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[ There's a part of Claire that dares not hope, even if most of her does. Whether it should be wrong or not to hope for Jon is something she'll have to come to terms with, and she will. Just as she did two hundred years in the past. (At the very least, the choice of going back to Jamie has been taken away from her when she very much could have walked back to Frank.)
It's a comfort to her that Jon stays as long as he does, and when he stands, she stands with him, smoothing her hands down her stomach as he offers to purchase a few goods for her. She manages a small smile at that, one that curves her mouth but doesn't reach her eyes. ]
Thank you, I will. I can't imagine there will be much, but I'll let you know.
[ It isn't as if she has to escort him out, but she leads him to the door anyway, and once they're both at the entrance, she looks at him again. ]
We'll see one another.
[ She reaches out to lightly squeeze his hand again, offering another small smile. She struggles for a moment to say goodbye, not because she is, but because she has to choose her words carefully, not too endearing or loving the way they once were. ]
Be safe, in the meantime.
It's a comfort to her that Jon stays as long as he does, and when he stands, she stands with him, smoothing her hands down her stomach as he offers to purchase a few goods for her. She manages a small smile at that, one that curves her mouth but doesn't reach her eyes. ]
Thank you, I will. I can't imagine there will be much, but I'll let you know.
[ It isn't as if she has to escort him out, but she leads him to the door anyway, and once they're both at the entrance, she looks at him again. ]
We'll see one another.
[ She reaches out to lightly squeeze his hand again, offering another small smile. She struggles for a moment to say goodbye, not because she is, but because she has to choose her words carefully, not too endearing or loving the way they once were. ]
Be safe, in the meantime.
[He wants to stay there, like a fool, holding her hand, but he is at the door, on the threshold, already resolved to leave. So he gives her hand one last squeeze and releases it.]
Good fortune, Claire.
[And then, after a deep inclination of his head and a moment's hesitation, he's gone: away from her little house, and not long after, away from the Horizon, back to his bed in Thorne.]
[FIN.]
Good fortune, Claire.
[And then, after a deep inclination of his head and a moment's hesitation, he's gone: away from her little house, and not long after, away from the Horizon, back to his bed in Thorne.]
[FIN.]
Edited 2024-06-22 05:31 (UTC)
[Some time later, when many are taking an hour or two of rest, he sends her another message.]
If you are awake, I can see you now. I will come to you, unless you want Winterfell.
What would be better?
[He thinks to come to her to spare her the effort, and so that she might spend time in a place where she feels at home, instead of someone else's big castle. But he knows her well enough to doubt that she is sleeping, and if she chooses Winterfell, he can do little kindnesses that would be harder or stranger for him to do elsewhere.
He sits in a room, not able to do much. He has something a little like free time, though not the sort he would ever choose. If she has sat down at all in the time since all the trouble started, he would be surprised. He would lose a wager with himself. So, he thinks, it is better if he does what he can for her.]
If you are awake, I can see you now. I will come to you, unless you want Winterfell.
What would be better?
[He thinks to come to her to spare her the effort, and so that she might spend time in a place where she feels at home, instead of someone else's big castle. But he knows her well enough to doubt that she is sleeping, and if she chooses Winterfell, he can do little kindnesses that would be harder or stranger for him to do elsewhere.
He sits in a room, not able to do much. He has something a little like free time, though not the sort he would ever choose. If she has sat down at all in the time since all the trouble started, he would be surprised. He would lose a wager with himself. So, he thinks, it is better if he does what he can for her.]
[ A homesickness she shouldn't feel because her time spent there wasn't real, gives weight to her decision. ]
𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙. 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼'𝑚 𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟.
[ It won't be difficult to slip away now that the chaos has dissipated and a sort of nervous calm has settled over everyone. The worst of the bites have been taken care of, there are people guarding the stores of food and driving back the random creatures in the tunnels. She has time now, there are plenty of healers working together, and someone will find her if she's needed. ]
𝑁𝑜 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.
[ And she is, true to her word. She's sure she looks like hell; he would win his wager with himself. She'd been sleeping like most others when everything started, and her hair is sloppily tied back to be out of her face with someone's random hairband. She only has the energy to get to Jon, not make her appearance better than what it is or change her clothing, so she arrives in the mismatched pants and blouse she'd thrown on straight out of bed, but at least wearing a small, weary smile when she sees him. ]
It somehow feels like years since I've been here, and yet not long at all since the last time.
𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙. 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡, 𝐼'𝑚 𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟.
[ It won't be difficult to slip away now that the chaos has dissipated and a sort of nervous calm has settled over everyone. The worst of the bites have been taken care of, there are people guarding the stores of food and driving back the random creatures in the tunnels. She has time now, there are plenty of healers working together, and someone will find her if she's needed. ]
𝑁𝑜 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒.
[ And she is, true to her word. She's sure she looks like hell; he would win his wager with himself. She'd been sleeping like most others when everything started, and her hair is sloppily tied back to be out of her face with someone's random hairband. She only has the energy to get to Jon, not make her appearance better than what it is or change her clothing, so she arrives in the mismatched pants and blouse she'd thrown on straight out of bed, but at least wearing a small, weary smile when she sees him. ]
It somehow feels like years since I've been here, and yet not long at all since the last time.
[She looks beautiful. Seeing her like this, her silvery hair all tousled, dressed half like a man -- his face breaks into a helpless smile, and he feels like he's taken a blow.
This must be what love feels like when you can't always be with the one you love, he decides. He's only felt like this once or twice before, and the first time -- well, it had only lasted a moment or two. It's better not to think on it, because of what had come after. It had been in the middle of a battle, too.
He holds a hand out to her, not quite above the waist, as he takes the few steps in her direction.]
Aye. It was your home -- one of them.
I share it with my sister. The hall, anyway.
This must be what love feels like when you can't always be with the one you love, he decides. He's only felt like this once or twice before, and the first time -- well, it had only lasted a moment or two. It's better not to think on it, because of what had come after. It had been in the middle of a battle, too.
He holds a hand out to her, not quite above the waist, as he takes the few steps in her direction.]
Aye. It was your home -- one of them.
I share it with my sister. The hall, anyway.
[ The moment he holds out his hand, it's as if she's pulled in by a magnet. Closing the rest of the space between them, her arms wrap around Jon's neck in a tight hug. Pressing her face into the crook of his neck, she takes a deep breath, then pulls back to hold his face in her hands. Letting her thumbs graze his cheeks, she's more relaxed now than she's felt in days.
Concern does flit across her features at the mention of his sister. ]
How is Sansa?
[ She doubts Jon would be here if anything was wrong, but she feels the need to ask anyway, at the very least to know she's alright. ]
Concern does flit across her features at the mention of his sister. ]
How is Sansa?
[ She doubts Jon would be here if anything was wrong, but she feels the need to ask anyway, at the very least to know she's alright. ]
[He holds her a little too long, breathing in the scent of her. It may be the Horizon, he may not really be able to bring her home to Winterfell, take her to the Godswood, make her his queen, but it feels real. She is solid and warm in his arms. When she pulls back and frames his face with her hands, he keeps her close.]
She's well enough. Resting now. Some took injuries on their way down -- spills, mostly -- but she did not.
Your people?
[His concern is genuine, but it is a pleasantry: two things at once. He cares how they are because they are people, and because she cares, but he also doesn't wish to spend too many of the few moments they have together speaking on it.]
She's well enough. Resting now. Some took injuries on their way down -- spills, mostly -- but she did not.
Your people?
[His concern is genuine, but it is a pleasantry: two things at once. He cares how they are because they are people, and because she cares, but he also doesn't wish to spend too many of the few moments they have together speaking on it.]
[ There could never be too long; for all that this isn't real, it's enough to recharge her, fill her cup enough to keep her chin up a little longer. Even as she fills him in on the situation, her forehead is leaning in to press to his, closing her eyes and soaking him in. ]
There are pests living in the tunnels, they have a nasty bite, but they're being taken care of. We'll be alright.
[ That's enough for her regarding everyone else, her hands hold him tightly, voice wavering. ]
I hate the distance between us. I never minded the borders before, but now...
[ Now she has no way to get to him and vice versa; if something happened to either of them, how long until the other was informed? ]
There are pests living in the tunnels, they have a nasty bite, but they're being taken care of. We'll be alright.
[ That's enough for her regarding everyone else, her hands hold him tightly, voice wavering. ]
I hate the distance between us. I never minded the borders before, but now...
[ Now she has no way to get to him and vice versa; if something happened to either of them, how long until the other was informed? ]
Edited 2024-07-02 12:44 (UTC)
[She can feel, rather than see, him nodding, all shaky, as he continues to hold her.]
I don't know if we'll get out. I think -- surely we must. It's only a door. But Istredd is in with us, and Ambrose is gone, I don't know where, and Strange and Yennefer. No one still in the castle can break the wards on the door, not yet. I don't know what awaits us if we do get out. I don't know what awaits you where you are.
[He doesn't know what else is coming. Gods willing, this is all, and it will be over soon enough, and they will be safe soon enough.
A firm, tight squeeze, and he kisses her hair before pulling back enough to look at her.]
Claire, I love you. Know that. I don't really want to be apart from you. I'll talk to you every day, if I can. [He means if he lives, though the situation isn't so dire as that -- not yet.] All I'll do is think of you -- it's bloody dull here. Stone walls everywhere you look. But for now, we have food, water, places to sleep.
[His bed is a hard piece of the floor, rather cold, but no matter.]
A message like today, and we meet when we can. All right?
I don't know if we'll get out. I think -- surely we must. It's only a door. But Istredd is in with us, and Ambrose is gone, I don't know where, and Strange and Yennefer. No one still in the castle can break the wards on the door, not yet. I don't know what awaits us if we do get out. I don't know what awaits you where you are.
[He doesn't know what else is coming. Gods willing, this is all, and it will be over soon enough, and they will be safe soon enough.
A firm, tight squeeze, and he kisses her hair before pulling back enough to look at her.]
Claire, I love you. Know that. I don't really want to be apart from you. I'll talk to you every day, if I can. [He means if he lives, though the situation isn't so dire as that -- not yet.] All I'll do is think of you -- it's bloody dull here. Stone walls everywhere you look. But for now, we have food, water, places to sleep.
[His bed is a hard piece of the floor, rather cold, but no matter.]
A message like today, and we meet when we can. All right?
[ Claire's hands attempt to soothe, fingers lightly moving through his hair. ] We don't know anything either, I don't know how long our food stores will last. But right now, we're alive. [ She wishes she had more, wishes she could share something vital with him, but it seems like they're all in the dark.
When he steps back, his words spark just a small smile before she nods and takes his hand, pressing her lips to his knuckles. ]
All I do is worry for you. I know you're a fighter. [ Meeting his gaze, she's so torn between being proud of him, of what she knows he would do for others, and being terrified, wanting to beg him to keep himself out of the fray. ] I love you. Even if I'm busy, I'll always respond with a word, at least. [ She can manage that, a quick safe until she can speak more. ]
There are enough children to keep me busy, but not busy enough to keep my mind off of you.
[ She loves a man who puts himself in the line of danger, as if her heart could actually take it if something happened to Jon. ]
When he steps back, his words spark just a small smile before she nods and takes his hand, pressing her lips to his knuckles. ]
All I do is worry for you. I know you're a fighter. [ Meeting his gaze, she's so torn between being proud of him, of what she knows he would do for others, and being terrified, wanting to beg him to keep himself out of the fray. ] I love you. Even if I'm busy, I'll always respond with a word, at least. [ She can manage that, a quick safe until she can speak more. ]
There are enough children to keep me busy, but not busy enough to keep my mind off of you.
[ She loves a man who puts himself in the line of danger, as if her heart could actually take it if something happened to Jon. ]
[He gives her a slow nod, holding her gaze. Mostly, it's to drink in the look of her, so he can call her up in his mind in the coming days, see her whenever he wills whether they can both reach the Horizon or no.
It's a helpless sort of love, he decides. He has chosen her with clear eyes, a clear mind. Yet he also knows, looking at her, that he could not have done otherwise.]
I'll try to come here every day. If the children need you more, it's all right. If you can't get here, or if I can't, that's all right too.
Things get worse where I am, I'll let you know.
[The rest of the time they have here, he just wants to hold her, kiss her, feel her against him. Not the lovemaking that might happen otherwise, not today -- though that might come another day, depending how long each of them is trapped where they are, and how much time they can each find to spend here. But it feels good to hold her tightly in his arms. It feels right.
Because back in Thorne, he feels lost and small and frustrated, trapped, pinned to a point of inaction.]
It's a helpless sort of love, he decides. He has chosen her with clear eyes, a clear mind. Yet he also knows, looking at her, that he could not have done otherwise.]
I'll try to come here every day. If the children need you more, it's all right. If you can't get here, or if I can't, that's all right too.
Things get worse where I am, I'll let you know.
[The rest of the time they have here, he just wants to hold her, kiss her, feel her against him. Not the lovemaking that might happen otherwise, not today -- though that might come another day, depending how long each of them is trapped where they are, and how much time they can each find to spend here. But it feels good to hold her tightly in his arms. It feels right.
Because back in Thorne, he feels lost and small and frustrated, trapped, pinned to a point of inaction.]
𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑓𝑒𝑤 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼'𝑚 𝑎𝑙𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑒𝑟. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑎𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑖𝑡 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙𝑠 good 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑒 𝑟𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑤.
[ She'd be internally screaming; hell, she already is, because technically her husband is a solider, and her literal lover is willing to fight, so her nerves are frayed. Annabeth is a good distraction, a very welcome one. ]
𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒.
[ She'd be internally screaming; hell, she already is, because technically her husband is a solider, and her literal lover is willing to fight, so her nerves are frayed. Annabeth is a good distraction, a very welcome one. ]
𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢, 𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑑𝑎𝑦. 𝐼 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑐𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒.
I mean, it's not good objectively, but I wasn't here long enough to leave any kind of impression on the old queen or court so I'm not worried there. It's intense, but I can handle it.
[ what's a coup to the pits of hell??? ]
[ ugh claire don't make her tell you she doesn't always sleep well. mornings are so hit or miss. ]
Sometimes I sleep in, but I can let you know when I'm awake tomorrow?
[ what's a coup to the pits of hell??? ]
[ ugh claire don't make her tell you she doesn't always sleep well. mornings are so hit or miss. ]
Sometimes I sleep in, but I can let you know when I'm awake tomorrow?
[Early in the morning, after the dust has (literally) settled and John has managed to clean himself up at least somewhat. He does not know whether Claire has seen Wille’s announcement but he figures that he owes her his own message directly before he even attempts to think of sleeping, especially given how worried she had been for him previously.
But if she had been so concerned then, what can he possibly say to put her mind at ease now…]
𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓮. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓮. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓮𝓭.
[He will have a few nasty bruises in a few days but considering the alternative, he’ll take it.]
But if she had been so concerned then, what can he possibly say to put her mind at ease now…]
𝓒𝓵𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓮. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓷 𝓒𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓮. 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓮𝓭.
[He will have a few nasty bruises in a few days but considering the alternative, he’ll take it.]
[ Claire is doing much the same, breathing Jon in as one hand pushes through his hair. She has never been good at saying the words, but she's tactile and willing to show her love in other ways. She wants to be done thinking about how fucked their situation is, and she gives one more nod of understanding. ]
We'll do the best we can, and know that if I could be with you there, I would.
[ If she could get to Jon, she would in a heartbeat. Better to face what comes with him than apart, but of course, there's always a separation in her life. Tilting her head up, she finally closes the distance between them in a firm kiss to which she immediately yields, determined to get lost in him for at least a little while. ]
We'll do the best we can, and know that if I could be with you there, I would.
[ If she could get to Jon, she would in a heartbeat. Better to face what comes with him than apart, but of course, there's always a separation in her life. Tilting her head up, she finally closes the distance between them in a firm kiss to which she immediately yields, determined to get lost in him for at least a little while. ]
[ To Claire, sleeping in seems about age-appropriate; she isn't a morning person but trained herself to be and now she's used to it. A teenager sleeping in until noon brings back memories of raising her own. So, she really doesn't question it. ]
𝑂𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑑𝑜 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ. 𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.
[ She's positive no two Summond are alike in how they manage to make their way to the Horizon, everyone's a little different. ]
𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑡ℎ.
𝑂𝑓 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑠? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑑𝑜 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑓𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑢𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑓𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑐ℎ. 𝑁𝑜𝑡 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑟, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢.
[ She's positive no two Summond are alike in how they manage to make their way to the Horizon, everyone's a little different. ]
𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑎𝑔𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒, 𝐴𝑛𝑛𝑎𝑏𝑒𝑡ℎ.
[ She knows. She knows and it is by sheer will power she hasn't sent John fifty different messages. If she'd been a reason for his distraction in a moment of needed concentration and he was hurt or worse—she'd kept her silence, stomach turning not just for Lord John, but her Jon as well.
As soon as John's message comes through she stops what she's doing, sinking down onto the nearest seat. ]
𝐵𝑢𝑡? 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑'𝑣𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑚.
As soon as John's message comes through she stops what she's doing, sinking down onto the nearest seat. ]
𝐵𝑢𝑡? 𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑢𝑛𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑'𝑣𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑢𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑚.
[She is not wrong. And she knows him too well, damn the woman. John shuts his eyes and takes a deep breath as he considers whether it is better to hold back the gory details or simply tell her the truth. Neither he supposed will help her feel better in the end.]
𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼, 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓭. 𝓐𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽. 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓭𝓾𝓽𝔂. 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝔂 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓮𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮. 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓽.
𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪𝓷 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓼, 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓾𝓪𝓻𝓭. 𝓐𝓷 𝓮𝔁𝓹𝓵𝓸𝓼𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽. 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓷 𝓭𝓾𝓽𝔂. 𝓘’𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝔂 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓮𝓫𝓻𝓲𝓼, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮. 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓪𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓽.
[ There is nothing remotely chill as the kids say, about her response. It's partially due to the fact that in the moment, she can't control what goes through her mind and sends, she loses track of her filter, and so a litany of things come through all at once.
John will know that in person would have been no different. ]
𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡, 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡. 𝐻𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠. 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔? 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒? 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙? 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘'𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒—
[ Finally she manages to wrangle control over the flow of her thoughts, leaning over with her head in her hands, taking a few deep breaths. ]
𝐼'𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑. 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑜𝑡, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔.
John will know that in person would have been no different. ]
𝐽𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡, 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛, 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡. 𝐻𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠. 𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔? 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑏𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒? 𝐷𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑙? 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑐𝑘'𝑠 𝑠𝑎𝑘𝑒—
[ Finally she manages to wrangle control over the flow of her thoughts, leaning over with her head in her hands, taking a few deep breaths. ]
𝐼'𝑚 𝑠𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑣𝑒 𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑚𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑏𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛. 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒, 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑑. 𝐼 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑟𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑜𝑡, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔.
[ listen. she tells herself and percy that she's going to try and wake up at a decent time for breakfast, but she spends about an hour awake in the middle of the night so it's... probably just after 11 by the time she reaches out to claire again. ]
Morning.
I can meet you at your domain in like a half hour or so, if that's okay.
I'll be practicing regardless.
Morning.
I can meet you at your domain in like a half hour or so, if that's okay.
I'll be practicing regardless.
[ Claire is just wrapping up cleaning the small shed that Wrench briefly lived in. It's a somewhat sad task for her, one she isn't enjoying, but he's gone, and the space open again, even if she wishes it was still occupied. So, Annabeth has good timing, as it turns out, and she decides to stay right in her garden for this. ]
𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ, 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔.
[ It's as Annabeth said, the eating isn't real, but she still enjoys going through the motions. And so, as soon as she's in her domain, she begins working on a batch of snickerdoodle cookies. It fills her cottage domain with the scent of warm vanilla, the front door wide open so that the smell of herbs and wildflowers intermingle with the baking. There's a gray cat in the window frame outside, swishing its tail and cleaning a paw when Annabeth arrives, jumping down gracefully and slinking out into the garden.
The cookies are just coming out of the oven in a half hour, and with the front door already wide open, it's no secret when company arrives. Looking up from where she's taking the tray of cookies out of her stone oven, she smiles broadly, proud of her for using the techniques they've practiced. ]
You've made it, welcome, Annabeth. It's a bit different from before.
[ Smaller; there's no spare room that used to be Percy's, for example. No backwoods that lead to a lagoon. The cottage is still as warm and homey though, with deep greens and blues on the walls. It isn't unlike her home in Solvunn, just a bit less than her actual dwelling. ]
𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒. 𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑜𝑜𝑡ℎ, 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑤𝑎𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔.
[ It's as Annabeth said, the eating isn't real, but she still enjoys going through the motions. And so, as soon as she's in her domain, she begins working on a batch of snickerdoodle cookies. It fills her cottage domain with the scent of warm vanilla, the front door wide open so that the smell of herbs and wildflowers intermingle with the baking. There's a gray cat in the window frame outside, swishing its tail and cleaning a paw when Annabeth arrives, jumping down gracefully and slinking out into the garden.
The cookies are just coming out of the oven in a half hour, and with the front door already wide open, it's no secret when company arrives. Looking up from where she's taking the tray of cookies out of her stone oven, she smiles broadly, proud of her for using the techniques they've practiced. ]
You've made it, welcome, Annabeth. It's a bit different from before.
[ Smaller; there's no spare room that used to be Percy's, for example. No backwoods that lead to a lagoon. The cottage is still as warm and homey though, with deep greens and blues on the walls. It isn't unlike her home in Solvunn, just a bit less than her actual dwelling. ]
[ she'd always liked claire's domain in the illusion, so she can't help but be curious what it'll be like in reality. [
[ annabeth likes what she finds just as much. she spies the cat in the window and barely resists the urge to chase after it - she should at least say hello to claire first. the door is open, so she raps once at the frame before slipping inside and immediately inhaling the smell of cookies. it brings sally to mind again, in conjecture with the warm space of the entire home - and that's what it feels like here. a home. at least, she assumes it's what a home is supposed to be like, given how much it makes her think of the jacksons'. ]
[ she thinks about the grandiosity of her own domain house and frowns, briefly, before brushing it aside and offering a small half smile. ]
It was a little easier to slip in this time. [ she shakes her head. ] It's still looks good though. I like the colors. Did I see a cat?
[ annabeth likes what she finds just as much. she spies the cat in the window and barely resists the urge to chase after it - she should at least say hello to claire first. the door is open, so she raps once at the frame before slipping inside and immediately inhaling the smell of cookies. it brings sally to mind again, in conjecture with the warm space of the entire home - and that's what it feels like here. a home. at least, she assumes it's what a home is supposed to be like, given how much it makes her think of the jacksons'. ]
[ she thinks about the grandiosity of her own domain house and frowns, briefly, before brushing it aside and offering a small half smile. ]
It was a little easier to slip in this time. [ she shakes her head. ] It's still looks good though. I like the colors. Did I see a cat?
[ Claire's definition of home and what makes one is built around a life of never having a physical one, not until she was much older than Annabeth. Part of the reason she wants to sit and talk is to explain who she really is, and what her life has been like, not some made-up Singularity fantasy. Annabeth has let Claire in, and it feels like the right time to confide in return. ]
It will only continue to get easier from here. Before you know it, you'll be able to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and there you'll be. [ The cookies are placed on the counter and she nods. ] Thank you, dear. And you did see a cat. I didn't mean to call it into existence, I was being nostalgic and thinking about a cat I found in Cairo once. It was dehydrated and hungry, so I took it in, got it healthy and we had a little bond the rest of the time I was there. The Singularity must've decided I needed a companion.
[ She doesn't mind at all, though she's never named the cat. It's just there, and at times, comes inside to wind itself around her legs before leaving. Nodding toward the back door, she grabs a plate and begins transferring the cookies. ]
Now, should we go outside, or get comfortable on the couch?
[ Either way doesn't matter to her. ] And do you like coffee or would you like something different? [ The beauty of the Horizon is that there isn't any way to be a bad hostess, not when she can ask for anything. ]
It will only continue to get easier from here. Before you know it, you'll be able to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and there you'll be. [ The cookies are placed on the counter and she nods. ] Thank you, dear. And you did see a cat. I didn't mean to call it into existence, I was being nostalgic and thinking about a cat I found in Cairo once. It was dehydrated and hungry, so I took it in, got it healthy and we had a little bond the rest of the time I was there. The Singularity must've decided I needed a companion.
[ She doesn't mind at all, though she's never named the cat. It's just there, and at times, comes inside to wind itself around her legs before leaving. Nodding toward the back door, she grabs a plate and begins transferring the cookies. ]
Now, should we go outside, or get comfortable on the couch?
[ Either way doesn't matter to her. ] And do you like coffee or would you like something different? [ The beauty of the Horizon is that there isn't any way to be a bad hostess, not when she can ask for anything. ]
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