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 Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:22 pm
It had been more than a couple of days since the tournament, and between Finn and the Titan talk with Jack, Nevada had heard more talk from the boys than she had of her own best friend.
The one that she cared about and wanted to protect. She had waited till the girl had returned from whatever mission she had before drawing her into the room and sitting her on the bed.
"Stormy...Can we talk please?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 8:32 pm
Titans were exhausting work on a normal basis, but she was particularly drained after the one with Jason. The sting of her initially sucky entrance into the mission still burned her as she plodded along, rubbing her shoulders and alternating between them with a wince. All of that hanging onto her sword had meant a lot of slapping against the thing's carapace, and her arms were tuckered out after dealing with an already heavy weapon on top of that.
So when she came back to her room, all Stormy wanted to do was laydown and curl up for a long as hell nap while Thane recuperated their shield. But she'd seen the look Nevada gave her when she entered, and the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Oh boy.
As her best friend settled in next to her on her bed, Stormy leaned over with a small groan to begin undoing her boots. "Mmhmm," she answered in an almost sigh, feeling gross and awful but unable to deny Nevada's request purely on the grounds of sisterhood. "What do you wanna talk about?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:12 pm
Nevada hesitated, seeing that her sister was tired. Usually she would let it go but...The longer the doubt was in her mind, the less she would address it until she was festering in confusion and anger.
"I'm sorry, I know you're tired Stormy but...." She reached over to rub the girl's shoulders...
"Why didn't you tell me about Jack." She bit her lip, "He told me...that he visited you." Obviously he had, if they agreed on a new start that she had seen him before the tournament.
"Do...you not trust me about him?" Her voice was quiet, but she tried not to lace hurt through it. She was still raw over finding out at the tournament.
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 9:27 pm
These were not the questions she wanted to be answering right now, not in the least. They just reminded her of the ache inside no titan had caused, the pain that could only be wrought by the quiet words of a friend and sister. Had Stormy the nerve, she would have just curled up and tried to avoid the subject for a little longer, but the ensuing guilt would kill her. Sitting there was killing her.
She bit the inside of her cheek as she worked off one boot and then slowly the other, her mind scrambling to locate the right words. "I-I'm--I do trust you," she started in a halting fashion, not looking at Nevada just yet. She slid off her boots and wiggled her toes, sighing with relief. And she still eyed them as she spoke. "And . . . I'm so sorry. That was all on me. I found out about him literally the day before the tournament."
That sounded more like an excuse. Stormy's brows knitted with growing anxiety as she pulled her legs up and sat crosslegged, still gazing down at her lap with a morose expression. "I know I should have told you," she went on in a softer voice. "You and Gale. But I knew if I did you'd be really distracted, and I wanted you guys to go far in the tournament without problems, and--I was gonna tell you after the tournament, I swear." She gave Nevada a sidelong glance. "It's my fault for sticking around at his fight. I just . . . saw you two and had to investigate why you were interested."
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:11 pm
Nevada let her hands still, listening to Stormy. Part of her was upset at herself. It was like she was kicking a puppy when it was already whimpering on the ground. It's why she did her best to make Stormy happy, she much preferred the girl smiling then she did upset.
"If you trusted me, then you should've called me right after. Stormy, You've told me stories about horrible Jack...is? was to you. I know i've told you are strong, but you have to know when its okay to come and lean on me." There was a bitter edge she didn't intend, but it snuck through regardless. "Damn it Stormy."
"Stormy when it's something like that, I would rather prefer to know before I'm knee deep in s**t that I don't even know is there." Nevada hissed, "I feel so stupid. When I first met him, I thought something was sort of off but he was really charming. Then with this tournament, he was paying a lot of attention to me. So much so that at one of the battles for him to win, he got a kiss and he did it on my bandage." She shook her head, "Then Finn said some words, and at his battle where you came in, I started to think it was him. Your ex. Finn told me he was here but....I didn't know if he was saying that to be a s**t or if he meant it." Nevada hissed again.
"I'm hurt, but only because I was worried you didn't trust me to handle it well. I didn't handle Finn well and I learned from it..." She sighed, "And It didn't help that right before you told me, at Alaska's battle....she ignored me." Nevada face really fell, "Every since she woke up, I haven't seen her. I barely even talk to her.....I don't think she wants too." Nevada circled her arms around.
"And then Jack and I had a Titan attack together, and was telling me he was so hurt, that it hurt for him to be here." She looked over at Stormy, "He said it wasn't your style to tell me everything and it worried me, and it made me doubt. My own twin won't talk to me, how soon till you too keep secrets from me?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:57 pm
She had thought she could handle this on her own, yes, but . . . It wasn't strength, she thought bitterly. It was cowardice. Weakness. Things a child did that adults sighed at. Puff yourself up enough and maybe you'll look tough enough to handle yourself, when really all it took was one p***k to pop the balloon.
(Thane was impressed she stole the words from his mouth)
Guilt was a titan and Nevada's words were its weapons, cutting her down to size in seconds. Had she known anything of what had happened with Jack at the tournament prior to her revelation, Stormy would have never stopped walking on that field; that was the coward's route, but she knew it would have been true. It was what had happened with Alaska that really struck her, made her turn her head with a stunned look. Knowing all of this now . . . dear God, why hadn't she been struck down yet? Why didn't she simply just crumple to the ground and get walked on when it was what she deserved?
The dracolich counter offered: < < Why does your inspid little friend's boil troubles need to worry you? It is clear there is something wrong with her if she keeps attracting the wrong type, but that is not your responsibility.
I told you that you should have stay away, hatchling. Friendship only welcomes sorrow. > >
Stormy tried as surreptitiously as she could to blink back tears; she didn't remember the last time she felt her heart twist so painfully, but she knew immediately she couldn't handle it for long. "I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, turning to face Nevada. "God, I didn't know . . ." When did she ever? She hesitated, then tried to reach out to touch her arm. "I'm s-so sorry, Nevada."
Her favorite three words these days.
Literally blocking out the comments directly about Jack for now (her mind could only take so much), Stormy took a shaky breath. "I--I just . . . thought time would wait for me to get over it," she mumbled. "I never, never would have thought he would come here, a-and I didn't know how to . . ." It was like she was fighting deer in the headlights syndrome, stopping and going, stopping and going. Maybe she ought to stop trying to talk about herself. Maybe she should stop talking period.
She took another breath and tried not to sniffle. "You have every right to be mad at me," Stormy told her in a steadier but sorrowed tone. "I was stupid. I've been stupid for a while now. But the Alaska thing . . ." What could she say to that? Sorry again? "I didn't know it'd gotten like that . . ."
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Posted: Wed Oct 16, 2013 11:18 pm
Nevada reached over to hug her friend, because the stun look was killing her. But she had to be a firm friend, she had to tell Stormy it was okay to tell her things.
"I am mad!" She huffed, "But I am not only mad at you specifically Stormy! You are this bright cheerful girl, and I just...I don't want Jack being here ruin this for you!" Nevada bit back the anger rising up again, "I don't want Finn and Jack warping this around to make you the bad guy, because you were hurt, more than them, more than Jack ten times."
Nevada closed her eye, thinking of Jack's words again.
"I want you, my sister to tell me that you're upset and angry and scared. So we can figure out a way together. To move past this. I want you to know that you have me, and Gale and Tuck and Evan all here for you, that you aren't some girl under his thumb, taking his actions and words and trying to please Jack to the point where you don't even remember who you are."
She had to get it out, just let her get out Stormy.
"But there's two sides of this story Stormy, and you aren't perfect. I know this. But I don't want Jack to fill me with doubts about you, ever. I can forgive you for everything Stormy, because you've done the same for me. You forgiven and stood by me every time I've been kicked down."
Her hands clutched in the bed. "I don't want another sister to leave me again. I don't want to be powerless that I can't even protect you. But if I don't know anything, then I can't do that."
She breathed out.
"I want you to tell me how you feel Stormy, about everything right now. I want you to tell me what you think is the best thing for me and you to do now that we have Jack and Finn here. What is it YOU want ME to do for YOU?"
Alaska talk could wait, she wanted to clear her things up with Stormy first. Once that was done, she could vent to her about her twin.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 7:09 pm
For a person who could rant about the most random things for minutes on end, it felt like Nevada was speaking too much. Stormy was still recovering from the titan fight after all, and her head (which was normally filled to the brim with thoughts and sounds and images) was empty today, and her friend's words reverberated with a tinny sound inside. She wanted nothing more than to cover her ears and curl up and sleep, not talk and keep feeling pain on multiple levels . . .
I want you to tell me how you feel.
She realized why she was being resistant to this; it was almost like therapy. Stormy didn't like to talk about herself and never had, not on a personal level like this. It was only her duty to her sister that forced her to keep going.
"I want you to . . . Mmf." Stormy bit the inside of her cheek, brows knitted. Taking a deep breath through her nose, her mouth eventually contorted into a tired smile. "I want you to not worry so much," she said gently. "I talked with Finn before; he wanted tabula rasa as far as past history's concerned, and I agreed. People deserve second chances, no matter what they did before. That's why most come here, anyway."
< < You must purge that belief from your conscience before it comes back to haunt you. > >
"So . . . I guess I think the best course of action is just to ignore him and--Jack," Stormy continued, blinking at her own pause. She had strove so long not to use his name that it was like her body was still refusing to acknowledge it. "If they bother you, just walk away. The island might be big, but it's small enough that if tension happens, it just . . ." Her smile fell. "I'd rather just avoid trouble is what I mean. If they're serious about new lives, then I want to respect that. They can live their lives, and we can live ours."
And she really didn't want to have to break up a fight again; Nevada was scary when issuing death threats.
"Besides, we have other things going on . . ." She gave her friend a pointed look to begin talking about the Alaska issue.
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 8:14 pm
"It's hard not to worry, when you don't open up to me Stormy but..." She held up her hand, "but I understand that time and you were processing and trying to keep up safe as well." She sighed, breathing out.
"Walk away." Nevada nodded, "If that's what you want Stormy, I will do it." She nodded harder. "A fresh start, starting now." She sighed. "Right now, we are on the Island. You aren't Lina, and there is no Finn and Jack, and I am your best friend and Gale is your boyfriend."
She waited, "But I did kind of want to beat him up."
That was for another day though.
"Other things?" Nevada prompted? two could play let's not share other feelings. "Well I'm still sore over losing but it was to Sherry so not too big of a deal."
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Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2013 10:52 pm
"I'm very bad about opening up," she admitted with a weak laugh. But she was glad Nevada would take her suggestions to heart; maybe they could avoid further conflict in the future.
Thane called it another one of her delusions.
She gave a stronger laugh. "I don't blame you. He has a way of annoying people until something happens . . . But hey, don't feel too sore about the tournament; I lost my first match too, and it was really embarrassing--I barely got any hits in." Doing a titan mission with Jason had helped ease her bruised ego at least--though it didn't help her bruised body.
But no really, Nevada. She got a steady look again.
"You mentioned something about Alaska . . ?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 20, 2013 10:07 pm
"I see this." Nevada chuckled lowly and shrugged, "A girl with secrets are the most mysterious intriguing ones. I just hope you know that I am forever here to listen and help if you want me too."
She reached over and petted Stormy, "It's okay, we're the best at intel work. Pretty sure someone over here is a master of spying." Yes Stormy, yes you were.
"Oh...Yes well. Brace yourself, It seems I have another Issue." She teased, resting her chin in her hand as the hurt welled up again. It was lessened now that she knew Stormy wasn't hiding secrets intentionally, but it was hurt none the less.
"I've only talked to my sister once or twice since she's awakened...and we had one shopping trip together, the one where I got your gift.." The dvd player, "but other than that...I haven't seen her, heard from her." her voice didn't save the mask of lazy indifference on her face. She was broken over it really. "I thought....I thought when I would find her again, when she woke up...we could return to normal again? At least return to being sisters....but she doesn't come to find me, and...at the tournament...She lost her battle too and I went to comfort her and she just....."
She saw her back, and just a simple you stay here. "Told me to stay and then left." She waved up her hand, "Like I was some goddamn dog or something. We always comforted each other after we lost something. Games, fights...whatever." She brushed a hand through her hair, leaning back on the bed and stretching one leg out for the other to cross over.
"I figured at least, the one thing I could keep from my life was my sister, but it seems I can't even hold on to her either."
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 5:01 pm
She nodded and said nothing more about it. But spying yes good! Stormy sparkled just a little at the praise, bashfully murmuring, "Not a master spy . . . yet." But in the future maybe.
Listening quietly, Stormy barely blinked while Nevada told her story. Alaska had been on that trip for the DVD? That was sweet of her . . . (But then, she believed the Sun hunter had been part of the process of picking the gift, despite her initial impressions of a stony-faced woman). Having calmed down from her initial burst of inner emotion, she was able to take her best friend's expression without feeling like she would crack under the emotional pressure--even though it still pained her to see Nevada look distressed.
"She must've been upset," Stormy noted, touching her friend's arm in a comforting manner. "I only saw her that one time we did the Grail hunt in the Tear, but Alaska sounds like a really proud sort of person. Maybe it's been rough because Deus doesn't really let you have a lot of time to catch up?" Even that sounded weak, more like an excuse than a logical reason; but she didn't want to believe anyone would want to exclude family from their life like that.
"A lot's been going on . . . Maybe give her a little space and then try contacting her?" Stormy suggested. "She might have things going on in her life too that might make her act like that." She offered an encouraging smile. "You still have me until things work out!"
There was a minute part, the smallest of the small within her, that was glad she was there for her Mist sister in a greedy way: that she could provide more solace than even blood could. It was that same part that had spoken out against Chel hanging on Nevada like that during the tournament, though Stormy had done a good job of keeping tight-lipped about it.
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:13 pm
"Not a master spy, just a very good one." She teased. One day, she's be stealthily like her BFF. One day. Maybe. With more effort. Effort was hard though....she was a better napper....
ANYWAYS.
It hasn't. But It's not like were are exactly lost on time either! We've been without portals for months!" Nevada huffed, "Where is she getting to on this small a** Island that she can't even come find me? I've met more people twice over than I've even seen my own sister." Nevada's heart hurt just a little, "I've spent more time with Jack than I have even with Alaska." She waved her hand and curled up, disappointed that it seemed she had more time with boys then she did with her own sister.
"It hurts, and I know she's a proud person and I guess she wants time but...I wish she'd come see me at least once in awhile. Ever since she left the house, I've been afraid of approaching her myself." Nevada looked up at Stormy's touch. "I'm always the one chasing after all, how long till I stop?"
She shook her head. "It's fine though, some stupid sisterly dispute." She reached over and hugged Stormy tight. "And yes, I will always have you. My mist sister, BFF and Roommate. A Trifecta of the greatest woman to be my friend ever." And much like Stormy, Nevada was greedy and possessive of her friend. It was why she was such a guard dog against Jack and Finn. They would not have a hold on Stormy here.
"But we have other things to talk about as well. Especially a black coated mist one...." She pushed back and made sure to give Stormy a very....very stern look.
"You are not to tell Gale of it."
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:27 pm
Spending more time with that guy instead of her sister? Now that was a bad sign if anything was. But she brightened to look the part of trifecta of the greatest woman to be her friend ever.
(Woman! Hah, she was a woman, not a girl!)
But her last remark had Stormy dimming considerably, and she gave Nevada a small warning shake of her arm, her eyes trying to convey a message like don't even insinuate about it. "I-I wasn't going to," she murmured, which was half of a lie: she did very much wish she could. Stormy glanced around as if searching for bugs before leaning in closer to Nevada. "You saw how broken he looked at the tournament, though, right? After the last fight? The idea that I have to hold an even bigger secret from him . . . I'm afraid he'll pull away entirely next time." Her brows knitted and she chewed the inside of her cheek. Technically it was two secrets if you counted the Mist Garden, though she could live with that one being under wraps; it wasn't endangering her life like that initiation basically insinuated.
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Posted: Mon Oct 21, 2013 8:56 pm
OH LOOK WHO WAS OPENING UP NOW.
Nevada leaned over closer.
"Well hun...It's not like any of us expected the big E to the X to show up on our little Island. I'm sure Gale isn't upset with you, but more that he's wary of Jack." Unlike Stormy, Nevada voice when she dropped the J name was a small hiss and a dark look. Though she shouldn't have any feelings considering the hunter, and especially after their talk well......Nope.
"But I think this came at a better time for you." Nevada hated the way she was going to make this sound but..."I think that the mist secret is more important and life threatening. You have no choice to keep it. And with the whole thing with Jack, I think it's best to bury it under the rug. The mist secret, not the Jack secret." She made sure to say that, "use him, if you must as a distraction or something. At least make Jack's arrival useful in a way." See it just sounded bad, "You aren't deceiving Gale when you're working through one problem at a time."
Nevada hesitated, "We don't even know the problem ourselves!" She looked around before pushing close to Stormy, like whispering conspiring girls talking about boys. "I really want to know what it is that we got ourselves into."
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