Heartfelt Adventure : Active Time Event Thread

[phoenixianCrystallist]

{ATE: 'Til We Meet Again .:. 9}
{Bobbi .:. Station of Awakening}

Bobbi chewed on her bottom lip and nodded, not saying anything about Louis's tears. She completely understood crying about a lost, beloved dog. She'd been the one to find Rosie dying, after all. It still hurt, but time had healed the wounds, and she could laugh that the first thing she said upon discovering her beloved dog dying was "Um... Rosie's leaking," because she hadn't fully understood just what loss of bladder control meant for a dog that age. But she didn't say that; now wasn't the time. Besides, she understood the raw immediacy of memories returned, and she wasn't about to belittle those memories or the very real emotions they called up by joking about her dog dying. She was a b***h, but she wasn't heartless.

Was it only a few short days ago that she'd had her memories stolen? And Joe... Bobbi had only lost a handful of days, but Joe had lost his entire life. And now Louis, too. She supposed it was a testament to her own durability that she was able to recover from that as quickly as she had, but at the same time, she'd lost basically nothing compared to what those two had lost and regained.

She listened as he spoke, recalled some of her own memories of Rosie's last days, how Dad was too devastated to drive, and Mom didn't know how, so they had to rely on her little brother to take Rosie's body to be buried. How they had pampered Rosie before she passed, because she really was the best dog ever. Making her warm bowls of chicken soup, lifting her up to take her outside so she could go to the bathroom, constant snuggles and kisses and skritches behind the ears and between the eyes where she liked it best. And she could understand the bitterness that Louis felt at a beloved pet not getting the mourning and eulogies that a human did. But, oddly, it wasn't the memories that called tears to her own eyes. It was the last thing Louis had said.

"I'm so sorry. I forgot. I forgot how important life was."

And her heart broke for him. Those words spoke of an agony he didn't seem to be letting himself feel, not yet, not with that vague emptiness to his words. Like he knew everything that had happened, and regretted it, and mourned it, but the sheer weight hadn't hit him yet.

Rather like how she'd reacted to her Gramma dying. She hadn't cried until the funeral, and then she couldn't, under any circumstance, bring herself to look into the coffin. She had wanted her last memory of Gramma to be when she was alive, and warm, and smiling, not cold and still and gone.

Wordlessly, Bobbi reached out, scooted so they were sitting hip-to-hip, wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and pulled him closer. Either he would rest his head on her shoulder, or she'd rest hers on his, it didn't matter how they went about it, as long as he accepted her embrace.

"But you remember now," she murmured, her hand rubbing gently up and down along his shoulder, the gesture meant to soothe and comfort. "And you're whole again. Right? So you have what so many people don't get. A second chance. You can set things right."  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous }
{ ???, Adam : Paris : Elleon's Manse }

Je suis a toi

[Hati ~ Paris ~ Tea Room]

Hati regarded the unversed with an expression caught between exasperation and woe. "He couldn't have come here? I have tea all ready and everything."

She stood, and he might have heard her grumbling, "This is why we can't have nice things," as she walked to the many candelabras that bordered the room to extinguish their flames. She went to all but one, leaving it to faintly illuminate the glass-walled room.

"Alright," the blonde sighed tiredly, "Let's make it quick, it's been a long day."

"Oh, no, you misunderstand, miss," the unversed interrupted her as soon as she had begun to stand and move elsewhere. "He wanted to come here, he just didn't want to waltz in uninvited to a lady's private abode. My apologies for the misunderstanding."

And with an apologetic nod, the man simply... vanished, as if light stopped touching him. In the same moment a few feet away from the couches, glimmering dust swiftly appeared, forming the once-Replica in his casual button-up and jeans attire.

"Sorry, sorry," he said, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Bad wording on my part. Er, how are you?"  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Hati slid back into a comfortable position on her plush couch, putting on much fewer airs for Adam than she had for Saint. Impressions were important with frienemies, but this guy had seen her naked, so . . . She waved for the doorman to bring fresh tea and clean cups, to which he nodded and immediately left through a servant's corridor.

"Tired," Hati replied, rubbing her eyes but being cautious of her characteristically perfect eyeliner. Wings so sharp they could kill a man, and such. "There's always so much s**t to do. You? Can I get you anything besides tea?"  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 3 }
{ Adam : Paris : Elleon's Manse }

"Honestly, besides tea, if I could crash on a bed once all is said and done, that would be fantastic," he said, practically dropping into the opposite couch with exhaustion. "I basically haven't rest since this morning with you."

Like her, he had no intention to put on a show of confidence or bluster. But it was less because of last night and more... he wasn't even quite sure himself. Embarrassment, mostly.

"So, um. How are you... feeling?" he asked, looking at her curiously; his gaze was searching, as if uncertain or uneasy. "Since... the shift. I've had mine since shortly after the Atlantis nonsense, and it's all still... strange."  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous: 4 }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Hati watched him and said nothing for a few moments, long enough for a servant to come and exchange the cold teapot and cups for fresh ones. She thanked her with a smile and idly asked how her children were doing--Hati wasn't unkind to the world-natives in her employ. The small talk bought her a little time to pour tea for her guest and herself. When the servant left, Hati settled back into the couch and looked to Adam.

"I feel . . . different. It's been . . . yeah, strange." She responded, taking little time to let her tea cool before she sipped it. "I haven't had a whole lot of time to think about it, I've been busier than ever. But if I were to describe it, I'd say . . . I feel . . . lost."

She stared vacantly at the shining reflections of candlelight in the veneer of the teapot in front of her, silent again for a brief moment before a curiosity struck her. "Did you keep your old identity? Your name?"  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 5 }
{ Adam : Paris : Elleon's Manse }

". . . lost."

The word seemed to strike the air from his lungs; even his expression was left reeling, eyes losing focus and just settling on the teapot. Lost? That... that made so much sense.

All the running and busyness and panic...

Snapping back just before she began speaking, he listened while he prepared his tea, and couldn't keep himself from a soft bark of laughter.

"Funny you should ask that," he said, leaning back, "I shed 'Ajora' as soon as I shifted. It didn't... feel right. An old husk, clothing that no longer fit. But I couldn't figure out a name... all day. I'd been running from trying to think of one, really. Ended up settling on 'Adam' not 30 minutes ago."

He sipped the tea quietly, thinking back to her response before glancing across to her once again. "What about you? If your original name was spelled how I imagine, I figure you dropped yours after a hot second, too."  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous: 6 }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

"Adam, hmm?" Hati said as he paused, getting more comfortable and leaning against the cushions next to the arm of the couch, "I think it suits you."

His next question made her smile a little as she remembered that moment, "Oh yeah, it was hardly an hour afterward before I knew. I go by Hati now. And before you think it's haughty, alliteration unintended, it is."  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 7 }
{ Adam : Paris : Elleon Hati's Manse }

The man snickered to himself at her remark perhaps a little too much; maybe it was an echo of memory, but wordplay was great humor in his books.

After a passing moment of calm, he seemed to chew on the inside of his cheek, looking for words.

"So, business. This is a nice set-up you have, but its shadows are still... fair game for them," he began, tone neutral though tense, "For now, anyway. Through some working, I've gotten a hold of the same magic that Merlin and Yen Sid used to keep that train impenetrable from any force besides those invited. It's ancient magic—what we might call 'Disney magic' I guess—and I'm still brushing up on it, but at the very least I can get to work, if you'd like. It would take awhile, but it would cover your entire estate, and with some tweaking, you would have administrative control over who's in and who's not."  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous: 8 }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Hati smiled and nodded graciously at the offer before setting her empty teacup down--her fine china was very lovely and all, but the dainty little cups just weren't big enough to hold the amount of tea she desired. But, seeing as how this was her second or third cup, she was satisfied.

"Your offer is gracious, and I'm happy to be considered, but I'm . . . going to have to decline." The blonde responded coyly, "Not because I don't want the help, but simply because I don't need it. You see, there's a certain ice witch that many suppose may have . . . dropped off the face of Narnia. But she's only relocated. To my basement. It keeps the mansion cool during the daytime."  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 9 }
{ Adam : Paris : Hati's Manse }

At first, Adam's face screwed up in confusion and concern. Decline? Her house could be infested with shadows and dark spies, waiting to take her out now that she was unique! He wouldn't stand for it—he'd do it without her permission—

Then she explained the rest.

He paused, tilting his head. The gears were clearly turning behind his narrowed gaze, before they widened.

"You have Jadis?!" he asked, incredulous, shocked... impressed. He laughed. "Whaaaat?! You have the White Witch and you're keeping her in your... Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!"

The gears turned more.

"That's great, actually!" he said, pulling the small scroll out of some hammer-space pocket of his dress sphere. "She could cast this in minutes. This place would be a safe haven against invasion, the darkness, even that old windbag Frollo. She'd just need to fill in a few of the blanks in the spell here."

"And after that, maybe I could get a favor out of her, too," he said, chewing his cheek again in thought. He suddenly met her gaze again, sheepish. "I mean, if you don't mind, of course. It's your house and your..." He snerked. "'Guest'."  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous: 10 }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Hati smiled (beamed maybe?) at Adam's response and reached over to take the scroll from him, "Oh, well s**t, I mean if you have it right here. . ."

She looked over it and nodded--impressive magic, she wondered how he got it. What he said next made her snort, "Ah yes, she's my guest, that's the word for it. She would make quick work of this, and it'd probably be better than her own brand, judging by how thorough this seems. And yes, afterward she'd be obliged to grant you a fav-- . . . a wish." She toyed.  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 11 }
{ Adam : Paris : Hati's Manse }

He paused, raising a brow, seeming as though his pause was in response to her own.

"Ooo, my wish is her command, eh?" he replied back, grinning.

And maybe internally screaming, screeching, and flailing.

"Well then, let's go get this show on the road," he said, placing his own empty tea cup down and standing, stretching somewhat as he did so. "The sooner we're done here, the sooner we can wrap up and each pass out. Personally, I'm exhausted."  

[Je suis a toi]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous: 12 }
{ Hati : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Hati smiled at Adam's response and stood with him, "I don't want to keep you from a desperately needed night's rest, I know I'm in need of one as well. Follow me."

She approached the large double doors to the room, thanking the doorman for opening them for her and her guest. The walk there wasn't particularly long, but Hati wasn't in a huge hurry and was tired. So, as they sauntered, she pointed out a few features of the manor that she really loved. The time in which she lived there was brief, but she really appreciated the beauty of the place. She lastly took them down a flight of stairs, and the temperature grew very cold very quickly.

"Jadis, darling~" she called as they got down into the room, "I have a quick favor to ask and then I'll be out of your hair."

The room was large and plushly furnished, but of the most significance was the layer of frost alighted on every surface in the room. The ice queen had clearly made herself at home--Hati wasn't kidding about her presence keeping the manor cool. If one looked to the far corner of the dimly lit room, they'd see Jadis glowering from a finely-crafted chair.

"And here I thought my evening would be peaceful." Jadis hissed, closing the large tome on her lap with a loud slap. "What do you want?"  

[fractalJester]

{ ATE : Late Night Rendezvous : 13 }
{ Adam : Paris : Hati's Manse }

Adam followed after, admiring what she pointed out. He wasn't much for decoration, to be honest; it's not that he didn't like it, just that he'd never had a mind for it.

Well, before. New life, new style? 'Something to consider, I suppose.'

As Hati called out to Jadis from the absolutely frigid room, she received an identically-temperate response, and Adam couldn't help but raise a brow.

"Not taking well to her new lifestyle, I take it," he said, resisting the urge to smirk. "Good evening, Your Highness. I'm the reason for our late night interruption, I'm afraid. I've got a bit of a spell that the lady here could use casting, and you're just the person to do it."

He pulled out the scroll from his hammerspace-pockets once more, unrolling it slowly but not yet handing it over. "It's ancient protective magic; guards a specified domain from uninvited intruders. It needs a few tweaks here and there to be sure that Hati has the highest and final authority, but I'm sure between the two of us that wouldn't be an issue, hmm? I've done enough research to know exactly how it should go, but you have the, how you say, depth of experience to get it done quickly."

In not so many words, he'd made it clear: he'd learned enough to know what aspects of the spell needed to be done which way for such an effect, and should Jadis attempt anything otherwise, he'd recognize it and cut her off immediately.