Lucy Stillman ❖ 001 [Video]

[assassininheels]

[The video feed starts with the Portal of who's ever on being dropped on the floor of a bedroom. The view then settles on a blond young woman, her face conveying her panic and pain as she looks down at her heavily blood stained shirt. The blood seems fresh enough to transfer to her hands, but she lifts up the fabric to reveal the creamy skin of

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[assassininheels]

[When the image disappears, Lucy frowns. She's seen his failed attempt at smiling back at her and something gnaws at her. Did something happen here for Desmond to avoid her? Now that he can't see her, she lifts up the mask from her face and her gaze raises back up to her mirror before she closes her eyes. Trying as hard as she can to focus on his voice, Lucy tries not to let herself get caught up in the maelstrom of emotions that swirls and veers inside her stomach. The Assassin can't help but pray that Rebecca is still here, even though the technician would do better good in their world. But what she'd give to be told that had all been a nightmare.]

That is strange indeed. How long have you been back?

[She clears her throat lightly as the novice asks her how she feels. It's a good thing he can't see her, because she's covering her eyes with one hand, willing her voice to sound as strong as normal as she can.]

I'm fine. I'm just...frazzled at being back here I guess. This place is not what I expected to wake up to.

[She

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[assassininheels]

[It isn't that Lucy hasn't accepted his apology as much as needing to simply acknowledge the situation in the first place. There is nothing to forgive when one is not ready to believe what they've seen.

When Desmond starts to breath erratically, his eyes unfocused and looking away from her, Lucy feels another wave of panic rush over her. She's seen this before, with Sixteen, and when the novice starts to speak in Arabic, her own hands fly to his cheeks. The blond leans closer, searching the man's eyes with her own, a small frown creasing her brow]

Focus, Desmond. Please, stay with me...

[The underlying softness in her voice is proof enough that, while she hasn't said it out loud yet, part of her believes him, part of her still trusts him with her life. Because Lucy is stubborn and she doesn't want to think that she might lose Desmond like she lost Subject 16. And she fears it's too late already: he hears voices, does things he would never do otherwise

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[assassininheels]

[That news of him being back into the Animus moments after he had passed out on the floor of the Temple evidently doesn't make Lucy happy. The frown on her delicate brow deepens as she realizes who those men might have been. William... Oh, she is going to wriggle that man's neck when she gets back. Dead or not. How dare does he put Desmond in even more danger of the Bleeding Effect and insanity?]

They shouldn't have done that, Desmond. [Her voice is tainted with worry, but then the subject his change and Lucy gives the novice a small confused look]

I...don't understand. Why give us a way to save the Earth if Those Who Came Before don't like us?

[The blond blinks at the soft calling of her name and she looks up at Desmond, giving him a short lived gaze that seemed hopeful for some reason. But then she reaches for his hand and pulls him back so they can both sit on the couch instead of kneeling on the floor.]

I don't know, Desmond. [She starts softly before she clears up her throat, hiding behind the safety of

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[assassininheels]

I...[She shakes her head. Even if one of them claimed to be an expert, she doesn't like that Desmond has been put back in the same machine that broke him.]....I hope they do know what they're doing...

[Her voice is soft and worried, her brow creased in a frown. But then she looks up at Desmond, noticing how hard he seems to try to brush this whole thing off and Lucy realizes that none of them can really brush it off. No matter how hard they try. She sighs softly, looking down at her hands on her lap, suddenly feeling the weight of all that happened to both of them in these past weeks, in these past months and years for her.]

Desmond, I....I'm sorry....I just.....need time to wrap my head around all what's happened. This is not easy for me too...[She looks from her lap to his face again, giving him an unreadable look, debating if she should say what she really thinks. But Desmond looks so lost, so broken as well that she knows the truth is probably best.] I'm...relieved....glad even that you didn't choose to....to...[She

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[assassininheels]

[It's both frustrating and saddening to feel this distance between them, to see the divide that grows between her and Desmond, more so since they were getting so close to one another back in their world. If she can't lean on him for strength, how is she supposed to be there for him like she used to be if everything they built before crumbles to the ground?

Lucy has the same need than the novice and her eyes move to rest on the bartender's hand, wanting so badly to reach for it. But then he speaks and the spell is broken. She nods at his words, her lips curling into a shy, relieved smile.]

I know Desmond. I....I shouldn't have let you take that risk either. I should have known we should have been careful with the Apple.

[Guess who's going to beat herself up for this as well?]

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[assassininheels]

[Lucy wants to protest against Desmond's argument, not entirely ready to let go of her guilt, but the young man stands up and she takes it as a dismissal. His following words do nothing to changer her perception of his actions. She stands up as well and nods.]

I....right. I should be on my way.

[This feels so cold, so unlike the last interactions she had with the novice, back home. It feels like another stab and once again tears well up in her eyes and this time, the blond is not sure if she's going to be able to keep them in. She needs to get out of Desmond's room, she doesn't want him to see her cry. Nobody should see that.]

Take care Desmond. [She hates that her voice cracks by the end of her sentence and she quickly turns around, breath trembling as she takes fast strides to the door. Just a little further before she can break. A few steps, the door, a few stairs and maybe then she can let go of the weight on her chest.]