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[Is it any surprise that the first place Daisy checks out is the diner? Sitting at a booth in the corner, she's nursing a cup of coffee when she hears the door open and her heart seemingly stops at the person who walks in.
She wants to call out to him, say his name, but she finds herself unable to speak.]
She wants to call out to him, say his name, but she finds herself unable to speak.]
[ The word seems to call out to him from the side of the building. DINER. Joric has never cared where he ate, but after the whirlwind he's just experienced it will be nice to sit down in a place that was favored by Daisy. He approaches the place while his heart sinks, thinking of her and how they're lost to each other now. Soon the swelling in his jaw will fade and there will be no physical sign of her presence left on him. Strange how he almost doesn't want the injury to heal because of that.
He pushes open the door and enters. Should he get fries, a chocolate milkshake, or both? Probably both. That's if this place is like the other diners he's been to. They might serve strange items. It's a different world here, after all. Eyes scan across the empty booths in front of the windows until they land on the person in the back. He stops moving and stares. Is he now seeing visions of her? Will she continue to haunt him? He takes a tentative step forward, expecting her image to fade away as his mind settles, but she stays resolutely solid. ]
Daisy?
He pushes open the door and enters. Should he get fries, a chocolate milkshake, or both? Probably both. That's if this place is like the other diners he's been to. They might serve strange items. It's a different world here, after all. Eyes scan across the empty booths in front of the windows until they land on the person in the back. He stops moving and stares. Is he now seeing visions of her? Will she continue to haunt him? He takes a tentative step forward, expecting her image to fade away as his mind settles, but she stays resolutely solid. ]
Daisy?
[Overwhelmed when she hears him say her name, Daisy isn't sure what emotion to feel first. But as he steps closer and she sees the swelling on her jaw, guilt comes to the forefront. Feeling physically numb, she sets down her coffee mug and gets to her feet. Feeling just unsteady enough that she grips the side of the table.]
How?
[Is the only word she manages to get out.]
How?
[Is the only word she manages to get out.]
[ He supposes visions might be able to speak. But they won't feel real so he keeps moving until he's standing within arm's reach. ]
I don't know.
[ A pause. ]
Magic shit.
[ He will never stop calling the things he doesn't understand "magic shit." But now he lifts an arm towards her, intent on touching her arm and making sure she's really there and not all in his head. ]
I don't know.
[ A pause. ]
Magic shit.
[ He will never stop calling the things he doesn't understand "magic shit." But now he lifts an arm towards her, intent on touching her arm and making sure she's really there and not all in his head. ]
[Daisy goes stock-still when he reaches out towards her, staring up at him with an unreadable expression. She has the daisy he carved for her in the pocket of her jacket, the weight of it weighing it down a little.]
Something like that.
[She says numbly, looking anywhere but at the bruise on his jaw.]
Something like that.
[She says numbly, looking anywhere but at the bruise on his jaw.]
Daisy.
[ He says her name again, almost like he's forgotten how to say anything else. Fingers curl around her arm and his other hand moves to touch her hair. ]
I didn't go home. I came straight here. Was it the same for you?
[ She's really here. He can only believe it now that fingers touch the familiar strands of hair. Of course he remembers not so long ago having to grab her by the hair to knock her out but he forces the memory away. ]
[ He says her name again, almost like he's forgotten how to say anything else. Fingers curl around her arm and his other hand moves to touch her hair. ]
I didn't go home. I came straight here. Was it the same for you?
[ She's really here. He can only believe it now that fingers touch the familiar strands of hair. Of course he remembers not so long ago having to grab her by the hair to knock her out but he forces the memory away. ]
[A lump forms in Daisy’s throat at hearing him say her name again and reaches with his other hand to stroke her hair. Recoiling from his touch, she clears her throat as she breaks eye contact with him.]
Yeah, it was.
[She looks around the diner, as if trying to take it all in. When in reality, she wants nothing more than to hug him. Beg for his forgiveness.]
I guess I should’ve known there would be a catch.
[Daisy says, wrapping her arms protectively around herself.]
Yeah, it was.
[She looks around the diner, as if trying to take it all in. When in reality, she wants nothing more than to hug him. Beg for his forgiveness.]
I guess I should’ve known there would be a catch.
[Daisy says, wrapping her arms protectively around herself.]
[ He's left with hands awkwardly holding nothing and they fall to his sides. With everything that's happened, it would be foolish to assume it hasn't had an effect on her, but he hardly knows what to say in response to it. ]
Well. At least my regret has been undone and I'm no longer cursed as I was. Home would be preferred but...
[ He trails off, looking at her as he always has. No anger or fear about what she did. ]
But fate has seen fit to keep us together.
Well. At least my regret has been undone and I'm no longer cursed as I was. Home would be preferred but...
[ He trails off, looking at her as he always has. No anger or fear about what she did. ]
But fate has seen fit to keep us together.
[Her eyes land back on him when he mentions his regret being undone.]
What?
[She asks, needing to hear him say that again. She doesn’t even seem to notice what he says after. If his regret had been undone, does that mean hers had been as well?]
What?
[She asks, needing to hear him say that again. She doesn’t even seem to notice what he says after. If his regret had been undone, does that mean hers had been as well?]
My regret. My rage. I can no longer feel it on me.
[ And really, on waking up in a strange room with a strange hologram person, that being the first thing he noticed is a big deal. ]
So something went right.
[ He exhales a slow breath and finds himself smiling. He'd been so eager to return home where he could pick up his life again. That's not the case and he can't begin to guess what he'll face here, but not everything is unwelcome. Being cured and having her here are both positives. ]
[ And really, on waking up in a strange room with a strange hologram person, that being the first thing he noticed is a big deal. ]
So something went right.
[ He exhales a slow breath and finds himself smiling. He'd been so eager to return home where he could pick up his life again. That's not the case and he can't begin to guess what he'll face here, but not everything is unwelcome. Being cured and having her here are both positives. ]
[Daisy can't even attempt to mirror his smile, even if she is relieved to hear that his regret has been undone.]
That's--
Great. I'm glad.
[And she means it. But being here? With him? It's eating away at her. Her instincts are to run, to isolate. She almost wishes she was forced into isolation right now, as those memories of the first time she had her mind controlled all those years ago come rising to the surface.
She looks away from him, no longer feeling hungry.]
If we're here, there might be others too.
That's--
Great. I'm glad.
[And she means it. But being here? With him? It's eating away at her. Her instincts are to run, to isolate. She almost wishes she was forced into isolation right now, as those memories of the first time she had her mind controlled all those years ago come rising to the surface.
She looks away from him, no longer feeling hungry.]
If we're here, there might be others too.
There might be.
[ There's distance between them and he's not sure how to breach it. Waiting for her to come around probably won't work, like that time they spent weeks not speaking to each other. He sighs, not wanting things to be that way again. ]
I thought I would never see you again, and that was the worst part about leaving.
[ And now she'll barely look him in the eye and draws back from his touch. ]
But here we are and... you are unhappy.
[ There's distance between them and he's not sure how to breach it. Waiting for her to come around probably won't work, like that time they spent weeks not speaking to each other. He sighs, not wanting things to be that way again. ]
I thought I would never see you again, and that was the worst part about leaving.
[ And now she'll barely look him in the eye and draws back from his touch. ]
But here we are and... you are unhappy.
[Gnawing on the inside of her cheek when he talks about never seeing her again, Daisy feels sick to her stomach when she thinks about how much it had torn her apart that they were going to forget each other.
It would've been better for him if he had forgotten she ever existed. Tears sting her eyes as she looks back up at him, struggling to keep eye contact.]
I'm not--
[She can't finish that sentence, even if it's not necessarily untrue. She's not unhappy to see him, and she feels selfish for thinking that. She doesn't deserve his tenderness. Not after everything she had done to him.]
It's not safe to be around me.
It would've been better for him if he had forgotten she ever existed. Tears sting her eyes as she looks back up at him, struggling to keep eye contact.]
I'm not--
[She can't finish that sentence, even if it's not necessarily untrue. She's not unhappy to see him, and she feels selfish for thinking that. She doesn't deserve his tenderness. Not after everything she had done to him.]
It's not safe to be around me.
[ It's impossible to stay away when seeing her cry - or be close to it - and he moves forward, hands cupping her cheeks. ]
How many times have I said those words to others? But you are not under the influence of the orbs any longer. You have no reason to think that.
How many times have I said those words to others? But you are not under the influence of the orbs any longer. You have no reason to think that.
[Tears roll down her cheeks when he cups them, and she attempts to pull her head away from his touch.]
Don't.
[She tries to make her voice firm, but it breaks instead. She had barely been able to keep it together and she's on the verge of losing what little control she has over her emotions.]
Don't.
[She tries to make her voice firm, but it breaks instead. She had barely been able to keep it together and she's on the verge of losing what little control she has over her emotions.]
[ This time he doesn't want to let go. She's hurting and he's better with actions than words so he'll keep trying this. ]
Why not?
Why not?
I don't deserve it. Your--
[Her breath gets caught in her throat as she takes a step back, pulling her head away from him again in an attempt to shake his affection. She doesn't deserve his forgiveness.]
You were right. To be afraid of my powers.
[Of course she had noticed, even when he did his best to try and cover it.
Maybe he needs to hear it to remember just how dangerous she is.]
[Her breath gets caught in her throat as she takes a step back, pulling her head away from him again in an attempt to shake his affection. She doesn't deserve his forgiveness.]
You were right. To be afraid of my powers.
[Of course she had noticed, even when he did his best to try and cover it.
Maybe he needs to hear it to remember just how dangerous she is.]
Edited 2024-03-26 23:14 (UTC)
[ Again she moves away and again his hands fall to his sides. He's the wrong person to convince anyone of anything. He can self-loathe with the best of them. But he doesn't want her to be so hard on herself either. ]
And what did your powers do? Knock the breath from my lungs? I've had far worse. In fact, the worst you did was possibly remove my ability to have children with how hard you kicked me in the balls and that was all you, not your powers.
[ He sighs and attempts a smile. ]
It's in the past, Daisy. The orbs can no longer take control.
And what did your powers do? Knock the breath from my lungs? I've had far worse. In fact, the worst you did was possibly remove my ability to have children with how hard you kicked me in the balls and that was all you, not your powers.
[ He sighs and attempts a smile. ]
It's in the past, Daisy. The orbs can no longer take control.
[That, of course, doesn't make her feel any better about this.]
It's not in the past. I can't--
[The memories are still so fresh in her mind, and then there's the fact that she has the very visual reminder of what she's done to him.]
I can't forget what I did to you.
It's not in the past. I can't--
[The memories are still so fresh in her mind, and then there's the fact that she has the very visual reminder of what she's done to him.]
I can't forget what I did to you.
Daisy.
[ A hand passes over his eyes to rub at his brow bone. Of course it's not easy to talk about this, and he's doing a horrible job of it so far. Plus her bringing up what she did just makes the thought of what he did in return come back to the surface. ]
What about what I did to you? It's not- [ He breaks off, drops his hand, and looks at her. ] It's not something I ever wanted to do, but I did. And yet... the more I think back on it, the more I see that is what the orbs wanted: to spread chaos and make discord grow between us. I don't want to give them that satisfaction.
[ A hand passes over his eyes to rub at his brow bone. Of course it's not easy to talk about this, and he's doing a horrible job of it so far. Plus her bringing up what she did just makes the thought of what he did in return come back to the surface. ]
What about what I did to you? It's not- [ He breaks off, drops his hand, and looks at her. ] It's not something I ever wanted to do, but I did. And yet... the more I think back on it, the more I see that is what the orbs wanted: to spread chaos and make discord grow between us. I don't want to give them that satisfaction.
[As if her body is suddenly reminded of the fact that he had knocked her out, she reaches to touch the tender spot on the back of her head.]
It was the only way you could stop me.
[And they both know it.]
It's not about giving it satisfaction, it's the fact that my hands hurt you.
It was the only way you could stop me.
[And they both know it.]
It's not about giving it satisfaction, it's the fact that my hands hurt you.
It being the right thing doesn't mean I wanted to hurt you.
[ He wants to protect her instead. If only there had been a way to protect her from her mind being overrun. ]
Your hands controlled by something else. Do you think I don't understand? I know what this is like, Daisy. I know what it's like to suddenly be aware that I hurt someone. All the apologies and self hatred don't feel like enough to make amends.
[ Joric reaches out and takes her hands in his, holding them together. ]
I don't want you to pull away from me. I thought I had looked on you for the last time, but here you are. I don't want to lose you again; not when you're right in front of me.
[ He wants to protect her instead. If only there had been a way to protect her from her mind being overrun. ]
Your hands controlled by something else. Do you think I don't understand? I know what this is like, Daisy. I know what it's like to suddenly be aware that I hurt someone. All the apologies and self hatred don't feel like enough to make amends.
[ Joric reaches out and takes her hands in his, holding them together. ]
I don't want you to pull away from me. I thought I had looked on you for the last time, but here you are. I don't want to lose you again; not when you're right in front of me.
[She knows that he understands more than most people, but it doesn't stop the guilt from eating away at her. Tears continue to roll down her cheeks as he grabs hold of her hands, and this time she doesn't pull away.]
I can't look at you without remembering what I did.
[Daisy admits, her voice getting caught in her throat.]
Even if I wasn't in control of it.
I can't look at you without remembering what I did.
[Daisy admits, her voice getting caught in her throat.]
Even if I wasn't in control of it.
I can't stop you from remembering it, but I don't blame you for it. And you avoiding me would hurt worse than anything you did. We're here together in this unfamiliar place. I want us to stay together.
[ Seeing her cry is difficult because he wants to do something to stop the tears and make her feel better. But there is no easy answer to this. Will it only stop upsetting her with time? He can't say. ]
You haven't stopped being my elskan.
[ Seeing her cry is difficult because he wants to do something to stop the tears and make her feel better. But there is no easy answer to this. Will it only stop upsetting her with time? He can't say. ]
You haven't stopped being my elskan.
[She would find it easier if he did blame her, because she blames herself for what happened. For being too weak to fight it. He calls her his elskan and that lump forms in her throat, looking down at their hands instead of up at his face as she fights not to sob.
She thought she was going to lose him. Forget he ever existed.
But here is standing right in front of her, holding her hands in his own.]
I'm sorry. For everything.
[Because she hasn't apologized yet.]
She thought she was going to lose him. Forget he ever existed.
But here is standing right in front of her, holding her hands in his own.]
I'm sorry. For everything.
[Because she hasn't apologized yet.]
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