[ audio ] - forward to monday night.

[geminates]

[There are two things that register immediately when Raven wakes up. One, with that first giant intake of breath comes a throat full of of dust and a pain in her chest like there's something stuck there, and she (along with her network comm, which might be on, but that doesn't register) hits the cold floor coughing and hacking without much finesse

Comments

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[rancored]

I would've thought I'd be the last person you'd want to talk to right now.

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[geminates]

Yes, well. [She sighs into the mic, because no, she doesn't want to be talking to him. It makes her nervous and she wants to scold him for trying to bait her but what would be the point? It's not like she'd ever be like that, or act like that, again.]

I'm sorry for what I said. All of it. It wasn't me-me saying it, but that doesn't excuse the fact that it happened. And I don't- [huff] - I don't care where the things you said came from, if it's true or if it's not, I can't- We can't fight about Charles like that ever again, it's not fair to any of us. It'll only make everything worse.

Which maybe you're alright with, but I'm not. I will not fight with you like that.

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[rancored]

[There's a long delay in him reply, but it has nothing to do with what she's saying and everything to do with trying to understand the words themselves. It's only once he's sure he's got the just of what she's saying that he finally talks again, voice subdued a little.]

There isn't a fight to be had. [Pause.] Keep him away from me.

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[geminates]

-- What?

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[rancored]

You heard me.

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[geminates]

[This is where Raven should disconnect. Just accept that something must have happened to change his mind about fighting her in this, and leave it at that. But something must have happened, and she can't ignore it.]

Why? Why now? I mean- What's different? [She sounds almost frantic, did Lehnsherr do something again or was this some kind of guilt thing, what. even.]

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[rancored]

Despite all you may think about me, I care about him. We're connected in a way that can never be broken. But he deserves more than that.

[Enjoy it while you can, Raven. He's only passing this along because Charles won't listen to him.]

He deserves to be safe and happy, and I can't offer him either of those.

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[geminates]

[Her braaaain. This doesn't make any sense to her, in fact it just feels wrong. She doesn't know Erik, not really, but it still seems too. Easy. And like he's just giving up, which doesn't fit what she does know about him. Plus he's in jail now, so. What is he-]

I can't stop him from talking to you, or visiting you. You can't... tell me you have some kind of bond with him then insist I keep him away from you, I won't do something like that.

..Besides. [There's a pause. Let's see how much he means it.] Keeping him safe and trying to keep him away from you have always gone hand in hand, for me. But I can't make him do anything.

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[rancored]

[He wants to say that he won't hurt Charles, physically or mentally. But the words don't come because he already knows it's be a lie. He can't promise that. Especially not after the attack.]

You can run interference. I'm sure you're capable of that much.

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[geminates]

It's not a matter of what I'm- [rrr. Raven changes the grip on her comm.] All I want is for things to go back to the way they were before we showed up in this city. I'm gonna do whatever it takes to get that, nothing less.

But that's- Yes. Right. I've said all I wanted to say.

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[rancored]

Things have changed for every one of us. They won't go back to how they were until we all return home.

[Because it's back home where they have to go back to playing the roles already laid out for them.]

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[geminates]

I only meant my friendship with Charles. I'm tired of this place trying to compromise that. [Like she believes the city was the only element working against that.]

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[rancored]

He cares about you. Isn't that obvious enough already?

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[geminates]

I've never doubted that. [A lie, but only ever here has she doubted it.] Though that isn't what I meant. It's-

It's none of your business. [She doesn't sound angry, or too defensive, just thrown off. Though maybe defensive like a teenager trying to get out of a difficult conversation, yes.]

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[rancored]

[If it concerns Charles, it's his business. That's just how things go. Went. Are meant to be again. He isn't sure, but he knows he can't ignore Charles' happiness, even if it comes at a cost to Erik.]

Charles has been my "business" for fifteen years. Are you sure about that?

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[geminates]

No, you lost that right when you decided not to look for him. When you didn't do anything- [She cuts herself off, because no, no, she wouldn't fight with him.] You have your business with Charles, and I have mine. It's that simple, and it can stay that simple if you stop working with the assumption that you have any right to know what goes on between him and me.