(Untitled)

[always_a_liar]

It was simply that kind of afternoon. Shelley had gotten home, but no one had started cooking for dinner. Shelley avoiding him as usual, Elan sat reading on the couch. This was hardly out of the ordinary, but it was a little dull. Only time, he supposed would lend him the aid necessary, though time was not exactly on his side either... No matter he

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[woven_threads]

Fallon frowns on the other end, before grinning. Well, you learn something new every day...

"Nice to meet you. So, how do you know Shelley?"

[always_a_liar]

After a few minutes had passed since the talking ceased, Elan walked downstairs. He had stayed out of eyesight to hear the conversation. She would probably need some comfort. A curious, slightly worried look on his face as he inquired of her.

"...My lady?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley is sitting on the sofa, staring slightly blankly at the carpet.

It brought home how difficult this is going to be... and how very, very lonely. Her friends are going to get impatient, and either show up here and demand to talk - disaster - or just... drift away.

She shakes her head tightly at his voice.

"Not."

[always_a_liar]

His face twisted in dissatisfaction as he walked over to the sofa and sat beside her. It was very odd here in this other world, but some things would not change. A soft, comforting sound as he gently put his arms around her. She seemed so very little sometimes, and he liked that.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley twists uncomfortably, and pushes his arms away - before completely mortifying herself by bursting into quiet but unstoppable tears.

She's really, really stuck.

And worse, so is he, here with her.

[always_a_liar]

With a small sigh, he embraced her again. His voice was soft and soothing. Her quaking body was warm against his thin shirt. His face buried in her hair, which still holds the comforting scent of (apples) pomegranates.

"Shhh... It is all right. Nothing wrong. I... know, to an extent, how you feel. I am trapped too."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley draws breath to reply, and only manages a deeper, shuddering sob. She gives up, and covers her face with her hands.

She knows he is. And the worst of it is - isn't this for the best? That he can't kill or hurt anyone else while she's stuck with him? But still she wishes he was gone.

[always_a_liar]

And he stroked her back calmly pulling closer to her. He wanted so very much to simply close her eyes and drop into black oblivion with her warmth and her smell, but he could not, not for now. He had to help comfort her, and he cooed softly to her, not bothering to even form words.

[shelley_winters]

He's warm, and the soft sound of his voice and his breath by her ear is soothing.

Shelley conentrates on breathing, deeper and slower, until she feels steady enough to work her hands up and remove her glasses to wipe her eyes, swallowing the last threatening sob.

She doesn't replace them for a moment, but doesn't look up.

[always_a_liar]

Pulling back ever so slightly, he frowned a touch. His fingers caressed her cheek for a moment before he kissed her gently and resumed a snug embrace.

It was wonderful to hold her. She was always beautiful, but an especially poignant kind of beauty was revealed when she cried. To enjoy such beauty came with the price of knowing that she had to be hurting to see it.

Bittersweet.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley doesn't pull away hard, but shifts uneasily back as his arms go around her again, mind oddly blank and her throat aching after such an intense burst of crying.

She wipes her eyes again as soon as she has space, and turns away a little, gaze levelled at the floor.

[always_a_liar]

Shifting slightly, Elan leaned back slightly against the back of the sofa. The position was growing uncomfortable. His hands gently grasped her wrists, and placed her arms around his torso. He had lost weight and was now quite thin. His arms resumed their place around her as one hand stroked her back.

A soft kiss to her face as he spoke softly to her, muttering a few lines from Shakespeare almost inaudibly.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley stiffens uncomfortably at being moved, small hands clenching on either side of his waist, before leaving them there, but passively relaxed.

"What are we going to do?" she asks, after a moment, expression dull and hopeless.

She can't think of anything she could do that would make the situation better.

[always_a_liar]

His hands stroked her back softly as he laid his head against hers. It was a joy to hold her.

"It is best, I think, to simply live day by day for the time being. We will make it, Shelley."

A pause and a sigh as his arms tensed around her slightly as if not wanting to let go. He doubted that she knew what happened to Channelers who lost their powers. Not that he had any plans to succumb, but it gnawed at the back of his mind.

"Besides, you may not have to deal with me for too great a length of time as it is."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley shakes her head bitterly - when each day is progressively harder to cope with, of course living day to day will soon be impossible - but his arms tighten around her before she can contradict him.

"Y-you're going to leave?"

It's a slight hope. But if she didn't have to see him...

[always_a_liar]

A small sigh from Elan as he explained pedantically, and distantly. He was not particularly fond of giving the situation voice, but he would win this and take Shelley back with him.

"I do not suppose that you know what happens to channelers deprived of the power. It occupies such a place in our existence and mind that those who are prevented from touching... If we do not find something to occupy its place in our life, then we die."