Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

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

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[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brianna's siblings have kidnapped K and taken her inside to play, leaving the two "old people" to talk outside ] I know, right? [ Brig slips out his pack and motions to Brianna if it's all right he smokes ] Just when we'd all gotten together, we all get sort of split a part.

[therealbrianna]

[ She gives him a thumbs up as she's pulling out her own pack. ]

It does suck like that. Hopefully it won't be as bad as I imagined, though.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig lights up a cigarette and holds out the flame to light Brianna's as well ] How have you imagined it'll be?

[therealbrianna]

I don't know, I guess that we'll all be too busy to check up on each other?

[ Thanking Brig with a nod, and inhaling. Looking at her cigarette with a sad smile. ]

[atlas_shrugged]

Hey, I'm sure they'll all still check in. [ He tries to hide the uncertainty in his voice. He's not very successful. ]

Taning's always watching over everyone and I'd like to believe there's a soft spot in Yulia even though she doesn't like to show it. [ He smiles as he remembers Yulia's smile on the trip back from Sta. Cruz ] And I'll keep checking up on you and Josh.

[therealbrianna]

[ Fiddling with her cigarette, trying to force a smile. ]

I hope you're right.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He notices her fiddling with her cigarette, and feels her smile come reluctantly ] Penny for your thoughts?

[therealbrianna]

[ Short sigh. ]

I just miss having friends around me constantly.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig notices the sign. And wonders at the implications behind Brianna's statement. He doesn't really know much about how she integrated back into her life after Arcadia. He's taken the time to read on Changelings. ]

Your old friends left you when you came home from Arcadia? [ There is a lot of caution and care in his voice when he asks. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ Weirdly, that thought makes her cough out a laugh. ]

No, no. It's nothing like that. We still talk from time to time, but I guess I'm just used to seeing them and hanging out with them everyday. It's just that our lives are really different now, so I guess there's not much to talk about anymore... [ She trails off. ]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He listens. ]

Different? [ A beat ] I'm guessing none of them opted for the Hunter path like you did?

[ He keeps it simple. He doesn't want to broach further any implications that Arcadia may have, if there are any. Brianna will open up if she wants to, and if she doesn't, Brig's just happy to be a minor soundboard. ]

[therealbrianna]

[ Her face scrunches up as she's trying to recall. ]

Nah, none of them did. So it's difficult trying to get them to understand the things that go on here. Plus, there are some things I can't discuss with them so we just... kinda drifted apart.

[ Yeah, she had some true friends. But high school isn't that hard of a time. Usually, they'd bond over really shallow and trivial moments. Still, friends are friends, but she's realizing what being a true friend entails. ]

taraaaay ng icoooon! sorry. digression lang.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig feels sad for her. He never had to go through that. He, well, just lost them all when he got brainwashed by Russia. When he came back, they were all old or dead. But Rico told him they were all still rooting that he'd come back to them, every step of the way. ]

Well, [ a pause ] I don't feel that's going to happen with the Hounds. [ He really is optimistic. ]

We're all still here; albeit a cab ride away. [ a beat ] Still a blade. [ With fondness in how he says it, like it means more than just being friends ]

Hahahaha XD

[therealbrianna]

[ Her lips curve up to a smile. ]

Yeah, that's a really nice way to view all that's been going on. [ A quick pause. ]

Is that how you really feel about all this?

[atlas_shrugged]

Actually, it is. [ A smile as well ] You just wait and see; this blade isn't going anywhere without you.

[therealbrianna]

Well, you better not. [ Smirking at him, because now she feels a lot better about this...arrangement. ]

[atlas_shrugged]

I promise you we won't. On my end, they'd have to kill me before I let that happen.

[ He grins back and bumps her playfully on the shoulder with his own and motions for them to go inside ]

Let's go check up on the kids.