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 Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 11:37 pm
It was one of those truly beautiful days in winter. The air was crisp, sharp to breathe in; the sky was a clear, unsurpassed blue, cloudless and breathtaking. The trees were bare, the frozen grass clinging to the last vestige of green, still trying to live through the dead season. She was sure the ocean would be choppy, the deep churned cerulean iced with white foam, the type she could watch for hours...and maybe today, she would.
Alex brushed her hair back from her eyes - it was getting long, she'd have to get it cut soon, or do it herself - tucking the errant lock behind a pierced but unadorned ear. The shirt she wore was as white as the ocean foam in her mind, long sleeved and buttoned to her breast, where the rest lay open to display a navy blue tank top. Long legs were clad in faded blue jeans, worn and thin at the knees, the frayed cuffs over her black boots. She wasn't at all dressed as she normally was, but she wasn't working today, and she didn't wanted comfort over practicality for a change.
She stood halfway between the science building and the rocky edges of the surf, head tilted back, muted green eyes searching that eternal blue sky for a spot of cloud or bird. Her breath plumed from her mouth in quiet misty swirls, a smile lighting her tanned visage as she thought to herself.
The sky was a beautiful blue, yes, but not the bluest blue she'd ever seen...
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:36 am
Kenth decided that it must be his bad luck to walk to this place and find that the place was all but relaxing.
At least, not with the woman sitting there.
He was disappointed to find human being here, overall. He thought that only he knew about this little paradise, only he could stay there and relax himself. But he could not complain. The place is public, and everyone had the right to stay, much to his dismay. Kenth considered returning to his office, it was warmer and more quiet than here, after all. Yet just as he turned, a sharp current of air shot into his nose and---
Kenth could not help but to let out a sneeze, which was loud enough to the dark-skinned woman that he---at least someone---was there.
Great.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:11 pm
It took a while for the woman to tear her eyes from the sky, her mind slow to register that the strange sound on the breeze was...a sneeze?
Those vivid green eyes moved to find the owner, and she nearly jumped with surprise. "Doctor?" she murmured quietly, more to herself than him. Alex was shocked to see the lithe man outside of his office...well, outside at all, really! Shoving her hands into the slim pockets of her jeans, she took a few steps towards him before pausing. What would he be doing out here, anyway? He lived for work, and work alone, so if he wasn't working and he was out here in this lovely and secluded place...
"Am I imposing?" she asked softly, not coming any closer. If he wanted to be alone, she'd continue on her way to the shore. That was her goal to begin with. Thinking on it, she actually took a step back, as if intending to turn and walk away.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:21 pm
As much as it felt to be awkward, Kenth decided to stay, simply because he felt even more awkward to leave like this. "I should be the one to ask." He said quietly. "I didn't think there would be anybody here, with weather this cold..."
He approached Alex, but walked past her and stared off to the ocean. "Sometimes I come here to take a break before starting to work again." He considered to continue and say something else, but decided to hold off and wait for a response.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 1:48 pm
"I like the cold," came the murmured reply, again, more to herself than the man. She didn't move as he walked by her, offering only a slight tilt of her head after his passing. "You never struck me as the nature type," she remarked, partially joking, partially curious. "It eases my heart to know you do leave that office." Sometimes it seemed more like a prison, but she wasn't about to insult the man.
Alex finally turned to stare at his back, before taking a few strides with long legs to stand next to him. She, too, gazed out over the ocean, feeling a thrill up her spine at the sight of it. It reminded her of home...the only one she'd ever known, the one she had broken memories of. There was something peaceful about it, despite the crashing waves and churning depths; it was all constant, all beautiful, something she could rely on to always be there.
He came to take a break, so it only seemed polite to offer. "Would you like some time to yourself? I was heading to the shore," she explained, not wanting him to feel awkward or guilty, "so I wont be offended." Her eyes remained out amongst the waves, careful not to look at him. Strange. When did she become so shy?
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:11 pm
"You are right. Science is my only friend." Kenth replied quietly. "But nature is better than society, it is the ugliness of mankind that really annoys me." Which was, hypercritical, as Kenth was aware himself, being a human that he was.
Adjusting his clothing a little Kenth sat down on the ground while kept his eyes focused to the ocean. He fell silent with Alex's offer; his expression dulled just for a brief moment.
"Suit yourself." Kenth eventually replied. "I will not keep you if you had something to do."
A pause, and then, "thanks for the dinners, by the way."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:22 pm
Alex lowered her gaze to the ground as Kenth spoke, feeling indirectly attacked by his words. She listened, her jaw tight, giving a single nod at his remark. He didn't want company, it was blatantly obvious to the woman, and he possibly had less use for her than anyone else. His brief moments of kindness...she couldn't help but wonder if they were more like brief lapses of sanity.
She took a few steps away from him, but his last words stopped her. Alex turned her head, her profile in sharp relief as she looked along the shoreline. "We're not all ugly," she said softly, quietly. "Some of us believe in others. Those who make mankind worth fighting for. Like you. It's the least I can do."
When the day was done and the history books were written, Kenth Larine would be remembered for his contributions, like her parents...even her brother. She...would fade into obscurity. Why these heavy thoughts were upon her, she couldn't say, but she wasn't entirely sure why she felt so strange around the doctor to begin with.
She turned away, adding just as quietly, "Your brothers, too. Everyone here. You're all good people."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 2:58 pm
"It was a generalization, there bound to be exceptions to every rule." Kenth shook his head and sighed. "I do not live by exceptions, however. It takes too much risk."
And what did he do really? Kenth doubt anyone would remember him. He would just be a minor character in the great demon awakening, he could just be a minor character in the China incident...what happened was by the aid of other people, he had not done it alone, despite how much he had wanted to.
Kenth suddenly twirled around and gave Alex a sharpest and coldest glare, and immediately turned away. There was a long silence, and then Kenth said bitterly. "Yes, he's one of the very good people."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 3:16 pm
"Some of us don't have the luxury to choose," was the dim reply, lost against the roar of the tide. Alex didn't see the cold look, as she was still avoiding looking at him directly. She did not bother to break the silence, listening to the distant lull of the surf that babbled between them. Her mind wandered back to the older Larine brother, his desperate plea to the middle of the three brothers, which fell on deaf and angry ears. What had that been about...?
When Kenth did speak, she frowned to herself, turning once more to face his back. "Yes," she agreed darkly, "he is." There was a dare in her voice for him to contradict her. She was staring at him with an annoyed expression, eyebrows furrowed over dark eyes, lips pursed. While the woman didn't realize she had slipped, she was lucky that Kenth didn't catch it either; she had said brothers, indicating more than one. That would have been awkward to explain.
Any of the warmth and fondness she may have held for Kenth was gone from her jovial face. Her expression was as hard and cold as Kenth's, frigid and unyielding, a look she did not wear around loved ones. If he dared speak ill of Logan in front of her, no matter how much she adored the white-haired man, there would be hell to pay.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:08 pm
Kenth didn't look back, and remained silent as Alex made her reply. He felt numb, his mind empty of word to reply. There was no reply, in fact. What could he say about his brother other than he had hated him so much that he wanted to kill him at one point in his life? That did not mean that Greg Larine was not a good person, and Kenth had, despite his hatred and guilt, no right on earth to accuse him not being a good person.
So he stayed silent, and moved his legs up so he could wrap his arms around them and rest his chin on his knees, and continue to stare off into space.
"A good person indeed."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:28 pm
Her bristling nature slowly subsided as Kenth all but curled into himself, the dark warning cloud that loomed over her eyes eventually retreating as she looked at him. He looked so...so small. So alone.
Alex sighed deeply through her teeth, still weary. She knew this was a tender subject, and he wasn't biting her head off by mentioning him. The woman took a few steps towards him, slowly, letting the silence carry her until she was standing directly behind him. She lowered herself to the ground, a knee falling to either side of him, hands moving around him to encompass his chest. She then leaned forward until her cheek was against his right shoulder blade, mindful not to pin his hair as the curve of her body pressed against the line of his back.
She had a feeling he was about to get mad and snap some reason for her to leave him alone, but she wanted the closeness for a reason. Speaking before he could react, she asked the question she didn't want to voice, her words clear but gentle, "Why do you hate him?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:42 pm
Kenth cringed as Alex leaned on him, but did not move. He felt the warmness of the woman against his back, and that alone made him shiver. It was a touchy subject that Alex had brought up, and Kenth did not like it.
"I don't hate him." Said Kenth sternly, "how is that any of your concern?"
He tried to make his voice as neutral as possible, yet somehow it came out bitter. Perhaps it was due to the fact that he was bitter about it for too long. No one had really asked until now. Alex was so...persistent, and it both annoyed and intrigued Kenth at the same time.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 4:59 pm
"It's my concern because I care about both of you," she replied, closing her eyes. Alex knew she was treading on very, very thin ice, and that it hadn't broken yet had amazed her. She could feel the man in her arms shiver, but she did not release him, instead giving him a delicate squeeze.
She would approach the subject from a different side. "I never really knew my brother," she said quietly, her heart constricting as she started to talk about herself. She was really, really bad at this. "He died when I was ten...I blamed myself for it for the longest time. I'm the only survivor of my family." Her throat tightened, and it took a few moments for her to continue. "Greg's been like a brother to me, like my family, for the time I've known him. To hear him plead to you for forgiveness broke my heart."
Her thumb stroked the fabric of his coat absently as she talked, feeling a little nervous. "And you...I want to know you. I want you to have peace of mind, and forgive me for saying, but working in the same building and ignoring your estranged brother is not peaceful." Another gentle squeeze. "I'm not forcing you to make up with him. I just...want to know you," she repeated softly.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:15 pm
"Tsk."
Kenth sighed, annoyed. "I don't need people to care for me, I'm fine myself. I've been through all these years by myself now...and I'd have no trouble going on till the end of my life."
He paused. Was he supposed to feel sorry for Alex for the loss of his brother? And where was this unreasonable anger that suddenly came to him?
"Go care about him all you want. He's so much better, after all. And why would I forgive him? I---he did nothing wrong, that idiot. He's better off go and be happy all his life and forget about me. It's his own fault to put everything on himself in the first place."
If Kenth realized he had slipped his tougue, he chose to ignore it. Instead he rambled onwards with an angry tone, more to himself than to Alex.
"And how much did he tell you about me? He probably told you everything, so I have nothing to tell."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:33 pm
"I'm not trying to TAKE care of you, I don't want to be your mother or guardian," Alex retorted, opening her eyes but still unmoving. "Has it ever occured to you that maybe those around you wouldn't be content without you for the rest of their lives?" Damn. Looked like the ice broke.
The woman sighed heavily on his back. "He's told me nothing. I haven't asked, and he has never offered that information freely. I want to hear it from you, I respect you at least that much. Give me some credit, I'm not all stupid and ditzy." Her voice hardened a little at the end of her statement, annoyance just beneath the surface. Why did he think so little of her? What had she ever done to make him think she would turn on him at the drop of a hat? She had taken a beating from a demon for the man, how the hell else was she supposed to prove her feelings for him?!
"If he did nothing wrong," she rode on his anger, hoping he'd answer in his show of emotion, "then what is there to forgive? Why not speak to him? Regardless of what you think, he loves you. You mean so much to him. You always have." Alex knew he had spoken of another brother those many years ago; even then, he had no ill words for Kenth.
"Please. Just talk to me. I'm right here, I'll be here as long as you'll let me."
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