thoughtformed | [text]

From wot I hear, LA's a shithole. And I heard you the first time.

But you didn't run into any danger without your memories, did you?

I did. I fought a zombie. A man called Low Key helped me.

Okay, first off, whoever named their kid Low Key has serious issues.

Second... are you serious?

That's just what he said his name was. And yes. I fought it and he conjured a spear of ice to finish it off.

[Just no filter for this kind of stuff.]

[She physically stops herself from spewing out her first thing that comes to mind, which essentially boils down to "bullshit".

Remember, Alisha... storm shitheads. Low Key is probably just another one. Inhale, exhale... okay, better.]

Right.

Guess I was right about your whole... [She gestures to all of him] appearance being a good front. Because honestly? You do not physically look like you could fight "zombies".

Edited 2013-01-02 17:53 (UTC)

[He smiles, but it's not the boyish expression he had worn when he had forgotten his memories. It was dangerous, predatory, and didn't quite reach his eyes.]

I'm a lot stronger than I look.

[Alisha mutters:] You aren't the only one.

[She doesn't smile back. If anything, her tone is laced with bitterness; however, it's not directed at him or even herself... well, maybe a little bit with the latter.]

Anyways. I'm glad one of us made it out alright... even though you're still going on about weird shit, I guess it's a good thing you're back to normal.

...As normal as you seem to get, anyways.

One of us?

[His expression quickly shifts to one of question and concern when he catches her words.]

Did you get hurt, Alisha?

L-look, it was nothing, alright?

[Okay, she's not the best liar. Not in the least.]

I just don't think I want to talk about it right now. Still glad you're okay, but I don't want to talk.

[His face hardens. That was an obvious lie. People don't stutter when they tell the truth.]

... I want to know who hurt you. They'll regret it.

Trust me, it's complicated. [Her voice turns weary.] Way more complicated than I'd like.

I don't want to sound bitchy, but it's really not your job to be my Superman. Besides, I still need to talk to him about wot happened. It's just...

[She shakes her head, unable to find the right words and unable to find a way to voice what she wants to say... especially in a way that wouldn't incriminate and give away her old date's name.] It's nothing. Don't worry about it, okay?

[He frowns, conflicted. 'Complicated.' That was the word people always used when they knew the situation was bad, knew they were in danger, but didn't want to admit it. At least, that had come to be his interpretation.

For a moment, he was reminded of Cordelia. She had used that word a lot. Used it to push him away.

It still hurt.]

... I want to help. I don't like seeing you upset.

... we're friends.

[She doesn't want to push him away; well, figuratively at least. She just prefers to keep her heart a safe distance away from the people around her. Though it probably doesn't do her much good, she also prefers to handle this particular thing on her own.]

You can't help; I know that sounds shit, but it's probably true. It's between me and him. There's a lot of bullshit that needs to be cleared up.

[She quiets for a moment, those words resonating in her ears. "We're friends." It's a phrase she hasn't heard in a long time; her friendships have either been shallow or the bond went unspoken. There's something about hearing it though; it almost hurts. Her gaze travels down again, away from the video screen.]

I'm not much of a friend, I hate to tell you.

[There's a long pause as he considers her words, turning them over in his head. Maybe he really can't help. No amount of wanting to is going to change that, but most important was the last bit.]

I'm not, either. But I'd like to learn how to be a good one.

[She finally looks back up at the video.] Guess we both get to start on about square one, yeah?

[There's a momentary hesitation as she purses her lips, debating with herself.]

And if it makes you feel any better, if I run into any trouble while talking with him, I'll give you a call.

Guess we do.

[He looks thoughtful for a moment, but nods in agreement.]

Yeah. You should. If anything goes wrong... yeah. You can call me. I'll come help.

[Though she's quiet again, a small but genuine smile crosses her lips.]

...Thanks. I really mean it. I dunno wot I'd do if I was touched again.

[That earns her a curious look. All she's told him, so far, as that no one should touch her. Keeping his hands to himself is easy enough, even without explanation, but he can't help asking.]

Is that why things got bad? He broke your rule?

Yeah, you could say that.

[Her defensive walls are back up; it's much easier getting on with people -people whom she figures would have no reason to touch her- when her power stays unknown than it is having the truth out in the open. Frankly, she's wary again about giving away too much.]

I won't ask any more right now.

[He grimaces. He doesn't like secrets, but he hasn't forgotten what she said when they first met.]

I remember you don't like to talk about that.

Yeah, I really don't. [Especially with what happened with Rudy; though a bit of time had passed, it's still at the front of her mind.]

...Thanks. For remembering, that is.

You're welcome. There might be a lot of things I don't understand... but I understand that, I think.

[He gets it, or he's pretty sure he does. When something hurts, it's not something you can bring yourself to talk about easily.

Like Holtz. Ever since it happened... he's never been able to talk about Holtz's death. His father's death. And yet it was so easy for everyone else to talk about Holtz like he was some demon, some monster. He was the only father Connor had ever known, until recently. Why did people want to punish him for something that was beyond his control?]

...Guess we're not entirely different, are we?

[To be honest, common ground with Connor wasn't something she ever expected to find. She offers a quick, grateful smile.]

[He smiles at last -- a real, honest-to-goodness smile, the first genuine one since he's gotten his memories back.]

Yeah. Not as different from each other as we thought we were.

[It's... actually quite wonderful to see that smile again. And here she thought she wouldn't see it anytime soon.]

I guess so. It's kind of nice knowing that, yeah?

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