[For Lydia]

[ringsmith]

Comments

[pandora_antioch]

She... couldn't stay away. Try as she might - hate herself as she might - she could not.

If he comes back to their rooms -- he'll find her sitting on the bed, just holding his note - that one word.

And mouthing the intimation, the beg, the demand, the request, whatever it is, to herself.

She's still miserable. She still does not love herself. She still has not forgiven herself either.

But she loves him - and there she is.

[ringsmith]

He probably hasn't been away from their rooms for long, even if it's well into the night he's probably been checking back every few minutes. Too restless and anxious to stay in one place, yet afraid that she'd return to their rooms while he was gone and leave again.

He freezes in the doorway between their rooms when he sees her there, then exhales in a relieved rush as he steps forward. "Lydia, you're all right..." He wants to go to her, to embrace her, but he's not sure how she would receive it.

[pandora_antioch]

The movement with which she looks up is very quick - sharp. She looks at him apprehensively a split second, before she catches what is going on in his mind and stands.

"I -- I'm fine," she manages to lie. "I stayed - -" and she holds up his note, because -- she almost feels the need to justify herself.

"-- are you --"

And another beat - she hesitates, but nothing about her demeanor indicates that she would refuse an embrace. Rather, the way she holds herself indicates -- pain. Sadness. A tinge of hope.

[ringsmith]

He only hesitates a moment more before stepping forward to embrace her. "I didn't know where you'd gone," he explains. "I came back and your door was...I was worried."