faterecanted | [action/accidental voice] backdated to the 12th

[action, for Nephry only]

[This morning, there is a suspicious looking Van lurking at the rear of the grocery store. A shady meeting has been arranged, you see, to pass over some goods. He's acting a bit twitchy, though. He'd really rather not be caught in the act. He's got one hand in his pocket, tapping his foot while he looks over the produce, pretending to be interested.]

[/lovebirds]

[Around mid-morning, there will be a sight potentially very disturbing to those familiar with both people involved: Van and Nephry, strolling down the riverbank, looking rather... cozy. He's actually offered her his arm. Which she has taken, without even hesitating to think about it. It isn't some sort of formal escort situation, either - she's leaning in, just enough to be conspicuous.]

I don't see any reason to tell them. [He actually laughs.] Not yet. I'll be your dirty little secret. Doesn't every politician have a few?

[Her return laugh is brighter than any of her friends might have heard in a long time.] Secrets of the state are usually less...incriminating. I do try to be honest. I suppose...just this once isn't going to hurt anyone. [Might help - she knows a person or four who wouldn't be pleased with this new arrangement.]

[He stops and pulls her closer, leaning in in a way that should be menacing, given just who it is doing it; but his expression is soft, and when he speaks, his voice is low and gentle with good humor.] Incriminating? ...That's one word for it. But not here. Not now.

No. [Ordinarily, being this close to the man who nearly succeeded in destroying her world would be something to fear. There is no fear, or even caution, in this smile.] This is...different.

[With a sigh, he wraps both arms around her, tightly. It's perhaps a bit forward of him... but then Van has always been bad about staying in his proper place.] Perhaps 'different' is what we all need in our lives.

[Now being an excellent time for someone to interrupt them and let them know their private conversation is being broadcast. Before they do something awful, like get even cozier and more contemplative.]

(OOC: Joint post! If you have a preference for which one of these unlikely lovebirds replies, please note it in the subject line. Otherwise, there's no telling who you may get. Remember to drive carefully, now, and watch for falling threadjacks.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

.....Van?

Tear? [Looking from one to the other, he's trying to connect the dots here.

And what were they calling each other....? It was all too confusing.

But the most important thing right now was that Tear seemed so angry.... So he reaches up to place a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her.]

What is wrong?

Tear. Please, don't get upset.

[There may not be much Nephry can do, even with her calm voice and fairly obvious belief that she isn't in any personal danger here. Despite everything.]

We agreed to take a walk together.

[Van does much the same, freeing himself from Nephry's grasp -- gently -- and taking a step in front of her. Unlike Tear, he takes a moment to glance back at his companion. Please don't think poorly of him, that's his baby sister there. He raised her.

...As for Frey, he should just count himself luck Van can't actually incinerate someone by looking at them.]

Nevermind us, what do you think you're doing here?

We're simply taking a walk. [And enjoying each other's company, until she overheard them. While she would like to address Frey's questions about why this situation was 'wrong,' it isn't easy to explain that the man standing before her was partly responsible for the many trials and pains she and the others endured back home. One couldn't just say 'my brother is a mass murderer' and laugh it off over a cup of tea.

Her next question is more directed toward Nephry, though the worry in her voice could not be any more clear.] But why?

[That gaze of Van's freezes Freyjadour in place.... he knew that look..... The other man suddenly had a massive issue with him, and all because of his presence at Tear's side.....?

It was confusing, and he kept trying to place it. That confusion is probably clear on his face, though he does not move to interrupt Tear. She was worried about something, though....]

Edited 2012-02-22 07:08 (UTC)

[It bothers her, that she's worrying Tear - and the others too, surely - but she knows it will be almost impossible to make her understand what's changed her mind. So it might be best not to try.]

It seems only fair to give him the chance to explain himself. [Try as she might, though, she can't keep affection from coloring her words.

...She doesn't want Tear or her companion hurt, either, so she takes that same step forward and puts a hand against Van's arm again.]

Are you enjoying your walk?

[At Nephry's touch, Van does something quite unusual: he takes a deep breath and then relaxes, sticking one hand into his coat pocket. His reputation as a perpetual misery machine isn't exactly undeserved... but all it takes is one gesture, and he stands down.]

Yes, are you? There's no reason for you to be upset, Tear. [Gentle, cajoling...

...But he's still sizing Frey up like he's pondering how many seconds it will take to end him. Later. In private. Where there are no witnesses.]

... Yes. [Or still trying to, her attention is currently on the amount of affection Nephry had put in her words about Van. Tear didn't think that it had been possible to feel horror over such a sight as the one before her.

No, she'll just close her eyes and try to ignore that it's there while reaching for Frey's hand again. If she's fortunate enough it won't eat at her for the next few days, but when had her luck ever been that good?]

Yes, we are. [If it helps, he already is making plans to try and cheer Tear up later. He hated seeing her so upset..... For now, though, he'll gently grasp her hand when she reaches for his, trying to offer her some semblance of comfort.]

So.... you all know each other, then?

[He had assumed as much with Van, at least, given Van's request to see her over the journals that time, but....

That look of Van's made him very nervous. Almost like he should be pulling out his weapon or running rather then chatting idly...]

Edited (i keep forgetting words oops.) 2012-02-23 02:21 (UTC)

We're from the same world.

[This whole encounter is clearly making at least Tear and Van uncomfortable. Nephry a bit less so, but only a bit. Really, it's a bad situation for everyone; she isn't sure which person here she's more motivated to defend.

Too many things can go wrong. Nephry keeps her hand on Van's arm, altering the pitch of her voice just a little.]

This is an unusual situation. It might be best to go our own ways for the moment.

She's my sister.

[The absolutely flatness of that tone says everything one could possibly need to say about Van's current attitude. Including the fact that, in the eyes of some brothers, that may make whatever he does the next time he catches Frey alone justifiable homicide.]

... It's just as they said. We're from the same world. [And Vandesdelca is indeed her brother. Surely Frey can see the physical resemblance between them now that Van has confirmed that there are blood relations.]

It might be, assuming you have no objections to this, Van?

[Just those three words caused Frey to go white as a sheet. She did look like.....

Oh runes.

.....Yes, he knew very well that he had somehow just signed himself up to get cornered in a dark alley somewhere and have his face beaten in.

Erk.] I... see.

.....Y..es... that.... might be a good idea.

[Diplomacy is almost always better, isn't it? Have a very real smile, Tear and Frey.]

I hope the two of you enjoy your day. [See? It's still Nephry. ...She just happens to have the addition of being in love with a mass murderer.]

I'm outvoted. [This charm, it is fake. Van has never been outvoted; largely because in his mind, his vote counts for the population of the planet, plus one.]

Nephry and I can carry on our conversation elsewhere, if it makes you uncomfortable. [But simply not having it and going their separate ways is not an option.]

[As much as she would like to call out Van on that fake charm, Tear would much rather leave the conversation on these... relatively civil terms, and with Freyjadour intact. She would not hesitate to defend him if her brother decided to act stupidly.]

It's all right, we were planning on going elsewhere afterward. [But Nephry, she would really like to have a talk with you later about this.]

Tear is right- we shall leave you to your conversation. [He tries to smile politely, but the realization that Van is incredibly irritated at him, even for good reason, has it strained. He knew very well the possibly problems that could arise from such a thing. If it was he in Van's place.... well.....

Any man in such a situation with his sister would probably regret it deeply.

He deemed it would probably be best to speak more on this with Tear later.... she looked like she needed it, but with Van here it might stress the situation even more to do so where he could hear.]

I do hope you both have a pleasant day.

[action/accidental voice] backdated to the 12th

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