reverie⚡inbox

[striketwice]

REVERIE INBOX "THIS IS ALEC. MAKE IT QUICK." ⚡ voice . text . action ↳ OVERFLOW | REGISTRY

( code from supersuits )

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[striketwice]

[ 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.

[velluminous]

[ 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.

[striketwice]

[ 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. ]

[velluminous]

[ 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.

[striketwice]

[ 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? ]

[velluminous]

[ 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.

[striketwice]

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.

[velluminous]

[ he'll get the pleasure, then, of seeing her blanch. ]

Excuse me?

[striketwice]

You heard me.

[ He DOESN'T LIKE YOU Sprezzatura. ]

[velluminous]

[ 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...

[striketwice]

[ Arches an eyebrow. It's almost fascinating to watch how quickly she crumples. Like she was waiting for it. Dreading it. ]

But what?

[velluminous]

[ "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.

[striketwice]

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.

/2

[velluminous]

[ face scrunches up, pure nonunderstanding ]

[velluminous]

[ he is accusing her of dehumanizing? who does he think he is? ]

What?

[striketwice]

[ He thinks he's Right, of course. ]

Henry told me. About the little talk you two had under the mistletoe. I don't think he's angry with you, and that's his prerogative. I'm not quite so forgiving.

[velluminous]

[ ]

It's you.

[striketwice]

[ Oh my god. He can practically see that lightbulb come on. ]

Yeah, it is me. I'm the one who beat you to it.

[velluminous]

[ he's looking at her so unkindly. that's familiar enough. then he speaks, emphasizes, and her own expression schools into white-knuckled neutrality. lips pursed, chin lifted. she has to wrap her tail around her own leg, tight beneath the falls of skirt.

it's him. Alec Brennan did everything she didn't know how to do. ]

You think I think I own him?

[striketwice]

[ Oh, he is watching her every move. The tension of her frame, the flicker of her tail around her leg. He's struck a nerve. ]

You tell me. I wasn't aware we were having a race. I didn't realize your fucking pride was on the line.

[velluminous]

[ the raw edges of that day are coming unraveled again. what on Toril is happening right now? what is this conversation that's happening right now? ]

I did not mean it like that.

[striketwice]

[ He looks sooooo skeptical. ]

Then what the hell could you possibly have meant?

[velluminous]

You do not know me. Henry took us down to naked bones, nothing left to disguise how alike we are. Has he ever told you that, or only this? I could not rest until he made me see it! It was so very painful process, but he looked at me without flinching! And I took too long to see it for its preciousness, so same thing that always happens--I do not need to explain myself to you!

[striketwice]

[ He doesn't know all that outright, no. He knows that Henry sincerely considers (considered?) her a friend. Given what he knows about Henry, he's assumed that must mean they have something in common.

A lot in common, apparently. ]

You don't? And you were so close to doing it, too. Look, if you're gonna tell me that this always happens to you, that everything you want always slips out of your fingers, I don't give a fuck. That moment should have never been about you in the first place.

[velluminous]

What moment? Mistletoe? Moment he finally tells me decision was already made without me—that moment? Or do you mean "moment you, Alec Brennan, asked him to go with you, and he said he will"? [ she raises a shaking finger and points it at him, very close to a tearful kind of rage ] Because I was never angry about that! For him to have any connection, and future, and freedom—?! You think I am not caring if he has that unless it comes from me? Did he say that?