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+---- Thread: [SE] the things that you do in the name of what you love (/showthread.php?tid=10070)
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the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
[say]"Hey Isla, how have you been? Good? Oh that's great. Me? Uh, yeah I just had a chat with Ronin, and did you know Everest was infected?"[/say] Wincing, the Bastion gives his head a shake, the muttered words discarded with a huff.
No doubt Isla's neighbours will be confused to say the least, to see Remi Taliesin pacing back and forth across her doorstep. Sometimes he seems as if he's ready to knock on her door, while at others his feet seem to be trying to lead him back out onto the street. Always, though, he ends up returning to just in front of her stoop, staring helplessly at her door and muttering continually.
Dressed in a pair of thin linen shorts and a mostly unbuttoned chambray shirt, Remi has worked himself up enough that his curls are damp with sweat and there's a line of perspiration dripping down the column of his spine. Despite the heat, he continues to pace, whispering fragments of sentences under his breath before mentally writing and re-writing them.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
Luckily for the Bastion, Isla isn't actually at home to have been able to see the footsteps moving beneath her front door, or hear the strange mutterings that make only a fraction of sense. Having taken the day off to gather fresh supplies for her clinic, once she'd brought them back and safely packed them away, she'd done what any reasonable Torcher does when they have time to kill on a Longheat afternoon.
She'd gone to the beach.
Suspiciously free of tanlines as she heads up the steps to her apartment, it's with a large, floppy sunhat to protect her from burning and a soft blue shawl tied around her waist to act as a skirt over the top of her bikini that she spots the Taliesin pacing ouside her door. Lowering her sunglasses, the Remedy watches for an amused few seconds before she quietly clears her throat, adjusting her beach bag on her shoulder.
[say]"Should I be worried about something, Remi?"[/say] she asks, trying and failing to stop the smile from creeping across her face.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
Far too caught up in trying to maintain both sides of the silent conversation taking place in his head, Remi hardly noticed Isla arriving or stopping and watching him, before the sound of her clearing her throat nearly had him jumping out of his skin. Spinning, Remi's sandaled foot catches on one of her steps, almost instantly bloodying his toe with the force of the movement. While the Bastion had learned not to hug too hard or shake hands with the sort of grip that could break fingers, when it came to being startled he was still a bit of a danger.
Apparently just to himself, though.
[say]"Ow, fuck, I mean, hello."[/say] The words seem to come out all at once, taking the place of the clever words he'd so carefully been preparing. Straightening, his smile crooked and apologetic, Remi ruffles a hand through his hair and sighs. [say]"Hi."[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
Isla's smile almost runs away with itself as she manages to make Remi Taliesin, former Lullaby, jump out of his skin, but of course she immediately regrets it as he manages to hurt himself in the process. [say]"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you,"[/say] she says through an apologetic laugh, ascending the steps towards him and rifling in her beach bag to withdraw a truly tiny pocket knife.
[say]"Here,"[/say] she murmurs, opening a small cut on the back of her hand and reaching out for the Bloodboon that now resides in her veins, reversing whatever miniscule amount of damage Remi has managed to do to himself. And then, of course, [say]"Hi."[/say]
Reaching out to hug him despite the heat - it isn't as though it bothers Isla at all - the Remedy steps back and replaces knife with keys, gesturing to her door. [say]"Can I offer you some iced tea? I assume you were waiting for me and not just enjoying the view from my door."[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
[say]"I..."[/say] Glancing at her door, Remi narrows his eyes skeptically as his lower lip puckers out just a fraction. [say]"..thought you were inside."[/say] He mumbles before turning toward her, instantly frowning to see the knife in her hands. [say]"Hey, wh—"[/say] Distant though the pain in his foot was, no sooner had a small thread of red appeared on Isla's hand than it disappeared entirely. Lifting his eyes, his stare boyish and softly critical, he opts not to ask the obvious question of did you just hurt yourself to heal me, if only because they had bigger fish to fry.
Tugging her close, not minding at all the sticky feel of the ocean still clinging to her bare skin, Remi sighs adoringly before nodding. [say]"That'd be really nice."[/say] Glancing at her door, he pauses, frowning. [say]"Are...we going to be alone, or..?"[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
[say]"And yet you were still outside. Pacing. And talking to yourself,"[/say] Isla points out with a warm laugh, leaning up on her toes to kiss Remi's cheek before parting from him to unlock her door. As for her hurting to heal, she can only tip a wink to the Bastion. [say]"It's an Ancient thing,"[/say] she explains. [say]"I've been trying to practice, in case I'm ever outside of Torchline and something happens."[/say] Remi has just made himself into a convenient guinea pig, is all. [say]"I have healing water inside, so you don't need to fuss."[/say]
Stepping into the apartment, the open-plan space cool and airy thanks to Isla's closed linen curtains, she glances over her shoulder back at Remi. [say]"Ever isn't here, if that's what you mean?"[/say] she says. [say]"Not that I imagine we would interrupt even if he was at home. Hearing you mumbling outside would have probably had him finding an excuse to go out."[/say] You know, Remi. Because it's weird to do that.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
[say]"Well, I just..."[/say] Remi begins, stopping abruptly as he realizes that there was basically nothing he could say to defend how his behaviour likely looked. Wrinkling his nose and running his hand against the back of his neck, he sighs softly as he parts from the Remedy, hoping he'd managed to hide the dull tide of his concern beneath his joy at seeing his old friend again.
Humming something under his breath that sounded a lot like I absolutely do need to fuss, Remi nevertheless follows Isla in, his shoulders sagging with relief to be somewhere cooler. [say]"I was just wondering."[/say] He says as innocently as he can, and though he doesn't expect to see anything out of the ordinary, as Isla settles in Remi takes a moment to gaze around, looking for anything that seemed void-y. [say]"How is Ever these days?"[/say] It seems a logical enough question, given the turn in their conversation, and while this wasn't how Remi had planned on their conversation going, he might just be able to nudge things back to the point where mentioning that the aviator was infected didn't seem like such an accusation.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
Clicking the door shut behind them to keep the heat out (purely for Remi's sake, of course), Isla places her bag down onto a side table and removes her hat and sunglasses, blinking at the adjustment in light. [say]"Mmhmmm,"[/say] she says pointedly, grinning over her shoulder at him in obvious amusement as she heads to the icebox to get them some tea. [say]"Ever is doing well, thanks. He stays over a few nights a week, but I know he tries not to keep La Verbena away from Stormbreak for too long unless Mateo is visiting Torchline as well."[/say]
Setting out a couple of frosted glasses and pouring some iced tea into them, as well as a few cubes, Isla slides one of the drinks across the counter to Remi. [say]"How are you and Ronin?"[/say] she asks, as is the natural progression of the conversation. [say]"I heard about the lilies, and everything else to do with Starfall. I imagine you'll be headed out there soon, right?"[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
[say]"Ah, that's good."[/say] Mention of Mateo's name has the Bastion frowning to himself, lowering his gaze absently to his palm before rubbing at it. He images purple covering the boat that he and his son had built together, and without realizing it he'd begun to rub the skin of his palm quite raw with his thumb. [say]"Yeah. We're trying to arrange regular dinners with both of the kids, but..."[/say] Sighing, he gives his head a little shake to indicate what an impossible task that might be all around before shoving his hand into his pocket.
[say]"Oh, you did?"[/say] Reaching for the glass, Remi drags it across the countertop, the Bastion does his best to keep his surprise out of his voice. Knowing about the lilies was one thing, but the way she'd said and everything else to do with Starfall gave him pause. [say]"What makes you say that?"[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
Raising her eyebrows to see Remi rubbing at the palm of his hand as if there's something on it he'd like to erase, the Bastion is reaching for his tea before she can catch his wrist, leaving her slightly concerned but doing her best to hide it. [say]"That would be really nice,"[/say] she agrees of being able to arrange dinner with Mateo and Flora. [say]"Maybe I can start inviting you over for dinner too, so it's not an entire season before we see each other again."[/say]
But Remi is still giving off hella weird vibes, and Isla tilts her head at him questioningly. [say]"Well, the lilies can create a safe zone, right? I assumed you'd be one of those who went out there to make it happen once we find one. It can't be too much longer with everyone looking."[/say] She offers him a weak smile. [say]"It would be nice to be able to say goodbye to you this time before head off to something dangerous. I could only wish you luck in my head during the war."[/say]
And hope they didn't run into each other.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
Despite the way the build-up to The Conversation was making Remi want to claw himself out of his own skin, he couldn't help the immediacy of his smile as Isla mentioned them getting together more often as well. [say]"We'd love to have you over as well. I think you'd really like the houseboat."[/say] Truthfully said, it's doubtful if he'll be able to keep the small talk up for much longer, and based on the way Isla is looking at him, they both know it.
Sighing heavily and looking down at her countertop, Remi reaches for all the different ways he'd thought of to start this conversation, finding them all utterly replaced by memories of the various times he'd tried and spectacularly failed to have conversations of this magnitude with Isla in the past.
[say]"Isla.."[/say] Not able to look up at her and hardly able to recognize the sound of his own voice given how strained it was, Remi closes his eyes. For all the times he'd fucked up in the past, he and Isla had always found a way to reconnect; he could only hope that this time it didn't take years. [say]"..Everest is infected."[/say] The words ring in his ears, and, only because he expects Isla to faint, or scream, or begin to cry, he holds out his hands for her.
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
[say]"Name a time and I'll clear my schedule,"[/say] Isla tells Remi instantly, all but beaming at him as she swirls the ice in her drink. [say]"Maybe we could alternate weeks, and whoever hosts has to find some Torchline delicacy to try their hand at cooking."[/say] From the stalls alone Isla knows there is plenty of things out there she hasn't tried yet, let alone tried to make.
[say]"It doesn't even have to be dinner all the time. Torchline makes the best breakfast I've ever had,"[/say] she continues, only to trail off as Remi seems to grow inevitably silent, and the Remedy is left waiting for him to get to the heart of the conversation he'd clearly come here to have.
Granted, she doesn't expect it to be about Everest of all people, but as she realises quite what the Bastion is telling her, her eyes softly widen. Reaching out to take his hands, because there are very, very few occasions where she wouldn't, Isla gives them a gentle squeeze. [say]"I know, Remi,"[/say] she says quietly. [say]"Flora told me a little while ago. I... it doesn't seem to be doing anything to him, though. I thought you already knew as well."[/say]
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Remi - 09-03-2024
Talk of dinner dates and brunches will have to wait, much as it would have otherwise warmed a part of Remi's soul designated solely for Isla. Even as she reaches for his hands and pebble-blue currents of reassurance pulse from her fingertips, disbelief distorts Remi's thoughts as he looks up. His lips form the shape of the word he wants to say, but suddenly it feels as though he's the one at risk of fainting or crying or screaming.
The fact that Flora knew, was the one to tell Isla, only seemed to make everything feel even more impossible to understand, and gods why hadn't he suggested that they sit on the couch before starting this conversation.
[say]"Isla,"[/say] he manages at last, squeezing her fingers as tightly as he dared within his own. [say]"You don't know that it isn't. It isn't safe for him to be here...not with you, not in Torchline.."[/say] Clearly he must have been missing something; how else could she worry about the dangerous thing that he and Ronin would be risking their lives to go and do, if she was quite literally sleeping with the enemy that they were all rallying to fight against?
RE: the things that you do in the name of what you love - Isla - 09-03-2024
Isla squeezes Remi's fingers right back as if realising for the first time that he's here to have what he believes is a pivotal conversation, the Remedy circling around her countertop to stand with him properly. [say]"Remi, I checked him over myself,"[/say] she says softly. [say]"As a doctor, not as his girlfriend. And he went to Frey, and they can't see anything wrong with him either other than yes, being infected. But he's not dangerous - if he was I doubt Flora would still have let him come and go from here."[/say]
Raising her eyebrows, the expression reading something along the lines of this is Everest Hart, Remi, Isla doesn't know what else she can do to reassure the Bastion. [say]"He's never been violent or shown any sign of spreading the void, or whatever else has been happening in the Oerwoud. Besides, if he isn't here, he's in Stormbreak with Mateo."[/say] And she doesn't even know if he's aware of it.