(no subject)

[tibetanmethod]

Seven forty-five in the morning, when Moiraine Sedai comes to Twin Peaks, and the very first thing Dale Cooper does is drive her to the Bookhouse, funny sound in his engine be damned. Once she's safely asleep in the back room, under the guard of one of the boys, Cooper calls the sheriff's station and tells Lucy that they'll need to get somebody else to make the donut run, and he needs to see Harry, immediately.

Hours pass. Cooper conferences, explains what he knows, tells Harry and Hawk what they'll need.

The small bed is behind a wall dividing the back room into two sections. Cooper sits on the other side of that wall with a book and a cup of coffee to hand. He's begun to get his concentration back; he hasn't had to restart a chapter in several hours.

Comments

[blue_ajah]

If asked, she could not say for certain when she passed from sleep into wakefulness. Even after she becomes aware of her surroundings, it is several moments before she opens her eyes.

The fabric of her gown makes a soft rustling sound as she sits up.

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper's head lifts.

He closes the book, leaving his pointer finger as a bookmark. Smarter, he thinks, to remain silent until there's further evidence.

[blue_ajah]

One slow breath; two.

She runs her fingertips over the texture of the blanket as she looks around, reacquainting herself with her surroundings.

"This is no dream," she murmurs, very softly. "And neither am I."

[tibetanmethod]

Well.

There's evidence.







Cooper lets his chair make noise as he slides it back and stands. "Moiraine?" Quiet.

[blue_ajah]

"Yes," she replies.

Moiraine rises, and moves around the edge of the divider into the other side of the room. She pauses, considering him.

"Is all well?"

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper is silent for a few moments.

Finally: "Yes." He's been looking at her for a moment as though she has two heads; no more. "How are you feeling?"

[blue_ajah]

"Well enough, I think." She lifts one hand and glances down at it, turning her wrist to study her fingers.

The hint of translucence to her skin has nothing to do with saidar and everything to do with the sense of fragility that currently surrounds her.

The Aes Sedai looks up at him. "It will take some time, I suspect, but I do not feel especially unwell."

[tibetanmethod]

"Are you hungry?" Cooper slides a hand in his pocket; the other rests idly on the back of the chair. "Norma sent over enough food for a small army."

[blue_ajah]

"I have not met Norma," she observes. "It is kind of her to do so."

Moiraine gives Cooper a very small, rueful smile.

"To be honest -- I am not, but I realize that I very likely should be."

[tibetanmethod]

"Then I can bring you something light to start with." A brief, crooked smile. "And see if I can get the setup for tea to produce something you'll find acceptable."

[blue_ajah]

"Thank you."

She glides the few steps remaining to the nearby table, and sinks into one of the chairs there.

[tibetanmethod]

Soup, first -- in a thermos, and still hot, accompanied by fresh bread. Cooper rustles up a bowl and spoon, and fetches a napkin; he places them all in front of Moiraine before going to see about the tea.

[blue_ajah]

Bit by bit, she breaks small pieces of bread and eats them, occasionally interspersing a spoonful of soup.

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

"Lucy, I need you to go over to Horne's Department Store and buy everything blue in your size. Take my credit card."

It's evidence that they've all kind of... gotten used to Agent Cooper's ways that Lucy's answer was a cheery "Okay, Sherriff!" Or maybe not. Lucy's... Lucy.

Anyway, Harry's got a suitcase full of clothes in the passenger seat of the Bronco when he pulls up. His cursory glance showed him that Moiraine will be ready for just about any occasion, up to and including line-dancing.

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper is standing just outside the Bookhouse with a cup of coffee to hand. It's misty, and cold. Cooper isn't wearing a coat.

"Morning, Harry." Cooper lifts the cup.

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

What Agent Cooper is a wife or a mother, to keep him from catching his death of cold.

Harry, being neither: "Heya, Coop." He lugs the suitcase out of the vehicle. "She still sleeping?"

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper nods, and moves to open the door to the Bookhouse so Harry doesn't have to. "I'd be very surprised if she didn't continue to do so for several hours at least."

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

"We've got the traffic signal set to no vacancies," he says, "and we're working on scaring up a place for her to stay."

Twin Peaks is a small town; there's not an abundance of choice in housing, and of course there are specific concerns. "Worse comes to worse we can put her in at the Great Northern, but it's not ideal."

[tibetanmethod]

"I think I might have to veto that anyhow, Harry." At least he sounds apologetic when he says it. "Too far outside town, and while I'm certain a woman who doesn't know how to use the telephone isn't the strangest thing they've ever seen, I'd prefer to keep speculation to a minimum."

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

"Well, unless someone leaves town in a hurry, she may be bunking here a little longer," Harry says.

All of the empty houses Harry can think of are empty for bad reasons.

[tibetanmethod]

"She won't," Cooper says, sounding quite calm. "I will. If that's all right."

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

Because a strange woman living in Cooper's place won't cause any talk.

"Heck, Coop, as a Bookhouse Boy you're entitled to spend the night any time you want, anyway." It's the kind of provision that's mostly invoked when someone's too drunk to get home or is having a marital problem. "So that would work out just fine."

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper nods. "I think that at this point I can withstand a high-traffic living situation much better than Moiraine."

He casts a glance over his shoulder. Lowering his voice: "She's not in good shape, Harry."

[middle-name-s.livejournal.com]

"Coop, she's in a heckuva lot better shape than you've thought she was, these last few weeks," Harry points out.

[tibetanmethod]

Cooper gives him a long, inscrutable look.

"Is she?"