alec (𝘩𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘳𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘦) brennan⚡ (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
striketwice) wrote2022-10-02 07:47 pm
striketwice) wrote2022-10-02 07:47 pm
Okay, I don't have any in rural Indiana. Something tells me you're not gonna be too broken up about that.
I assume I saw pieces of it in your dream.
[ Now that experience feels like a lifetime ago. Truly, how did they get here from there? ]
If you wanna show me the real thing, I won't say no.
[ "Real thing." ]
[ Now that experience feels like a lifetime ago. Truly, how did they get here from there? ]
If you wanna show me the real thing, I won't say no.
[ "Real thing." ]
[It does seem like an age ago at this point. It was just a few weeks ago. So much has happened between then and now, and yet somehow that dream still felt crucial for them both — even if it ended less than, ah, pleasantly.]
Pieces of it, yes. How it manifests if we were theoretically to visit my subconscious mind instead.
[A mindscape is not necessarily a memory, after all. The pieces of his old home in his mind are purposefully broken and unwelcoming.]
But I would show you how it actually was before it fell into disrepair.
Pieces of it, yes. How it manifests if we were theoretically to visit my subconscious mind instead.
[A mindscape is not necessarily a memory, after all. The pieces of his old home in his mind are purposefully broken and unwelcoming.]
But I would show you how it actually was before it fell into disrepair.
[ Weeks that somehow feel like months. ]
Like I said, only if you want. Take me wherever, you know I'll go.
[ Henry's subconscious, his dreams, his memories. A zoo exhibit full of spiders. Doesn't matter. ]
Like I said, only if you want. Take me wherever, you know I'll go.
[ Henry's subconscious, his dreams, his memories. A zoo exhibit full of spiders. Doesn't matter. ]
[Alec saying such things... It makes Henry want to guarantee that he'll always be near. Always beside him, like now. His fingers flex in a gentle squeeze around his hand, as though to cement him there with the gesture.]
I hated that place. I never thought of it as home, not really.
[And yet it's still important to him. It's why it still exists, ravaged, in his mindscape.]
But it's still an important place in my memories. And I want to show you everything important to me.
I hated that place. I never thought of it as home, not really.
[And yet it's still important to him. It's why it still exists, ravaged, in his mindscape.]
But it's still an important place in my memories. And I want to show you everything important to me.
[ Though he has no way to know exactly what Henry is thinking, he returns that small squeeze without so much as a second thought. It feels so utterly selfish to want to stay close like this, to seek out little moments of contact and gestures of affection, but what are they both if not selfish creatures? Were it anyone else but Henry next to him, Alec might think he doesn't deserve this kind of warmth.
Because it is Henry, it's perfect. A pair of broken pieces, sticking together. ]
Everything, huh? [ Seems like a tall order, but there's already so much he knows about Henry. He'd be lying if he said he didn't want to know more. ] I'd like that.
Because it is Henry, it's perfect. A pair of broken pieces, sticking together. ]
Everything, huh? [ Seems like a tall order, but there's already so much he knows about Henry. He'd be lying if he said he didn't want to know more. ] I'd like that.
Everything.
[All the ugly pieces. The parts where they align more perfectly than the rest. He still has a few skeletons in his closet; not that he ever feels the need to hide anything from Alec anymore, anyway.
But maybe some other time.]
Something to look forward to. But for now, I'd like to focus on this place. Your home, and this frankly impressive river.
[All the ugly pieces. The parts where they align more perfectly than the rest. He still has a few skeletons in his closet; not that he ever feels the need to hide anything from Alec anymore, anyway.
But maybe some other time.]
Something to look forward to. But for now, I'd like to focus on this place. Your home, and this frankly impressive river.
If you think the river's impressive, you should see the lake.
[ Said with a grin, another one of those strangely genuine expressions that have found its way onto his face today.
But the shores of Lake Michigan can also wait. ]
Come on. I'll show you my usual route, then we can head out of here before you get a nosebleed all over the bed.
[ Said with a grin, another one of those strangely genuine expressions that have found its way onto his face today.
But the shores of Lake Michigan can also wait. ]
Come on. I'll show you my usual route, then we can head out of here before you get a nosebleed all over the bed.
[You're hilarious, Alec.
But even his little well-intentioned barbs don't feel as prickly today. And so Henry just concedes with a-]
Probably for the best.
[-and will go wherever Alec takes him for the remainder of this visit.
What a nice little mind date.]
But even his little well-intentioned barbs don't feel as prickly today. And so Henry just concedes with a-]
Probably for the best.
[-and will go wherever Alec takes him for the remainder of this visit.
What a nice little mind date.]
[ much like with Henry, Sprezzatura's method for apologizing to Alec starts with accidentally being in the same area as him, catching sight in the corner of her eye and feeling that awful, ugly swoop. wherever this is, she once more forces herself to move, but not too close—she doesn't figure anyone who met the oni are going to want her too close right now. not until she's proven herself back in control. ]
Alec.
Alec.
[ Probably around the diner somewhere, it's one of Alec's usual haunts. The corner of the roof is still singed from that stray lightning bolt. Bet that feels good, huh?
He's looking pretty okay, all things considered. Not even a limp, thanks to Ori. He goes noticeably still when she calls his name, turning slowly to face her. ]
Well now. Long time no see. Assuming you're the woman herself, of course.
He's looking pretty okay, all things considered. Not even a limp, thanks to Ori. He goes noticeably still when she calls his name, turning slowly to face her. ]
Well now. Long time no see. Assuming you're the woman herself, of course.
[ feels absolutely great.
she very nearly dodges his gaze when it eventually comes. it's only the repetition of always ending up in this position that gives her the backbone to meet what's coming to her. ]
Mister Brennan. [ why would she call him "Alec"? why would she say that? ] She is quieted again. You saw to that.
she very nearly dodges his gaze when it eventually comes. it's only the repetition of always ending up in this position that gives her the backbone to meet what's coming to her. ]
Mister Brennan. [ why would she call him "Alec"? why would she say that? ] She is quieted again. You saw to that.
[ Well, she does sound more like herself. He's still watching her with some hint of wariness, but no more than he would have given her before the oni stuff. ]
Nice to know a little oxygen depravation was all it took. Can I help you with something?
[ He notably does not ask if she's okay. ]
Nice to know a little oxygen depravation was all it took. Can I help you with something?
[ He notably does not ask if she's okay. ]
[ she half-expects him to. just half, maybe not even quite, but "half" is still enough to feel the letdown. so when the ask doesn't come, she tells herself not too chafe against its absence too badly—but it does chafe. she'd really wanted this to be ... anything.
folded arms, compulsively drumming her nails ]
I... wished to apologize.
folded arms, compulsively drumming her nails ]
I... wished to apologize.
[ If he notices her discomfort, he doesn't bring it up. If he feels a bit satisfied at noticing, he doesn't bring that up either. ]
For what? Attacking me? I don't think you let your monster run around on purpose.
[ That must is true. He's more or less unbothered by that. So hey, small victories? ]
For what? Attacking me? I don't think you let your monster run around on purpose.
[ That must is true. He's more or less unbothered by that. So hey, small victories? ]
[ very... casual of him. the apology she'd been gearing up to give stumbles like getting ready for a running leap only for the ground to come up short ]
Yes. [ stilted ] For that. I am sorry she found you compelling target.
Yes. [ stilted ] For that. I am sorry she found you compelling target.
I am pretty compelling.
[ Smug.
At last, he wanders a bit closer, hands in his pockets. The look on his face is mild, unbothered even. His words are anything but. ]
Look, real talk? You're not exactly my favorite person at the moment. And that was before your oni thought it'd be fun to try and hit me around like a baseball.
[ Smug.
At last, he wanders a bit closer, hands in his pockets. The look on his face is mild, unbothered even. His words are anything but. ]
Look, real talk? You're not exactly my favorite person at the moment. And that was before your oni thought it'd be fun to try and hit me around like a baseball.
[ he'll get the pleasure, then, of seeing her blanch. ]
Excuse me?
Excuse me?
You heard me.
[ He DOESN'T LIKE YOU Sprezzatura. ]
[ He DOESN'T LIKE YOU Sprezzatura. ]
[ so she isn't the most perceptive. she isn't insightful. and honestly, more often than not, she says exactly the wrong thing for any given situation before she says the right one. but what Sprezzatura isn't is a total idiot. she knows what it looks like when someone's had enough of her.
before she's even figured out what to say, she's taken half a step back, turned herself slightly so she isn't facing him dead-on. like subconsciously trying to protect a weak point.
stupidly, ] But...
before she's even figured out what to say, she's taken half a step back, turned herself slightly so she isn't facing him dead-on. like subconsciously trying to protect a weak point.
stupidly, ] But...
[ Arches an eyebrow. It's almost fascinating to watch how quickly she crumples. Like she was waiting for it. Dreading it. ]
But what?
But what?
[ "But I made you cookies." (and?)
"But we had such good talk about magic." (so did you and your handful of neglected, resentful lovers. try again.)
"But I risked everything to keep your block alive." (so whatever you've done, you must have really screwed it up good!)
she snaps a hand to her temple and presses down hard. ]
We barely know one another.
"But we had such good talk about magic." (so did you and your handful of neglected, resentful lovers. try again.)
"But I risked everything to keep your block alive." (so whatever you've done, you must have really screwed it up good!)
she snaps a hand to her temple and presses down hard. ]
We barely know one another.
That's true.
[ He doesn't know her well at all, doesn't understand how she thinks. How she is. But does he really need to? From his perspective, he knows enough. ]
I don't care for people who treat other people like things, Sprezzatura.
[ He doesn't know her well at all, doesn't understand how she thinks. How she is. But does he really need to? From his perspective, he knows enough. ]
I don't care for people who treat other people like things, Sprezzatura.
Page 24 of 35