driftfleet | (no subject)

Is it that strange to think maybe they just liked you?

You're not so bad to talk to. [She smiles. Much less free with the compliments than he is.] And I think people usually get over their initial preconceived bullshit with time.

... Yes actually, it might actually be unheard of.

[He dipped his head. It is still one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to him.] I thank you for the hope, at any rate. I hope I shall not bore you overly much. [He gestured to the waitress.] Another one? And whilst we wait -- tell me more of your world. What do you do there, besides have fantastic abilities?

Sure. Thanks. [She isn't drinking at his rate, but it seems like the polite thing to keep up a little at least at the beginning.]

And unless there's something I'm missing, I'd think plenty of people would like talking to you. [She thinks he's smart and clever and doesn't seem afraid to say what's on his mind. She takes a drink of her cocktail as she considers his request.]

I feel like this should come with a warning. My world's not a pleasant one. I was with a team of mutants called the X-Men. We were fighting a war against a powerful, immortal mutant who was committing the genocide of humanity. Society collapsed. Half the world was just completely destroyed. Just death on a massive scale. [She looks apologetic as she pauses there for reaction.]

[He'll have to slow down at three - he isn't here to get drunk after all. Just pleasantly tipsy with lovely company.]

Mmm ... as I said, my physical ailments have usually done the trick. I have found here though, that people do not look at me twice, nor do they know my family's rather sorted history -- so I am free to simply be ... Tyrion. A burden I do enjoy losing.

[He stared at her for a moment, before his lips twitch up.] Mmm. I am currently in the middle of a war between at least three different supposed kings for Westeros, half a world a way and trying to build an army for a Queen I have yet to meet. Let us just say ... my concept of pleasant is somewhat skewed. Please, do continue.

[She takes that in, nodding. Her world doesn't have the market cornered on strife after all.] Fair enough.

More recently, after my husband was badly wounded he wasn't ready to fight anymore, so we took positions training the next generation of mutants. [Who were barely younger than her really.] We'd been doing that for a little while before a greater plan for taking out our enemy came together. I was pulled out during the final battle.

[Now amusement was going to color his face - aha, so she was married. No wonder she had taken his flirtations in stride, she had no real interest.

He sipped his drink again, nodding his head, before he frowned.] So ... you do not know how the battle ended?

[She should probably get used to saying "ex-husband" or just "Piotr" when he comes up, but old habits...] Oh, I do. One of my teammates is here from a few years into a future I wasn't expecting anyone to have. We won that battle. [But not the war even if it seemed like it at the time.] I didn't survive. But that part I've known for awhile. [It's not a recent pain. Don't worry, there won't be any tears coming.]

[He looked pensive at that, and while he didn't reach out to touch her, his tone is clearly sympathetic.] I am sorry for that ... but, I am happy that you have had the chance to survive here. What about your husband, did he die in the battle as well?

[She nods and gives him a soft smile as if to say she's fine.] Thank you.

[And now a sigh.] Okay, but remember you're the one who said your concept of pleasant is somewhat skewed. [Not that anyone should take pleasure from the rest of this story, but she assumes if she waves him off for his sake that he'll say it's unnecessary. She's also not impressive at holding her liquor and while she's far from drunk one glass already gave her a warm, pleasant feeling that tends to insulate against such things.]

He hadn't entirely been himself since his injuries and he'd recently learned his sister was alive and that she might be in danger and... [She trails off, not really wanting to make excuses for him even though she knows—believes—there was no malice in his actions.]

He was trying to stop us from completing the mission. I blocked him thinking he would never hurt me, so I didn't become intangible. [She laughs softly.] And then one of our teammates killed him for killing me. The enemy must have been impressed. Trust is a real killer.

Unbelievably skewed. [He stated firmly, because honestly he cannot think of his life back in Westeros without thinking of the many, many horrors he has endured over the years. Her story, however, did make both of his eyebrows raise together in faint horror.]

I see ... he loved you, but not enough not to hurt you. [He sipped his drink again, and said frankly.] If he raised a hand to you instead of speaking with you, even in anger ... then I cannot say he was a good husband. I should know - I was rather a bad one myself.

[She can't really disagree. Oh, there were good times in as much as any times were really good there and she believes they loved each other. Part of her still loves him. But they are over even if this place tries to overturn his death too. There's no going back after that. She's moved on. She'll keep moving forward without him.]

You were married?

Are you saying you hurt her? [Not something she would normally ask of course and there's no contempt in her voice. She's just trying to get a better idea of what he's saying.]

[He looked down into his glass, thinking about downing it, but instead speaks as frankly as he can. This woman was killed by her own husband - she deserves the truth here.]

I was, when I was thirteen, for about a year to a young miller's daughter. Her name was Tysha. My father, ashamed of the marriage ... had my brother lie to me, and tell me that she never loved me, that she was actually a whore they had paid off to take my manhood, but I was never supposed to marry her.

[He shook his head.] I will not sully her honor, by telling you what my father had done to her, but I will tell you that I was forced to hurt her ... and even though I thought she lied about loving me, I never wanted to do anything to hurt her like that. Oh, but my father's honor demanded it ...

[Something dark twisted his face then, before it disappeared into weariness.] He is dead now, and she is gone - ran far, far away I hope. Now, and for always. It will not take away my sins, but at least she is free.

Edited 2016-04-15 01:03 (UTC)

Thirteen? [Softer.] You were just kids. [Not that she knows how old the girl was. Even younger? Thirteen is probably the last age she'd ever call someone a kid. It was the age she grew up hard and fast and she knows how strong you can be at that age when you have to be, but she also knows you shouldn't have to be.]

I'm not sure if that makes you a bad husband, but I'd say it makes you father a bad man and father. [Which can be a bold thing to say about someone's family even if they'd say it themselves, but she's still wondering about Tysha.] I'm sorry.

Thirteen ... she was a little older, but not by much. [He thinks back on her, with her sweet voice and her soft eyes, and he puts one hand to his chest because yes, it still pains him.

Your first love always does.]

Hmmm... that is altogether too true. [His mouth twists.] I'm also the brother to two horrific, murdering liars, and I was the uncle to a psychopath, I believe it is called. Frankly -- I'm surprised I turned out sane after all this time.

[And his smirk twisted more.] You see what I mean about understanding horrific circumstances?

[She notices that he has the look of someone still very much affected by it all. Kitty's gaze is sympathetic.] I can see why you wanted the drinks for it. [She smiles softly.]

Are they the only family you've had? I have a habit of building my own. [A pause.] Not by having children. [Just making that part clear. She wanted them once and still does in a way, but it doesn't feel like something in the cards.]

It does help ... relax the tongue, allow a few more truths out than I normally would allow. [He gave her a rueful smile of his own.]

No ... I have had some decent aunt and uncles. A niece and nephew that I adore. [He considers.] I might have bastards out there, but no one has brought them forward for my attention.

That's...a thought. [One she can't really imagine, but she's not in a position to be able to imagine such things.] I'm glad some of your given family worked out at least. Maybe you'll find some extras here with time.

Or the traditional way. Who knows? I'm sure it doesn't always end in trauma. [A little smirk as she starts the second drink.]

I have ... actually. Good men and women who I would be proud to call family, if they let me. [Fenris was a good man - elf ... man. Lily was the very best. So many others...]

Hmmm. One would hope. Marriage cannot always be something one is trapped into, and children should be a blessing. [He mused aloud, as he sips again.] Would you try again? With someone else?

Even better. [That gets a warmer smile from her. She knows the comfort that can come with having someone close enough to think of as family. She had that in the prison. Things here are still new, but she has some friends at least and Kurt who is family from back home.]

Hm, did I mention I was in another of these things before? A prison. Same situation though. People from different worlds and everything. I met someone there. He was nothing like my husband. He's a genius. He was the one who could do that speed reading I mentioned. I could take him in a fight with my eyes closed and both hand behind my back. [Smiling.] Not that I'd need to or want to. Fell in love again. Started thinking marriage and kids. [Even if that wasn't possible in the prison. And for the moment she'll just skip the painful ending of that one too which is a little more complicated than just "and now I'm here."] So, yeah, I guess I would. Hearts are stupid. [She makes a soft sound of amusement.]

What about you?

[He smiles back at her, before he leaned back and stroked his beard a little, mulling over her story.]

The heart wants what the heart wants - I have read that somewhere. [He purses his lips. That you could fall in love here, and then lose the person you were with - yet that was the risk of love, wasn't it? He hesitates - before he states simply.]

I would, if I knew I could trust the woman. I ... have loved since my wife, and that woman betrayed me to my father. I would not risk my own heart on anything less than the real thing.

[She moves her drink to the side and leans in on the table as if about to tell him a secret.] Tyrion, if you could tell when it's the real thing with no chance of betrayal, you'd be the wisest person alive. [As if either of them wanted anything less the first time around. But she understands the thought. Agrees. And then also thinks she'll probably just do the stupid thing again thinking it's the right thing at the time. That is the pattern she's established.]

...And I'm sorry about the betrayal. Those hurt. [Especially to his father who has already been established as the worst.]

[She relaxes back again.] I think maybe you have to risk your heart to get a shot at the real thing though. Love is actually more brutal than war, isn't it? I talk a lot when I'm drinking.

Hah! That I would ... at which point I would like to become the head Septon for clearly, I also understand the Divine as well. [His face cracked into a real grin, before he shook his golden curls.]

...You had no hand in it. But I thank you for your sympathy. [He could tell it was not pity, and nor did he pity her. Respect, look how it blossoms.]

I believe you are right, my lady, on both counts. War only tears at your body - love tears at your soul. The rewards, however ... are far richer than any gold, in any castle. [His mouth twitched.] You do. I rather like it though.

[She laughs a lighter laugh instead of the darkly amused things that were coming out before.] That's good since it probably isn't stopping. And what's a Septon? God? Religious figure? [She tilts her head and leans it on her hand while the elbow props itself up on the table.] Or advisor to a god or religious figure?

Oh good, then I shall continue to like it. [He thought on what he had learned of different cultures here, and waved his hand.] Think of him as a ... a priest, or whatever is higher than a priest, would be what I was looking at. Someone who says he speaks for all Seven Gods, that sort of thing.

Bishop? Or pope would be the highest I guess. I don't know. I'm Jewish anyway. We have rabbis, and it's less authoritarian, but I get it.

We also only have the one God and he clearly sucks at godding. [Not the biggest fan anymore.]