "And you're welcome." It's no illusion that she looks a little more drawn and worn than she did at Mack's house, but it doesn't seem to bother her too much.

JUSTIN: "I suppose so." Shane takes his glass and takes another sip before setting it back on the table, then rests his head back against the wall. He stares into space for a moment, but his gaze refocuses shortly and he turns to look at her. "I know it might be rude of me to ask, but... what were you doing sleeping in Mr. Malachi's library? I'd be ashamed to say a few of the explanations that came to mind. I'd much rather hear the truth."

JENNA: * Kalaani shrugs very lightly. "I visited Mr. Malachi originally as one of my duties to the church.. now I go because I wish to." She doesn't seem entirely comfortable with the subject, as though she's been asked the question in the past. "Nice to know you're still a nosy shit, Shane," Jo remarks from her bed, stirring to roll over and look at him.

JUSTIN: * Shane starts at Jo's sudden intrusion, having thought she was still asleep. "I... I was just curious," he says defensively, straightening in his spot. "I didn't mean anything by it." He grabs his glass and starts to take a long, slow drink of it, saving himself from further obligation to speak.

JENNA: * Jo grins at him, and Kalaani shakes her head, tutting gently as she hands her a glass of water of her own. Jo drinks it silently, weary and thirsty, and Kalaani pauses, glancing between them. "They'll be bringing some food back for both of you soon ... I have other duties to attend to, though." She bobs slightly in apology. "So I'll have to take my leave of you."

JUSTIN: * Shane lifts a hand to wave farewell, quietly thanking the girl again for the water, and settles back into his bed. He stares into his glass for a moment, then over across at Jo and tilts his head. "How'd you get over there, anyway? I thought I had a pretty good grip on you."

JENNA: "Wasn't my idea," Jo answers drowsily. "They woke me up while they were moving me, anyway." She yawns, pushing herself carefully into a sitting position. "Told them I didn't want to.. but they insisted."

JUSTIN: * Shane tuts quietly, but he can't think of anything witty to say about it, so he simply flops further down into his bed again. "I've only been awake for a handful of minutes, and I already feel like I've been here forever." He stretches, stopping when it hurts, and frowns. "Now I know how you felt when you were bedridden in the doctor's house."

JENNA: "And I've been awake here for three days," Jo says sourly, staring wearily across the room. "They might let us go home soon.. now that we're both awake. Not that we'll be able to walk back on our own.. but at least we wouldn't be here." She leans back, expression bored. "You're probably not as fit as you think you are, anyway," she admits. "I still get tired and sore walking across the room."

JUSTIN: * Shane looks over at her and snorts. "I'm not the one who has issues with denial when it comes to my health." He tucks his arm under his pillow and rolls onto his side carefully to face her. "I don't suppose you managed to salvage our pecos during all the confusion?"

JENNA: "They said they have them here at the church." She gives a faint shrug, having no particular explanation for it. "I guess I got them out. Probably rode." She lifts an arm to scrub at her eyes. "I know I've been told over and over again how lucky we are to be alive."

JUSTIN: * Shane lifts his covers up to take his first look at his wounds, going a little red in the face when he realizes he's stark naked aside from the bandages. He's not sure why he didn't notice before. "Well... I can definately say that's the most bandages I've ever had on me at one time."

JENNA: "You've gotten in a lot of trouble since you met me," Jo agrees, slumping against her pillow and slowly settling back under the covers. "This time I can't say I've been through worse, though." She smiles gamely, glancing over at him. "I don't know whether to say we're lucky or not."

JUSTIN: "Well, alive is always better than dead, lucky or no." Shane wiggles a bit in his spot, finding the divide between them rather annoying. He wishes they could just be in one, big bed together -- much like the one back at their house. He sighs quietly and grabs his glass to finish off the water, then stares boredly at the ceiling.

JENNA: * Jo is about to respond when their meals arrive, much to her relief. The priestess who brings them is much more businesslike than Kalaani, and not much conversation is had, aside from an assurance that they can be taken back to their own home in a few more days, as long as they feel up to it. Jo is wearily relieved, eating her food with more enthusiasm than she's shown in the past couple of days.

JUSTIN: * Shane is quite famished, so the food is quickly put to good use by his eager hands and mouth. Much the rest of the day is spent letting his body absorb this nurishment, and exhausted by the inner struggle to heal his wounds, he also does a great deal of sleeping. The next couple of days pass in a similar fashion and -- whether true or not -- both Shane and Jo are quite vocal about being fit for the road.

JENNA: * The priests and priestesses are as skeptical as Shane and Jo are vehement, but they eventually agree, on the condition that they remain in the wagon for the duration of the trip and don't exert themselves unnecessarily. That deal in place, it doesn't take long for them to be packed up and on the road for the unusually long journey back to their house near Hugel. Once they're settled in place, they receive an exceptionally stern lecture about changing bandages, eating enough food, and getting enough rest. And once they have agreed -- thrice over -- the healers leave them with supplies and go on their way.

JUSTIN: * Though he would very much like to get back to his daily activities, Shane honestly can't think of anything other than heading to the bedroom and taking a long nap. It might not be any different than what he's been doing for the last couple weeks, but at least it'll be in his own bed. "I'd cook us something to eat, but I think I'd burn the house down in the process. Feeling a little whoozy."

JENNA: "I'm tired," Jo says with a shrug. "No law against sleeping just because we're home." It's with that mentality that she starts for the bedroom, slowly shedding her shoes and looking oddly around the house -- familiar and foreign at the same time. "Feels like we've been gone longer than a regular job," she remarks.

JUSTIN: "Most of our jobs keep us busy enough not to notice the time," Shane suggests, following after her and carefully peeling off his shirt. "Our jobs don't usually consist of us lying around in an infirmary for two weeks." He sits down on the edge of the bed and works his boots off before flopping back with a slight wince. Just getting from the front door to the bedroom has left him fairly winded.

JENNA: "Guess not." Jo yawns, stretching slightly, and relieves herself of her trousers, tugging the blankets up to slide underneath them and flop drowsily on the pillow. "At least .. there are a variety of places to lie around doing nothing here," she remarks, nestling down and letting her weary muscles relax.

JUSTIN: * Shane takes a bit longer to rid himself of his pants, being careful not to mangle his bandaging too much, and then finally slips under the blanket beside her. "I imagine we'll see most of them before too long," he murmurs in agreement, then closes his eyes with an expressive yawn, sinking willingly into the inviting mattress.

JENNA: * It's been a month or so since Kalaani stomped away from Mack's doorstep, and there's been no sign of the girl's return. At least until today. A figure in the clothing of an acolyte is making its way up the walk, looking winded and somewhat weary. It hesitates before the steps of the estate, then shakes its head and continues up, hesitating once again before ringing the bell.

JUSTIN: * The answer is unusually quick, though the acolyte on the front steps would have no way of knowing this, and when the door opens it is far wider than its usual crack. Framed inside is the sage Mackenzie, standing tall in his usual dark attire, with a face that has gone so quickly to disappointment and annoyance that it is impossible to guess at what it's initial state might have been. There is a long moment of silence while he stares down at the individual standing at his doorstep before him, eyes icy with accusation. Finally the silence is broken, but the words cut through the still air like a blade. "Why are you here?"

JENNA: * The acolyte, this one male, stares up at him blankly for a long moment. " I, uh.. I'm from the Holy Church in Juno ..." He doesn't seem quite as ready as Kalaani to cope with this response, almost taking a step back out of unease. "I'm here.. to deliver this week's flyer.."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie looks wholly unimpressed. He's heard that a dozen times, and that was certainly one of the more plain iterations. All the same, he was hardly asking what the boy's job description was. What he is interested in knowing is why he is not Kalaani. "I can show you where to put that flyer, or you can tell me where Kalaani is -- you have three seconds to choose before I choose for you."

JENNA: "Wh.. Kalaani? She's --" The youth stiffens somewhat in surprise, as if he's had a guess unexpectedly confirmed. "Sh-she's in confinement, sir." He peers at the man with more interest now, though there's a very strong hint of fear behind it. "They sent me along on her route ..." He pauses, something almost like a grin creeping onto his face. "Are you the guy they said she was --"

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie's eyes flash with a hint of something very dangerous, and he almost seems to grow another foot in height as he steps forward to glare down at the young man in front of him. "If you value your health so little, then do continue that sentance. Otherwise, the only words out of your mouth will be answers to my questions." He pauses for half a second, only to let that sink in, then continues, voice no less marked by anger. "Why is she in confinement, and for how long? Because so help me, if the next person to come to my doorstep is not her and her alone, they will be shipped back to your carnival tent in a /casket/. Do I make myself clear?"

JENNA: * The young man stares at him, mouth hanging open, then lurches back several steps in belated surprise. "Wh..what the hell -- I don't know when she's coming back! The sisters said something about conduct unbefitting a priestess -- I don't know!" He clutches the flyers to his chest defensively. "E-everybody just figured she was sleeping around or something!"

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie takes a strong step forward and grabs the young acolyte by the collar of his robes, lifting him practically off the ground to stare him dead in the eyes. "That girl doesn't have a corrupt cell in her body, and as much as I cannot /stand/ her because of it, I will not have /anyone/ speaking untruths about her." His teeth grit, and his eyes shift from intensely angry to mostly frustrated -- less now with the acolyte and more with himself. Letting the boy drop back to his feet again, he turns and steps back into his house with an abrupt change in manner. "Just tell her that next time, send some sort of /message/ if she is going to disappear. I can't keep rearranging my schedule to accomodate her work."

JENNA: * The acolyte is now looking completely terrorized, and he all but stumbles down the steps to get away. "Wh..whatever," he says hoarsely, then scoots a few steps back up the walk. He pauses for a moment, as if he's considering saying something, then he thinks better of it and bolts, vanishing around the bend in a matter of seconds.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzies shuts the door hard behind him, and now that he's safe from the eyes of his dismissed and unwelcome guest his face very clearly shows his mix of confusion, anger, and bewilderment. His own actions don't quite make any sense to him, and though he figures it is only natural to wonder what happened to the girl, he can't explain the odd mixture of feelings that surrounded the conversation or the moment before it, when he'd thought she'd finally returned. As far as he's concerned, it is better to let such things remain unnamed and soon forgotten.

JENNA: * It's considerably later on the same day, the sun beginning to sink below the horizon, when a faint gust of air blows through the room, followed by a set of quiet footsteps. "Mackenzie vel Malachi?" asks a light, almost absent-minded voice. Its owner is a small, slim girl with blond hair and tanned skin, eyes fixed interestedly on Mackenzie.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie looks up with a start, having been so engrossed in his work he didn't even sense the unconventional arrival of this individual. "How on Midgard did you get in here," he starts, voice suitably annoyed at having his home invaded. However, upon seeing the girl -- so familiar, and yet not -- his expression changes from insult to alarm, and he gets to his feet, watching her over his desk with blatant suspicion. "You -- you're Utani. What are you doing here?"

JENNA: * The girl gives an exaggerated curtsey, smiling faintly at his reaction. "My name is Koan. My mother Nona served as liason between you and my master many years ago, unless he recalls incorrectly." Her expression indicates that her master is very rarely incorrect.

JUSTIN: "Your master is not one to recall incorrectly," Mackenzie answers with a strangely morbid tone to his hushed voice. "It would be a chaotic world, indeed, if he made a habit of it." At least the reason for the girl's familiarity is now clear, though he hadn't realized her mother had ever passed on. Their meetings were very infrequent, to put it mildly. "The daughter of Nona, are you. I see the resemblance." The girl's oddly non-chalant demeanor, on the other hand, is rather different than what he's used to. "Again, I ask why you are here. Your master doesn't send his servants to make social calls."

JENNA: "I am a little late in paying my respects," the girl admits. "My mother retired some months ago, and my master felt it would be prudent to introduce myself." She leans comfortably on her staff for a moment and smiles. "My master knows you are a responsible man, and sends me only as a formality to see that you have not forgotten your agreement with him."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie feels some small amount of relief at hearing this, as the last thing a man wishes for is trouble with powers beyond his control. "I have not forgotten," he says carefully, making sure it's very clear. In the centuries since making the agreement, it has often been at the front of his mind. He sits down in his chair, eyes going distant for a moment in thought, and when he finally focuses on the girl again it's with an expression that is not often seen on his face. "Your mother... when you say retire, you don't... Is she all right?"

JENNA: * Koan smiles. "My mother is well. She retired early to spend more time with my father." She taps her cheek, looking somewhat amused. "My master was disappointed, but he agrees I am well-trained." She bows slightly. "I will tell my master you remember -- and my mother that you remember her as well. She will be pleased."

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie nods slightly, the odd expression fading as he gathers some papers together in a pile and taps them even. "Well, then, Koan. If there is one thing you should know about me, it is that I do not like being interrupted without adequate forewarning." He tries not to sound too threatening when he makes this point -- not wise to offend such as her, no matter how innocent and powerless she may appear on the outside. "Your mother learned to give me warning before suddenly appearing in front of me." He leans back in his chair and makes a slight face, frowning. Clearly there had been at least one embarrassing incident in the past that had led to her taking such a lesson to heart.

JENNA: "I apologize for my haste," Koan says, bowing again. "I was instructed to come directly." Her absently agreeably tone hasn't changed, no matter how formally she speaks -- it almost seems as if she doesn't normally speak this way. "But my business is complete, if you wish me to take my leave."

JUSTIN: "That is entirely up to you, my dear." Mackenzie certainly is rarely this polite, so Koan isn't the only one acting out of the ordinary. He folds his hands on the desk in front of him and watches her with mild curiousity. "You are bound to see me very little over the years, but you are -- in fact -- bound to me. So if there is anything you would care to know, I would just as soon discuss it now as later."

JENNA: * Koan taps her cheek thoughtfully, looking around the study with intense interest, but after a moment she shakes her head, bowing slightly. "If there is something I should know, my master will tell me. He bids you good luck in your endeavors." She smiles again, as if the thought amuses her slightly, and she bows.

JUSTIN: * Mackenzie rubs at his face with a quiet sigh, but he nods all the same and makes a waving motion with his other hand. "Very well. You may give your master my... regards. And I will no doubt see you again in the future." He pauses, looking as though he wants to say something else, but he only shakes his head and turns his attention to his papers, having no need to see the girl out when she can come and go as she pleases.

JENNA: * Koan bows again, murmuring a soft word, and she vanishes on that same breeze, much as if she'd never been in the room to begin with. The breeze lingers for only a moment after she's gone, then goes still. After all, it only makes sense for Death's handmaiden to come and go at will.

JUSTIN: * Once Koan is gone, Mackenzie leans slowly back in his chair and stares blankly at the place she was standing moments before. It's the first visit he's had in at least a decade, and he'd almost become complacent, to the point he was able to comfortably forget that he is, in fact, under constant scrutiny. The reminder isn't a particularly warm one, but then, Death has never been a warm subject. For a brief, agonizing half a second, he almost wishes he had Kalaani's company to distract him from his thoughts.