Tentative Meeting Who: Alex and Adnan When: Day 25, late morning Where: around camp
Adnan had stayed a respectful distance away from the funeral. He'd been tempted to offer to play some music, but in the end had refrained. He hadn't even met the deceased gentleman, and didn't want to overstep any bounds for those who actually knew him. It was tragic that a man was dead, but Adnan had seen enough in his life that it didn't throw him into somber introspection. He was there often enough as it was. He'd kept the fire going and waited until it seemed like people had dispersed and settled down enough. Then he'd waited a bit longer.
After it felt like enough time had passed, he got up and walked over to where the priest had gone. It was his intention to introduce himself to all three members of the council, and speak with them about his plans. He'd already talked to Helena, and this man was next. He cleared his throat faintly as he approached and offered a hand. "Hello," he said, his tone quietly respectful. He hadn't known many true priests in his time, and he wanted to get the measure of the man.
Alex had been sitting alone away from everyone else, rosary in hand and knees up by his chin. He wasn't praying though, not quite. He was thinking mostly. Thinky thoughts. The heavy kind that were dangerous. The kind he specialized in. Sighing, he turned towards the man who had spoken. He was new and Alex hadn't met him formally. "Hello," he replied, his voice hoarse. Alex's eyes were also red rimmed. He looked like crap, but he was long past caring. After a moment, he uncurled enough to reach up and take his hand in a brief shake. "Something I can do for you?" he asked, trying to keep his voice level and his tone reasonable. He wasn't sure how much he could do for anyone right now.
... he probably hadn't waited long enough. Adnan kicked himself internally, but still gave the man a nod as they shook. He could make it quick and make himself scarce, but he was already in it for the moment. "Not in particular," he answered the literal question. "I simply wanted to introduce myself -- I arrived the day before yesterday. Adnan Dosky. You gave an excellent service, under the circumstances, and I am truly sorry for the loss." He didn't know if the priest had known the dead man personally or not; he hadn't been listening that close to what was being said. But in this sort of situation, he supposed people got close very fast.
Nodding, Alex uncurled so that he was sitting indian style. He hadn't sat on the ground this much in years. It was sort of fun. "Good to meet you," he replied, the phrase coming automatically from his lips. "Thanks," he added, accepting the compliment about his service. He wasn't sure if Adnan was saying it simply to be polite or not, but it didn't matter. "I don't want to be rude, but is there something I can help you with? Or a reason you came over here?" He wasn't in a good place right now, but he wasn't going to send away someone who needed help either. He was a priest and he enjoyed helping people if he could. It was harder here though, because who helped the priest when he needed it?
"Well ... I intended to speak with you about some plans I have for building. But they can wait," he said easily. Always sensitive to peoples' moods, Adnan saw that this Wasn't A Good Time in any sense of the phrase. "I apologize for the interruption. ... at the risk of being intrusive, is there anything I can get for you? Or do?" The question came naturally, as the guy looked in a bad way. And even if it was just going away for however long, he was willing to do it. Though he'd been on his own for many years, he knew about being part of a community, and it took working together.
"No..." Alex shook his head, "Sit down and tell me," distract him is what he was asking really. "I'm fine," he offered a wan smile, "I will be fine anyways," he amended. And he would be, with prayer and time. He knew this. It was just the now that was so hard, Quinn had been his friend, an unlikely one but a valued one nonetheless and while Iain habitually prayed for everyone here, he had prayed harder for his friends. Perhaps it was selfish and unfair, but it was the truth.
Adnan accepted the invitation and sat cross-legged facing the other man. He had more clothes than a lot of the people in camp, but they still weren't as sturdy as the ones he himself had been lucky enough to arrive in. "I worked many jobs building houses ... back home. Helena and I were exploring yesterday, and located where the nearest mast trees are. We need sturdy shelters here that will hold heat, and we need them soon. I wanted your advice on whom I should approach about helping get the lumber down and hauling it here." He looked a little hopeful; this was a project he wanted to start as soon as he could.
That was a good idea there. "Really?" Alex focused all of his attention on Adnan, shocked that he could do so after the emotional wringer he had been through but it was surprisingly easy, "Helena and I were discussing that problem a couple days ago actually. I'll help you if you'd like. Maybe talk to some of the other guys around here, Aaron or Bazzer or Kenneth. Or even Angelica, she's a strong,tough girl. Arlo and Cross..." Alex began rattling off names of people without thinking, though he knew some of them had other responsibilities that might get in the way. This was just a list of those who were physically able, "Ryan can't see and Thorne's the doctor...." he paused, fingering his rosary idly, "Maybe Rook?" Belatedly, he stopped before he added Quinn's name.
He tried to catch all of the names -- Bazzer? -- and tucked most of them away. Adnan offered a small smile to the priest. "Any help from any one would be fantastic," he said. Especially if the suggestions were coming from someone the people already knew and trusted. Because they were in for some hard work. "The only problem I foresee so far is preparing axes. I do not know yet how hard the wood is, but we must have tools to work with. I'm hoping to find a stone that can be chipped easily." He knew it might be a stretch, but there'd been enough strangeness in this new world ... why not. Hell, just the night before the Russian girl had read a passage about a plant to use for tooth-brushing.
"Well..." Alex began thoughtfully, "we want it hard, right? But that makes it harder to cut too?" he wasn't asking for answers so much as to just make sure he was understanding things correctly, "Sorry, not the one you probably need to bounce ideas off of. I'm good with following directions when it comes to things like this, but we definitely need better shelter from the elements," he paused and looked up at the hill where he had planned his church and where Quinn was buried, "And I'd like to begin erecting a church," he added slightly more softly, "Pews maybe. I've made a cross already and hung it on a tree."
Adnan was nodding, aware he wasn't talking to a geologist. He was thinking it would more be trial and error than anything. He followed Alex's gaze for a second before looking back at the man's face. "I believe we can handle that, once everyone has a roof," he said with another small smile. He himself wasn't a religious man -- though he thought absently that he would keep the Qu'ran in his bag under wraps for now -- but he could most definitely understand why people were. Here especially. And it would be a singular pleasure to help the priest build a church. "Once I have more of a plan, I'd like to present it to everyone." He was going rock-hunting a bit later in the day, hopefully he'd get lucky and they could get started sooner rather than later.
That Adnan was Muslim was something that Alex had no idea about, but if he knew he would love to take some time to ask the man questions. Lots of questions. As a part of both his undergraduate and seminary classes he'd had to take courses on comparative religions. He had chosen Judaism as the one he had most focused on in seminary, but had found Islam and Buddhism both equally fascinating as well. For now though, he was ingnorant of that fact. "Of course. Priorities," he paused then added, "I could live in the church. It's done all the time," perhaps not in situations quite like this, but if forced to choose between a place to live and a church, he would be hard pressed to make that decision.
He was figuring that the actual living quarters were going to start out small, definitely smaller than a church would have to be, but whatever the group decided, he would go with. "We'll see how sizable of a project a small building will be," he said in an oddly gentle way. He sensed just through intuition that the man was poignantly missing his old life. Adnan couldn't blame him. "But if we're keeping this camp for a while, a larger building is probably feasible. We will have to see how well the sandier ground holds weight." Even if it didn't, there were ways to work with that somewhat.
"Of course. Can't make firm plans until we know what we're working with," he'd struggled with getting that cross made after all and it was rudimentary at best. It was definitely a good idea to see what people who knew more about building could do, but he didn't expect anything fancy regardless. Not here, there was bare bones and even the smallest luxuries were rare. He had no idea how spoiled they were as people until he had arrived here, chalking most things up to moderernity and better hygiene. "I think that shelter is the most important thing right now for everyone so just let me know what you need help with. If I can learn to field dress a grazer and things, I can do this, right?" he offered a wan smile.
Adnan gave a soft chuckle at that. Though it was something he likely should learn how to do, himself. He'd hunted before, but not in ages and not beasts the size of the grazers. "Then perhaps we can teach each other some things," he said, sounding pleased by that prospect. It was what life was all about, wasn't it? He sat there for a moment, then started to pick himself up. "I will let you know when I know more," he said, feeling that he should probably leave the man to his thoughts now. "I really appreciate your support."
"Any time," Alex replied, though the words felt hollow in his mouth. Not any time. Preferably not after a funeral again, though Adnan couldn't have known. It was good to talk to him too, Alex felt better for the distraction. Not that he had forgotten Quinn, but for a moment it was somewhat better. "It was good talking with you," that wasn't hollow. That was the truth.
"You as well," the other man said with a warm -- but still small, he knew the air was still somber -- smile. "We'll speak again soon, I'm sure." It was kind of hard to avoid in their particular situation. Close was going to be a constant state of being. He gave Alex another nod and turned to head off toward the middle of camp again. He was going to head out soon to check out the local rocks, but wanted a bit of breakfast first.