kineticcajun | Appointments

This whole time...

[She said it softly, but she hadn't meant to say it out loud at all. He'd been engaged the whole time.

The whole. time.

From the moment he handed her the card that blew up in her face to the moment that he handed her a card that she kept as a mark of - something - he'd been engaged.]

Son of a--

[But trying to expand her view beyond herself, he'd - he'd what, he'd gotten engaged and run?

She wanted to shut down, but she'd come this far, so she lifts her gaze to his and asks with blatant incredulity.]

What the hell?

[This whole time. That tone hits him like a punch, but it somehow manages to make him more intent on meeting her gaze. This is really the bottom line of it, at least in terms of background.]

Never said I was proud of it. [Lord, is that putting it lightly.] It was leave town or give Julien a chance at carvin' me up. He never was keen on the weddin' idea, but he got worse about it over time.

[After Henri was hurt, there was no telling how much worse it would have gotten if he'd stayed. He didn't much care to find out. Julien was completely unhinged. The upper limits of what the man might do were probably much higher than anyone would realize.

Hell, she'd zapped him once. She probably knows full well just how crazy that guy was.]

'Fore I left, he an' Marius were callin' for my head. Judgin' by how they were when I went back, that didn't change much. Maybe I shouldn't be jumpin' to conclusions, but that contract ain't gonna work if they kill me first.

[And there's the heart of his logic. She'll probably still be angry, still be hurt, but this whole time wasn't meant to do any of that.]

[She did know. Julien was twenty pounds of crazy crammed into five pound sack. And having him out for your blood was not small joke. Remy was a Thief, but the Rippers were Assassins.

And she didn't exactly give Jean-Luc credit enough to think he'd stick his neck out for the best interests of his son. That, she knew, that moment in the boat when they'd talked about their adopted parents, she knew, she knew that hadn't been a lie.

He left to save his life. She can understand that. She'd done similarly when she'd joined the Brotherhood. She can't fault him for that, not when he said he'd gotten into this in order to bring peace. And she almost, almost believed him - he wasn't exactly the type to settle down. And she'd seen what he'd do in order to protect his family.

Her eyes lowered, her voice is also low, and husky with some undefined emotion.]

You did what you thought was right by you.

[It didn't make things better.]

[It shouldn't sting so much to hear that tone.]

Doesn't mean it was right by everyone else.

[It kept his skin safe, and Henri's and Tantie Mattie's, but he'd be the first to admit that it wasn't a perfect solution. Then again, his solutions rarely fit any kind of ideal. Wrong thing for the right reasons, she'd said once. Even that might be putting it a bit too kindly.]

[No, it doesn't.

But she doesn't need to reinforce that. If he's just saying it, nothing she can do will make an impact. And if he means it, then she's not the kind of person to rub his face in it.

She sighed, doing her best to emotionally withdraw. She'd opened up far too much in asking him this, and now she was raw and hurting again. She tries to shift the topic from this, now. She can't justify his choices. That's not any kind of position she wants to be in.]

Naw. You didn't make me any promises.

[You were her enemy. And then you were something else. She'd thought you'd wanted her. She'd been a fool. She can't blame him for that. Can't really even blame him for keeping this mess to himself, it just shows him for more of what he is - screwed up. And that didn't help his game.]

I put somethin' on this that wasn't there. That's on me.

[I thought you wanted me.]

Edited 2012-08-16 02:48 (UTC)

[No, no, no. This wasn't on her. And if she thinks she was just making things out to be something they weren't, then she can't be farther from the truth.

Granted, he does not have the best track record with the truth, and she knows that. Which doesn't help anything. But he keeps his tone firm, trying to make his point go across.]

No, it isn't. I meant everythin' I said before.

[And after telling her about the entire fiasco with Bella, he hopes she can spot that he's not switching from truth into a lie. There's no point in transitioning after that much honesty.]

[She scoffs, lightly, and although she knows she should disengage, get up and open the door and try to leave again, she lifts her eyes to his in challenge.]

Which time?

[Because honestly, right now she's not sure.]

When I said it wasn't a game.

[That, and asking her out, or any number of flattering things he's said, but that's the most important one.]

[There really is no verbal response to that which isn't blue and possibly referencing defenestration.

So Rogue just bumps her head back against the wall behind her, shutting her eyes.]

Sure.

[That bump just makes him shake his head. There probably isn't any convincing her today, is there. The odds are probably good that it will take a long time to get it through to her. And she's probably nearing the end of her rope for dealing with him for one day.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, he sighs and stands. Gives a stretch. If she doesn't want to talk about it anymore, he'll switch subjects.]

Maybe we oughta see if we've moved.

[The closet hasn't been standing still so far, so it must have moved again, right?]

[Rogue is tired and drained and hurting. Her voice, therefore, reflects a certain amount of hollowness.]

Suit yourself.

[It's harder than it should be not to react to the hollowness of her tone. But somehow he doubts she wants him calling attention to it.

Careful to stay back in case of dramatic drop, he opens the door a little more than a crack and peers out.]

...T'ink it's safe this time.

[She flicks a gaze to him.]

You gonna try it?

[He nods and opens the door wider... and it thankfully is on the ground this time. And it also seems to be in the middle of one of the bridges around the village. It's probably better not to even try to think about that.

Ignoring how weird this all is, he puts one cautious foot out to make sure it's not some kind of slingshot effect anymore. He's satisfied with making it the step outside the closet, then steps back to hold it open for Rogue.]

Looks like we're free.

[That came out a bit more hollow than he meant, but he'll ignore that for now.]

[Good, because Rogue is certainly ignoring it.

She gets up and steps out, careful not to touch or come anywhere close to him.]

Thanks.

[Simple courtesy for holding the door. Rogue's not exactly sure where they are now, but she's sure that she's seen more than enough of him for the day. She'll just pick a direction and start walking, all without looking up at him.]

Appointments

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