last_adam | (no subject)

*Adam lays on Alanna's bed, in the dark, in the silence. Hands folded behind his bed, he stares at the ceiling, listening to time pass.

...it is a controllable thing, but it is never gone...

Hours flow into minutes flow into seconds, and still she's not back, and he's left alone

in the dark

with his thoughts. He likes the dark, really, he craves it. But the dark is a breeding place for those

...parts of you that you have no control over...

creatures that would devour you whole.*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

the_lioness

*Alanna slowly pushes open the door, face pale and streaked with dirt. She still feels numb, not fully comprehending what had just come to pass. Maude's words run through her head in an endless litany once more, and have been since they left the Moors and the women behind. The women who did not wish to be freed.

Heal, child. Think before you fight.

Whimpering slightly, she begins to unstrap her various weapons, her thoughts elsewhere, in London Below.*

From:

last_adam

*Hearing the door creak open, Adam turns and waits for his eyes to adjust to the light. He frowns as he watches her, not yet saying anything.*

From:

the_lioness

*Slowly taking off her boots, Alanna digs her toes into the rug and wipes the back of her hand across her mouth. Her eyes are vague and unfocused as she finally drops a boot to the floor and walks into the bedroom. The faint metallic scent of blood seems to cling to her nose, and she fights down another wave of nausea. She had been sick not long after the fight... she always is afterwards. That doesn't change the fact that a man is now dead by her hand. Regret can not alter past actions.

Sighing, she starts to take off her shirt, but sees something out of the corner of her eye. Heart leaping, she instinctively drops her hand to the spot where her dagger was sheathed moments before, but relaxes as soon as she realizes that it's Adam.

Not a shadow, not an enemy. Not her own conscience come to torment her. Adam.

She has no idea what to say.*

You waited.

From:

last_adam

*He nods, not quite sure what to say, either.*

I said I would.

From:

the_lioness

*She gives him a small, tentative smile.*

Thank you, Adam.

*Nodding, she grabs a gauzy pair of what look to be pajamas and walks into the bathroom.*

I... let me clean up. Just a minute.

*She hastily takes off her clothes, throwing them into a heap in the corner, a look of disgust on her face. The quick shower she takes is cold, almost punishing, as if she is trying to banish the numbness. If she cries briefly... well, the water is loud. Five minutes later, she walks out, hair wet and pinned up, and quickly crawls next to him on the bed.*

I'm back. Told you I would be.

From:

last_adam

*He nods, dazed, and if he hears her crying, he doesn't mention it when she returns. Instead, he just runs a hand down her cheek, and pulls her into a hug.*

From:

the_lioness

*Shivering briefly, she wraps her arms around him and sighs, rubbing her cheek against his shoulder.*

How are you?

From:

last_adam

I'm here. What about you?

From:

the_lioness

Also here.

*Alanna swallows.*

I killed someone.

From:

last_adam

You-

*He reaches down and takes her hand in his, squeezing it.*

From:

the_lioness

*She nods, clinging to him a bit.*

Didn't think. Just acted. I'm so used to fighting the unknown here... people, beings who can anticipate my every move. I think I expected him to block it, and my head was already thinking about how to counterattack...

But he didn't. He was just drunk, and possibly stupid.

And now he's dead.

From:

last_adam

You did what you thought was right. What you needed to do.

*He says all of this without thinking, but knows it to be true, even without going inside to find out.*

From:

the_lioness

*She shakes her head.*

Maybe it felt necessary at the time, but it wasn't right. Faith managed not to kill anyone, and she has far more power than I.

Sometimes I wonder if I've left myself behind. If that makes any sense.

From:

last_adam

*Adam laughs a little because, yeah, yeah, it makes more sense than it probably should.*

I'm sorry.

From:

the_lioness

Me too.

*Biting her lip, she rests her chin on his chest and looks up at him.*

I suspect I shall go to the Temple and attempt to make sense of all this tomorrow. *She smiles wanly.* How are you really, Adam? Besides here.

From:

last_adam

*Adam shrugs and turns his head to the side, bringing a hand up to run through her hair.*

From:

the_lioness

*She closes her eyes, smiling faintly.*

That good, huh?

*Shifting, she rests her head on his shoulder and gently trails her fingers up his side and along his chest and stomach. Comforting, not tickling.*

I wish you would talk to me sometimes. I'm not going to say anything or pass judgment. You know that.

From:

last_adam

I know. I'm just not even sure I know how to put it into words.

*He closes his eyes, relaxing under her touch.*

From:

the_lioness

*She sits up a bit and pulls him closer, letting her hand brush over his face before continuing downward again. It's soothing her as much as it might, she hopes, be soothing him.*

Try. I certainly can not say anything if you fail. I have similar problems. Perhaps start by telling me about the rest of your evening?

*Something, anything. She doesn't want to think about hers.*

From:

last_adam

I-

*He nods, takes a breath and starts again.*

I had a talk with Raven.

From:

the_lioness

Ah, my friend Nightstorm.

*She smiles encouragingly and continues well... petting him, really.*

He is... unique.

From:

last_adam

Yeah.

*he laughs*

He is.

*his lips purse as he thinks, trying to figure out how to say what seems so big in his head, and so meaningless in words.*

From:

the_lioness

Makes you think, doesn't he? Mischievous too. He would have to be to do what he does - cause trouble and create worlds. He presented his talents in that order, not I.

*Alanna waits, watching him.*