forward dated to November 1st

[hislostlover]

[Things had unfolded just as Lilith dreamed. The sleeping price awoke and seemed to be recovering well according to Sister Kate. (He was already asking for soup and crackers. Such a silly man.) That left something else equally as important to care for; Lilith's relationship with Azula. Things had been strained since Abel's beheading for

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[emberandash]

[it was early morning; Azula had spent the night at Cuddy's, then worldhopped to the Veil and stayed there for a little while, and then finally headed off to report to the Vatican]

[when she saw Lilith, she stopped in her tracks]

[hislostlover]

[Lilith smiles warmly at her.] May I have a moment of your time?

[emberandash]

... I'm on my way to work. I don't know if I--

[then she suddenly thinks of something]

Why, did something happen?

[hislostlover]

[Lilith smile widens.] Abel is awake. Everything is as it should be.

[emberandash]

[she gives a nod]

Good. I'm glad for you.

[....... and now she's starting to walk on, still looking kind of awkward and stiff]

[hislostlover]

[Lilith is following in step with her.] Azula you would not discuss anything with me before this happened.

Will you speak with me now?

[emberandash]

[she had told her that they needed to talk when things were better; that they needed to talk]

[but Azula didn't really want to say it because saying it out loud would make it real]

It might take a while. I don't know if you have time.

[hislostlover]

Abel is being examined now. I have plenty of time to spare.

[emberandash]

[Azula crosses her arms tightly over her chest, almost hugging herself]

All right.

We should go somewhere. Not stay here in the hallway, I mean. We should go in a room, or something.

[hislostlover]

Let's step into one of the rooms for entertaining guests. [Lilith is leading the way already.]

[emberandash]

[Azula just follows her silently]

[hislostlover]

[Lilith settles into one of the rooms and takes a seat. She gestures for Azula to do the same.]

[emberandash]

[she does, looking out the window as she pauses, takes a deep breath, and starts to speak]

I remember-- it was a long time ago, but I remember when Cain was all right again for a little while but then 01 took him back. You were obviously very upset, and I visited to see if you were all right. After a short time, though, you sent me away; you said you wanted to be alone. Later you said it was really because you didn't want me to see you in that state, but you also said that you had made a mistake-- that you should have realized that I could handle it, and that I would have been able to help you feel better if I had stayed. You said you'd remember for the future that you didn't need to protect me from things like that.

[hislostlover]

[Lilith pauses for a great while.] I lied. Unknowingly but, it was still a lie all the same.

[Lilith exhales slowly.] Foolishly I never accounted for the possibility of Abel being lost. Were it any other situation that statement would have been truthful. Abel... I admit I could not properly handle the situation. I was lost and acted selfishly. For that I am truly sorry.

[emberandash]

[... that takes Azula aback for a second; she had been expecting a smooth, dismissing speech, but instead she got... well, something that really sounded like the truth]

I don't see why it's different. Cain and Abel are your family. If you couldn't handle it with him then I don't see how you could handle it with any of them. They're your family.

... And you didn't just run away. You went to Cross, of all people; you had such little faith in my abilities to help that you thought a horrible, selfish man who doesn't care about anything but himself would do a better job.

[hislostlover]

Abel is my soulmate. [She puts heavy weight into the last word.] I love you, Seth, and Cain. You are my dearest family and I only wish for your happiness.

The bond between Abel and I is something I cannot ever hope to share with any of you. I know his soul and it is everything that is missing from mine. That is why we're together. We make each other complete. Without the other we are only a halves.

As far as Cross is concerned.... [Lilith shakes her head.] I did not go to him for help. I went to hide from my own feelings in a place where my homeland still exists. Cross has always been my guide during these retreats. This time was no different. Regardless of how you feel about him, I can say with confidence you misunderstood the situation.