Day 36: Recreational Field

[thatdamnedninja]

Somehow, talking to Rude had almost managed the impossible; it had almost cheered her up.

Gawd. What was with this? The whole 'amiable relations with Turks' thing was good, but if she thought about it too hard, it was weird. Well, not weird... Maybe they were just falling for her drop-dead gorgeous looks and amazing personality. That wouldn't be

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[ellectriclights]

Elle bit her lip, trying to estimate the number of girls Armand had talked to in his entire life, family not included. She guessed three, but might be persuaded to change that to four, if he suddenly came out with something suave. Not that such a thing was likely - he was all awkward and fussy.

Grinning at him, she swung herself across his lap so her knees were on the ground on either side of his hips. He reminded her of Peter, a bit, when he'd first arrived - quiet and kind and not so interested in her. Well, he'd never really been interested in her, he'd just been messing with her, but... A flash of annoyance crossed Elle's face before she managed to push her memories of Peter aside.

Peter hadn't been socially awkward anyway - not to the extent that Armand was. That made Armand cuter, like an gawky little puppy that hadn't grown into its legs. She touched a finger to the tip of his nose, imagining the look he'd have on his face if she were still able to generate electricity. "Visitors are boring," she told him, a bit breathless

[ellectriclights]

A hand grasping at her wrist snapped Elle out of the blissful unawareness that she'd drifted into. She'd really been enjoying herself, but her wrist was still very sore to the touch.

She jerked out of his grip, gasping in pain as her sharp movements caused the hand on her neck to tug at her hair.

This wasn't how this was supposed to be happening! "Let go!" she whined, barely cognizant of the fact that he wasn't holding her wrist at all.

Elle had spent enough time in shrinks' offices to understand that it wasn't just the pain from having her sore wrist touched: she was starting to associate guys grabbing her wrists with imminent excruciating pain. It wasn't like Armand was going to hurt her the way Reid or Psycho Boy had, but pure instinct made her press her hand flat against his shoulder and try to shove him off her.

[secret_orchard]

That was just the opening Armand wanted. He rolled away from her, and drew his knees up under himself when he was on firm ground. "I'm so sorry," he said. "That was... terribly wrong of me." He bit his lip, trying to put down the protests his body was making. He felt dizzy, like he should be pale, but he could tell his face was still hot and flushed. He kept his eyes on the ground, afraid that even to look at her he'd cry or worse.

"Are you hurt?" he asked worriedly. "I didn't mean--I hope you're not hurt."

[ellectriclights]

Elle scrambled to her feet, brushing grass off any part of her she could reach. Flipping out like that hadn't been part of the game plan, but... well... her wrist hurt.

"Uhhh..." she began shakily, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet as she tried to return some semblance of calmness to her disheveled hair. And picked grass out of it. Great, grass in her hair. For once, she actually wouldn't mind a shower.

"I'm fine," she snapped, working herself up to annoyance. No, she shouldn't get annoyed, she shouldn't piss him off.

She knelt by his side, noticing for the first time that he looked upset. How weird. She'd never made a guy cry before just by kissing him. And why did he think it was 'terribly wrong?'

"Look, it's not your fault," she said in her sympathetic voice. "I hurt my wrist a few nights back, and it's just really sore. I shouldn't have freaked out about it." Ugh, she was sick of being fake nice.

[secret_orchard]

Armand flinched when she snapped. He couldn't help it. "I didn't know." He thought he'd avoided the wrapped wrist, but now he wasn't certain. "We shouldn't have been doing that. I'm married, and... while you seem a perfectly proper young lady, I shouldn't take advantage of the situation we're in. There are far more suitable men than I." Near-sobs shook his voice while his face stayed dry.

The heat was fading some into a sort of icy horror, at himself especially and what he'd nearly just done. He managed to steal a glance out of the corner of his eye at her where she knelt, far too close for comfort. "I am sorry. How can I make it up to you?"

[ellectriclights]

Elle just sat on her haunches and watched while Armand started to get all snivelly and pathetic. She inwardly rolled her eyes - he was much better company when he wasn't talking.

Wait. He thought he owed her something? Was that because he'd accidentally hurt her, or because he'd enjoyed her touching him? Either way... why would he have to make anything up to her

[secret_orchard]

"Would I have to kill him?" Armand felt horror at the thought of having to kill a fellow prisoner in anything but self-defense. However, he'd done Elle a wrong himself. "Was he... uh... in his right mind when he did it? You do realize that sometimes Dr. Landel's people brainwash our friends into working for him, don't you? They shouldn't be held responsible for what they do in that state."

He reached for her hand. He didn't want her looking so distressed at him. Armand hated it when women and children were in distress or danger.

[ellectriclights]

"Oh, he was in his right mind," Elle said, her voice quavering pathetically. That wasn't something that had occurred to her, but she was pretty certain Reid hadn't had Dr. Landel's ends in mind when he'd attacked her. And if he had... oh well. He was still a jerk. "He definitely wasn't working for Landel."

She glanced away as if too upset to continue looking at Armand, before catching his eyes again, almost unwillingly, like she didn't want him to see her in emotional pain.

"Look, his name's Reid Garwin, he's average height and build, blonde hair, about my age." Okay, that last bit was a lie, but Armand would probably get squeamish if she asked him to kill a teenager. Besides, she hadn't figured out Reid wasn't her age until he'd been forced to shower with the kids. He could pass himself off as being in his early twenties.

She kissed Armand lingeringly on the cheek, squeezing his hand tightly. "Whatever you think is best," she whispered.

[secret_orchard]

He squeezed her fingers, trying to comfort her. "I am willing, dear miss, but at night, I am unarmed. I have no sword, nor even a strong staff, only my feet and fists." New color surged into his cheeks, almost feverish the way it concentrated in just a few spots.

If Armand was good at anything, it was speaking to people of themselves with faith and confidence. One of the benefits of his trusting nature that usually left him so vulnerable to deception was that he tried to see the best in everyone. "Elle, you can rise above this. I'm sure you can. I've seen greater injustices than these during the revolution. People can be monsters, especially if they're desperate or frightened. That is what Dr. Landel wants of us."

"But, if you are truly afraid of this man, I will do what I can to ensure he doesn't bother you again."

[ellectriclights]

Hmm. If he was complaining about swords and staffs, he probably didn't have an ability.

Damnit.

Knowing Armand - as much as she could know, having met him so recently - he would throw down a literal gauntlet, stand back with his chest puffed out, and die horrifically in a shower of blood.

She wouldn't want that. Someone who owed her something was a lot more fun than a puddle of goo. Especially when that someone was as good a kisser as Armand.

"You're right." She bit her lip. "Of course. Fear and anger turn us into monsters." She'd just have to kill Reid on her own, then. It might be for the best - hiring a hit man to kill the hit man who'd refused a hit on a guy who'd tried to kill her was getting a little out of hand.

She'd save Armand for later.

Her hand deftly unwound itself from his and glided across his face, turning his head towards her so she could give him one last kiss - as passionate a kiss as she could manage in under five seconds. Then she whispered "See ya later, alligator" against his lips, stood, and walked

[secret_orchard]

Her kiss left Armand gasping, but he stayed sitting where he was and just watched her go. The entire encounter confused and, to tell the truth, upset him. He wanted to think things through and calm himself down before the nurses came. He had a plan for when he saw Marguerite, and didn't want anything to mess it up.