Though we have sparred, wrestled and raged, I can tell you I love him each day
Someone's been avoiding the Conrad a little since her last journal entry. Just now, Ruvin's standing outside of a pet store. There are ferrets in one of the windows, piled on top of each other and fast asleep. The people on the street are starting to give her funny looks, but she still can't stop crying.
Cy found a pile of clothes out on the pier ( Read more... )
Cy found a pile of clothes out on the pier ( Read more... )
Comments 38
And he is curious as hell as to why she seems attached to these particular clothes. Not that she needs to have a reason, or is even likely to give a rational explanation.
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Rational explanations are for squares.
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It's kind of strange how he's missed the casual crazy that comes from talking with Cy. If only his people back on Atlantis could see him now. The aura of command would be ruined forever. Ruined.
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She bounces up on her hind legs in a failing attempt to chin-check him with her head. "This is mine. Where's your head going, Solar Sailor?"
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The barista gives him the customary dirty look, like he always gets when he comes in smelling of brimstone, but his usual concoction is already halfway prepared by the time he gets up to the counter, so all he has to do is scrape together enough spare change from the depths of his pockets.
He really, really needs to get his business up and running. Maybe he could give Descant a call? The other man's been here longer, maybe he has some tips on why the hell Harry's getting such a runaround. Maybe someone here just hates him. Not such a change from home, then.
He's a nickel short, and no amount of searching is turning one up. The glare from the other side of the counter intensifies, presumably because of the line being held up juuuust a tad, and Harry attempts a charming smile. "I.O.U.?" Well that's diplomatic.
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Shock. A paralyzed tingle starting somewhere between her chest and stomach and rolling out and up like her whole body fell asleep while her eyes were closed. It's kind of hard to breathe through the feeling.
No no no no, he's dead. He died years ago when the fucking White Court exploded--
Unless he didn't, unless he's been here the whole time--
And if she doesn't move, do, say, something he's going to walk out of here and she'll never know if it was him or not.
"Do you ever have exact change?"
...Figures those would be the first words out of her mouth.
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...huh. Well. That... that was unexpected. Still is, actually. How long has she been here? If it turns out she's been here for months, he's going to... well, do nothing, probably.
"Murphy!" He is genuinely delighted to see her, and has nothing at all to do with the fact that she is his friend. Presumably with money. "Got a nickel? I seem to be fresh out." He turns his duster pocket inside-out and gives her a pathetic begging look. Save me from the evil barista, officer!
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'Kill you.' Right. End of that sentence, nooot so appropriate, given the situation. Options: vomit, remember how to breathe, stand up and punch Harry in the face--or rather, the stomach, as that is more easily accessible.
Option three. She can deal with option three. She will give you a nickel, Harry. The nickel of her fist.
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But Conway Rankin does, and he also thinks Callie should get some exercise. Since Rachel's taken to jogging every morning she's agreed Callie should accompany her some days.
It lands Rachel at the pet store and as she's leaving it she sees the crying girl. It's one thing to mind her own business - which narration admits Rachel rarely does - but she can't just go about her way when she sees someone like this. It isn't a funny look Rachel gives her, simply one of genuine concern.
"Are you all right?" she asks carefully, holding the chew toy in hand.
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Ferrets. How in the world can she explain this? She's not a good enough liar to come up with anything convincing. "I'm all right."
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"Please, don't apologize." She glances briefly at the window display before she looks back at the girl. "I'm the one that's sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."
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The last part is an embarrassed whisper. Her face heats with a blush. "Just-- They reminded me of a friend."
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Rosie needed a new collar and leash. Robin just happens to step out of the pet store with a bag in hand when Ruvin is standing outside of it. He sees her, opens his mouth to say something, and then follows her gaze to the... ferrets.
Right. This keeps making more and more sense in the way that it absolutely does not. There's that concern burning so faintly at the back of his chest that it's hardly noticeable.
He blinks, eyebrows furrow together. Sentences. He can remember what he was- Something rude probably. Wait, you care about her. Remember? Stop internal monologing and act like it. Try to feel. There it is. See? Easy as pie. Like commanding emotions.
"...Ruvin?" ( ... )
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She's crying because of the Doctor. Because the Doctor is a ferret. No, she can't see that explanation helping this situation at all.
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"Complicated how?"
It's what he finally manages to ask after scooting closer to her and staring at the ferrets in an attempt to see if he can figure out what it is about them that's making her cry. There may be glaring involved. Because ferrets will totally respond to that.
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She gravitates toward Robin almost unconsciously, the panic of distance like a little burr in the back of her chest.
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She's rolling by on her skateboard, ignoring various laws about where skateboards are and are not allowed, and is meandering past the pet shop when she hears sobbing. It's Dev who notices that the crying person is Ruvin, and thus it's Dev who prompts Ace to stop.
She does stop, and comes to hover off to the side and sort of behind Ruvin, looking between the pet shop and the crying girl.
"Tragic things, ferrets," she says at length, because Ace is no good at tact or at comforting people. "Tube cats. Furry noodles. Can't even eat them."
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She rubs quickly at her eyes and tries to pull it together enough to keep from renewed tears every time she looks at the front window. It's ridiculous. She knows it is. She just can't help it.
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Pause.
Ace runs her fingers through her hair, now feeling awkward and irritated about it. "Sorry. Being facetious. Suppose you're not gonna tell me all of what's wrong, me being practically a stranger; bare bones, then?"
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The last word ends in a laugh, one, short and angry and sad.
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