019 ♚ [action, OTA academy students] The only way out is through everything she's running from
[For four days, she had scarcely made an effort to leave the comforts and shielding walls of her own chambers. Too much had transpired, too many old wounds ripped, left bleeding and open to fester. Too many of her fears had been tested, and despite all her assured confidence in nearly every aspect of her life, Elizabeth Swann had never felt so
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She had been on a walk, a cool-down after a hard dance practice; she would be no use to her students if she, herself, couldn't get the footing and timing right. But now, none of the dried sweat or aching legs mattered as she sprinted as fast as she could over to Elizabeth. Tears of relief blurred the path, as the woman, as she approached.
Her breathing heavy, she stopped a few feat away from Elizabeth, trying to make sure that this was real. As much as she hated to admit it, Lottie had started to lose hope of the dear lady ever returning. She blinked away some tears -which, in turn proceeded to saunter down her cheeks, along with some mascara- as a brief, clear image of Miss Swan graced her vision.]
Oh, thank goodness you're alight!
[From the look on her visage, it was plenty clear Lottie had just about worried herself ( ... )
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She scarcely breathed when Lottie wrapped her arms around her. Rather, she simply sank against the comfort of her arms. How long had she deprived herself of companionship? How long had she let her own nightmares fester, consume her?]
Lottie...
[She rested her head on Lottie, and after a few feeble moments, brought her hand to rest on the vivacious blond's back. The rum bottle sloshed quietly, and for a bit, Elizabeth did not desire to drink from it. She just clung to her dear friend. Pull me out. I feel like I'm drowning. For God's sake, pull me out.]
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[Lottie's embrace firmed, though she made a very concious effort not to let her curse influence it.]
Lordy, I'm jus'... so relieved to have you back, Liz'beth. [Definitely not in the condition she wished to see her in, but at least she was alive.
It wouldn't be long until the blonde choked on her first sob. Heavens above, she just wanted to keep on holding her friend and never let go. Since Moses left, the lady had become one of her closest friend--- if not the closest.
After a long moment of just embracing and sobbing, Lottie regained use of the spoken word.]
What in Sam Hill did that damn Mist do to you?
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[And it had. Her pride, her fight and fire, her father, James, her freedom, her love.
Yet she couldn't quite come to list these haunting things that she still reached for in the night, cold and ghostly, like smoke through her fingers. God, it seemed as though she could not gain her bearings in this world anymore. Every foothold left her toes to slip, her hand clinging desperately as her fingers gave way. She had not cried so much as she had in this past week, and the strength in her sank like a cannonball. There, on Lottie's shoulder, she sobbed, in between them babbling bits and pieces. Incomprehensible, perhaps mad sounding. Yet every word spoken a pain, a blade sunk into her.]
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Everything was so dry, her mouth and skin and mind.
Her voice croaked out, a low rumble that spun to jerky squeaks. She'd not talked in some time. Not since he'd called her. Her throat was rocky from disuse.]
I lost him.
[Her head is bent still over the bottle as she continues.]
I lost him all over again, Will, and I lost the chance to...
[Her voice breaks and suddenly she's tearing again. In all the years Will had known her, she'd rarely cried. Yet it seemed, this past week, she had spent more time wiping tears from her face than she could ever recall.]
Just days ago, he'd smiled at me from over his tea cup and... it was all a lie, but I lost him. No more than a shadow...
I couldn't save him.
[A resounding thought Will would not hear: I couldn't save myself.]
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[And this time he does reach out, carefully putting a hand on her shoulder]
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[So much less confusing, heart wrenching, burdensome.]
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Still, after several days, he felt that he should go and check on her and see how she was fairing. Perhaps she was simply fatigued and resting off her ordeal. Perhaps not.
He's surprised to find her not only not in her room, but out alone on campus. As he approaches, he can see that she's not doing well even before the open bottle becomes visible. Stopping at her side, he sits down next to her with a sigh.]
Drinking alone isn't a good habit to pick up, Miss Swann.
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[The bottle pauses before her lips before she tilts her head back for another swig. She scrunches her nose and presses her dry lips together. A worthy burning.]
How do you fare, Commander?
[She asked the question out of keeping conversation, not giving much thought to it. She was still a bit consumed by her thoughts. Thoughts that with enough interaction, she would slowly pull out of. Everything just felt so hazy... she detached from the granules that made up her reality.]
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[With Elizabeth definitely being in that "most" category. He reaches over his hand, to see if she was willing to share. Best way not to drink alone is to drink with someone else, after all.]
I heard that you'd returned, but came to check on you when you hadn't shown yourself on campus after several days. Had a feeling things may not be going well.
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[It doesn't sound too convincing, but she says it anyway. It's more to tell herself than any other. She'll have to believe it in order to move forward, after all.
Seeing the extended hand, she gazes over her shoulder at Rourke before handing him the bottle with a small slosh.]
Yet they're not the same as they were. I don't know if they will be.
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He was on his way to her room again today from a class when he saw her. His chest tightened as he approached, and gently spoke before setting a strong hand lightly on her shoulder.]
Liz?
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Eric. [A sigh.] Hello you.
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I'm so glad you're back. You look like you've been through something horrible...
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[But how long would that take?]
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As soon as the gargoyle beast drew her attention to the glass, she forgot - momentarily, at least - all about the patrol. She set off at a run, taking the stairs out of the building two at a time and sprinting across the quad.]
Elizabeth!
[She was back. Not necessarily safe and almost certainly not unharmed, but she was back.
That was a start.]
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Elisa... by God, how long has it been since I saw you last?
[Her smile was cracked and not entirely her own, but it was there nonetheless. Her usual address of 'Miss Maza' had been abandoned. She felt no need to cling to such distancing propriety. Not when she needed someone, loathe though she was to admit it, to help bring her out of this misery.]
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[And certainly long enough to prompt Elisa to give Elizabeth a hug as soon as she drew close enough. What had happened to her? What had prompted her to finally drop the formalities that she had always held on to?]
Definitely too long.
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I wish it was not the case. Too long have I been away from here.
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