[[SCENE:]] Lana and Ema in "The Short Talk"
((Takes place on the 20th following this thread in which Gant ruins the surprise))
Ema: *Ema sits staring at her computer scene, and to her horror she can feel herself flushing in a combination of anger and sudden, awful embarrassment. With a scowl she shuts the monitor off and stands. Her room feels too small now, too stuffy to be a comfort zone, and when she leaves it the door clatters shut behind her with far more force than necessary.*
Lana: *Lana exits her own room at the same time - she's not wearing the bandana, though she was as few as two hours ago. When she sees Ema she doesn't wince at her sister's expression, in spite of her urge to do so* Kitchen?
Ema: Sure. Why not. *She mumbles, scowling at the floor and folding her arms as she walks ahead of the woman. She hasn't yet made eye contact with her, and even after she's taken a seat at the kitchen table she fixes her glare to the tabletop.*
Lana: *Takes her seat directly across from her sister, sitting only for a moment - her body language tells Lana that it's all basically out in the open now, about an hour sooner than she had planned* This isn't a secret I was keeping from you, Ema.
Ema: *She leans back in her chair with a small huff, brows drawing together.* Oh. Could have fooled me.
Lana: *She does wince at that, bu she doesn't look away - when Ema looks up, she intends to make eye contact* It's only happened once, and that was two days ago - I just needed a little time before I approached you about it.
Ema: I don't see why. I would have been fine if you had told me about it.
Lana: I had intended to. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. *she spends a beat in thought* I still want to talk to you about it. You have the right to know what's going on.
Ema: *She still hasn't looked at the woman, and doesn't seem at all interested in doing so anytime soon.* ... I feel really, really stupid Lana. Even someone in prison could figure out what was going on faster than I could. And I live here with you.
Lana: *Her tone turns strict* Ema, look at me.
Ema: *It takes a beat before Ema looks over to her sister, just barely turning her head so that shes more or less just looking to her from out of the corner of her eyes.*
Lana: This isn't a matter of who "figured out" what. Don't turn it into something like that. The fact of the matter is what I'm telling you right now: Jake and I are seeing one another again.
Ema: Well then, I'm happy for you Lana. *She says in a flat tone, still frowning.*
Lana: *she doesn't grimace, but it's with an effort* Talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking.
Ema: I just told you. I'm happy. *She unfolds her arms, and rests an elbow against the table, propping her cheek up with a hand.* Did you think I was going to be angry that you two started dating again? I'm not.
Lana: I... *her eyes cut to the side* To be honest, I kind of did. It's why I took time to prepare.
Ema: Well I'm not. *She repeats, glaring sullenly at the floor.* I'm not a kid anymore. I know how to... share.
Lana: *she looks back at Ema, considering her for a moment* ...I know you do. You have for a long time. But you've never liked it.
Ema: So? It's different now. *She looks back to her sister then, turning her head so that she can finally make eye-contact properly.*
Lana: I know. *she tries to look somber - Ema's mood says she ought to be somber in response - but she has to fight the urge to let out a small smile* I've had to learn to share, too.
Ema: *A brief look of confusion crosses the girl's face, but it's fast replaced with a new frown and a heavy sigh.* ... So does this mean Mr. Marshall is going to be coming over a lot?
Lana: Maybe...but probably not. I've been trying to help Jake with his drinking, but that's a slow process, and him working at the saloon is only making it harder for him. I'm actually pushing him towards becoming a private detective, but I don't know how that's going to work out.
Ema: Aah... Yeah, I read that post he made about the drinking... *She adjusts her cheek against her palm.* He's not... at all still upset with you for trying to help with that now, right?
Lana: No. Not anymore. He was, but... *shakes her head* He found it in himself to heal over some old, old wounds, Ema. That's what started this between us. That he was willing to let go of the past so entirely.
Ema: *She sits up, and lets her hand fall down to the table top.* ... I was kind of worried about that still. But that makes me happy to hear. For the both of you.
Lana: I'm happy that it makes you happy. *another pause, and she cuts her eyes away again, but only for a second, before restoring eye contact* That's the truth of it, unless you have your heart set on me coming out and telling you about my sex life.
Ema: *Ema cringes back, wrinkling her nose.* No. No. It's okay. I uh... don't wanna hear about that, Lana.
Lana: That's fine. *a beat, and then she looks much more serious, and it's obvious she's no longer talking about her and Jake* Because I want you to trust me about this, Ema. If you have any questions I will volunteer anything you want to know. I want you to trust me like I trust you.
Ema: I do trust you, Lana. *The words come out automatically, perhaps even a bit defensively, and Ema is still frowning when she says them.*
Lana: *a long pause, and her stare can actually be described as intense* Good. I'm glad. After everything, it's important for us to trust each other.
Ema: *Finally, at that the girl's expression softens, and she holds Lana's stare for a few moments before directing her gaze to the floor.* ... I know that, Lana.
Lana: All right... all right. *looks down at the table* I guess that's it. Do you have any questions I didn't answer?
Ema: *She shakes her head.* No. I don't.
Lana: Okay. That's it, then. *one last pause before she looks up* What would you like for dinner tonight? I don't know if I feel much like cooking, but we could go out...?
Ema: *Ema sighs, and slumps in her chair.* Can we order in maybe...? I don't really wanna go out anywhere right now.
Lana: That sounds like a good idea. I'll go get the phone book. *rises from her chair* What would you like to have?
Ema: *When Lana stands, Ema turns, and lays her cheek down against the tabletop.* I dunno. I'm not really feeling picky.
Lana: ...All right. *turns to leave and go get a phone book, pausing in the doorway and looking back. Looking at her sister, her first instinct is to say "I love you", but that feels too close to saying goodbye, and she just steps out*
Ema: *Ema sits staring at her computer scene, and to her horror she can feel herself flushing in a combination of anger and sudden, awful embarrassment. With a scowl she shuts the monitor off and stands. Her room feels too small now, too stuffy to be a comfort zone, and when she leaves it the door clatters shut behind her with far more force than necessary.*
Lana: *Lana exits her own room at the same time - she's not wearing the bandana, though she was as few as two hours ago. When she sees Ema she doesn't wince at her sister's expression, in spite of her urge to do so* Kitchen?
Ema: Sure. Why not. *She mumbles, scowling at the floor and folding her arms as she walks ahead of the woman. She hasn't yet made eye contact with her, and even after she's taken a seat at the kitchen table she fixes her glare to the tabletop.*
Lana: *Takes her seat directly across from her sister, sitting only for a moment - her body language tells Lana that it's all basically out in the open now, about an hour sooner than she had planned* This isn't a secret I was keeping from you, Ema.
Ema: *She leans back in her chair with a small huff, brows drawing together.* Oh. Could have fooled me.
Lana: *She does wince at that, bu she doesn't look away - when Ema looks up, she intends to make eye contact* It's only happened once, and that was two days ago - I just needed a little time before I approached you about it.
Ema: I don't see why. I would have been fine if you had told me about it.
Lana: I had intended to. That's what I wanted to talk to you about. *she spends a beat in thought* I still want to talk to you about it. You have the right to know what's going on.
Ema: *She still hasn't looked at the woman, and doesn't seem at all interested in doing so anytime soon.* ... I feel really, really stupid Lana. Even someone in prison could figure out what was going on faster than I could. And I live here with you.
Lana: *Her tone turns strict* Ema, look at me.
Ema: *It takes a beat before Ema looks over to her sister, just barely turning her head so that shes more or less just looking to her from out of the corner of her eyes.*
Lana: This isn't a matter of who "figured out" what. Don't turn it into something like that. The fact of the matter is what I'm telling you right now: Jake and I are seeing one another again.
Ema: Well then, I'm happy for you Lana. *She says in a flat tone, still frowning.*
Lana: *she doesn't grimace, but it's with an effort* Talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking.
Ema: I just told you. I'm happy. *She unfolds her arms, and rests an elbow against the table, propping her cheek up with a hand.* Did you think I was going to be angry that you two started dating again? I'm not.
Lana: I... *her eyes cut to the side* To be honest, I kind of did. It's why I took time to prepare.
Ema: Well I'm not. *She repeats, glaring sullenly at the floor.* I'm not a kid anymore. I know how to... share.
Lana: *she looks back at Ema, considering her for a moment* ...I know you do. You have for a long time. But you've never liked it.
Ema: So? It's different now. *She looks back to her sister then, turning her head so that she can finally make eye-contact properly.*
Lana: I know. *she tries to look somber - Ema's mood says she ought to be somber in response - but she has to fight the urge to let out a small smile* I've had to learn to share, too.
Ema: *A brief look of confusion crosses the girl's face, but it's fast replaced with a new frown and a heavy sigh.* ... So does this mean Mr. Marshall is going to be coming over a lot?
Lana: Maybe...but probably not. I've been trying to help Jake with his drinking, but that's a slow process, and him working at the saloon is only making it harder for him. I'm actually pushing him towards becoming a private detective, but I don't know how that's going to work out.
Ema: Aah... Yeah, I read that post he made about the drinking... *She adjusts her cheek against her palm.* He's not... at all still upset with you for trying to help with that now, right?
Lana: No. Not anymore. He was, but... *shakes her head* He found it in himself to heal over some old, old wounds, Ema. That's what started this between us. That he was willing to let go of the past so entirely.
Ema: *She sits up, and lets her hand fall down to the table top.* ... I was kind of worried about that still. But that makes me happy to hear. For the both of you.
Lana: I'm happy that it makes you happy. *another pause, and she cuts her eyes away again, but only for a second, before restoring eye contact* That's the truth of it, unless you have your heart set on me coming out and telling you about my sex life.
Ema: *Ema cringes back, wrinkling her nose.* No. No. It's okay. I uh... don't wanna hear about that, Lana.
Lana: That's fine. *a beat, and then she looks much more serious, and it's obvious she's no longer talking about her and Jake* Because I want you to trust me about this, Ema. If you have any questions I will volunteer anything you want to know. I want you to trust me like I trust you.
Ema: I do trust you, Lana. *The words come out automatically, perhaps even a bit defensively, and Ema is still frowning when she says them.*
Lana: *a long pause, and her stare can actually be described as intense* Good. I'm glad. After everything, it's important for us to trust each other.
Ema: *Finally, at that the girl's expression softens, and she holds Lana's stare for a few moments before directing her gaze to the floor.* ... I know that, Lana.
Lana: All right... all right. *looks down at the table* I guess that's it. Do you have any questions I didn't answer?
Ema: *She shakes her head.* No. I don't.
Lana: Okay. That's it, then. *one last pause before she looks up* What would you like for dinner tonight? I don't know if I feel much like cooking, but we could go out...?
Ema: *Ema sighs, and slumps in her chair.* Can we order in maybe...? I don't really wanna go out anywhere right now.
Lana: That sounds like a good idea. I'll go get the phone book. *rises from her chair* What would you like to have?
Ema: *When Lana stands, Ema turns, and lays her cheek down against the tabletop.* I dunno. I'm not really feeling picky.
Lana: ...All right. *turns to leave and go get a phone book, pausing in the doorway and looking back. Looking at her sister, her first instinct is to say "I love you", but that feels too close to saying goodbye, and she just steps out*