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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 6, 2008 21:13:02 GMT -5
The carriage dropped them off as far as it dared, and then they had to walk. Luckily, it wasn't too far....
They reached the meadow glade and Armand could literally feel pressure leaving off his shoulders. The wind picked up, whistling through the flowers, and shuddery semblance of a tune danced through the air.
It was perfect.
He sat down in the middle, easing himself slowly onto his back. He closed his eyes and listened the faint murmurs of the flowers. There wasn't another soul around for miles. This was true tranquility. It felt lightyears away from the castle.
He smirked, keeping his eyes closed. "I thought you were going to serenade me, Sinatra?"
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Post by Jules on Mar 7, 2008 14:09:45 GMT -5
This was miles removed from life, from concerns and from pressures. And yet Zizzy felt some internal turmoil that at the very least wasn't blatant. It was there, if someone looked closely enough, Zizzy had never been good at being anything but open, but her saving grace; Armand's eyes were closed.
Zizzy was busy trying to convince herself all she wanted out of this was fun. That she didn't care deeply about him, because she never cared deeply about anyone. Ever. And it just didn't make sense that the one time it happened the guy was bound to chose someone else over her. She just couldn't be this stupid.
So she had to prove it, had to prove this was nothing in her stomach except indigestion. That she wasn't actually happier when she was around him. How? She took a step forward, kneeled down beside him and kissed him. And not a peck, but kissed him. Fireworks-at-the-end-of-movies-kissed him. And at first, she felt a satisfaction because all she felt was attraction, but not for long. Soon, too soon, that happy blissful feeling spread and she pulled away as though she'd been shocked.
Zizzy turned around and flopped onto her back beside him (not too close) with a sigh. Damnit. That wasn't supposed to haaaaappen.
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 7, 2008 15:37:49 GMT -5
He'd heard her approaching, her footsteps in the grass, but the familiar pair of lips that fell unanticipated onto his took him by surprise (just a little).
He stiffened and relaxed against the assault in the space of seconds. A shock went through his stomach that felt way too good to be decent. Before he had time to respond, however, she had pulled away. Ignoring the slight bite of disappointment, he opened his eyes. "Wow. That was.... unexpected."
He turned toward her, thoughtfully. "But I like your rendition."
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Post by Jules on Mar 7, 2008 19:10:48 GMT -5
Zizzy scrubbed at her face anxiously. That really hadn't gone as planned, and when she turned to face him all she could think about was how nice it'd felt and how she'd like to do it again. Or how he was making her laugh. She let out a chuckle somewhat unwillingly.
"Thanks." She muttered with a smile despite herself. It wasn't really fair, any of this. But one stupid kiss didn't prove much. It didn't prove anything. Right? Right! Why was it so hard to convince herself?
"You should hear my version of Bewitched."
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 7, 2008 22:57:03 GMT -5
"Mm..." The flowers hummed teasingly. If they were together, he might ask to hear that version, but they weren't, and it wasn't a good idea. It also probably wasn't a good idea to be alone together. But he'd wanted to get out of the castle so badly....
"You look... troubled," he commented, forcing his tone to be light.
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Post by Jules on Mar 8, 2008 0:53:42 GMT -5
"Who isn't?" She retorted with a smile that was only partially forced. "'Sides, today isn't about me and my troubles." Most days weren't about Zizzy and her troubles, but mostly because she hadn't thought she'd had that many (besides the more practical ones of money and lack of a job, etc) until she'd met Armand and he'd gone and made everything so complicated.
Damn him. Damn happy feeling. And so to distract him from trying to pry anymore, Zizzy did what she could think of at the moment.
"So what was it that you were ashamed of then? Because if you have a third eye, I'm out."
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 8, 2008 1:37:46 GMT -5
He chuckled a little.
He sighed, sadly, staring up at the tops of the trees, his eyes glazed. "I suppose it doesn't matter now." He paused a moment, and then quieter, he said, "I was... we thought.. I had been born without any abilities. I was basically mortal, except that I wasn't."
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Post by Jules on Mar 8, 2008 1:57:28 GMT -5
"So you thought because you didn't any powers, people would turn away from you?"
Was he freaking serious? The Nightmare community was hardly one to shun for abnormalities. Guess he should've been careful what he wished for. She was willing to bet a leg that he'd prefer being powerless then what he had now.
"Well, you shouldn't have worried about it. It really would not have mattered."
Zizzy felt like closing the gap between them, taking his hand, doing more but that would not have helped her in her quest to prove she didn't really care that deeply about Armand. So far this heart-felt conversation was not helping either.
"Look, the other day I saw the fear of SLUGS with a pretty girl on his arm. Everyone finds acceptance somewhere."
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 8, 2008 2:06:06 GMT -5
"It wasn't being shunned that mattered, I don't think. I don't care if people accept me. I care about accepting myself, and I just never felt whole. My dad is one of the most powerful Nightmares, and my twin, my younger brother, is young, but he barely has to lift an eyebrow to set an entire building on fire. I just felt... inadequate, like I didn't belong."
He gave an exasperated sigh. "I'm not trying to sound self-pitying. This is why I don't like to talk about it...." He trailed off and snorted. "It's sort of ironic now, I guess."
He glanced at her. "I should have told you."
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Post by Jules on Mar 8, 2008 2:10:59 GMT -5
"No, that makes more sense to me then worrying about other people accepting you." She could relate to that. Zizzy almost cringed when she remember the one time she'd gotten heavy herself and told him her greatest fear.
"But power isn't measured in how fast you can burn stuff all the time, you know. I personally think you'd outmatch your brother any day. Before and after. It's not like you have power now. You just have an unwanted siamese twin that you can hide."
Zizzy was decent with other people's problems. Her own, not so much because mostly she didn't recognize them as such.
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 8, 2008 2:33:08 GMT -5
He laughed and pressed to his fingers against his lips. "An unwanted siamese twin. Right."
An unwanted siamese twin that could kill us all.
"That's why I had all those weapons. To make up for it."
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Post by Jules on Mar 8, 2008 2:37:43 GMT -5
"Ah! I knew there was something about that!"
She smiled triumphantly since it wasn't so often she was good at reading into people. And deciding they had come here for fun, for escape, and that this subject was bordering too closely on the reality that awaited them outside the glade, Zizzy tried to think up a way to switch things around.
"C'mon lazybum. Thing you can manage a bit more walking? This isn't the only cool place in these woods." She sprang to her feet and offered him her hands to get him up.
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 8, 2008 2:49:44 GMT -5
He groaned dramatically, but clasped onto her hands anyway. He didn't really use her as a brace, but rather for balance, pushing himself up. A little pain, but not too bad.
"Only if you're willing to carry me when I pass out from exhaustion," he grumbled with faux irritation, winking at her.
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Post by Jules on Mar 8, 2008 10:12:11 GMT -5
Zizzy grinned and nodded, thinking her carrying the much bulkier Armand would certainly be a sight. She didn't have all that much upper body strength.
"Bridal Style'n'everything. Promise." She winked back and let him go when she was sure he was standing upright and would remain so. Turning to lead the way, she waved for him to follow.
The walk wasn't long, or hard and they passed through some interesting places on the way. It was hard not to in a place called the Forest of Mystery.
Zizzy came to a stop in a grove that looked surprisingly non descript for the place, and in contrast to the musical glade.
"Second best place in this forest."
Although the 'why' of that statement was anything but apparent.
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Post by Miss Jack on Mar 8, 2008 22:01:23 GMT -5
He followed her, glad they kep their pace relatively slow. He stopped next to her, looking around.
"It's.... nice?" he finally managed, not sure he really got what she was supposed to be showing him. It wasn't that special.
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