chiron_survivor: (frak off)
Adia Costas ([personal profile] chiron_survivor) wrote in [community profile] nexus_crossings2017-03-06 09:04 pm

Now you're just somebody that I used to know.

Adia is sitting at a computer terminal in the Plaza with a pint of cookie dough ice cream and a carton of boxed wine, watching cute animal videos online and occasionally wiping at her red-rimmed eyes with the back of her hand.

It's every bad break-up cliché, but Adia does not care. After recently experiencing the (second) worst day of life, she needs a break. And unfortunately, the only place she can get that is the Nexus.

She clicks on a thumbnail of a hamster eating a tiny burrito and takes a swig of wine while it loads. "How do you get over someone," she asks the Nexus unhappily, "When they've clearly gotten over you?"
shardofwinter: (Questioning certainties)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-09 07:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Adia's heartfelt reaction is met with a smile and he puts his hand on hers before taking a swig of the wine and offering it back to her. "It's alright. She wasn't the first and she won't be the last. I could say it's balance, 'karma'. I've been as cruel to women as they have been to me, but I am learning and living. It's all I can do."

He looks at her earnestly. "Our scars make us who we are, Adia. It will hurt and it's natural and good to feel the sadness and anger of what he did to you. You will learn from it and it will be a part of you. The pain will dull, but all scars ache. What's done is done, but you have your whole life ahead of you when you're ready to look forward again."
shardofwinter: (Questioning certainties)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-09 10:40 pm (UTC)(link)
As gently as he can, he lightly brushes her cheek with a thumb to wipe away a tear. "I don't think I've come across a being, human or not, who didn't lie about how they felt."

"If you don't hate him, then don't hate him," Reynard tells her gently with a slight shake of his head. "You can be sad, disappointed, remorseful, but you don't have to hate him. Find a different lesson in this."
Edited (typo) 2017-03-09 23:00 (UTC)
shardofwinter: (Guard down)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-10 07:57 pm (UTC)(link)
He notices the motion, despite its silent excuse, and he lets his hand drop, giving her back her space. It's a little difficult not to withdraw entirely at the small dismissal. Becoming cold, alien and undoubtedly cruel seems eternally close, so easy to slip into. Practice and experience has gotten him to where he is now today, sitting beside a friend in Winter.

"You aren't everyone else, Adia. You're you. If you try to do what everyone else does just to fit in... it's just a lie. By all means, lie if you want to, lie if that is part of you, but know that it's a lie. Only you can know how you feel. Only you can know what you want. And only you can know what's right for you."
shardofwinter: (Sitting)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-11 03:02 pm (UTC)(link)
"I had the freedom to," he says before slowly accepting the bottle and taking a small swig of it. It will be that bit colder when he hands it back.

He follows her gaze around at the scenery. It's calming, even though it's so invigorating. "I can. It will have to be using a PINpoint next time."
shardofwinter: (Discussing Matters)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-11 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Reynard turns to look around at the mountains around them, to take a deep breath and allow himself to relax into this setting. "If I were him... If I were a soldier, and my people were oppressing those who I had grown to know and love, those who had run me out with hatred and forced me back to my own people..." His lips thin, but he can't delay giving his answer. The answer she needs to hear. "I would push you away. I would deny knowing you, or loving you, or caring about you." His eyes slide to Adia. "And I would need you to accept it. I would need you to let me cut those ties, because if we don't... we both drown." Point made, he returns to admiring the wild country. "Sometimes love true love means denying it exists. Trust me- Trust me when I say that it is not worth enduring what they will do to you just to be able to tell the truth about your feelings."

He lets her root out her PINpoint and do whatever fiddling with it she needs to, he's happy to sit and enjoy the view. "The mountains are strong and rooted. They're always a good place to go to ground yourself again." He smiles at her. "I'm glad you like it here."
shardofwinter: (Second thoughts)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-12 11:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Take what you can get, but don't expect or hope for any more. It's a bittersweet freedom, letting him go, but it is a freedom. He gave you answers, whether he meant to or not, and he gave you a way out." He shakes his head, appreciating the situation that Caspar must be in. "It looks cruel, but there's a kindness in it. Accept it. Begin healing."

"Of course. But be careful coming here on your own." This place is here for everyone to enjoy, and Reynard is only its caretaker for one quarter of the year. He almost continues a warning lecture on the dangers of hiking alone, but her next comment distracts him. Her mood may have moved away from sadness, but it's sadness that sneaks into his frown as he looks around. He doesn't like to think about what comes next, but it's getting more and more difficult. His hands curl up and his stomach clenches, despite not really needing either at this time of year. "I wish I could be like that always."
shardofwinter: (Sideline thoughts)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-12 04:08 pm (UTC)(link)
The arch of his brow comes just before a query about whether she understands her own question, but Adia quickly makes her amendment and his features rest again. Instead he heaves a deep, slow sigh. "It's not that simple. I can't travel there during Winter, I wouldn't want to. I wouldn't leave my Season. I couldn't. And after Winter... I find it difficult to travel. Especially now with even more 'checks' and 'passports' and the official documents you need. I don't have those."

"It's probably for the best," he says then. More to convince himself than anything. "Spending Winter in a place... it changes me. I suit my Season, where ever I am, whatever kind of Winter it has. Who knows what I'd be like after visiting the south."
shardofwinter: (Pub talk)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-12 05:22 pm (UTC)(link)
The joke gets a small smile from him too, and this time it manages to last long enough to shake the sadness out of the creases of his face. Out of habit he accepts the wine, but handles it more than he sips. "Not much, considering how long I've had. I've seen most of Europe, Anatolia, the Caucasus and Russia..." After a swig he shakes his head. "I'm not fond of travelling, but I've had to move a lot." He looks at Adia then. "Before the war did you travel?"
shardofwinter: (Tired but cheery)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-12 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Again he shakes his head, watching the bottle in his hands form a frosty cover. "Oh no, no... I keep meaning to, but I'm a creature of habit. Somehow I never find the time."

When she smiles so does he. He shuffles to face her better. "What were their names? What were they like?"

shardofwinter: (Friendly conversation)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-13 12:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Surprise was not the reaction he'd expected. True he hadn't explored the multiverse but those places he's been he had explored thoroughly. It makes him wonder if perhaps he's been squandering a rare opportunity. There is, however, the eternal fear of the unknown. Who knows how another world will react to him. Worse, what if it doesn't react to him? He shifts uncomfortably at the thought and forces a smile, turning his attention back to Adia. "You wouldn't be able to stop me."

It's easier to smile when she brightens, excitement returning to her words and enthusiasm lifting both of them. He pays her the most careful attention, laughing when she laughs and wincing playfully at the mention of hot jungles. "I'd love to see your photos. They all sound wonderful." His grin turns crooked. "Though I think I would prefer Aquarion to Scorpia. When it wasn't Winter, was there a lot of water on Aquarion? Did you sail?"
shardofwinter: (Adding opinions)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-13 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"People who sail those waters would know how to navigate a few icebergs," he says with certainty and a grin on his face. "You're quite the adventurer, aren't you? I bet you'd surprise us all, given the opportunity."

A thought occurs to him making him suddenly straighten and look around, as though consulting his surroundings on the matter before he smiles again and looks back at his friend. "How about a deal? I'll teach you a skill if you teach me... something. I can sail, or show you how to raft or kayak or climb... Whatever you'd like."
shardofwinter: (Gentle teasing)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-14 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
"Isn't it?" Reynard's gaze slides over to side eye Adia for just a beat. "You'll surprise yourself too, one day. I'm sure of it," he tells her with resolute certainty.

He grins broadly when she mentions her ability to kayak. "Then I'll have to take you out on the water some time." Her question prompts a roll of his lips and he shifts his weight as he thinks. Finally he turns to her again. "What about helping me become an 'educated man'? If you'd like to. I know as much science as I've chanced upon, and mathematics where money is concerned..." His grin makes his eyes twinkle at her. "Then again, teaching me something like that might test your patience."
shardofwinter: (Eyebrows /up/...)

[personal profile] shardofwinter 2017-03-15 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"It would be my pleasure, my dear," he says easily with a dip of his head.

It's his turn to be surprised then. He'd envisioned much of her education to be locked away in sterile laboratories which made the sailing trips an interesting change but here she goes adding yet another layer to her life of science. "Teaching assistant? You taught?"

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