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controlledvariable) wrote2014-02-02 07:59 pm
controlledvariable) wrote2014-02-02 07:59 pm
exsilium; ic inbox
text | audio | video
text | audio | video
[Nope. He can't handle — whatever story lies behind that little tidbit of information. This man is out of spoons.
Saul makes a gimme motion at her. The bottle, Steph. Please.]
Saul makes a gimme motion at her. The bottle, Steph. Please.]
Nobody makes proper Italian except the Italians.
( It's just a fact! Don't be Spoilersport.
Thank God Helena doesn't pun. )
Sure. Don't tell Barbara I encouraged you to buy alcohol underage.
( Whatever you can drink when you're sixteen in Italy )
( It's just a fact! Don't be Spoilersport.
Thank God Helena doesn't pun. )
Sure. Don't tell Barbara I encouraged you to buy alcohol underage.
( Whatever you can drink when you're sixteen in Italy )
[It takes her a second, but then she realizes what he's asking for, and hands the bottle over.
She also realizes she needs to explain.]
Someone faked my death. It was kind of a clusterfuck, but, um, I guess you saw-- [She gestures at herself, at the scars hidden under her clothes. He must have seen them, when she in that hospital gown.] She thought I was mocking my own memory. [a beat] Kinda feels true, sometimes.
She also realizes she needs to explain.]
Someone faked my death. It was kind of a clusterfuck, but, um, I guess you saw-- [She gestures at herself, at the scars hidden under her clothes. He must have seen them, when she in that hospital gown.] She thought I was mocking my own memory. [a beat] Kinda feels true, sometimes.
i'm coming to see you
[She owes Ellie that, if nothing else, after everything Steph's been doing behind her back.]
and the hospital's gonna need extra hands soon anyway.
[She owes Ellie that, if nothing else, after everything Steph's been doing behind her back.]
and the hospital's gonna need extra hands soon anyway.
Alfred can make anything.
[But okay, she's letting it go.]
There's no legal drinking age in Exsilium. [That probably isn't the point.] Red or white?
[But okay, she's letting it go.]
There's no legal drinking age in Exsilium. [That probably isn't the point.] Red or white?
[He saw them, yeah. And he hadn't thought of them again until just now. Thanks for that.
It looks like he's about to pour himself a glass, then — nah. Screw it. From the bottle it is.]
Your life.
[Just.
That's all he can say.]
It looks like he's about to pour himself a glass, then — nah. Screw it. From the bottle it is.]
Your life.
[Just.
That's all he can say.]
Edited 2013-06-10 17:46 (UTC)
okay.
( she's-- glad, and that makes her feel a bit childish. )
it'll be okay, it's probably just one of those bugs that makes you feel like hell for a while and the, next day you're right as rain. everyone'll bounce back, soon.
( huh. getting back to being a little more optimistic is possibly getting just a bit easier. )
( she's-- glad, and that makes her feel a bit childish. )
it'll be okay, it's probably just one of those bugs that makes you feel like hell for a while and the, next day you're right as rain. everyone'll bounce back, soon.
( huh. getting back to being a little more optimistic is possibly getting just a bit easier. )
Did I mention the part where my mom's a recovering drug addict and my dad's a supervillain who's tried to kill me on multiple occasions?
[She sounds so dismissive about it all but it's pretty much make a joke of it or burst into tears at this point.
And the latter would be super embarrassing.]
[She sounds so dismissive about it all but it's pretty much make a joke of it or burst into tears at this point.
And the latter would be super embarrassing.]
Of course.
( This time she really is rolling her eyes a bit. Bats. )
There is in Gotham.
( Hmm. ) Red.
If you want, come earlier. You can help me make ravioli.
( sigh )
( This time she really is rolling her eyes a bit. Bats. )
There is in Gotham.
( Hmm. ) Red.
If you want, come earlier. You can help me make ravioli.
( sigh )
[And Saul looks at her like she's just kicked him in the ribs.
Why is she telling him all this?]
Why is she telling him all this?]
[She was-- Okay no she wasn't joking, but this is the same thing that happened with Atlas when she joked about being dead, isn't it?
Sometimes flippancy probably isn't appropriate, and she just looks really sorry for mentioning it.]
Doesn't matter. [She waves a hand as if to dismiss it, casually moving in to steal the bottle back, if he'll let her.] I don't even have it that bad, compared to a lot of people back home.
Sometimes flippancy probably isn't appropriate, and she just looks really sorry for mentioning it.]
Doesn't matter. [She waves a hand as if to dismiss it, casually moving in to steal the bottle back, if he'll let her.] I don't even have it that bad, compared to a lot of people back home.
Yeah, because that's —
[Another swig, and then he hands it back.]
That's how we make ourselves feel better, right? Life sucks, but someone has it worse. Starving kids in Africa, and all that. [There's a pause as he leans back against his desk, expression twisted into a scowl.] Don't do that to yourself, Stephanie.
[Another swig, and then he hands it back.]
That's how we make ourselves feel better, right? Life sucks, but someone has it worse. Starving kids in Africa, and all that. [There's a pause as he leans back against his desk, expression twisted into a scowl.] Don't do that to yourself, Stephanie.
Edited 2013-06-10 17:58 (UTC)
I went to Africa, while I was "dead". [Actual airquotes, even with the bottle in her hands, before she takes a long drink.] They were great kids, even the ones who'd been in the hospital for years. Used to drag me out to go swimming even though--
[Even though talking was a struggle, even though she flinched every time someone touched her, even though the sound of a car backfiring would make her scream.
She takes another swig.]
One of the first times I talked to my best friend, I told her about how daddy dearest used to lock me in the closet when he was mad. And she was, you know, appropriately upset on my behalf, but when I asked what her dad would do, she told me he'd shoot her.
[Why is she still talking?
She just looks at Saul, hands spread in a sort of what can you do? gesture.]
All I could do was laugh.
[Because how could she compare being shoved in a closet to being shot. And what else can she do but tell herself that someone has it worse.]
[Even though talking was a struggle, even though she flinched every time someone touched her, even though the sound of a car backfiring would make her scream.
She takes another swig.]
One of the first times I talked to my best friend, I told her about how daddy dearest used to lock me in the closet when he was mad. And she was, you know, appropriately upset on my behalf, but when I asked what her dad would do, she told me he'd shoot her.
[Why is she still talking?
She just looks at Saul, hands spread in a sort of what can you do? gesture.]
All I could do was laugh.
[Because how could she compare being shoved in a closet to being shot. And what else can she do but tell herself that someone has it worse.]
We're not in Gotham.
[No she's just being contrary, and the smile is audible in her voice.
Though - what Helena says next makes her grin, and she's glad Helena can't actually see that.]
You sure I won't get in the way?
[No she's just being contrary, and the smile is audible in her voice.
Though - what Helena says next makes her grin, and she's glad Helena can't actually see that.]
You sure I won't get in the way?
[So that vaguely hurt look from before?
Yeah, this is as close to seeing Saul nearly cry as anyone will ever get. He really, really looks like he wants to. He doesn't, of course, but.
Stephanie.
What the fuck.
What the fuck, seriously.]
Why are you telling me this?
[It almost sounds like an accusation, the way he says it.]
Yeah, this is as close to seeing Saul nearly cry as anyone will ever get. He really, really looks like he wants to. He doesn't, of course, but.
Stephanie.
What the fuck.
What the fuck, seriously.]
Why are you telling me this?
[It almost sounds like an accusation, the way he says it.]
[Oh.
That's-- Oh.
She turns her gaze away; feeling almost like an intruder on something she isn't meant to see, not when Saul looks like that.]
Sorry.
[She was just talking, because that's what she does sometimes, when she doesn't know what to do and when she's gotten on a roll. Stopping is hard, once she's gotten started on something.]
I'm kind of a dick. Surprise.
[Haha
Ha.]
That's-- Oh.
She turns her gaze away; feeling almost like an intruder on something she isn't meant to see, not when Saul looks like that.]
Sorry.
[She was just talking, because that's what she does sometimes, when she doesn't know what to do and when she's gotten on a roll. Stopping is hard, once she's gotten started on something.]
I'm kind of a dick. Surprise.
[Haha
Ha.]
[Steph isn't feeling so optimistic; she's seen how some of the Exiles look, but Ellie doesn't need to hear that.]
just make sure that when you get better you tell dr mccoy that all you needed was some chicken soup and a nap
just make sure that when you get better you tell dr mccoy that all you needed was some chicken soup and a nap
[So about that stupid thing he wanted to do earlier but didn't do, with the kissing her bruised jaw...
He still doesn't. What he does do, though, is advance carefully. She has room to bail, room to punch him, whatever. Frankly, he's expecting both — which is why, if she lets him get close enough to carry this out, he'll almost flinch when his lips touch her cheek.
It's a gentle kiss. Not quick, but not too drawn-out to suggest anything other than genuine care and concern.]
He still doesn't. What he does do, though, is advance carefully. She has room to bail, room to punch him, whatever. Frankly, he's expecting both — which is why, if she lets him get close enough to carry this out, he'll almost flinch when his lips touch her cheek.
It's a gentle kiss. Not quick, but not too drawn-out to suggest anything other than genuine care and concern.]
[She doesn't do anything, just goes still, watching him approach because she knows what he's planning to do and isn't sure how to react. If anything, it's a surprise - and a relief? - that he just kisses her cheek, enough that she actually remembers things like breathing are necessary.]
Saul. [There's something a little pleading in it, but not like when she was teasing him, it's more don't do this.
She can't-- doesn't know what to do, so she just lets out a shaky breath, copes the way she always does and tries to ignore how white her knuckles must be around the bottle.] You know, I don't think that's the typical response when people are jerks to you.
[Since that's basically what she's been, coming in here and dumping all her nonsense on him.]
Saul. [There's something a little pleading in it, but not like when she was teasing him, it's more don't do this.
She can't-- doesn't know what to do, so she just lets out a shaky breath, copes the way she always does and tries to ignore how white her knuckles must be around the bottle.] You know, I don't think that's the typical response when people are jerks to you.
[Since that's basically what she's been, coming in here and dumping all her nonsense on him.]
[Saul remains close for a few seconds — close enough that she'll be able to feel his breath on her skin — and laughs quietly. Really, Steph? All those exes, and his reaction is surprising?
He backs away, then, with his hands at his sides and a little smile on his face.]
I know plenty of jerks. You're nothing like them.
He backs away, then, with his hands at his sides and a little smile on his face.]
I know plenty of jerks. You're nothing like them.
[She's just going to pretend he isn't that close and that she can't feel him breathing because otherwise she's not actually sure what she'll do.
(The most worrying thing is the urge to kiss him, not when she knows how heartbroken Ellie would be.)
It's a relief when he moves away, even if she's also pretending a part of her isn't disappointed.]
That's 'cause you haven't seen me beat a guy senseless just 'cause he wouldn't tell me what I wanted to hear.
[Throwing facts like that at people as if they're weapons isn't a good way to cope, but she never pretended to be emotionally healthy.]
(The most worrying thing is the urge to kiss him, not when she knows how heartbroken Ellie would be.)
It's a relief when he moves away, even if she's also pretending a part of her isn't disappointed.]
That's 'cause you haven't seen me beat a guy senseless just 'cause he wouldn't tell me what I wanted to hear.
[Throwing facts like that at people as if they're weapons isn't a good way to cope, but she never pretended to be emotionally healthy.]
[The smile turns to a full smirk, at that.
Being emotionally healthy is overrated. Which is probably why he's tempted to move in again, distract her, mumble that she needs to cut this shit out —
Instead:] It's a shame my bodyguard isn't here. You two would get along so well.
Being emotionally healthy is overrated. Which is probably why he's tempted to move in again, distract her, mumble that she needs to cut this shit out —
Instead:] It's a shame my bodyguard isn't here. You two would get along so well.
[For a moment, she doesn't say anything, just clenches and unclenches the hand that isn't holding the bottle, watching her skin pull over her knuckles.]
Maybe I should've been a bodyguard instead of a vigilante.
[She's just - saying things, not really thinking; there are too many other thoughts in her head to actually focus.]
Maybe I should've been a bodyguard instead of a vigilante.
[She's just - saying things, not really thinking; there are too many other thoughts in her head to actually focus.]
Maybe.
[Speaking of the bottle, he'd like to take that from her before she either 1) finishes drinking it, 2) breaks it, or 3) breaks it on him. Nothing's out of the question, at this point.
So.
He reaches out and touches her fingers.]
Can I have that back?
[Speaking of the bottle, he'd like to take that from her before she either 1) finishes drinking it, 2) breaks it, or 3) breaks it on him. Nothing's out of the question, at this point.
So.
He reaches out and touches her fingers.]
Can I have that back?
Could've gone into the family business, too.
[She would make a terrible supervillain.
The touch startles her enough that she actually looks at him, a little bit deer-in-headlights, gaze searching, before she looks away again. She opens her mouth to say yeah, but the word sticks in her throat, so she just wordlessly turns her wrist until the bottle is facing him, offering it without having moved her hand away from his.]
[She would make a terrible supervillain.
The touch startles her enough that she actually looks at him, a little bit deer-in-headlights, gaze searching, before she looks away again. She opens her mouth to say yeah, but the word sticks in her throat, so she just wordlessly turns her wrist until the bottle is facing him, offering it without having moved her hand away from his.]
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