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 Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 9:35 pm
He was going to kill Caelius, bring him back to life, and then kill him again.
Friday morning, and Gale, who should have been in a relatively decent mood, all things considered, was instead stomping around in a right state, throwing his clothes into his bag without much consideration for either organization or cleanliness.
<< You're upset. >>
You're astute.
<< No changing his mind, then? >>
None whatsoever, Gale thought, and threw a long-sleeved shirt into his bag, stuffing it down into the bottom. He wrestled with it for a moment and then finally managed to pull the zipper up, swinging the bag up over his shoulder and sighing. Reaching into his pocket, he headed out the door and down the stairs, pulling out his phone as he did so.Ol-j-man Text to Stormy:Got something to tell you - can I come over?
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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 11:30 pm
After stashing Candace's shoes in a place she was sure the hunter could never find it (although would she truly suspect innocent little Stormy?), Stormy had settled her nerves by grabbing a sandwich and a soda from the cafeteria before heading back to the infirmary. Truly she wanted to lie down rather than sit up, but she had a duty to Nevada--possibly a ludicrous one, since at a glance her constant presence there wasn't doing anything, but a duty nevertheless. She couldn't live with the idea of not at least spending a few hours a day there, reading a story even if she had already, watching a movie even though she'd seen it dozens of times. It meant doing something. It meant movement. Momentum. It was honoring a friendship she never would have thought would happen, much less a sisterhood.
And because Stormy was afraid, very very afraid, that Nevada would slip away if someone didn't watch her--not as a judgment on her fellow Mist's strength, but rather as an acknowledgment of the cruelty of reality as hunters that not even fairytale and written happy endings could stop. If she allowed that to happen, she wouldn't forgive herself for losing someone else.
It was just as she was entering the infirmary that she felt her phone go off, and when she saw the name on its screen Stormy felt a mixture of pleasant surprise and something a little more guilty. It wasn't Friday today, was it? She couldn't remember anymore, the days kept running into each other like they did in the summer . . . Crap it was.xkurotomato Text to GaleSure! I'm in the infirmary right now; visiting someone, not because I put myself in there, promise. Quote: Text to GaleIt's Nevada. She got badly injured in the Haunted House so I've been trying to keep her company. Do you want to meet somewhere else?
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 1:32 pm
His phone beeped as he went out the door, Gale reaching into his pocket to pull it out. The first message made him concerned, the second even more so, Gale slowing his steps until he had stopped walking partway to the dorms. Ol-j-man Text to Stormy:I'm sorry to hear that. I'll meet you outside of the Infirmary, so you can still be close by.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 5:03 pm
She had to wonder what Gale wanted to talk about that couldn't he done through texts. Which meant it had to be important...What was important right now? The date was, but he would have simply said something about it...Or maybe he wouldn't have. Or maybe this was his way of saying get ready for it? Or maybe nothing at all? Hmmm...
"I'll be right back, dear," she cooed over Nevada, patting her hand. "Gale needs to talk to me about something. Michelangelo is still here with you." Leaving her sandwich and soda on the bedside counter, Stormy got to her feet and headed back to the entrance.
It was as easy for her to spy him as it probably was for him to find her, and Gale had a smile greeting him as she approached. "Heya~ What's up?" she asked lightly, for that was easier than being hesitant as to the nature of his visit.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 7:48 pm
He saw a movement somewhere to the side and then there she was, walking towards him. Gale felt his heart give a stupid little leap, and mentally he reminded himself that now was not the time, especially considering where they were and what they were here for.
Still, he reached out and gave her a hug, folding her gently into a small embrace, his arms around her shoulders.
"Hey, pretty lady," he said softly, and leaned back to look at her, his expression tired. "I'm sorry to hear about Nevada," said Gale, concern flickering across his face. "Is she going to be all right?"
First things first - find out the well-being of his girlfriend's closest friend and his new friend before anything else. Gale had just started to get to know Nevada, he didn't want anything to happen to her, not after he had only barely met her.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:01 pm
Gale's heart wasn't the only one doing stupid little leaps. "Heeeeeey," she cooed in return, because there was no limit to saying hi and goodbye after all--especially while hugging--though she wanted to have had something prepared. "Handsome" was appropriate, but that was Nevada's pet name for guys, and she didn't like treading over it...let alone revisit how the little quirk made her ache just a little bit more with worry. "Mmm, I'll have something prepared next time," she told herself aloud, forgetting Gale couldn't hear her thoughts.
He received a peck on the cheek, though when Stormy pulled back her smile had dimmed some. "She's okay. Something happened in the Haunted House and she got her arm broken and an eye scratched up, but I think it'll be okay..." It had to be. Nevada was a gunner, she needed her eyes...Her smile faded away completely. "Miss Candace sent a text out saying we weren't allowed to go alone there anymore."
She hesitated, deliberating on whether to continue that line of thought, and then diverted to a new topic when she feared her indecision was making the silence a little too long for normal conversation. "How are you?" Stormy asked, trying to shrug off her concerns. "Anything been going on since we last met?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:07 pm
His face was slightly pink at the kiss, but it somehow also made him feel a bit more relaxed, Gale sliding his arms down so that he could link his fingers together against the small of her back. His head tilted a little at the odd comment, but then Stormy was talking about Nevada again, and Gale felt more than a little concerned now.
"The Haunted House," he repeated slowly, brows furrowing together. "That place is..."
It was a lot of things, none of them pleasant. Gale shook his head a little, as though trying to clear it. "She'll be okay," he told Stormy firmly. "She's a strong sort, she'll be okay."
This of course was probably not the most reassuring, but maybe if he kept telling himself, he'd believe it as well - and he'd been honest, Nevada was strong. From what he'd seen, she was confident and smart, and had a good head on her shoulders. And she was important to Stormy, which meant that by default she was important to Gale.
"Ah," he said, his expression flickering, a faintly bitter smile quirking at his lips. "I'm afraid I'll have to postpone our date tonight." The smile slipped away, Gale looking more irritated than apologetic now.
"Caelius is sending me on a mission off the island."
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:35 pm
"Yup, she will."
Simple as that. Giving the air (and consequently the universe) her doubts would only invite misfortune, as Fate so often intervened to do. Keeping her concerns locked within was the only way to avoid more problems, a view she also linked to her restrained emotions.
Stormy was just attempting to smile for him when he brought his news down. "Oh..." That was a mixed feelings bag. On the one hand, she was disappointed she couldn't spend her evening prettied up for him, but on the other she was relieved the pressure of a date wouldn't loom over her (or the guilt of almost forgetting it). She settled on a tiny frown atop a curious leaning forward motion. "What sort of mission? Is it horsemen?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 8:41 pm
He swayed a little, looking frustrated. "An artifact retrieval mission," said Gale, looking down at Stormy and sighing. He knew a part of her was probably relieved not to have to leave Nevada's side for their date, and if he had not been already leaving, he probably would have already cancelled it because he knew she would not want to part from her best friend. Still, he wished they could have been able to have their one night together, though it looked like each time they tried, something came up.
Damn the man, Gale thought. Out loud, he said, "It's my specialty within the division, though the research done on this particular artifact are rather vague, I'm not entirely certain Caelius isn't just using this as an excuse to get rid of me..."
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:24 pm
Retrieval . . . Hmm. That could be relatively safe if he got in and out without someone noticing. She mused over his percentage of safety, swaying with him. "Vague? Mmm . . . I don't like the sound of that," Stormy told him, the frown still there. "Even with exact parameters the mission can go wrong . . ." After all, Caelius had spelled out everything on the mission using Bethany, and look how that turned out.
Agghghgh, these were not the memories she wanted to be conjuring up right now. This mission was different. Gale obviously could handle himself.
She took a breath and exhaled quietly. "When do you have to leave?" she asked, smoothing her frown out--the last thing she wanted him to see was her worried. "Do you have some free time right now?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 9:28 pm
"Unfortunately, with Caelius, vague is never a good thing - though it's always an expected thing," said Gale darkly, and then he sighed, taking a step closer to Stormy and resting his chin atop her head, closing his eyes briefly. "I was hoping not to have to leave anytime soon, but I was actually going to head to the portal rendezvous right after talking to you."
He leaned back to look at her, smiling a little as he reached a hand up, gently brushing his thumb alongside her cheek.
"You know, one day we'll actually get our first actual date."
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:35 pm
So . . . right now? He could pile on the affectionate gestures, but she would still look crestfallen at the fact. The most childish part of her wanted to just tug Gale into the infirmary and sit him down and tell him he wasn't going to any portal, he was staying right here, and they could make their own little mini-date to compensate by watching one of the movies she had with Nevada first before he left to do anything, and also cuddling because this was not fair. It was too abrupt and too soon and horribly timed and so what if she had mixed feelings about getting to stay with Nevada, he was her boyfriend of course she wanted to get to spend time with him--
"One day." She closed her eyes briefly, and when they opened up she had put on a more positive look--perhaps a bit sudden, but she was trying very hard not to give in to her clinginess. "One more daaaawn~ One more daaaaay~ Ooooone daaaaay mooooooore~" she sang softly, having reminded herself of a certain musical. There, much better! More Stormy and less sad.
"Good things come to those who wait," Stormy went on to say, still in a semi-sing song sort of voice. She reached up and touched his hand, helping press the palm more to her cheek. "And wait I will. Can I at least walk you over to the portal, though?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:13 pm
He hated the sad look on her face, Gale feeling as though he really wanted to kill Caelius more than he already did. His arms tightened a little around her, Gale shifting a step closer.
"One day," he agreed, smiling in spite of the situation. He gave a sigh and dropped his forehead against hers, swaying from side to side. His fingers curled against her cheek, his thumb still moving from side to side. "Yes, but I already have a good thing," Gale reminded her, and then leaned back, dropping his hand to slide his fingers through hers.
"And yes, please do, although are you sure you want to leave Nevada?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 7:55 pm
"Hmm." She hummed contentedly as their heads touched, going on her toes just a bit to increase the pressure. For a moment she could pretend they were almost dancing proper even, the way they were swaying and holding each other close. But like all sweet things, it ended too soon, and Stormy had to give up her dreamy little image with a soft sigh as the warm presence left her cheek.
"Better things will come, then." She squeezed Gale's hand and turned them to walk, though she looked to him to lead--she want sure if all portals were in the lighthouse or not. "I've been with her a few hours every day or so--she can wait a few minutes," Stormy went on to say with a nod. "Trust me, if she was awake she'dve pushed me to go anyway. Like me, she has a shipper's heart~"
She paused, then added mildly, "Her condition hasn't changed much since she got in. It's why Miss Candace is so worried about anyone going in that place alone anymore."
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Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 9:28 pm
He led Stormy along the way towards the Lighthouse, down the hall of the main building and out onto the grounds. In spite of the fact that he probably should have already left, Gale kept his pace relatively slow, not wanting to rush away from Stormy just yet.
"Well, while I'm gone you can tell her stories about how one day I'll take you on a magnificent, magical date," he said lightly. "She'd want to hear about that, wouldn't she? And one day we actually will, but until then, we'll just have to make do."
"And for the record," Gale added, as the Lighthouse came into view. "Don't you go off into the Haunted House while I'm gone either. I know you can take care of yourself, I just don't want you there alone."
He squeezed her fingers. "I don't like leaving. It's the worst timing, really."
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