[Claire] My GUESS-WHAT-I-FINISHED-CV-AND-WAS-INSPIRED post

[mybrothersseekr]

[Claire can be found crouching next to a motorcycle, various tools and a half-spilled tool box scattered on the ground around her as she does some maintenance work who cares if she hasn't had a bike in years we'll say that she's doing a favor for Trish. She's discarded her white jacket and rolled up the sleeves of her pink shirt, her hands and arms

Comments

[bsaa_ace]

Country? Really sis?

[mybrothersseekr]

[She grins at him over her shoulder, almost tempted to stick her tongue out at him.] It was that, a rap station, or some... Nascar thing. I chose the lesser evil.

[bsaa_ace]

[He chuckles a bit.]

You really need an MP3 player, sis. It's a life saver in places like this. How do you think I survived the five hour drive across nothing but African plains?

[mybrothersseekr]

[She turns back to the bike, hiding her teasing grin and managing to keep her tone per~fectly~ innocent] You mean before or after you picked up Jill?

[bsaa_ace]

Before. Of course. ...Not that she was in much of a position to do anything. She was... exhausted to say the least.

[mybrothersseekr]

[She lets that slide, since. You know. Slightly srs topic now, even if she doesn't know all the details.] I bet.

[She raises an eyebrow at him after a moment] You'd better be taking care of her. You know she'll put on a face even when she could use a hand. [It's... really a pointless thing to say, because duh Chris is already all over that, she knows.]

[bsaa_ace]

The only reason I'm out here bugging you is because she's seeing a doctor from HQ to make sure Wesker didn't leave any... surprises. She told me under no conditions would I be allowed in there with her. So. Here I am. Doing what I love doing most.

[Smirks and tosses a random rag at Claire.]

Annoying you.

[mybrothersseekr]

[She grins and bats at it, only to miss and then toss it back at him.] Cute. So glad you have your priorities straight.

[bsaa_ace]

[Chris makes no attempt to bat at it, just chuckles as an awkward silence creeps in for a while.]

...I've still not told her, by the way.

[mybrothersseekr]

[She blinks and looks over, her hands falling still. And then she finally looks ahead again after a pause, but distractedly, her attention more on her words. And those are patient, not accusing.] Why not?

[bsaa_ace]

[Chris sighs and runs a hand through his hair.]

Because... she's been through so much lately... she's never going to be able to just... forget what Wesker did to her... I... I guess I didn't want to dump that on her too...

[mybrothersseekr]

[She makes a thoughtful sound.] Maybe.

[And then silence, interrupted only by the tinkering of her wrench.]

But because she's been through so much... this is really the time to be there for her, you know? And I know you are, but... [She considers her words] ...Look at what you did for her. She probably has an idea by now.

[And then a slight frown] And look at who she spent all that time with. After something like that... I can't speak for Jill, but personally? [She glances at him again] ...I wouldn't mind coming home to someone who was more than a partner.

[bsaa_ace]

I... can tell she doesn't really have any idea. She treats me like you do. Not that it's a bad thing... but... she doesn't see me like that. She knows I'm always there for her, but...

[There's a sigh as he stares at a particularly interesting bolt on the ground.]

...I guess I'm kinda scared too... I don't want to mess up what we've already got...

[mybrothersseekr]

[She nods sympathetically.] I see where you're coming from.

[Pausing, she wipes her hands on a rag as she leans back on her heels.] Telling her's a leap of faith, in a way. But you two are as close as I've ever seen anyone, Chris. I think it'd take more than that to ruin what you have, even if she doesn't see you that way.

[She stands, twisting her lips slightly.]

...She does love you, you know. I can't say in what way, but... that much has been obvious for a while, not even including what she did on that last mission.

[bsaa_ace]

Think of it like this... remember when you and Leon escaped Raccoon City? What if Leon decided to just come out and say "Oh by the way, I've loved you for the last ten years or so"?

[mybrothersseekr]

[She... won't bother pointing out that she'd only known Leon for a few hours at the time. She gets the point he's trying to make.] ...Well, I'd wonder why he waited until after all that to tell me, considering we could have died at any time in there. He could have missed his chance.