TRAUMA PROM

[takewing]

Comments

[unlocksmith]

No, it's about you makin' a rash decision to give up your life because you think survivin' means you'll have killed someone else.

[taking a step forward, keeping his gaze trained on her]

Or it's about refusin' to go along with her wishes because you think by defyin' her, you'll hold onto your principles and show her that she holds no power over you.

Let me tell you, Nalea, types like her. . . she does't give a shit whether you play along with her or not. She'll kill you and move on without givin' a second thought. And if you survive, and someone else dies, she will be the one to have murdered them, not you.

Her actions are hers alone, not yours.

[takewing]

If somebody else dies in place, when I had the opportunity to do something to prevent it—then the blood is on my hands just as much as hers.

[Stands her ground when he moves, defiance in every line of her body.]

[unlocksmith]

No.

You can't take responsibility for her actions.

[takewing]

I'm not!

[unlocksmith]

You are! You're standin' here, sayin' that you're willing to give up your life-- your ability to do anythin' to stop her from doin' this again in the future, your ability to live and experience things, to help people who might need you-- all because you think there will be blood on your hands if you try to survive!

Don't let her make you feel guilty for what she is doin'. It's on her, and her alone.

[takewing]

[it's . . . it's tr—]

[shakes her head fiercely]

Khoalan, I can't.

[unlocksmith]

[reaching for her shoulder, gripping it tightly]

. . . you can. You're strong, Nalea.

And we won't let her get away with this.

[takewing]

. . . all of those people I spoke to. Valerian, Eveningstar, Yellow Sparrow, and the others. If they die while I live, I won't be able to forgive myself.

[unlocksmith]

Do you think dying along with them would bring them back? Do you think it would make her pay for kidnappin' and killin' all those people?

[his grip tightens, ever so slightly]

[takewing]

If I died, maybe they wouldn't.

[Maybe.]

[But if I die, how will I know for sure that she'll be stopped? Who's going to look for Da? With a low curse in her own language, punches him half-heartedly in the shoulder.]

It might not make her pay, but it would show her that she can't force me to bow to her cruel whims.

[unlocksmith]

[rolling with the punch, barely flinching]

. . . but she can. She already has.

She's already trapped us here, hasn't she?

[takewing]

There's a difference between being trapped and being forced to compromise this.

[thunks her fist, loosely curled, lightly over his heart.]

[unlocksmith]

She'll take it from you, whether you refuse her or not.

[placing his hand over her fist, gripping it just as tightly as he's gripping her shoulder]

We're already at the mercy of her whims. And if you refuse her, she'll kill you, and then you would be left with nothing.

[I would be left with nothing--]

[takewing]

. . . And you, too.

[For all that she doesn't doubt he could live without her, she's seen what he's willing to do for her sake. Heard him call her name as the raptor bore down, saw the blood all over his shirt after he'd killed those men to save her life.]

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[I would kill an entire army if I had to in order to keep you alive. leans forward, thunking his forehead lightly against hers]

[takewing]

. . .

[closes her eyes tightly, the fist over his heart turning white-knuckled]

Fine.

[unlocksmith]

. . .

[drawing her in for a tight, but warm, hug]

I'm sorry.

[takewing]

[wow hugs and apologies, the next thing we know it'll be snowing in Canis]

I do have one condition.

[unlocksmith]

Yeah? What is it?

[not letting go yet]

[takewing]

[good; don't. she's curling her fingers into his shirt to make sure that he stays.]

Let me the one to risk my life.

[unlocksmith]

[. . . that is what he had been afraid of]

[his expression darkens for a moment; it's probably good that she can't see it, but he's already pushed her this far. . .]

[he'll just have to make sure their sacrifice isn't denied]

All right.

[takewing]

[Thanks are probably the last thing he wants to hear right now, so she simply nods.]

As for the sacrifice . . .

[unlocksmith]

Somethin' we know she'll accept.

. . . which means it has to be somethin' important to us.

[takewing]

[She can already feel her control over her anger slipping again. Why should we have to give up what's ours for the sake of what's ours?!

Sucks in a breath, shoulders trembling faintly.]

There's rather a lot that's important to me, and not much that I'm willing to hand over to the likes of her.

[unlocksmith]

Trust me, I feel the same way.

[. . . in fact now that he thinks about it there is very little important to him he would risk sacrificing]