(OTA) I've Swallowed a Secret Burning Thread

[trainingwreck]

The sign on the door of the salle said there was to be no training until Monday at the earliest. The note on Tally's apartment door said she was out. The servants have been given three conflicting stories about where she'll be, including the tale that she's skipped to the Outside for a week in Paris

Comments

[bitchwithabite]

Insomniac wandering -- it happens. A lot more than Amy would ever confess, actually. Most nights she can keep herself in the castle, at least, but not tonight, which is her explanation for being outside in a striped cardigan and way-too-short-for-her shorts, of course. And when she sees smoke, she follows it -- worried that something is wrong. The smell of cooking meat when she's close enough sets her to running. In her favorite pair of Madden boots, she's running across hills and walkways and roads until she gets to...Tally's little camp.

What.

"...Oh, I didn't know you were out here. Um. Hi?"

Way to be awkward, Amy. Good job.

[trainingwreck]

"Hi." She blinks up at Amy over the warm glow of the fire. By now she's been out here for a full day and looks like it, hair in a mess of elf-locks, dirt on face and hands. There's a rabbit over the fire, almost to the point of doneness. "Want some?"

It's about all she can think of to say, because she wants things to be normal and simple for just a bit more. To be Tally, not The Jack Of Diamonds, especially with Amy.

"I've got some apples and cinnamon and marshmallows if you want something sweet instead."

[bitchwithabite]

It's been...a long time since Amy had meat that was cooked over a fire. Really, it's a little warm outside for a fire, but it smells damn good, so she nods and sits. "Yeah, actually. It smells good and I haven't eaten something freshly hunted in a while."

Crossing her legs, she tips her head and looks over at Tally.

"Word is that you've disappeared. What're you hiding from?" That's Amy -- direct to the point, a little harsh sometimes. She sounds a bit worried, at least.

[trainingwreck]

"Everything." And that's not Tally at all. Evasive doesn't suit her, and she blushes vividly as she cuts off a leg for Amy. "I'm okay, though."

She offers Amy the leg and takes one for herself. "You ever want to go hunting or something, ask. Mkay?"

[bitchwithabite]

Taking that leg, she bites in with a little noise of contentment. It's not the seasoned and spiced meat that Chives would put on a table, but it's still good. "I'll be sure to ask.

"And for the record, if you were okay, you wouldn't have just told me you're hiding from everything. What's going on with you, Tally?"

[trainingwreck]

"Diamond things. Just...Diamond things. Things that don't change how I feel about dating you, things that don't change who I am as a person. Okay?" She watches Amy. God bless a girl who eats--Tally simply didn't understand the twiggish girls who pecked at food.

[bitchwithabite]

She tries very hard not to let show that she's kind of insulted by the way that Tally basically told her to shut up and quit asking. It hurt, but hey. Worse things, right? Her intelligence could have been insulted, or she could have been pushed away. No, being told to shut up is much better, so she'll eat like a good girl. "Well, I'm glad you're still happy to be dating me, at least. Good of you to not let Diamond Things get in the way of that."

...Harsh. No, she isn't apologizing.

[trainingwreck]

Tally blinks up at Amy for a moment. "Is it really that heavy?" Her voice mildly incredulous.

[bitchwithabite]

A frown comes to her face at that, and she runs a hand through her hair. It's a nervous gesture, sort of. "What do you mean? Is what that heavy?"

[trainingwreck]

"The chip on your shoulder." She snorts, sitting back against a tree, crossing her arms. "Rachel and Silas promoted me to Jack. And I don't want that to change things between us. Because I don't care what your Rank is, you're gorgeous and I want to date you. Okay?"

[bitchwithabite]

Chip on her shoulder. Right. So much for Tally not seeing her just like everyone else does. Looking down at her knees, Amy shrugs. "As I recall, you've got a Thing about rank not mattering at all when it's between a couple of people who are trying to be involved with each other." So she snorts. Because that's the best way to say 'I'm not bothered' without saying it, because to sayit with words would be to lie.

"Well, congratulations, Lady Jack." Gorgeous and dateable, as said by the Jack of Diamonds. It feels more and more like pity every day. She's trying to distance herself from it, but that's actually pretty difficult. Damn. "I'm sure you'll do 'em proud."

[trainingwreck]

She stares for a moment, not entirely sure what just happened there. Except Amy called her by her rank, and seems unhappy. She doesn't answer for the moment, afraid that...well, she's not sure what's the right thing to say. If there is a right thing.

Dammit, this is why she ran to hide!

[bitchwithabite]

She chews her lip, twiddling her thumbs a little bit before polishing off her rabbit leg and tossing the remains to the fire. Taking off her cardigan, Amy moves a little closer and holds out her hand. It's their gesture of equality, isn't it? Their way of putting themselves on equal footing and just being present with each other.

"We still okay?"

[trainingwreck]

She takes the offered hand and holds on tight. Very tight. "You're okay. I'm scared shitless. You'll be there when I swear fealty, right? Please?" Begging for someone who she really cares about to be there while she puts on Diamond-face.

[bitchwithabite]

That desperate grip puts Amy at ease, surprisingly enough, and she covers their joined hand with her free one. "You've got nothing to be scared of. Tell me when and where, and I'll be there. Promise." And provide a beer or four after, too, if necessary.

"I- Tally, I know you don't care, and I don't much care either, but. With you being the Jack, and me still a Two, people are gonna talk. It just looks funny."

[trainingwreck]

"I'm not the first Face card to ever date a Two. I know I won't be the last. Besides, no one can say it's favoritism or anything, because I'm not in your Suit. So, really." She tugs Amy a little closer.