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dishearten) wrote2010-12-04 11:41 am
dishearten) wrote2010-12-04 11:41 am
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username: HUNTSMAN | ✉ ☏ 📷 |
[It's later at night when she messages, after dinner's been made and the dishes have been done and the rest of her "family" is busy puttering around the house with their own tasks. She's curled up on the couch with a book, but she hasn't paid the words on the page much mind for the past fifteen minutes, mind elsewhere.]
Can I ask you something, if you're not busy?
Can I ask you something, if you're not busy?
( graham is a man that likes to keep busy, yet some hours of the night are harder to fill than others, unless he's working. he's at home, with his "partner" — an odd and familiar concept at the same time. it is almost uncomfortably normal to have dinner and watch dates television when he knows there is a mission to worry about.
he welcomes a slight distraction when Emma disappears for a shower. )
no, not too busy. I know it won't last, but so far it is eerily quiet here.
what is it?
he welcomes a slight distraction when Emma disappears for a shower. )
no, not too busy. I know it won't last, but so far it is eerily quiet here.
what is it?
You've been with ALASTAIR a long time, as long as I have. Do you ever wonder about what might happen if you never get the chance to go home?
[A future with ALASTAIR, rather than whatever future he might have had planned for himself back home.]
[A future with ALASTAIR, rather than whatever future he might have had planned for himself back home.]
I don't think going home is an option for me. The very moment I joined ALASTAIR, I have always assumed I will never go back.
I take it you've been thinking about it, however.
I take it you've been thinking about it, however.
[ Meanwhile, back in a treehouse: ]
I know the police's strength is engaged in the fighting near City Hall. I only wished to say that I hope you fare well, and that the hordes cannot reach you.
Bring me your tidings the moment you can spare them.
[ Translation: She is worried about you, buddy. ]
I know the police's strength is engaged in the fighting near City Hall. I only wished to say that I hope you fare well, and that the hordes cannot reach you.
Bring me your tidings the moment you can spare them.
[ Translation: She is worried about you, buddy. ]
Hard not to, when it's been so long.
[It's meant lightly; though it lay heavy on her mind the days immediately following her death so many months ago, she's pushed back against and re-righted herself. Still, the thought lingers persistently in the back of her mind, rising to the surface during the occasional three minute period of silence that sometimes peppers her day.]
Why do you say you'll never go back? Is it because you don't wish to?
[It's meant lightly; though it lay heavy on her mind the days immediately following her death so many months ago, she's pushed back against and re-righted herself. Still, the thought lingers persistently in the back of her mind, rising to the surface during the occasional three minute period of silence that sometimes peppers her day.]
Why do you say you'll never go back? Is it because you don't wish to?
( it cannot be surprising that his answer comes a bit delayed. she's not wrong, he's involved in the police response to the madness. even detectives are put on crowd control, it's all hands on deck and he is expected to do his part.
it's a bit of a lull when he finds time to answer. it's dark and quiet in the fast food establishment he's pulled away in, a few hushed voices of others tucked away along with him.
he looks drawn and worried until Dany manages an answer. he doesn't suspect their conversation will be long, yet he's glad for the luxury of seeing her face and that she is well. he's well, too; a run of purple along a cheekbone, but nothing worse than that. considering the violence, he's lucky. )
I am glad to see your face, ( and he manages that even with a ghost of a smile. ) I am as good as can be expected. And you?
it's a bit of a lull when he finds time to answer. it's dark and quiet in the fast food establishment he's pulled away in, a few hushed voices of others tucked away along with him.
he looks drawn and worried until Dany manages an answer. he doesn't suspect their conversation will be long, yet he's glad for the luxury of seeing her face and that she is well. he's well, too; a run of purple along a cheekbone, but nothing worse than that. considering the violence, he's lucky. )
I am glad to see your face, ( and he manages that even with a ghost of a smile. ) I am as good as can be expected. And you?
I've seen more people leave our team than linger in it. some of those are transfers but surely some of our ranks have made it home.
( it's hard to tell for certain, though, isn't it? )
in my world, after your heart is crushed, you die. I don't know why, but that is not the case here.
( it's hard to tell for certain, though, isn't it? )
in my world, after your heart is crushed, you die. I don't know why, but that is not the case here.
[—Ah. That would make a return to normal life difficult, wouldn't it?]
Strong magic of some sort, I'd imagine.
[There's no other possibility that would even make sense to her. But if he must stay here, she can't help but wonder what his feelings are on the subject.]
Are you happy here?
Strong magic of some sort, I'd imagine.
[There's no other possibility that would even make sense to her. But if he must stay here, she can't help but wonder what his feelings are on the subject.]
Are you happy here?
[ As can be expected. There's wryness ensconced in her relief, and the mark upon his face receives a concerned inspection, but she is no less grateful to see him in one piece. ]
I am well protected, [ she answers, weary but safe. Her face at least bears no bruises, and black talons grip her shoulder, scarcely visible in the upper right corner of the feed. Her clothes are rumpled, as though someone has tugged them in various directions. ] We were mistaken for enemies and set upon by rioters, but they dealt us no lasting harm. Their ire was easily directed elsewhere.
[ And they had left her enough means in the street with which to defend herself. ]
Ahad has escorted me back. [ The talons on her shoulder move, and she seems to smile. The background of his feed is given one last assessing look, and then she queries, ] Are you well-guarded, where you are?
I am well protected, [ she answers, weary but safe. Her face at least bears no bruises, and black talons grip her shoulder, scarcely visible in the upper right corner of the feed. Her clothes are rumpled, as though someone has tugged them in various directions. ] We were mistaken for enemies and set upon by rioters, but they dealt us no lasting harm. Their ire was easily directed elsewhere.
[ And they had left her enough means in the street with which to defend herself. ]
Ahad has escorted me back. [ The talons on her shoulder move, and she seems to smile. The background of his feed is given one last assessing look, and then she queries, ] Are you well-guarded, where you are?
Edited 2017-02-15 06:13 (UTC)
( no other answer that makes sense to him either, for the record. )
I don't think I could be truly happy unless I were free. as it is... I have a chance to change my date. I'm grateful for that.
I don't think I could be truly happy unless I were free. as it is... I have a chance to change my date. I'm grateful for that.
( dany knows as well as he does that he's faced her with worse injures than a shiner. it could even comfort her, knowing he feels it little... yet even graham has started to cotton in to the fact his heartlessness never seems to be a relief to anyone.
he frowns at her description of the danger she'd faced, yet slowly nods at the affirmation she'd faced it. Daenerys was gifted in drawing the lost to her cause — and the lost sometimes needed a voice to follow. he trusted hers more than many in Audentes. )
I hope you stay away from the fray, if you can. If you can't, I might be able to reach you. ( he had the cruiser, he'd try to get to her if she needed him, at the very least. ) I won't be here long, but the place is away and has a sturdy lock. The people here should be safe.
he frowns at her description of the danger she'd faced, yet slowly nods at the affirmation she'd faced it. Daenerys was gifted in drawing the lost to her cause — and the lost sometimes needed a voice to follow. he trusted hers more than many in Audentes. )
I hope you stay away from the fray, if you can. If you can't, I might be able to reach you. ( he had the cruiser, he'd try to get to her if she needed him, at the very least. ) I won't be here long, but the place is away and has a sturdy lock. The people here should be safe.
[ In its own way, the frown is comforting. It is good to be cared for. ]
I will dispatch Loki for our food and supplies, should need arise to go out again, [ she assures him, not wanting him to worry. He would not like to hear it said that way, but if I truly need something of him, he will do it all the same. ] Would that I could offer you my aid, but here I am only some foreign girl with a forceful voice. I would need more hands to still their fists. I would need answers to feed them. They riot because they are frightened.
[ She pauses, not wishing to speak of what she cannot do. It is easier to cast favor upon what he has done. ]
No one will be troubled if they are not in the way, [ she agrees. ] You were good to shepherd so many to safety.
I will dispatch Loki for our food and supplies, should need arise to go out again, [ she assures him, not wanting him to worry. He would not like to hear it said that way, but if I truly need something of him, he will do it all the same. ] Would that I could offer you my aid, but here I am only some foreign girl with a forceful voice. I would need more hands to still their fists. I would need answers to feed them. They riot because they are frightened.
[ She pauses, not wishing to speak of what she cannot do. It is easier to cast favor upon what he has done. ]
No one will be troubled if they are not in the way, [ she agrees. ] You were good to shepherd so many to safety.
It is best to stay away from the streets if you can. If Loki can't manage, let me know. ( he still can, and finding ways to survive in meagre times is a skill of his. as for the people, she isn't wrong. )
I know.
( granted, it is not in Graham's nature (or capacity) to hold much ill will. even if it was, he wouldn't when their behavior was sparked by fear. he's seen what fear can drive people to do. he does not blame them, even if he does what he can to stop the worst of the violence. )
It is my job, as long as I'm here. ( he's never been very good at taking a compliment, has he? )
I know.
( granted, it is not in Graham's nature (or capacity) to hold much ill will. even if it was, he wouldn't when their behavior was sparked by fear. he's seen what fear can drive people to do. he does not blame them, even if he does what he can to stop the worst of the violence. )
It is my job, as long as I'm here. ( he's never been very good at taking a compliment, has he? )
I imagine most people feel the same way.
[Or would, if they were in similar circumstances. Hopefully his circumstances are unique and not easily come by.]
Sieglinde was working on something for that, wasn't she? How is that coming along?
[Or would, if they were in similar circumstances. Hopefully his circumstances are unique and not easily come by.]
Sieglinde was working on something for that, wasn't she? How is that coming along?
it is my hope that most of ALASTAIR can go free after they've put in their time. everyone deserves to be free.
she is. it's hard to say, really. there are ideas, though only unproven ones. it's not an easy problem she's trying to solve. sometime I wonder if it was right to set such a task on such small shoulders.
( Sieglinde stands very tall for someone that... you know, isn't... but he still has some regret for the pain it seems to have caused her. )
she is. it's hard to say, really. there are ideas, though only unproven ones. it's not an easy problem she's trying to solve. sometime I wonder if it was right to set such a task on such small shoulders.
( Sieglinde stands very tall for someone that... you know, isn't... but he still has some regret for the pain it seems to have caused her. )
You make it sound as if we've all been locked up in prison.
[True, the ALASTAIR life isn't a very glamorous one, but it isn't always all that bad.]
She takes on a lot, for such a young woman. I worry sometimes it's too much, but I fear telling her so might only encourage her to work even more.
[True, the ALASTAIR life isn't a very glamorous one, but it isn't always all that bad.]
She takes on a lot, for such a young woman. I worry sometimes it's too much, but I fear telling her so might only encourage her to work even more.
our choice was taken from us. there's no changing that.
( they were coerced into service, and as someone who had been forced into service previously, he can't help but see the commonalities. )
I suspect it would. she's lived a very hard life. I struggle trying to know how to make it a little easier.
( they were coerced into service, and as someone who had been forced into service previously, he can't help but see the commonalities. )
I suspect it would. she's lived a very hard life. I struggle trying to know how to make it a little easier.
There isn't any changing what's already been done, you're right. But you said yourself, you're grateful for the chance to change your fate now. Has it been all that bad?
[As far as she can see, remaining with ALASTAIR seems to be the preferable choice. But she isn't him, and she hasn't been through all he has, and so she can only wonder and ask.]
Unless there was a different choice you were hoping to make?
[As far as she can see, remaining with ALASTAIR seems to be the preferable choice. But she isn't him, and she hasn't been through all he has, and so she can only wonder and ask.]
Unless there was a different choice you were hoping to make?
no, not all of it has been bad. far from it.
( he didn't die, he gets a chance at more time and to make some of his own choices. he's learned a great deal about himself in the time he's spent in ALASTAIR — things he might never have had the chance to. )
if I'd been asked, I would have chosen to join. I wasn't, though, none of us were.
I lived too long without any choice. I can't forget what that is like, and it is hard to ignore when it happens all over again.
( he didn't die, he gets a chance at more time and to make some of his own choices. he's learned a great deal about himself in the time he's spent in ALASTAIR — things he might never have had the chance to. )
if I'd been asked, I would have chosen to join. I wasn't, though, none of us were.
I lived too long without any choice. I can't forget what that is like, and it is hard to ignore when it happens all over again.
Will you hold that against them then, for as long as you're here?
[It's genuinely curious, not at all meant as any sort of an attack. His reasons are his own and she has no right to judge them. (She's got no high ground to speak of, after all she's done.)]
Perhaps they'll go back to the volunteer process one day, after all this is said and done.
[It's genuinely curious, not at all meant as any sort of an attack. His reasons are his own and she has no right to judge them. (She's got no high ground to speak of, after all she's done.)]
Perhaps they'll go back to the volunteer process one day, after all this is said and done.
as long as they keep on the way they do, yes. perhaps they might offer choice again one day. I hope so.
their goals can be admirable. their recruitment process, much less so.
their goals can be admirable. their recruitment process, much less so.
I hope for your sake they do.
[Her own agency had been stripped from her time and again, but for the most part she's come to terms with it. Graham's hurts seem to run deeper, with good reason.]
But speaking of choice, how have you been doing? Brother too?
[He'd had a choice in crafting his cover story for Woodhurst. Hopefully it's treated him kindly thus far.]
[Her own agency had been stripped from her time and again, but for the most part she's come to terms with it. Graham's hurts seem to run deeper, with good reason.]
But speaking of choice, how have you been doing? Brother too?
[He'd had a choice in crafting his cover story for Woodhurst. Hopefully it's treated him kindly thus far.]
I won't be at the apartment when you get out of work today, Graham.
[ as for why, well - three guesses, and the first two don't count. they both know she's been ... off, now Emma knows why.]
Look after Sunny for me?
[ as for why, well - three guesses, and the first two don't count. they both know she's been ... off, now Emma knows why.]
Look after Sunny for me?
and why not?
( it's not that he does not understand her condition. he's heartless, but he's still got his wits about him. he's noticed a difference. he just doesn't entirely comprehend why that means she needs to leave. )
( it's not that he does not understand her condition. he's heartless, but he's still got his wits about him. he's noticed a difference. he just doesn't entirely comprehend why that means she needs to leave. )
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