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[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

((Continuing from this!))

[It was a good thing Robin was gone when Euri finally woke up. She had been cranky and hungover and once she remembered what had happened last night she was mortified. Not because they had shamelessly made, or because they nearly had sex, but because she had told him she was a virgin, and on top of that she had even let him into her room without bothering to hide all the witchy objects she owned.

She tried to focus on the latter as she ate breakfast in her room and nursed her hangover because, frankly, thinking about the teasing and comments and gossip from the former didn't seem nearly as bad as the reaction she was bound to get from the other castle residents about being a witch.

She pondered confronting Robin, but the mere thought was far too embarrassing. Besides, there was another memory stuck in her head from the previous night that refused to go away, and it was making her curious.

He had seen her room, but she remembered her inquiry into his own hadn't netted any results. Now that Euri was sober, "barely touched it" sounded like an obvious lie. That was why she eventually found her way to his floor, and to his room.

She was pretty sure Robin was out for the moment, and she had summoned Dog and ordered him to go have father-son bonding time with Nirel. So it was just her, a door, and whatever lay on the other side.

With a hardened expression she concentrated on the doorknob, letting it catch fire and heat up to the point where any and all locks would be rendered useless. She was just going to take a quick peek, nothing more, and then go back and stew over what he was undoubtedly telling the other residents.

When the doorknob cooled enough she used her scarf to open the door, and slipped inside.]

Comments

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[Oh god oh god did she make this worse somehow - maybe she shouldn't have said normal - or maybe it's just because he's really REALLY crazy and she never noticed before -

Euri's mind is flustered with thoughts, and she has absolutely no idea what to do. She stands there dumbly for several moments, hands curled into fists, trying to think up some way to at least calm him down.

And that's when it hits her. Hasn't she been in this kind of situation before? Granted, there was a lot less yelling, but the general idea....

And Adel had certainly felt better in the end, she thought.

So with great reluctance Euri is stepping closer, putting her arms around him, and hugging Robin tightly.]

..... I'm sorry. I'm just - worried.

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he freezes.

she's... worried?

...that doesn't make any sense.

and for a moment, things just... stop. he doesn't breathe, he doesn't move, he's trying to recover those words and give them some kind of understandable meaning. she doesn't belong in here, with him. no one does. but she's worried. why is she still being nice? why hasn't she run away yet? why isn't she scared? why is she still touching him?

he's shaking. he slowly moves his hands, again aware of the silence of his own room. the sound of her breathing, the feel of her heartbeat against his chest. it strikes him as terribly unfair.

he puts his arms around her shoulders and holds her back, hugging her just as tightly. his voice is shaky, but he sounds more drained than angry. more nervous than violent.]

You shouldn't be here. I don't want you to see.

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[She's amazed that worked. With how volatile he was acting, Euri was honestly unsure whether the gesture would even reach him. She's grateful that it did - it means that whatever problems he has, he isn't too far gone.]

I'm not leaving. [She's saying that firmly, because she's remembering last night, how he didn't want her to go anywhere. That memory is giving her a bit more confidence.]

You can try, but you're not getting rid of me, Robin. [She's giving him a reassuring little squeeze before reaching up to run her fingers through his hair in a comforting gesture.]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he just buries his face against her shoulder. this is too embarrassing, too private. here's got no defense here. all his manipulations and lies and careful planning are pointless. this is the only place he can truly be himself, and this stupid girl has wormed her way into the middle of it.]

No. [he insists, weaker than last time.] I don't want you in here. You'll ruin everything.

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

I don't care.

[She's sounding more confident by the second. He was just... reacting the same way she would if someone walked in on all her witch possessions. Violent and angry and scared of what the consequences would be.]

You need someone here with you.

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

No... No, I don't.

[she doesn't understand. how could she? no one would. that's why he keeps this all locked away. he suddenly pushes her away from him, albeit weakly.]

I don't need anyone. Not here. I don't need you to tell me that I need help or that this isn't normal. I don't need you seeing any of this. No one should have to.

[he looks away from her. around her, towards the floor, above her head--anywhere he can look without having to see her face.]

And no one would ever know if you just kept out. It's fine, I can just lie and this will be kept safe and no one would ever guess, right? You didn't.

You were terrified. You're still scared. [he tries, one more time.] Just go, please. I don't need... anyone.

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

....

[For a brief moment Euri considers leaving, but that thought is quickly squashes as she steps in front of him, frustrated and determined, and slaps him across the face.]

Are you even listening to yourself?! Don't say stupid things like that!

Look, I might be scared, but lots of things scare me. Adel scares me, sometimes! But just because I am doesn't mean I'm going to leave you by yourself with all of this! I haven't given up on Adel, I'm sure as hell not giving up on you!

[She's reaching up to take his face in her hands, even though she's visibly shaking, to force him to look at her.]

If you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. You don't have to. But I know something is wrong, and you need to get it into your head that you don't have to deal with it alone. I'm here.

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[the slap startles him more than anything, and he's still a little wide-eyed and uncomprehending when she forces him to look at her. Vincent was like this (forceful when he was upset) but more than anything, she's starting to remind him of them again...]

Why?

[that's the only thing he can think to ask. he can't keep his eyes on hers. it's too harsh, too open. why would she say that?]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

Because....

[She's faltering there, searching for an answer that sounds right. Because it's the right thing to do? Because she likes him? Because he needs help?

All valid, but not what she's looking for.]

Because... [she's murmuring that again when it comes to her, and she straightens up.]

I want to be here. That's why.

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[that's a poor reason. no one would want to be here. this room is too horrible (beautiful) a place. he's quiet for a while, thinking through all of it. trying to gather himself together. he can't be himself--not yet. not with her here. eventually he pushes her away again, stronger this time.]

You're a stupid girl. No one wants to be here.

[he looks irritated again, absently touching the side of his face. he can't believe she slapped him. he wants to threaten to break all her fingers for that (stupid dog), but instead looks back towards the bathroom door.

he walks towards the dead crow. he's got to do something with it.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[It's frustrating hearing him say that over and over, but Euri's stubborn as hell and she isn't prepared to leave yet. She'll watch him walk away, and over to the crow, and frown faintly.]

... What are you going to do?

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he picks it up slowly again, his fingers wrapping around its chest. he clearly doesn't like this thing.]

I'm not keeping it here.

You don't want it, do you?

[he actually manages a face of simple disdain.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't like that look, but she doesn't like that dead crow, either.]

..... [So with a sigh she'll hold out her hand for it.]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he holds it out over her hands but doesn't let go.]

I could just throw it back outside. The earth would eat it up in a day.

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[She's going to exercise some patience and wait, to see if he gives it to her.]

Is that what you want to happen?

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

I just want it out of the room.

[he... hesitates. brings his arm back a little. if she insists on taking it he isn't going to stop her, but it'd be better if she wasn't carrying a dead crow around. it makes him think too much. he hates the idea of someone like her holding something he hates so much.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

I could burn it.

[Cremate would be a more accurate term, but he probably wouldn't want to associate the bird with a respectful form of burial.]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[...he puts it down in her hand.]

All right.

[and then lets go of it. almost immediately, he moves to his bed and reaches under it, pulling out a bag of cat food.]

Better than my cat trying to eat it. [the cat in question emerges and starts to purr again while Robin puts food in his bowl. :>]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[What even, that isn't just some random cat? That's so weird.]

Why do you have a cat? [She's watching him a few moments, then looking down at the bird in her hand.]

And do you have a box? To keep the ashes from getting everywhere.

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

Why shouldn't I have a cat?

[he sounds kind of dulled. once the cat's fed and munching on his food, he walks back to the desk and digs around on top of it for a moment. eventually he just opens a drawer and pulls out an empty box, just big enough.

he hands it to her without saying anything.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

I didn't say that. You just don't seen like the type to have a pet.

[Into the box goes the bird! Then she'll kneel down, set the box on the ground, and concentrate. Within seconds the bird is bursting into gold and white flames.]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

He's nice.

[while she's doing that, he goes to anxiously sit on his bed, his cat at his feet. Tulio is sitting and looking intently at the flames. Robin's looking too, but less intently. eventually he'll just glance back down at the ground beneath his feet.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[Once the fire is going Euri doesn't need to watch it to maintain it, so she'll glance over.]

I've heard they can be really finicky. [Small talk, why not?]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

He's not so bad. Very quiet. Melengala.

[though the last word is... directed towards the cat, who looks up at Robin before it starts to wander around and gather up the feathers that'd fallen off the crow in the process.]

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[Oh, that's surprising.]

You taught him commands? [But more importantly-] What did you just say?