[ second - visual - very VERY public ]

[thefeelingsburn]

[ For those of you who don't know her, this...somewhat disheveled-looking young woman is Justine, and she's up for a nice hour of glaring at her phone. Some people might recognize bits of Harry's bedroom around her and...yeah those would be Harry's blankets she's tangled in, but the wizard doesn't seem to be present at the moment. Probably for

Comments

[still public, despite what Thomas thinks]

[godofcologne]

[clearly frustrated]

And tell her what, Harry, that the last time I touched her I nearly killed her?

gdit gdit gdit gdit gdit gdit gdit gdit zdf;kjbrge

[thefeelingsburn]

[ Just. Confused and mildly shocked face goes here. ]

[outtabubblegum]

[It runs in the family]

Well at least give her some reason why you won't see her!

Because one day it's too...too late.

[Because he didn't stop at nearly]

And second chances aren't often.

[godofcologne]

[the frustration melts away to an expression of perfect, inhuman neutrality as Harry answers, but it doesn't last very long and something that looked a lot like sympathy, but which Thomas would deny to hell and back again wasn't, crept its way across Thomas' face.]

It's not a second chance, Harry.

[thefeelingsburn]

[ And she's still confused as all get out. ]

It's a first chance.

1/2

[godofcologne]

[he stares at the screen with a mixture of dawning realization and growing panic]

2/2 - [finally locked to Justine]

[godofcologne]

[he looks torn for a long, silent moment, until he takes a deep breath and shakes his head]

It's not, love. [he frowns, brow furrowing as he thinks of how to explain it] How long has it been since Bianca's party, Justine?

[ and locked forever ]

[thefeelingsburn]

[ She watches him carefully. He should know this, even if it's been six months since he's been here. She's only just finished healing... ]

A little over a month.

[godofcologne]

[he sucks in a surprised breath, and that same surprise shows on his face.]

It's been almost ten years since that party for me.

[thefeelingsburn]

[ There's no answer from her for quite some time. It's a lot to even attempt to take in, and she isn't exactly sure she can.

It explains a lot--why she can't place the looks he gives her, or some of his thoughts. But there are so many other questions, ones that worry her beyond what she can understand. He might grow this distant in the future, might never come near her again for fear of what might happen--can't happen, time's not right.

She might die. It sounds almost nice, for a short moment. Quiet. But a fear wells up directly after, and Justine sobs and recoils from her phone, hands over her face as she curls up against Harry's pillows. He's not lying. She wishes he was lying but he isn't. ]

[godofcologne]

[it's harder to read her over the phone, but he'd have to be blind not to see the play of emotions over her face. Shock, understanding, confusion, fear. And before he can say anything else, she's flung herself away from the phone and curled up against the pillows. He can hear her sob, even if his view is now obstructed.

He just stares, helpless, for a long moment. He debates asking telling Harry to see to her, but he knows that's not going to work. So he gets up and heads downstairs for the car.]

Will you let me in?

[thefeelingsburn]

[ It's definitely a long moment. Her fingers twist into the pieces of hair that have fallen over her face, and she pulls at them as she fights not to give in. It's a useless battle, and she barely registers Thomas speaking again through fighting the urge not to rip one of Harry's pillows apart.

'Will you let me in?' Let him down already, even when she's just promised to behave and hold off. This is too much for that promise, she knows that somewhere, but Thomas is coming now. ]

Yes. [ She doesn't know how she manages to get the word out, but she does. There's a definite grief in it, and she almost prefers that to the irrational anger she can feel burning. Harry doesn't deserve this for a house guest... ]

[action]

[godofcologne]

[the grief in that single syllable rips at him, and Thomas hurries. It only takes him a few minutes to get to his old apartment, but instead of knocking he fishes out his spare set of keys and enters the familiar apartment, heading straight for the bedroom.]

Justine?

[ action foreverrrr ]

[thefeelingsburn]

[ She almost doesn't want to answer him when he finally arrives. It's easier, in a way, to focus on her nails running up and down her arms than it is to face the idea of what Thomas might represent now.

When he does enter the room, it's an entirely different story. He always comes, when she needs him. She can't exactly place what it means now, doesn't really know, but it's still true.

There is a small relief that comes automatically when she hears and sees him, a tiny thrill that wiggles its way into her stomach with the rage and sorrow. She doesn't speak, but gives him a whimper of acknowledgment and shifts on the bed to get away make room for him. ]

[godofcologne]

[The bed dips beneath his weight as he sits down on the edge. He doesn't reach out for her immediately to soothe her mind, but he waits. Experience has tempered him, and he's stronger than he gives himself credit for, especially when it comes to her. Or maybe his fear is just stronger, afraid that he'll hurt her if he is too careless.

His voice is careful, quiet and gentle, as if she's some wounded, frightened animal that will bolt if he moves too quickly. The familiar honeyed silk is still on his tongue though, the demon's touch gilding his words, because it wants her just as much as he does, if for different reasons.]

I'm sorry.

[it's hard to say what he's most sorry for. For telling her this way, or for sending her away in the first place. But maybe it's more than that. Maybe he's sorry for nearly killing her, an older wiser her who loved him enough to die for him. Or maybe he's sorry for failing her in all the ways he already had, and all the ways he's convinced he will again.

Maybe it's all of it.]

[thefeelingsburn]

[ She probably would run away from him, if it crossed her mind at this moment. He isn't her Thomas, and while she knows there really is no such thing it still isn't right. This Thomas...he's a Thomas she knows nothing about. Ten years could change a lot. Ten years could kill her, and. Well, she isn't sure if it's a good thing or not, but it's definitely frightening.

When he speaks, a shudder rushes through her, and some of the tension in her limbs releases. He could be lying, she knows, but she's almost positive he isn't. Justine looks up at him, straight into his eyes, and finds the small bit of truth she's looking for. ]

I know.