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 Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:23 pm
The text had come in and, predictably, Jerry had dropped everything. In all the recent chaos he had tried his best to give her space, let her heal, let her sort herself out. That was what she had asked for, and it was the least he could do for her.
That didn't mean he wasn't still nervous about the whole thing.
He had to wonder what the crowbar was for. He managed to get a smaller pry-bar from the supplies dispensary at least, and heart in his throat, he hurried to her room and knocked nervously.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:28 pm
Sasha forced herself to inhale deeply before exhaling with a loud whoosh.
"Come in!"
She sat on the floor in the middle of the room clad in slim pants and a large tunic-like shirt. Her jacket was carefully arranged on the nearest chair, and on the floor before her rested a large metal briefcase.
Please, please don't be woobly.
Nona's loud sigh echoed in Sasha's mind while the weapon's presence was as soothing and comforting as she had been before the whole golem ordeal.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:31 pm
Jerry, meanwhile, looked like he had just crawled out of a ditch. Which, with all the repairing and cleanup going on, wasn't far from the truth. The knees of his jumpsuit were stained with dirt, although he had tried his best to dust it off, and his face was, for the most part, shaved. Rather closely, judging by the bandage on his nose.
His smile trembled nervously around the edges as he let himself in. "I ah... brought the pry bar! What's it for, exac- oh!" He wasn't sure what to make of the large metal box, but was clearly enthused to help with whatever it was.
"So... so you're feeling better?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:37 pm
The bridge of Sasha's nose wrinkled when she first caught sight of him. An odd little smile toyed with her lips - he was filthy, yes, but she could tell he'd made at least some attempts at making himself slightly presentable. His smooth-ish cheeks pleased her, and Sasha allowed the smile to remain on her lips as she watched him closely.
"Somewhat. Still not sleeping as well as I'd like but I suppose that's to be expected." Sasha cleared her throat and urged him in with a wave of her hand.
"This box - I found it in my papa's home - is locked up tight. That's what the bar is for. I didn't know what else to do." She shrugged before reaching out to nudge the box roughly with the heel of her hand. There was a decided metallic sound that came from within, along with the quiet shuffle of paper.
Sasha's smile grew a little pained, a little crooked.
"How have you been?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 9:42 pm
Lonely, he almost said, but instead, shrugged out of his coat to gently set it beside her's before rolling up his sleeves, eyeing the box like an instigated challenge.
"Alright. Haven't been sleeping very well either but I think that might just come with the job description, ahahahaha. It's been odd." He wet his lips before crouching to look the box over, checking for any lock that might need weakening before trying the pry bar. "So... it's your Papa's things inside? I wish I had saved sometime from Gran... my sweaters are all I really have left of her." Avoid the topic. Keep things safe. She was talking to him again and that was what was important.
He couldn't blow this.
Alpha wolf, Roar reminded him quietly. No tail between your legs. You haven't done anything wrong.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:06 am
She didn't really want to talk about ... things. Mundane things. Relationship things. It was a relief when Jerry kept things light. A huge relief.
This was nice.
"I'm not really sure what's inside." Sasha gave a little laugh - a glimmer of her old self, perhaps; a shine of excitement twinkled in her eyes. "I'd never seen this box before, but then again I never really did any serious digging around - not even after he'd died."
She inched a little closer, eyes locked on the box itself.
"Can you open it?"
Sasha glanced up at him.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:38 am
"We'll soon find out!" Jerry gave her a wink, finding comfort in this simple challenge too.
I bet I could open it, Roar offered helpfully.
"Into tiny little pieces," Jerry mumbled back with a snort, finally taking the case to sit it upright and carefully, slammed the metal pry-bar down onto the locks a few times to try to weaken them with a loud series of thunks and clangs.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:46 am
Shaking her head slightly at the wink - and the following external discourse with Roar - Sasha drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins. Using the heels of her feet, Sasha rocked herself backwards just a bit. If anything went flying off of the case, she didn't want to be too close.
Her eyes remained locked on the metal box, lips pressed firmly together as she watched Jerry work.
"I think it's working? Is it working?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:52 am
Jerry grunted, smashing the heavy tool down again before jamming it into the crack of the case and wedging it between his knees to try to pry. "We'll... soon.... see.... AH!" There was a snap, and Jerry flopped backward.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:37 am
Sasha rolled forward as soon as Jerry flopped backward, her hands pressing down on the case as it fell. She braced herself on the wide side of the suitcase and took a moment to stare down at her hands - without looking up at Jerry, she softly muttered, "I'm nervous."
A second passed. She lifted her eyes to meet his. Sasha's lips curved just the slightest, though the smile did not quite reach her eyes.
"Excited, but.. nervous, too."
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:39 am
He smiled back as he straightened, brushing his hair out of his eyes as he hovered beside her, finally gathering his courage to steal a kiss to her cheek before whispering, "It could just be his collection of vintage Play Boys... or... whatever the French equivalent is, ahahaha..."
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 10:56 am
Sasha gave a nervous laugh, lifting a hand to brush against her cheek before she rocked back on her heels. After a few moments of mental preparation, Sasha opened the case. At first glance there was nothing spectacular about the contents. A few pieces of paper, some pictures. Jewelry of different sorts: a silver cross on a chain with two golden rings. Sasha reached for the first picture she saw, ignoring everything else. A huge smile spread across her face as she traced a finger across the glossy surface of the picture before she showed it to Jerry. The goofy smile on her face spread. "Look familiar? I've never seen this particular picture before - most of the ones I remember, I was always a little older."
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:04 am
Jerry's eyes had fallen onto the rings and necklace, reaching to gingerly look them over. Wedding rings? There was no stones, just simple golden bands. Nothing ornate. His grandmother's ring had apparently been saved by his great grandfather during the whole... Nazi Germany thing.
Who knew where they were now. They had been in a safe deposit box when he had been recruited. Were they still there? He glanced up as she spoke, blinking a few times before smiling down at the picture, "You're a hecka' lot cuter than I was, ahahaha. Your eyes haven't changed though." His smile spread as he sat more comfortably on the carpet, scooting until their hips touched.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:17 am
Sasha handed him the picture while she leaned in to snatch up a second one. This particular photo was of a pink-cheeked baby Sasha of the same age - she was held in the arms of a tall, dark-haired man who was leaning over to press a kiss against the temple of a pretty young woman with pale blue eyes.
A frown flared to life, pinching Sasha's brows together.
"This.. this isn't my papa - and I don't know who.."
She trailed off, reaching for another photo.
That same blue-eyed young woman, tired but with a proud smile on her face, rested in a hospital bed. She held a tiny baby to her chest, and the same dark-haired man crouched next to the bed.
"Who...?"
Another picture. The dark-haired man that wasn't her papa. The blue-eyed young woman. Their wedding day - she was dressed in a long lacy cream affair, and the man looked rather dapper in a dark suit. Tears were glistening in both of their eyes as they gazed at one another.
"I don't.."
Another picture. The blue-eyed young woman, pregnant and laughing at the dark-haired man as he leaned down; his lips were pressed to her stomach.
Sasha flipped the picture over.
Cam and Anne
December 1990
Her movements were jerky as she reached for the picture with the man and the woman holding the baby. Sasha flipped it over.
Cam, Anne and Sasha
October 1991
The picture of the woman and the newborn child.
January 15th, 1991
Our baby girl Sasha
Cam, Anne
"I.. wh.. what is.."
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:20 am
"Hmm?" Jerry leaned over to see what she was looking at. This was nice... quality time. It had been so long since they just sat together like this. Bonding over old memories... "You look like your mom, ahaha." An important fact had not yet sunk in for him.
They looked so happy in the picture. He wondered if maybe he and Sasha one day could be that happy.
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