locked to } luthir

[graveflowers]

[She doesn't actually know if he uses the phone, poor old fashioned dear, but she is exhausted and dehydrated because she is somehow still crying and, to be perfectly honest, she is terrified of falling asleep. She has nothing left to stop her from giving it a shot.

She needs it, and she was so focused on what everyone else needed -- what Jade needed and Rafael and Des and Myri -- that she pushed it aside because she felt bad that she can't figure out how to get this comfort from anyone here and because death is what she is good at so she let herself take over to save anyone else having to do it.

But now it's settled on her shoulders, the reminder that she has no idea what she is doing in this case and she needs help. His help, specifically, because as much as he flusters her and makes her stomach riot with butterflies, he calms her down and centers her, balancing her when she feels off-kilter and confused. And she would really love to be calm, for at least a moment.

So she curls up in on of the chairs in the waiting room, tugging her feet up on to the seat. She dials and listens to it ring and really hopes he is around to talk to her. She twists her wrist to glance at her watch, it is really early or middle of the night there -- dyslexia is not exclusive to letters, sadly, and she doesn't have a digital watch -- but she... doesn't actually care.]

Comments

[luthir]

It seems something of a shame, that such a speech will go to waste.

[graveflowers]

Yeah? It wouldn't be... unwanted?

[luthir]

I wouldn't call it that. However, this may not be the most... ideal place and time for it. [ a pause ] I imagine you've had a very long day.

[graveflowers]

[She shrugs, and then realizes... duh, phone.] It's not like I am going to sleep, I don't want another stalker dream date. [Ever again. She adds in a small voice, almost a whisper:] Why do you have to be so far away? [Her breath hitches as she takes a deep breath and exhales slowly, trying to turn her brain back on.] When I get home. That speech is going to happen. And it is going to be suitably epic. But considering I have just suffered genuine shock and trauma more than once in the last 48 hours, do you think you could cut me a break and gimme a hint as to the possible outcome of my epic speech? I need something good for once. ...so I guess only tell me if its good, 'cause if, inexplicably, it isn't -- Well, everything sucks right now, I might not notice.

[luthir]

[ his voice is surprisingly gentle, for him at least, when he says: ] You need not fear that of all things, Helillóte. I find it difficult to imagine any words from your lips inspiring less than a favorable, and ardent, response.

Rest your heart upon that matter.

[graveflowers]

Oh. [That is all she manages before she is crying again but for once, in what feels like weeks or months, she isn't sad, as if her grief lifted for that one moment so she could have something to hold on to.] Okay. I will do that.

[A beat, before she ruins the moment.] Oh my god, you're my Mr. Darcy. [And cue giggles.]

[luthir]

I'm not certain I know how to take that...

[graveflowers]

Um, you could take it well. [Her giggles subside.] It's from a book, it's... not important. But fairly complimentary, so.

[luthir]

Oh, I've read the book...

I just saw us as having something of a... less stressful initial acquaintance.

[graveflowers]

Less stressful than almost being monster munchies or splatter on train tracks or incubating some demon spawn? [REALLY? BECAUSE THAT WAS KIND OF STRESSFUL.] You had an actual gaping neck wound, I'm struggling to think of a more stressful first meeting. Well... I guess last night would've been worse.

[luthir]

Well, yes, there was that [ s-so dismissive nbd all in a day's work ] but at least between you and I there were no displays of antagonism. [ a beat ] I believe you asked me to marry you, if I recall correctly. That's not how I remember Austen going.

[graveflowers]

Oh, you remember my proposal, hmm? You know it's rude to keep a girl waiting. [Just saying.] And anyway, I'm not nearly as emotionally deficient as Elizabeth Bennet and it's not like 1786 or whatever and you're not --- you know what, I'm just going to figure out a different literary comparison.

[luthir]

Perhaps it doesn't beg a comparison.

[graveflowers]

Maybe. Hey, what would you consider my birthright? [It sounds like the question just occured to her.]

[luthir]

I'm not sure I know what you mean.

[graveflowers]

The guy, hitherto unspecified god dude, he said he could give me my destiny which is "my right by blood". Well he said I could take it, I don't think it's really a present.

[luthir]

I wouldn't trust a single word he said, let alone something so clearly meant to pique your interest in whatever he had to offer.

[graveflowers]

[Snort.] He didn't need to try that hard. Not knowing who he is is... plenty. You've realized by now that I am sort of single minded, right? Like to a fault. But you didn't answer my question, for curiosity's sake not so I can make a shady, back alley dream deal.

[luthir]

Well, I imagine he's speaking of your heritage in some fashion, although given that gods are immortal, it isn't as if you're in line to inherit anything in much of a literal sense.

[graveflowers]

[There's a noise like hrmph in reply and then a plaintive:] Why me?

[luthir]

There's nothing you did that might have drawn attention to yourself from... divine sources?

[graveflowers]

Maybe?

[She groans, but somehow manages to tell him her idea of sharing energy with Jade and trading their necklaces without drifting off on some rogue tangent or muddling it up completely. Its an actual proper explanation for once, complete with her new realizations that it wasn't the necklace draining Jade of energy but her lack of memories, turning her to a shadow.]

I was right, though, when we were -- [She has to pause there and take a breath.] -- saying goodbye, Jade asked me to bury the necklace with her. She said something about it was twisted, it wasn't just that her mother's magic had spoiled, something was wrong about it.

But the necklace broke. [She is clinging to that like it will suddenly make the dreams stop, even though she doubts it will.] Maybe it's like a key though, once the door is unlocked...

[luthir]

Or perhaps whatever darkness leaked into you from such contact with it is merely lingering. It's been only a few days... there's a chance it will fade in time. [ he doesn't sound so convinced though. in fact, he sounds entirely grim. ]

[graveflowers]

So a key then. [Sir, we need to work on your comforting skills.] A key that broke so, effectively, I am screwed.

I can't... I can't do this.

[luthir]

I certainly wouldn't assume that much. If he can't get what he wants from you, if you show no signs of being interested, he'll likely turn his eye elsewhere...

And there are protections against the divine, to try to keep their powers at bay. I'll speak to Solace about it.