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 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:37 pm
She was shocked at the sight of the dog, but thankfully not frightened- not when the scruffy Shepard was obviously a sweet, domesticated thing. Reuben went wild, and charged in after his fellow canine after the dog trotted back into the duplex. It was that which gave Emelyn cause to follow them in.
"Reuben, come back here." She edged forward into the duplex, meaning only to get her own muttpuppy by the collar and drag him outside- but then the other sat- could it be expectantly? at the closet. Emelyn had a flash of a memory that, despite its existance in that furious flash- she denied as ever happening. She was staring at the carpet, clothes all around her in a nest, and the closet door letting only slats of light through. Her muzzle was filled with blood, and it dripped slowly and unobtrusively into the well of her nest. The not-memory made her suddenly ill, and she didn't know where it could have been from. Those days prior to her lab-hospitalization in August had been fraught with madness- and she had no recall for them, sans these bitter flashes.
Emelyn came nearer to the closet door and rapped on it softly. "Lucas?" She felt foolish talking to a closet door- but something in her stomach was still turning, and it was necessary. For whatever reason, it was necessary.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:49 pm
The dhole's chest tightened with the realization that Emelyn was there. In his duplex. Why did she come? He didn't want anyone to see him like this. Not curled up like some child, hiding in the closet. Not with bandages wrapped around his face. To tell someone what had happened. Especially not Emelyn. Why did it have to be her?
He waited and hoped she would turn around and leave. That maybe she would not find him. But that didn't happen. Instead he heard her footsteps, the knock and then her voice call out to him. She was right behind the door.
There was a long hesitation before he mustered the guts and energy to reply. "Please," his voice was low, dry, and scratchy. "Go away." He tried to keep his voice even, despite everything. It didn't feel good to talk. It had been a very long time since he'd had anything to drink.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:51 pm
It was a day of surprises. Though she had knocked on the closet door, she hadn't entirely expected him to be there. She knelt, Reuben close enough that his fur was against her cheek.
"Are you alright?" She ignored his request.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:55 pm
God... Was he alright? Was he ever alright?
"Go away," he repeated.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 5:56 pm
She parted her hedgehog muzzle and hissed. "I'm not leaving until you tell me what's wrong."
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:01 pm
He didn't have the energy to argue. But neither did he have the desire to tell her anything. Instead he just just gave a dry, bitter chuckle. "When is something not wrong?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:02 pm
"...True." She settled down and crossed her legs. "But if it was just the 'regular something', you'd not be holed up in the closet." Despite her almost casual words, the tone of her voice was low and questioning, and, she thought, hopefully compassionate.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:12 pm
He moaned. The throbbing in his head was killing him. Every time he moved his mouth he felt stinging around his face.
"I've got a headache." It wasn't neccessarily a lie.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:15 pm
She sighed and leaned forward so that her forhead was touching the door. "I bet you do." The pause that followed was pregnant with waiting.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:17 pm
"You're not going to leave, are you?" he sighed.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:19 pm
"Wasn't planning on it." As if he understood the meaning of his 'mother's' words, Reuben stopped sniffing his new companion and settled down near the closet with a canine 'whuff'.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:30 pm
It was clear he would not get rid of Emelyn, short of throwing her out himself. He considered verbally attacking her, but he could not bring himself to do that either. He could not cut himself off from one of the few people on the Island that was his friend. He had so few of those here.
While quiet in thought, the room was silent except for more of Dasher's whimpering. He knew he wouldn't be able to hide it. He didn't want to talk about it. Finally Lucas sighed. "Okay." Groaning, he tried sitting up normally, but the world swam. Was it from the dehydration, the lack of food or the pain? Pushing himself up the side wall of the closet, he let his back rest against it for a moment. The bandaged eye was facing the corner. The coat was still draped over him, now up to his waist.
Hesitating, he called out to her. "I'm going to open the door." He gave her a moment to step back so he wouldn't smack her with the door, then twisted the knob.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:33 pm
Emelyn scooted back and watched with a dry anticipation as the door opened. When Lucas was revealed, she swallowed, and was still. She wondered what to say- where to go from here. In the end, what came clear of her lips was motherly.
"Have you eaten?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:42 pm
Her question got only laughter out of him at first.
"I'm not a child, Emelyn." There was no anger in his voice. Only weariness. He knew that tone. The last thing he wanted was Emelyn to treat him like a child. Not after the way she found him. His pride and dignity had taken enough.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 6:43 pm
"Amazingly enough," she said, her voice as chilly as was warranted in the situation, "Adults ask each other if they've eaten. And I recall a certain someone forcing food and drink into me for weeks."
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