Alistair was only really comfortable in the rec room when he was in the Compound, if only because most things weren't so beyond his realm of comprehension there. He was used to people hanging about there, but truthfully, seeing someone laying on the couch was new. It didn't seem very comfortable.
"There are beds in one of the levels of this place for all to use," he offered, upon noticing she was awake. "Not that I'm saying you're in the way, of course."
He just knew what it was like to be new. Maybe no one had told her yet.
The last thing Emma wants is to borrow a bed in a common area designated for all to use.
Scratch that. The last thing Emma wants is to glance over at the tall lug talking to her and realize there is, in fact, someone talking to her, someone whose presence she couldn't feel. Even with her guard raised to keep the voices out, she should have felt something. Instead, as she sits up, tensing, taking in her surroundings in earnest this time, she reaches out and finds nothing.
"Of course I'm not in the way," she says, strained. "And since I can't imagine you're the one who summoned me, perhaps you'll be kind enough to point me towards the one responsible."
It was actually not an unfamiliar expression shot at him. He nearly found himself tempted to ask if she was perhaps one of Morrigan's long lost sisters, but he had a feeling now was not the time to make her angry. Well, angrier.
"Who are respon - oh. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize. Wow, I never had to do this before," he said, mostly to himself, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably. "See, there's a small problem with that question in that I have no idea how to answer that question. Let me guess. You were somewhere else, and now you're here, right? Because that's how it happened with me."
The response does nothing to soften Emma. If anything, it's all the more irritating - of course she's stuck with some know-nothing bumpkin. "Ooh, very clever," she says, not caring any longer if she offends him or not. He clearly doesn't know anything she needs to know. "That's what happened, yes. Is there someone else here who actually, oh, I don't know, knows something?"
She can feel people milling past, but it's different - a peripheral awareness, faint, like ripples in water. It all seems too far away. Shrugging out of her jacket, she drapes it over her arm, exasperated. It's already ripped and part of her wants to finish the job just for something to tear.
Alistair raised a brow, but didn't comment on the edge to her voice. It did, however, make him a little less sympathetic. Putting it gently wasn't going to cut it.
"If there is, I'd like to meet them," he replied, tone still even. "I can bring you to someone else, but all you'll hear is what I know: you've been brought to an island comprised of people from many places. There appears to be no way off, or so says the people who have been stuck here for years. It appears you're the next person to be taken. I've been here a month now, personally."
He doubted she'd care, but he figured he'd slip in that fact anyway.
An entire month and he's still here. Useless, just as she figured. The trouble is, Emma finds, that he's indicated other people have been here longer still. She can't rip up her jacket and she can't probe his mind to see how truthful he's being, so she sets about slowly, deliberately pulling her gloves off instead, one finger at a time.
"There must be some way off," she says, matching his even tone. "Where there's a way in, there is a way out. Are you asking me to believe I've been kidnapped and all I'm supposed to do is sit around twiddling my thumbs, Mr...?"
It doesn't matter what his name is. Her pupils are in danger. She's hardly about to sit around this dingy place waiting for a rescue brigade.
"Alistair," he provided. The woman reminded her more and more of Morrigan as the seconds past. She hadn't believed him either. It was understandable, at least. "And suggesting you sit about here always is just silly. Why, you could take a walk through the jungle outside if you wanted. See the beaches. They're quite fantastic, actually, though I'm a bit biased, coming from a cold climate."
So he was being just a little bit cheeky with her now. It was habit, really.
"I could also lead you to the leaders of this island for now," he added, not the kind of person to really leave someone in need of assistance. If she said no, at least he'd offered. "You can hear the same speech I got and gave to you. They've all been here longer, however."
Emma would like to believe that anyone leading the place might know more than him, but it seems doubtful. It's always safer to assume ignorance, even - especially, really - in political officials. All the same, if they know anything at all, she'll have a better chance at bargaining her way out of this one in person. She may be without resources or powers, but she's never without a way.
"Fine, yes," she says. "If you would. You'll forgive me if I want a second opinion on this." And if he doesn't, it's not like she cares.
"Of course," he said, moving away to allow her to stand. Sharp tongue aside, he knew he wasn't exactly a fountain of information considering the length of time he was here. "It's nearby. I can walk you over there."
Emma stands, dusting her hands over her hips, and nods. "I suppose you're not entirely useless," she allows. She's in no frame of mind to go so far as to thank him. Shrugging, she steps aside, waiting for him to lead the way, little though she likes it. "I'm Emma."
"I try my best. It's good of you to notice," he said, dryly. Already leading her forward, he found himself feeling bad for whoever was in that room he was brought to. "I would give you a slightly bigger tour, even, but something tells me you're not interested."
Emma manages a sweet smile, brow raising. "Is there anywhere in particular I should put that gold star?" she asks. "I'm not interested, no, unless that bigger tour includes a way out." That, or some trick to get her powers back. Either one, she'll take now. She moves to walk beside him, not touching, not wanting to be led like some stray animal.
"No reward necessary. I don't like stars much anyway," he said, glancing over at her as she fell in step. "Unfortunately, it wouldn't have. Though it likely would've included free food. Muffins, even. You're missing out."
Free food, good lord. Being tangled up in Black Tom's madness seems a preferable alternative to becoming a charity case. "I'm crying on the inside," she assures him. "Really, muffins, that's your best selling point for the place"?
"They're really good muffins," he assured, a grin on his face. She'd find out herself what this place had. He doubted she was even fully listening to him. "You shouldn't knock them before you try them."
Standing in front of the door to the Council office, he turned to her and pointed his finger at it. "Don't know who's in there, but there you go."
Contrary to both public opinion and her upbringing, Emma isn't entirely without manners. "Thank you," she says stiffly. She's not actually opposed to the idea of muffins either, but she won't go so far as to say so. Giving a grim smile, she nods to him, then steps past to head inside without bothering to knock.
"There are beds in one of the levels of this place for all to use," he offered, upon noticing she was awake. "Not that I'm saying you're in the way, of course."
He just knew what it was like to be new. Maybe no one had told her yet.
Reply
Scratch that. The last thing Emma wants is to glance over at the tall lug talking to her and realize there is, in fact, someone talking to her, someone whose presence she couldn't feel. Even with her guard raised to keep the voices out, she should have felt something. Instead, as she sits up, tensing, taking in her surroundings in earnest this time, she reaches out and finds nothing.
"Of course I'm not in the way," she says, strained. "And since I can't imagine you're the one who summoned me, perhaps you'll be kind enough to point me towards the one responsible."
Reply
"Who are respon - oh. Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize. Wow, I never had to do this before," he said, mostly to himself, scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably. "See, there's a small problem with that question in that I have no idea how to answer that question. Let me guess. You were somewhere else, and now you're here, right? Because that's how it happened with me."
Reply
She can feel people milling past, but it's different - a peripheral awareness, faint, like ripples in water. It all seems too far away. Shrugging out of her jacket, she drapes it over her arm, exasperated. It's already ripped and part of her wants to finish the job just for something to tear.
Reply
"If there is, I'd like to meet them," he replied, tone still even. "I can bring you to someone else, but all you'll hear is what I know: you've been brought to an island comprised of people from many places. There appears to be no way off, or so says the people who have been stuck here for years. It appears you're the next person to be taken. I've been here a month now, personally."
He doubted she'd care, but he figured he'd slip in that fact anyway.
Reply
"There must be some way off," she says, matching his even tone. "Where there's a way in, there is a way out. Are you asking me to believe I've been kidnapped and all I'm supposed to do is sit around twiddling my thumbs, Mr...?"
It doesn't matter what his name is. Her pupils are in danger. She's hardly about to sit around this dingy place waiting for a rescue brigade.
Reply
So he was being just a little bit cheeky with her now. It was habit, really.
"I could also lead you to the leaders of this island for now," he added, not the kind of person to really leave someone in need of assistance. If she said no, at least he'd offered. "You can hear the same speech I got and gave to you. They've all been here longer, however."
Reply
"Fine, yes," she says. "If you would. You'll forgive me if I want a second opinion on this." And if he doesn't, it's not like she cares.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Standing in front of the door to the Council office, he turned to her and pointed his finger at it. "Don't know who's in there, but there you go."
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment