ǂ 011 -- wrenched (phone/action)

[teh_sword]

[This morning, Ren used the front door. Stuck politely under the mat? A letter with his name printed on it. Inside the envelope? The most beautiful picture of a young, beautiful girl beaming up at the camera with the most breathtakingly sad smile on her face

Comments

c because it was going to happen sooner or later

[someday_a_queen]

[....what happened to that fire hydrant?]

[someday_a_queen]

I would like to hear about it.

[teh_sword]

It's not a happy story.

[someday_a_queen]

Ren.

....

[Looks at him, and reaches out to tip his chin up so he looks in her eyes. She is serious but there is something caring there.]

My mother was executed on my fathers orders when I was a child and I've spent months in banishment before I even knew what that meant. My half sister hates me more then anything in the world and my brother is currently a child King after the death of my father. A man I both loved and hated with all my heart.

I was kicked out of my step-mothers estate because her new husband was forcing his attentions on me and when she died in childbirth he attempted to overthrow my brother and I was very nearly implicated with him because of his previous actions towards me. He was executed a fate those closest to me almost shared and I might have shared myself.

[There is a sad smile as she lowers her hand]

Not every story is happy Ren.

[teh_sword]

[...so first of all the touching gets his attention. It's comparatively rare with Elizabeth, after all--it snaps his attention away from the darkness of his own mind and completely onto the girl in front of him.

Then there's the actual story. Unlike the Princess, Ren has a highly expressive face. The pain, concern, fear and uncomfortable quiet rage he feels in his gut flash easily over his features without filter. It's heartbreaking... even more heartbreaking because she's had to live this life without the license he's taking right now to show the deep, unpleasant emotions.]

... 'lizabeth...

[His arms start to move, but he catches himself; the instinct to hug might only make things worse, after all. So he just stands, a little awkward, stumbling over half-formed words.]

[someday_a_queen]

[Still the small smile.]

Now then. I would like to hear your story. And if you have anything you want to ask about mine after I'd be happy to answer.

[teh_sword]

[Ren is cold, wet and nervous. But a deep breath and forcing himself to meet Elizabeth's eyes somehow helps.]

When I was little, I had a cousin... Mio. [He hesitates, fumbles a moment--and pulls out his latest regain, offering the (already slightly crumpled) photo for Elizabeth to examine.] She lived down the street and just... we were real little. I was seven and she was a little younger and... her parents didn't understand how special she was. They hurt her, and I could... never protect her from that. It was getting really bad and-- and I was too weak to keep her safe, so when-- you believe in God and the Devil, Princess?

[someday_a_queen]

[She looks at the picture and smiles at the girls happy expression before looking back up, face calm again.]

Yes I do.

[teh_sword]

I didn't, when I was little. But they believed in me, if that makes any sense. So when I was weak and trying so hard to help her, the Devil came to me and I-- I didn't know it was him and he... he told me he could make me strong enough. That he could help me help her.

[Even with the memories Mayfield's ripped from him, this part of his life is fuzzy.] But then she was gone and there was... blood everywhere and everyone... They all thought it was my fault she was gone. Decided she was dead and that I'd killed her. So we started to move. Dad didn't last long--split after the first new town found out about what'd happened. Mom... Mom got bad. We had to move all the time, people always found out, told her she'd given birth to a demon and...

...and it was like that for ten years. When I turned seventeen, things started to go wrong. I'd been stronger for a while, but... it got so I couldn't control it. I'd get upset and bottles would explode. I'd bump into a wall and it would leave a crater. Got to be too much for Mom and-- [Elizabeth

[someday_a_queen]

[Oh she noticed that very much. And she's just taking this all in because.

A deal with the devil. Oh dear. That's quite bad and a part of her is frightened because she is religious and she has gone to church faithfully. But the other side is well aware of the fact that he is her friend and she trusts him....

And with that she'll just reach up and cup his cheek with one hand.]

You are a good person though.

[teh_sword]

[It's not the reaction he expects. It's almost never the reaction--

--back home. It's different here. People have gotten to know him here, not just the demon. And once again, a tiny part of him is amazingly thankful to be in Mayfield.

He leans unconsciously into the hand on his cheek, not smiling but begging hopefully with his eyes.]

I'm... I'm really trying to be.

[someday_a_queen]

The fact that you are trying tells more about you then you think.

[She smiles.]

[teh_sword]

[Ren can't help it. He smiles back. It's a sad smile, but it's coming from a real place. There aren't words to describe the depths of his appreciation for the sentiment. Even "thank you" falls short.

So he catches her wrist to press the lightest kiss ever against the palm of her hand on his cheek.]

[someday_a_queen]

[She still smiles at that.]

[teh_sword]

[And then the words come.]

That... that really means a lot, 'lizabeth.

[someday_a_queen]

I'm glad.