Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[redemancy]

Yeah.

[And maybe this hits a bit too close to home for Aria too. Now that her guard is down, you may be able to pick up on that, kid: it's written in the twist of her lips, and the way she's going for another cigarette.]

[icarusalsoflew]

Technically, I can't.

[But enough of that. He's perceptive enough to notice the look on your face.]

We can take a break. Go elsewhere.

[People are always dying, as it is.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Hmph.

Softly, under her breath: ]

I can see why he likes you.

[ Actually, she can. Alistair is... A good person? Maybe not to Brianna yet but he definitely is good to Hikaru. Even... Good for Hikaru? ]

[therealbrianna]

[ Eh?

She looks around. ]

Did... I... Say something?

[mordechai]

[Catching that. Not saying anything for a while.

Now he's moving to comandeer his own slot beside yours at the range. He doesn't look pissed? He actually looks... well, he looks about as pensive as someone like him can.

It may also be because he's fixing his gun first. Yeah, that's definitely it.]

[redemancy]

Just remembering my own family. I had to let them go a long time ago.

[What an interesting choice of words, Aria Skye.]

[therealbrianna]

[ She lifts her chin up to meet Hikaru with a smile. ]

I'm okay. Don't wanna get in the way of your work. But if you want to, we could.

[ She's sad and a bit shaken. Mostly shocked. She can't imagine what it feels like for him, though. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

Okay. Maybe after I take care of one last thing here.

[He knows where the vampire is, has known since they arrived in the village.]

We have to stop what's going on down here in as much as we can.

[therealbrianna]

[ Following his lead with a bit of curiosity. ]

What are you thinking of doing?

[therealbrianna]

[ Whaaaaat. ]

Why would you do that?

[therealbrianna]

[ Oho?

Watching him closely. Cause, y'know. To get some pointers and tips.

Yep. ]

[redemancy]

[How do say this neutrally...]

You've read about the Unnamed Tower in class, right?

[icarusalsoflew]

The vampire needs to die.

[Cool, simple, and matter-of-fact. He eases the statement, though, with another smile.]

You don't need to watch. I'll be quick about it.

[mordechai]

[Well, his form is pretty damned perfect. Might also be because he gets even better at what he does when he's studiously trying to NOT think about something. But you don't have to know that.

Dishing out an entire round at the target before he's stepping back and setting the gun away.]

Stepping out for another cigarette.

[Normally, that is followed by him either telling Brianna that she can join him, or that she needs to stay in and keep practicing. This time, though, that's all he says as he moves off.]

[therealbrianna]

[ ...oopsies. :(

She runs off after him partly because she felt guilty, but partly because she wants to check on Alistair. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ She doesn't step away. ]

Can I, though?

[therealbrianna]

[ If it's about the Unnamed Tower, then Brianna expects that this is going to be a sad story.

Or dumb, or funny. But since the topic is about family... She nods silently. ]

[icarusalsoflew]

[Regarding her carefully for a moment.]

It might not make you feel better.

[redemancy]

Well, that makes this a little easier.

[Only, not really. But she could pretend a little, right?]

They never accepted the fact that I was one of the Awakened. I tried my best to reconcile with them, but... it never happened. That hit me pretty hard, and started determining everything that I did.

[Taking a drag now, of her cigarette.]

I gave them up on the 195th floor in order to advance. To make sure that it wasn't going to affect my resolve, and to keep them safe.

[mordechai]

[You'll find him back at the spot that the two of you were earlier, lighting up a cigarette.

...And apparently rather focused on that, then later on the people moving around in the distance, the streets.

No words, all over again.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Welp.

Walking up to him and poking him on the shoulder with eyes that say "You okay? ]

[therealbrianna]

Oh...

[ That's all she manages to say. Funny how Brianna suddenly has no words. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ Looking at him seriously. Better make sure her daddy knows that she's not a queasy little girl. ]

I think I can take it, daddy.

[ Besides, might as well get used to things like this, right? ]

[mordechai]

What?

[He knows that look, but he's purposefully ignoring it. It's not like she asked out loud, right?]

[redemancy]

[Smiling at her a little, but she isn't quite fine yet herself. It's still difficult to discuss, even after all of these years.]

I never really came back to see them as their daughter. I watched over them and did what I could. My siblings are still alive, in fact. They have families of their own.