Chat Log : After the Storm
Who: Anita Blake, Locke Lamora
What: Discussing the aftermath of the epic fail, and taking news, very quickly of Valen
When: The morning after the unnatural storm
*well - there was a bit of that better wine left over from getting drunk and...well, sexing up Valen the other night. Is sprawled in his room drinking that and reading over his lines, /looking/ better. Of
course, with Locke, that's not saying much.*
*well, she did tell herself she'll look into Valocke, so she'll poke her head in.* Pup? S'Nita.
*looks up over his glass* Gods, I wish you wouldn't call me that.
*eyebrows* Newsflash. You don't get a pick. Not after 6 months of it.
Damn, knew there was something wrong.
Sorry. *she plops next to him* How' you?
Great. Peachy keen, actually. *touch of a grin*
*she gives him a bit of an assessing look - mostly trying to see how the bruises are.* Good.
*Oh, they're still there! Nasty and purplish. Henry wasn't fooling around. and they hurt, not that Locke would mention it.*
*she would frown but she knows better* And whatcha doin'?
Very, very little, actually. Haven't caused any more riots, if that's what you're asking.
*chuckle* nah. was talking about the reading.
Oh, that. For the play.
The play?
Cyrano's. Don't worry, it wasn't my idea. *almost a wry half a grin*
*chuckles* if I'd been told you and he would be friends, back then, I'd have laughed.
Oh, trust me, I still do.
*see look, Anita, he's not mad at you!*
*good. because she'd have been very annoyed.* yeah. well. *pause.* How's Valen?
Valen's good.
...... you owe me your thumb. *because pinkies have been used*
*blink* What?
*pause* I saw you and him, last night. You were outside. *and that can't be good for Valen.*
Oh. *pause* That's Valen's to tell if he wants. I don't know what happened. *closes off a little*
*fair enough.* Just tell me if he's alright now. *she'll talk to Valen anyway, sooner later. Sooner, rather.*
He's all right now.
*a sigh of relief.* Thank god for small mercies.
Mmm. *agreement, that is. though. um.*
*she rubs her face, sighs.* baaah.
*so eloquent*
....what was that?
the sound of me being a bit blah, sorry.
Don't worry about it.
..... *awkward silence* I wanted to say sorry, pup.
...oh, shit, not you too.
For what? What've you got to feel sorry for?
aack. I shoulda said somen'n
Yeah? Like what?
like tell Henry to leave, or tell Cyrano not to get you. Or tell Jaenelle. AGAIN. to keep her hands off you.
...well, technically speaking, she /did/ keep her hands off me. *not going all tense again, no wai*
.... you know what I mean. I'm sorry I failed you.
Gaaah. You didn't. Godsfucking hell.
*she did. she adopted you, Locke. Which means she feels responsible for you. and Valen* Fine.
*doesn't quite see it that way* I'm fine, all right?
.... all right.
.../what?/ *is tetchy. and stuck together with duct tape.*
*is not going to stop worrying* nothing, hun, nothing.
*probably good thing, too. someone needs to, honestly* Yeah, sure, and I'm Capa fucking Raza. What is it?
ah, nothing. It's just that pretty much everyone I know is broken. Except Sam.
...I told you, I'm fine. *agitated* What's the matter with everyone else?
(Henry: *objects!* Lucivar: *objects!*)
Jaenelle's broken. Henry... bah. And if Jaenelle is broken, Lucivar's not far behind. And there's Cal. Always.
*FK and Alex are not broken. They are sane. We insist on that.*
Wait, what? /Jaenelle?/ *that's just weird. even if he's nnnnnngh thinking about her.*
....well. And Cal's your little brother.
that's the one. *and you too. But.*
One thing.
hmm?
Why are you worried about that woman, of all people?
*scratches her head* First, her being sick is bad for Lucivar. He's my friend. And. Well. Until she fucked you up, she was my friend too.
I'm not fucked up. *the liiiiies* Well. No more than /usual./ Lucivar?
Her brother. My friend. We train together. *i'm secretly in love with him but noone knows not even me*
...ah. *so not someone he wants to know, then.*
*yeah, not someone he wants to know* anyway.
*at all, ever* Seems ike they could probably take care of themselves.
*is not going to talk about the big bad* are you saying I should not care?
I'm saying you seem to have enough to worry about.
*she nods. that' s true* Yeah. Yeah. True enough.
*shrug* Just a thought.
*a small smile.* I love you, you know that? *No, Valen, not /that/ way.*
*blink* What brought that on?
*shrug* just thought I'd say it, in case.
*eyebrows* All right.
*may not actually believe it. or just doesn't get it. is funny that way.*
Yeah. Well. Anyway. *right. That was a stupid moment of over emotion. Dumb Anita.*
*it'll get through to him one of these days* You're funny, Anita. I don't know why you bother. *amusedly.*
Yeah. Me neither. Go figure. *Sam told her it was unhealthy to have so many insane friends. She's starting to agree.*
Reminds me of Jean, a little. *slightly fond smile* Best brother I've ever had. More sense than the rest of us combined. Probably could have made a good, functional life if he hadn't thrown in with us.
Now who knows where he is?
*that makes her smile wanly.* I guess he does...? *dubiously*
Does...? You mean, remind me of you? Oh yeah. You might notice the parallels. Could have dropped me the first time you found out I was a nutcase. Oh no, not you. *almost a smile*
Oh. *A pause.* Yeah. Right. *a small smile back. She really meant Jean might know of his own whereabouts.*
*well, yes, he does. and he's very much alive. but Locke doesn't know that.* Not even the second time! You know, you're still not stuck with me. No blood oaths or shit.
You're pard. It amounts to that.
See? And that's what Jean'd say. "You're family." And that'd be it. And if I tried to argue it, he'd usually just punch me. *small smile* Miss him.
Don't mind punching you if it helps.
Feel free. But don't expect me not to get pissed about it. *almost smile, again*
I rarely expect you to do anything, hun. You're unpredictable.
*the smile shifts sideways a little, to a not-smile, half bitter* Kept me alive. Mostly.
*shrug* didn't say it was a bad thing. *she squeezes his shoulder.* not all the time, anyway.
Isn't it?
*she makes a face* there are times where you might want to use common sense and shut up, duck.
.../duck?/
..... thought I'd experiment, since you don't like pup. *pause* don't change the subject.
I'm an expert at that. One of my many talents.
*arumph* yeah. well. I'm stubborn. one of my many faults. so. next time I try to protect you by not saying you pooped up, do oblige and keep it shut. alright?
That's not a fault. Call it perseverence and it becomes a virtue. Works, doesn't it?
Sure. And you're changing the subject again. *frown*
Who, me?
Yeah. You. So. You it again, you'll have more bruises. *fiercely*
The one is quite enough, thanks. *attempt at light* Though if you're going to hit me, please avoid the neck. It's hard enough to swallow as is.
*wince. that's her boyfriend's doing.* I won't. *gently.*
Thanks. 'Preciate it. *doesn't /sound/ bothered. oh Locke. you such a liar. still wakes up with nasty, nasty dreams about someone strangling him that he can't push away.*
..... *sigh* If it helps, Henry is never going to lay a hand on you again.
One down, only four-hundred twenty or so to go. *but a not-smile* Thanks.
Two down. Jaenelle and I aren't talking.
That's not necessary. *surprised* It's not like I'm going anywhere near /her/ anytime soon. *not like that name makes him twitch like a rabbit.*
Well. Just so you know.
Oh. Did you hear? I did tell you so. *slightly lunatic grin!* Some lover of Phedre's heard the story. Only a matter of time, most likely. Just so you know, if I show up with a sword through my chest, that's
what it is.
..... /WHAT/???
You heard me.
Well - she gave him another name, but I'm pretty sure there's people who'll recognize it. I'm not exactly hard to find.
the BITCH. I thought she...... Aaargh. *punches a wall.* did she say who?
I didn't ask. I was rather preoccupied at the time. *shrug* I /did/ tell you so.
*siiigh.* I'll find out. I'll make sure he doesn't. *fiercely*
*shrug* Good luck, in this Mansion.
I /will/. No-one hurts pard. And you're no threat to her anymore, are you?
Most likely not.
I mean, unless she goes homicidal on me. But.
and?
And what are you going to do if you figure out who's after me?
I'll address it then. I need to know if I can take him.
Ah. Right. *pause* And if I turn up dead?
Ever heard the expression time is of the essence?
Mmm, yes.
Well then.
I'm going to go have a talk with /that woman./
*eyebrows* Well, just speaking hypothetically - *blink* Oh well, don't get someone on /your/ head, too.
she has nothing on me. And well. She's fucking my boyfriend. So.
*blink* Oh? I missed that part. And I'm not worried about /her/, more the other people she may or may not be fucking.
yeah. well. we'll see about that. *frowny and very annoyed.*
*flatly* You're not getting killed on my behalf.
---or stabbed, or skewered, or otherwise injured, for that matter.
I did not ask your opinion. *flatly*
It wasn't an opinion.
*eyebrows*
It was a statement of fact.
You ain't no Merlin, hun. *oh, the irony.*
*cuts her off* I have had /enough/ of getting my friends killed. *that's that cold, single-minded determination that made him beat the Gray King, even nearly at the cost of his own life*
I will not die.
All right. I've had enough of getting my friends /hurt/.
I'm a shifter. I heal quick.
I don't care. You shouldn't have to heal. *getting chopped to bits is /my/ job dammit!*
Look. It's not a big deal. I'll take care of it. *angry* I'm a Nimir-Ra, goddamit!
...what the hell does that mean? *getting a little pissy*
Look. I'm used to taking care of people. And right now, that means you. End of discussion.
I don't care. You shouldn't have to heal. *getting chopped to bits is /my/ job dammit!*
Look. It's not a big deal. I'll take care of it. *angry* I'm a Nimir-Ra, goddamit!
...what the hell does that mean? *getting a little pissy*
Look. I'm used to taking care of people. And right now, that means you. End of discussion.
*little snarl* I've been in that position before. I don't need taking care of.
We all do.
I'll be fine.
So will I.
*blink* ...
If you get hurt, I am going to be /pissed/.
*well, you won't know about it, then* fair enough.
*stares at her, flat eyed*
*nnocently* what?
I'll know if you do.
Of course.
*:|*
And if you look like you're going to do something stupid, you are going to be in a closet.
That would be a great source of regret for you, my young Padawan.
Would it? It'd be worth it if it kept you out of trouble. *pause* ...wait, what?
*grins* I gotta share star wars with you folks, one of these days.
'Star Wars?'
*she laaaaaughs* Yeah. Movie.
Movie.
You know that means about as much to me as if you were speaking fucking - no, never mind. It doesn't mean anything.
RIght. *facepalms* Shouldathougtofthat. I'll show you. You'll enjoy methinks. It's entertainment.
*eyebrows* I guess I'll see.
Yuppers. But for now, I gottajobtodo.
---oh, right.
Snares
Good luck.
Thanks, hun. *kisses his cheek, and darts off.*
What: Discussing the aftermath of the epic fail, and taking news, very quickly of Valen
When: The morning after the unnatural storm
*well - there was a bit of that better wine left over from getting drunk and...well, sexing up Valen the other night. Is sprawled in his room drinking that and reading over his lines, /looking/ better. Of
course, with Locke, that's not saying much.*
*well, she did tell herself she'll look into Valocke, so she'll poke her head in.* Pup? S'Nita.
*looks up over his glass* Gods, I wish you wouldn't call me that.
*eyebrows* Newsflash. You don't get a pick. Not after 6 months of it.
Damn, knew there was something wrong.
Sorry. *she plops next to him* How' you?
Great. Peachy keen, actually. *touch of a grin*
*she gives him a bit of an assessing look - mostly trying to see how the bruises are.* Good.
*Oh, they're still there! Nasty and purplish. Henry wasn't fooling around. and they hurt, not that Locke would mention it.*
*she would frown but she knows better* And whatcha doin'?
Very, very little, actually. Haven't caused any more riots, if that's what you're asking.
*chuckle* nah. was talking about the reading.
Oh, that. For the play.
The play?
Cyrano's. Don't worry, it wasn't my idea. *almost a wry half a grin*
*chuckles* if I'd been told you and he would be friends, back then, I'd have laughed.
Oh, trust me, I still do.
*see look, Anita, he's not mad at you!*
*good. because she'd have been very annoyed.* yeah. well. *pause.* How's Valen?
Valen's good.
...... you owe me your thumb. *because pinkies have been used*
*blink* What?
*pause* I saw you and him, last night. You were outside. *and that can't be good for Valen.*
Oh. *pause* That's Valen's to tell if he wants. I don't know what happened. *closes off a little*
*fair enough.* Just tell me if he's alright now. *she'll talk to Valen anyway, sooner later. Sooner, rather.*
He's all right now.
*a sigh of relief.* Thank god for small mercies.
Mmm. *agreement, that is. though. um.*
*she rubs her face, sighs.* baaah.
*so eloquent*
....what was that?
the sound of me being a bit blah, sorry.
Don't worry about it.
..... *awkward silence* I wanted to say sorry, pup.
...oh, shit, not you too.
For what? What've you got to feel sorry for?
aack. I shoulda said somen'n
Yeah? Like what?
like tell Henry to leave, or tell Cyrano not to get you. Or tell Jaenelle. AGAIN. to keep her hands off you.
...well, technically speaking, she /did/ keep her hands off me. *not going all tense again, no wai*
.... you know what I mean. I'm sorry I failed you.
Gaaah. You didn't. Godsfucking hell.
*she did. she adopted you, Locke. Which means she feels responsible for you. and Valen* Fine.
*doesn't quite see it that way* I'm fine, all right?
.... all right.
.../what?/ *is tetchy. and stuck together with duct tape.*
*is not going to stop worrying* nothing, hun, nothing.
*probably good thing, too. someone needs to, honestly* Yeah, sure, and I'm Capa fucking Raza. What is it?
ah, nothing. It's just that pretty much everyone I know is broken. Except Sam.
...I told you, I'm fine. *agitated* What's the matter with everyone else?
(Henry: *objects!* Lucivar: *objects!*)
Jaenelle's broken. Henry... bah. And if Jaenelle is broken, Lucivar's not far behind. And there's Cal. Always.
*FK and Alex are not broken. They are sane. We insist on that.*
Wait, what? /Jaenelle?/ *that's just weird. even if he's nnnnnngh thinking about her.*
....well. And Cal's your little brother.
that's the one. *and you too. But.*
One thing.
hmm?
Why are you worried about that woman, of all people?
*scratches her head* First, her being sick is bad for Lucivar. He's my friend. And. Well. Until she fucked you up, she was my friend too.
I'm not fucked up. *the liiiiies* Well. No more than /usual./ Lucivar?
Her brother. My friend. We train together. *i'm secretly in love with him but noone knows not even me*
...ah. *so not someone he wants to know, then.*
*yeah, not someone he wants to know* anyway.
*at all, ever* Seems ike they could probably take care of themselves.
*is not going to talk about the big bad* are you saying I should not care?
I'm saying you seem to have enough to worry about.
*she nods. that' s true* Yeah. Yeah. True enough.
*shrug* Just a thought.
*a small smile.* I love you, you know that? *No, Valen, not /that/ way.*
*blink* What brought that on?
*shrug* just thought I'd say it, in case.
*eyebrows* All right.
*may not actually believe it. or just doesn't get it. is funny that way.*
Yeah. Well. Anyway. *right. That was a stupid moment of over emotion. Dumb Anita.*
*it'll get through to him one of these days* You're funny, Anita. I don't know why you bother. *amusedly.*
Yeah. Me neither. Go figure. *Sam told her it was unhealthy to have so many insane friends. She's starting to agree.*
Reminds me of Jean, a little. *slightly fond smile* Best brother I've ever had. More sense than the rest of us combined. Probably could have made a good, functional life if he hadn't thrown in with us.
Now who knows where he is?
*that makes her smile wanly.* I guess he does...? *dubiously*
Does...? You mean, remind me of you? Oh yeah. You might notice the parallels. Could have dropped me the first time you found out I was a nutcase. Oh no, not you. *almost a smile*
Oh. *A pause.* Yeah. Right. *a small smile back. She really meant Jean might know of his own whereabouts.*
*well, yes, he does. and he's very much alive. but Locke doesn't know that.* Not even the second time! You know, you're still not stuck with me. No blood oaths or shit.
You're pard. It amounts to that.
See? And that's what Jean'd say. "You're family." And that'd be it. And if I tried to argue it, he'd usually just punch me. *small smile* Miss him.
Don't mind punching you if it helps.
Feel free. But don't expect me not to get pissed about it. *almost smile, again*
I rarely expect you to do anything, hun. You're unpredictable.
*the smile shifts sideways a little, to a not-smile, half bitter* Kept me alive. Mostly.
*shrug* didn't say it was a bad thing. *she squeezes his shoulder.* not all the time, anyway.
Isn't it?
*she makes a face* there are times where you might want to use common sense and shut up, duck.
.../duck?/
..... thought I'd experiment, since you don't like pup. *pause* don't change the subject.
I'm an expert at that. One of my many talents.
*arumph* yeah. well. I'm stubborn. one of my many faults. so. next time I try to protect you by not saying you pooped up, do oblige and keep it shut. alright?
That's not a fault. Call it perseverence and it becomes a virtue. Works, doesn't it?
Sure. And you're changing the subject again. *frown*
Who, me?
Yeah. You. So. You it again, you'll have more bruises. *fiercely*
The one is quite enough, thanks. *attempt at light* Though if you're going to hit me, please avoid the neck. It's hard enough to swallow as is.
*wince. that's her boyfriend's doing.* I won't. *gently.*
Thanks. 'Preciate it. *doesn't /sound/ bothered. oh Locke. you such a liar. still wakes up with nasty, nasty dreams about someone strangling him that he can't push away.*
..... *sigh* If it helps, Henry is never going to lay a hand on you again.
One down, only four-hundred twenty or so to go. *but a not-smile* Thanks.
Two down. Jaenelle and I aren't talking.
That's not necessary. *surprised* It's not like I'm going anywhere near /her/ anytime soon. *not like that name makes him twitch like a rabbit.*
Well. Just so you know.
Oh. Did you hear? I did tell you so. *slightly lunatic grin!* Some lover of Phedre's heard the story. Only a matter of time, most likely. Just so you know, if I show up with a sword through my chest, that's
what it is.
..... /WHAT/???
You heard me.
Well - she gave him another name, but I'm pretty sure there's people who'll recognize it. I'm not exactly hard to find.
the BITCH. I thought she...... Aaargh. *punches a wall.* did she say who?
I didn't ask. I was rather preoccupied at the time. *shrug* I /did/ tell you so.
*siiigh.* I'll find out. I'll make sure he doesn't. *fiercely*
*shrug* Good luck, in this Mansion.
I /will/. No-one hurts pard. And you're no threat to her anymore, are you?
Most likely not.
I mean, unless she goes homicidal on me. But.
and?
And what are you going to do if you figure out who's after me?
I'll address it then. I need to know if I can take him.
Ah. Right. *pause* And if I turn up dead?
Ever heard the expression time is of the essence?
Mmm, yes.
Well then.
I'm going to go have a talk with /that woman./
*eyebrows* Well, just speaking hypothetically - *blink* Oh well, don't get someone on /your/ head, too.
she has nothing on me. And well. She's fucking my boyfriend. So.
*blink* Oh? I missed that part. And I'm not worried about /her/, more the other people she may or may not be fucking.
yeah. well. we'll see about that. *frowny and very annoyed.*
*flatly* You're not getting killed on my behalf.
---or stabbed, or skewered, or otherwise injured, for that matter.
I did not ask your opinion. *flatly*
It wasn't an opinion.
*eyebrows*
It was a statement of fact.
You ain't no Merlin, hun. *oh, the irony.*
*cuts her off* I have had /enough/ of getting my friends killed. *that's that cold, single-minded determination that made him beat the Gray King, even nearly at the cost of his own life*
I will not die.
All right. I've had enough of getting my friends /hurt/.
I'm a shifter. I heal quick.
I don't care. You shouldn't have to heal. *getting chopped to bits is /my/ job dammit!*
Look. It's not a big deal. I'll take care of it. *angry* I'm a Nimir-Ra, goddamit!
...what the hell does that mean? *getting a little pissy*
Look. I'm used to taking care of people. And right now, that means you. End of discussion.
I don't care. You shouldn't have to heal. *getting chopped to bits is /my/ job dammit!*
Look. It's not a big deal. I'll take care of it. *angry* I'm a Nimir-Ra, goddamit!
...what the hell does that mean? *getting a little pissy*
Look. I'm used to taking care of people. And right now, that means you. End of discussion.
*little snarl* I've been in that position before. I don't need taking care of.
We all do.
I'll be fine.
So will I.
*blink* ...
If you get hurt, I am going to be /pissed/.
*well, you won't know about it, then* fair enough.
*stares at her, flat eyed*
*nnocently* what?
I'll know if you do.
Of course.
*:|*
And if you look like you're going to do something stupid, you are going to be in a closet.
That would be a great source of regret for you, my young Padawan.
Would it? It'd be worth it if it kept you out of trouble. *pause* ...wait, what?
*grins* I gotta share star wars with you folks, one of these days.
'Star Wars?'
*she laaaaaughs* Yeah. Movie.
Movie.
You know that means about as much to me as if you were speaking fucking - no, never mind. It doesn't mean anything.
RIght. *facepalms* Shouldathougtofthat. I'll show you. You'll enjoy methinks. It's entertainment.
*eyebrows* I guess I'll see.
Yuppers. But for now, I gottajobtodo.
---oh, right.
Snares
Good luck.
Thanks, hun. *kisses his cheek, and darts off.*