Post by Dame Danae Galanos on Sept 15, 2009 15:06:30 GMT -6
AIendral: It was the first time the hall had ever turned its full resources towards anything--it was almost deathly silent, save the occasional figure hurrying through the hall to and from a location, desperate to finish up what they had to do, and only in its silence was the imposing building allowed to assert itself. The place was palatably foreboding, with dark corners and hidden awnings threatening to hide numerous assassins or spies. It was dimly lit, with only a few watchful guardians throughout, looking tense and uncomfortable--and Alex's office was no different. There were stacks of parchment everywhere, with no rhyme or reason to its placement, and a few flickering lamplights that allowed him to work--and Alex himself was immersed in a pair of them, looking tired and unreadable. He hadn't spoken more than a handful of orders to anyone, and had not seen anyone, even Claramae in well over a month. He was a phantom, whispered about, with rumors of lurking within the under city of Skye, traveling to distant locations and returning without an explanation. Even the Duchess heard little from him. The order had, for all intents and purposes gone silent.
Danae: Her nightly rounds had finished a little earlier than usual and after spending most of the day to her own duties under several titles, she was glad to say she was heading off to Ebony Hall for a little rest. Things seem to have come to a painfully slow pace on several levels for the Commander. Her relationship outside of work with Alex being one. He had practically buried himself into his work, and while Danae did worry for him, let him be; until tonight. She missed him, missed the time they use to spend together and tonight she was on a one woman mission. As she made her way into the Hall, she passed a few others who did little more than look her way and give a nod, all to which the Greek Commander did the very same. Everyone had become busy with their own things it seemed and when time allowed, they dared to do anything more. With weapons in tow, she made way for the room she and Alex usually spent to together in, but paused as she reached his office. Her head hung low, debating a moment whether she should continue to leave him as he was, or tempt fate and have what she was sure to come, a warning of all sorts. If that's what it took to get him to snap out of this mood of his, then so be it. So after setting her things aside, quietly she opened and cracked open his door. If his back was to her, she'd sneak in, stand in silence a moment and watch him as her head canted to one side and her arms folded over her chest. Finally, she spoke... ``Alex... why don't you take a break and come relax a little?`` she asked as she moved in behind him, letting her hands grip his shoulders as so to attempt to work away the knots within them.
AIendral: "Danae." he barely even looked up, his voice a forced, colorless greeting. Sneaking into a spymaster's room was almost impossible in even the worst of times. The sound of her movement breaking his concentration long enough to pass an errant glance from her before back to his papers, but what was asked earned her little more than a subtly stiffening beneath her fingertips, barely responding at all, and he said, rather distractedly. "I'm sorry, Danae, but I have precious little time to spare. I warned you there would be times like this, and that's precisely what this is. " it was cold and dismissive, even by his standards--and roughly the same thing he told both Vance and Clara on no uncertain terms. He continued to pour over notes then, working in methodical, calculated fashion--in a manner that no doubt would have disturbed his old master...
Danae: Her head tilted back, she rolled her eyes and she sighed before looking back down at him. Her full lips were thin with disappointment even though her hands continued to work at his shoulders. ``Alex... you've been like this for a month now. You need a break... whether it's to simply enjoy one hour of night air or just to sit and talk. This isn't good for you.`` she wasn't going to argue the fact that he had told her this was how it could be at times, but that didn't mean she had to like it. His tone was cold, void of anything that indicated he was who she knew. One hand lifted, letting long slender copper colored fingers comb through his hair. ``I don't care if you spend that time yelling at me... anything to give you a break from this is better than nothing at all.`` she said as she leaned to one side and let her icy blue hues take in his profile.
AIendral: "Our enemies will be working at least as tirelessly as I am, Danae. They are utterly consumed by their purpose and live for nothing else. Fighting them means working at the same level they do. When this is over I can rest as much as I need, but not a moment before." her touch was an errant distraction--a touch that threatened to pull him away from what he was doing, closing his eyes and taking a breath with a grimace as he let his eyes flick over it again. Half believing this to be the work of Claramae or Vance as much as Danae's own initiative. "I'm afraid I really can't afford to get away from my work right now, Danae. I truly am sorry..." he leaned back to pluck at a paper behind her, pulling it to his view and withdrawing in on himself again without so much as a word.
Danae: ``Even those that thrive in the darkness venture out into the light if only to regroup.`` she replied. She thought she saw a hint of want there, a want of giving in and if it was the touch of her fingers in his hair, she'd work that angle. She shifted as he had, only to come back behind him again and instead of letting just the one hand thread fingers through his hair, she used both. There was no short strokes here, they were long strokes, where even the pads of her fingers massaged at his scalp and worked down to the base of his skull. This of course was followed by her fingers kneading the nape of his neck and then repeating the process all over again from the top. ``One hour...that's all I ask.`` she said as she continued to try and persuade him. If he continued to ignore her this way, she had plenty of other things to try.
AIendral: "Damn it, Danae." a bit of him slipped away then at the incessant touch of his lover, and he rubbed at his eyes, suddenly exhausted. "If I take an hour, I will lose hours. Do you have any idea how complex these threads are? How long it can take me to make this connection? I lose all my progress by ceasing now, and I don't have that kind of time to spare. Lives are at stake. My people are at stake. Some of them have been working for days and have had no respite to speak of, and could die at any moment. I deserve no more of a rest than they do, and I will take none, and that is final. Unless you have something of note to contribute on their movements, I'd ask that you leave me to my work. Please... " an odd bit of desperation had crept into his voice, and he fought to stifle it. There was more to it than what she knew of course, but he couldn't even begin to explain it to her. His mind twisted and turned constantly, dissecting every piece of information he had--but he was doing it to distract him from something else. Now she was threatening to bring Alex back, and it was the last thing he could afford to do. For him, letting down his guard--even for an hour, was a terrifying thought.
Danae: She didn't flinch the least bit with his words nor his looks. The Commander knew about sacrificing, but also knew what use would that sacrifice be if she wasn't around to see the end results. ``No.. I don't...what I do know is, you have become reclusive, that the lives lost... can't always be saved regardless how much work you do. You can't save everyone Alex. No matter how hard you try, how much you sacrifice of yourself, someone isn't going to make it and there's not a thing in the world you can do about it. What good are you to them... to us... if you don't have your wits about you. Your mind needs to be refreshed... your body needs to be regenerated...but... if you want to focus on only one thing and one thing only, fine. If you can do it, so can I... I'll sit right here, not move an inch... give up everything else and everyone else to focus on you.`` she added as she continued to do as she had been. She could be just as much as a pain in the ass as he could if not more. He knew this, it was confirmed the night she ordered him to cut her throat. She didn't back down then and she sure as hell wasn't about to back down now.
AIendral: He did not enjoy being spoken to like a jittery Lieutenant first given command in the slightest and his irritation slipped through. "My wits are very much intact Danae, as any of my work can attest to. I sleep when needed, eat when needed and drink when needed. Do not treat me like some fool novice letting his body rot because he can't handle responsibility. " he glared irritably again, just as much for (admittedly unfairly) Danae wrongly guessing the reason he had thrown himself into this as much as anything, only confirming what he already knew as far as he was concerned. "I warned you what inflicting yourself into my world would bring you, but so help me Danae I will not drag you fully into it. Go back to your men, waste no time with me." the last part he knew would be particularly upsetting--it would also be one of the few ways to actually get her to leave. If he had to push buttons to get it done, so be it. "I have no need nor want of your attentions right now."
Danae: She hadn't meant for it to sound like she was insulting his intelligence, not in the least and for that, she wished she had perhaps better worded things. She moved around so she was eye to eye with him, letting him know she heard every word he spoke. His glare failed to make her waver and instead she crossed her arms and leaned on one leg. ``Your warning was heeded... and I don't need for you to drag me into it. I willingly go and I don't need your permission to care for you. As for my time here, I don't see me wasting any... I'm right where I'm needed, whether you like it or not. His last sentence however, did sting, it stung like a slap in the face, but she knew it was likely as so to make her angry and leave him. Something she simply wasn't going to do. ``You think you can get away by lying to yourself, lying to me? Alex... you should know better by now. I see things in people they fail to see in themselves. You know this... `` she replied in stern tone. ``You need me... you want me... like it or not.`` she added before she moved and plopped herself right on his desk.
AIendral: Of course, if it was one thing she had learned about Alex so far, it was that he didn't believe in half-measures. "Danae, I've made a life out of lying to people and making them believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Many women did believe I loved them with every ounce of my heart, many leaders thought I was fanatically loyal to their cause, many believed I was totally innocent of any wrong doing. I've made a lifetime out of lying. So the question you should be asking is what I was lying to you about in the first place, because experience has taught me that I can, in fact, get away with it." all clinical, almost cold. She moved to sit on his desk, he moved to stand up, hands folded behind him. "I'd ask you to leave again but I sincerely
doubt it would have much effect at this point. If you insist on getting in my way, I'll simply take my work elsewhere. Have a pleasant evening." and just like that he slipped past her and to the door. It was heart-wrenching playing mind-games like this, but he needed everyone at a distance right now, and couldn't make anyone understand that. What the hell else was he supposed to do? Of course they'd hate him for it--but the alternative, in his mind, was far worse.
Danae: She continued to sit there, one leg secure on the desktop, the other bracing itself on the floor. Her arms remained crossed and she eyed him with her icy blue eyes. He began to speak, and her she remained as stiff as any statue found in this Hall. A portion of what he said, did have her thinking, thinking he was full of bullchyt. He could try to ignore her all he wanted, but the fact was, she could follow and would follow him. She knew what he had tried to do, and that reverse physiology chyt didn't work with her. He moved to leave and she lifted herself off the desk to follow. He was only a few paces ahead of her and she'd allow it to stay like that to begin with. She didn't hate him at all. In fact... if anything... this just made her care for him all the more. Because with what she was seeing, it was something few people, if any, ever got to witness.
AIendral: Alex practically ignored her the whole way, clearly frustrated and about a heartbeat away from asking his men to drag her off the damned compound, instead stalking out Vance, who was currently speaking in hushed tones to a few of his noviates. "Take the other men and venture into the Aqua ducts.
You're looking for one of Krause's agents. I want him brought back here, and I want him alive, understand?" Vance passed a half-glance at Danae, clearly aware of what was going on but saying nothing. He looked distinctly distressed by what was going on. "As you wish, boss. Come on lads, time to earn our pay," he nodded and slipped past the two, passing Danae one last glance before Alex continued to make his rounds, meeting with several others. Not once did he even so much as look at her way.
Danae: He could ignore her all he wanted. She was simply following, hands behind her back, clasped at the base where her back arched and meet with the feminine curves to follow. She only wanted an hour of his time and if it was spent in silence like this, it was fine by her. As they reached Vance and the others, she met his gaze when he looked to her, only giving a nod and wearing the stoic expression she normally wore when set in a certain mind frame. As Alex gave his orders for Vance and the others to move off and follow, Danae said nothing and once they moved off, Danae let her eyes leave them and turn back to the backside of Alex. As he made his rounds, she followed, not saying a single word to him nor those they met. Only giving a nod to indicate acknowledgments both ways.
AIendral: It had become a waiting game--though he knew that it was not a game he would win. He could ignore her for hours and stubbornness would see her through. But he could not help but allow a small though to slip by. But she will not succeed either. She follows, but you do not have to give in, and then what is achieved? it wouldn't precisely be impeding to his work.. so, he did just that. It took the better part of an hour to speak to noviates, to mete out orders and receive reports, heedless of the looks they gave to Danae, from confusion to incredulity, before he saw him back in his office. Upon returning to it (doubtless she wouldn't let him get enough distance to get a chance to literally lock her out) and returning to his desk, going right back to writing. Fine, let her follow. As long as she refused to get in his way,she was doing nothing but wasting time... and as much as he hated to leave her so cold, he could not afford to tear himself away from this. Not now...
Danae: A waiting game indeed and how right he was that he'd sorely lose. There had been times where she was perched in trees for days on end, waiting for the right time to make her move. Stubbornness was something Danae could say she had perfected and no one could argue that. As he continued on about his work, she remained ever close. The others that picked up on whatever it was going on between she and him, to give her their looks, she found amusing. Even had to smirk a couple of times. If they thought their looks or whispered comments would bother her, they didn't know her very well. Once his visits were done she could see they were making their way back to his office and her things had been placed just outside his door the first time around. As they moved in, her belongings were gathered and brought inside with her. He reclaimed his seat and Danae? Well she took up residence at the wall next to him where she was in his range of view. She hunkered down on the floor, choosing it over the chairs nearby and sat Indian style with her back pressed against the wall. A carving knife and a piece of wood was pulled out. As he went back to his work, she say quietly carving away at the piece of wood in her hand. The shavings would fall where they would, and if she had to, she'd clean up the mess herself.
AIendral: Hours passed in complete silence, immersed in his work without so much of a hint of interest in her going ons. Finally, after what was an aching silence between the two, he spoke, jarring in the soundness, but still utterly cold. "...Danae... I can't do this right now. I just can't. Please... leave me alone. You can't help me right now by doing anything but... leaving me to this. I am asking you... honestly. Just... leave me be. " he rubbed his eyes again and struggling to put a rein back on his emotions. She just couldn't be made to understand the scope of what was driving him right now, and the very act of explaining it would kill him.
Danae: Passing time like this was nothing knew to her. She had traveled lands near and far, been on missions where they left her to do this very thing at times and so it came easy no doubt. When he finally decided to speak, she failed to lift her gaze in his direction. Keeping quiet still... she wasn't wanting to play games here, but if its what it took to make him see she wanted to understand, she was more than willing to play them and play them by his rules. Long slender fingers continued to both hold the wood and work the knife before she finally decide to look up at him. He had wanted to play the silent treatment, and so here they were. She moistened her lips before reluctantly speaking, which meant a partial submission in a sense, but felt it was needed. ``I'm not doing anything but sitting quietly, in utter silence, leaving you to your work as you wanted. `` In order for her to be made to understand, he'd need to do something, something that would require explanations. However little they may be... otherwise, she'd never understand and would continue to sit right where she was. She uncrossed her legs, letting them stretch out straight and cross at the ankles. A few shavings were gathered up and placed in the small bin next to her before she took up the knife and wood again and looked to him as if waiting for him to say something more, whatever it might be.
AIendral: "Damn it, Danae. " he said, much as he had in his own head half a dozen times. "You wanted honesty and now you got it. Leave me be. I am aware you are trying to help, but you can not, in any way, help me with this. I am dealing with unfinished business from years ago and I will not sleep easily until it is resolved. You can't help. Go back to your men and your duties and leave me to mine or so help me I'll have my men force you out of here. I can't...afford to play this blasted game with you any longer!" the words came out like a hiss, frustrated and clearly exhausted. There would be no explanation coming--none he could possibly give that would sufficiently explain it. God, he just wanted to be left to his own and sort this out. He had to if he wanted to see this through.
Danae: A single dark brow arched at his yelled at her. She didn't flinch of course, there was little that could scare or startle her and this was not one of those things or times. ``Did you ever think that maybe I'm not here to help, that I'm here just because I want to be close to you. To spend a little time with you, however little it might be in whatever way it can be had? Alex, I realize that their have been, are, and will be times I can't help. That's something I'm more than willing to come to terms with, given the right reasons. And as far as games are concerned, I'm not the one who started them...but I sure as hell will finish them. If there is something you want me to know, quit beating around the f**king bush about it, have some balls and tell me damn it. Because I'm sure that whatever it is that you share, however little it might be, would shine a hell of a lot more light on the subject than you think. And don't bother calling your men, half of them can't keep up with my ass anyway. But I'll save you the trouble of cleaning up your own mess and see myself out.`` she moved to stand to her feet, putting away her knife and the piece of wood, brushing the shavings off her body and then gathering them up before placing them in the bin. She turned to him, glared with burning ice blue hues and began to gather up her things.
AIendral: Alex only glared than, and withdrew even further, staring balefully as she went on her tirade. Perhaps it was for the better, in the end. She would resent him for it--he could hardly fault her for that, but if she persisted in involving herself? how would that end? He couldn't live with that answer. No matter what he did. So he remained utterly silent. She's from a world completely separated from the one we live in. Letting her know a word of it puts her in danger she could scarcely comprehend. This way is better. Better for all of them. "...I'm sorry, Danae. More than you know." was all he said in reply, and with that he turned back to his work, burying himself into his parchment without another word.
Danae: She saw the glare he gave her and it seem to only add to the already boiling temper within. ``Don't you dare look at me like that... you don't have any rightful reason.`` the last of her items was hefted up and hoisted over a shoulder. She made her way to the door as he gave his apology and she paused. The Commander sniffed, turned to look at him and smirked in a mocking fashion. ``Sorry? you're sorry? No you're not... f**k you and f**k your apology.``She lingered in her position a few moments, just to see what his reaction would be, perhaps hoping he'd actually show some sense emotion. Something that would let her know that he really did care, but she was likely to have more luck in far less chance able things. Finally she shook her head and moved out, she didn't even bother closing the door behind her and though She was pissed at him, she knew she couldn't stay mad at him forever. After a bath, and maybe something to eat, she be left to lay in his bed alone and worry about him there, proving to be another sleepless night like all her
nights had been recently since he'd been like this for the past month.
AIendral: Alex's expression did not change. He took the wound without the merest hint, drawing upon his masks as he so often did. In perhaps its own way that was her answer, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of letting her know she'd struck beneath his armor. When she slipped away, he only reluctantly returned to his work, glaring at the pages of a book before slamming it shut with fury. I will not allow this thing to dictate my life! he mused, forcing himself a moment to collect himself. It was.. difficult, forcing Danae away, because the truth was--if he was truly honest with himself, it had very little to do with her. Revealing what transpired to create him.. what he was involved in now would break him down utterly in front of her, and with all this happening he could not--would not bear that right now. So, with the realization that he had, in his own way contributed to her suffering, he buried himself in his work again, the only thing he could find solace in, and tried not to think of how it might still see his fate fall right into their ordained hands.
Danae: Her nightly rounds had finished a little earlier than usual and after spending most of the day to her own duties under several titles, she was glad to say she was heading off to Ebony Hall for a little rest. Things seem to have come to a painfully slow pace on several levels for the Commander. Her relationship outside of work with Alex being one. He had practically buried himself into his work, and while Danae did worry for him, let him be; until tonight. She missed him, missed the time they use to spend together and tonight she was on a one woman mission. As she made her way into the Hall, she passed a few others who did little more than look her way and give a nod, all to which the Greek Commander did the very same. Everyone had become busy with their own things it seemed and when time allowed, they dared to do anything more. With weapons in tow, she made way for the room she and Alex usually spent to together in, but paused as she reached his office. Her head hung low, debating a moment whether she should continue to leave him as he was, or tempt fate and have what she was sure to come, a warning of all sorts. If that's what it took to get him to snap out of this mood of his, then so be it. So after setting her things aside, quietly she opened and cracked open his door. If his back was to her, she'd sneak in, stand in silence a moment and watch him as her head canted to one side and her arms folded over her chest. Finally, she spoke... ``Alex... why don't you take a break and come relax a little?`` she asked as she moved in behind him, letting her hands grip his shoulders as so to attempt to work away the knots within them.
AIendral: "Danae." he barely even looked up, his voice a forced, colorless greeting. Sneaking into a spymaster's room was almost impossible in even the worst of times. The sound of her movement breaking his concentration long enough to pass an errant glance from her before back to his papers, but what was asked earned her little more than a subtly stiffening beneath her fingertips, barely responding at all, and he said, rather distractedly. "I'm sorry, Danae, but I have precious little time to spare. I warned you there would be times like this, and that's precisely what this is. " it was cold and dismissive, even by his standards--and roughly the same thing he told both Vance and Clara on no uncertain terms. He continued to pour over notes then, working in methodical, calculated fashion--in a manner that no doubt would have disturbed his old master...
Danae: Her head tilted back, she rolled her eyes and she sighed before looking back down at him. Her full lips were thin with disappointment even though her hands continued to work at his shoulders. ``Alex... you've been like this for a month now. You need a break... whether it's to simply enjoy one hour of night air or just to sit and talk. This isn't good for you.`` she wasn't going to argue the fact that he had told her this was how it could be at times, but that didn't mean she had to like it. His tone was cold, void of anything that indicated he was who she knew. One hand lifted, letting long slender copper colored fingers comb through his hair. ``I don't care if you spend that time yelling at me... anything to give you a break from this is better than nothing at all.`` she said as she leaned to one side and let her icy blue hues take in his profile.
AIendral: "Our enemies will be working at least as tirelessly as I am, Danae. They are utterly consumed by their purpose and live for nothing else. Fighting them means working at the same level they do. When this is over I can rest as much as I need, but not a moment before." her touch was an errant distraction--a touch that threatened to pull him away from what he was doing, closing his eyes and taking a breath with a grimace as he let his eyes flick over it again. Half believing this to be the work of Claramae or Vance as much as Danae's own initiative. "I'm afraid I really can't afford to get away from my work right now, Danae. I truly am sorry..." he leaned back to pluck at a paper behind her, pulling it to his view and withdrawing in on himself again without so much as a word.
Danae: ``Even those that thrive in the darkness venture out into the light if only to regroup.`` she replied. She thought she saw a hint of want there, a want of giving in and if it was the touch of her fingers in his hair, she'd work that angle. She shifted as he had, only to come back behind him again and instead of letting just the one hand thread fingers through his hair, she used both. There was no short strokes here, they were long strokes, where even the pads of her fingers massaged at his scalp and worked down to the base of his skull. This of course was followed by her fingers kneading the nape of his neck and then repeating the process all over again from the top. ``One hour...that's all I ask.`` she said as she continued to try and persuade him. If he continued to ignore her this way, she had plenty of other things to try.
AIendral: "Damn it, Danae." a bit of him slipped away then at the incessant touch of his lover, and he rubbed at his eyes, suddenly exhausted. "If I take an hour, I will lose hours. Do you have any idea how complex these threads are? How long it can take me to make this connection? I lose all my progress by ceasing now, and I don't have that kind of time to spare. Lives are at stake. My people are at stake. Some of them have been working for days and have had no respite to speak of, and could die at any moment. I deserve no more of a rest than they do, and I will take none, and that is final. Unless you have something of note to contribute on their movements, I'd ask that you leave me to my work. Please... " an odd bit of desperation had crept into his voice, and he fought to stifle it. There was more to it than what she knew of course, but he couldn't even begin to explain it to her. His mind twisted and turned constantly, dissecting every piece of information he had--but he was doing it to distract him from something else. Now she was threatening to bring Alex back, and it was the last thing he could afford to do. For him, letting down his guard--even for an hour, was a terrifying thought.
Danae: She didn't flinch the least bit with his words nor his looks. The Commander knew about sacrificing, but also knew what use would that sacrifice be if she wasn't around to see the end results. ``No.. I don't...what I do know is, you have become reclusive, that the lives lost... can't always be saved regardless how much work you do. You can't save everyone Alex. No matter how hard you try, how much you sacrifice of yourself, someone isn't going to make it and there's not a thing in the world you can do about it. What good are you to them... to us... if you don't have your wits about you. Your mind needs to be refreshed... your body needs to be regenerated...but... if you want to focus on only one thing and one thing only, fine. If you can do it, so can I... I'll sit right here, not move an inch... give up everything else and everyone else to focus on you.`` she added as she continued to do as she had been. She could be just as much as a pain in the ass as he could if not more. He knew this, it was confirmed the night she ordered him to cut her throat. She didn't back down then and she sure as hell wasn't about to back down now.
AIendral: He did not enjoy being spoken to like a jittery Lieutenant first given command in the slightest and his irritation slipped through. "My wits are very much intact Danae, as any of my work can attest to. I sleep when needed, eat when needed and drink when needed. Do not treat me like some fool novice letting his body rot because he can't handle responsibility. " he glared irritably again, just as much for (admittedly unfairly) Danae wrongly guessing the reason he had thrown himself into this as much as anything, only confirming what he already knew as far as he was concerned. "I warned you what inflicting yourself into my world would bring you, but so help me Danae I will not drag you fully into it. Go back to your men, waste no time with me." the last part he knew would be particularly upsetting--it would also be one of the few ways to actually get her to leave. If he had to push buttons to get it done, so be it. "I have no need nor want of your attentions right now."
Danae: She hadn't meant for it to sound like she was insulting his intelligence, not in the least and for that, she wished she had perhaps better worded things. She moved around so she was eye to eye with him, letting him know she heard every word he spoke. His glare failed to make her waver and instead she crossed her arms and leaned on one leg. ``Your warning was heeded... and I don't need for you to drag me into it. I willingly go and I don't need your permission to care for you. As for my time here, I don't see me wasting any... I'm right where I'm needed, whether you like it or not. His last sentence however, did sting, it stung like a slap in the face, but she knew it was likely as so to make her angry and leave him. Something she simply wasn't going to do. ``You think you can get away by lying to yourself, lying to me? Alex... you should know better by now. I see things in people they fail to see in themselves. You know this... `` she replied in stern tone. ``You need me... you want me... like it or not.`` she added before she moved and plopped herself right on his desk.
AIendral: Of course, if it was one thing she had learned about Alex so far, it was that he didn't believe in half-measures. "Danae, I've made a life out of lying to people and making them believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Many women did believe I loved them with every ounce of my heart, many leaders thought I was fanatically loyal to their cause, many believed I was totally innocent of any wrong doing. I've made a lifetime out of lying. So the question you should be asking is what I was lying to you about in the first place, because experience has taught me that I can, in fact, get away with it." all clinical, almost cold. She moved to sit on his desk, he moved to stand up, hands folded behind him. "I'd ask you to leave again but I sincerely
doubt it would have much effect at this point. If you insist on getting in my way, I'll simply take my work elsewhere. Have a pleasant evening." and just like that he slipped past her and to the door. It was heart-wrenching playing mind-games like this, but he needed everyone at a distance right now, and couldn't make anyone understand that. What the hell else was he supposed to do? Of course they'd hate him for it--but the alternative, in his mind, was far worse.
Danae: She continued to sit there, one leg secure on the desktop, the other bracing itself on the floor. Her arms remained crossed and she eyed him with her icy blue eyes. He began to speak, and her she remained as stiff as any statue found in this Hall. A portion of what he said, did have her thinking, thinking he was full of bullchyt. He could try to ignore her all he wanted, but the fact was, she could follow and would follow him. She knew what he had tried to do, and that reverse physiology chyt didn't work with her. He moved to leave and she lifted herself off the desk to follow. He was only a few paces ahead of her and she'd allow it to stay like that to begin with. She didn't hate him at all. In fact... if anything... this just made her care for him all the more. Because with what she was seeing, it was something few people, if any, ever got to witness.
AIendral: Alex practically ignored her the whole way, clearly frustrated and about a heartbeat away from asking his men to drag her off the damned compound, instead stalking out Vance, who was currently speaking in hushed tones to a few of his noviates. "Take the other men and venture into the Aqua ducts.
You're looking for one of Krause's agents. I want him brought back here, and I want him alive, understand?" Vance passed a half-glance at Danae, clearly aware of what was going on but saying nothing. He looked distinctly distressed by what was going on. "As you wish, boss. Come on lads, time to earn our pay," he nodded and slipped past the two, passing Danae one last glance before Alex continued to make his rounds, meeting with several others. Not once did he even so much as look at her way.
Danae: He could ignore her all he wanted. She was simply following, hands behind her back, clasped at the base where her back arched and meet with the feminine curves to follow. She only wanted an hour of his time and if it was spent in silence like this, it was fine by her. As they reached Vance and the others, she met his gaze when he looked to her, only giving a nod and wearing the stoic expression she normally wore when set in a certain mind frame. As Alex gave his orders for Vance and the others to move off and follow, Danae said nothing and once they moved off, Danae let her eyes leave them and turn back to the backside of Alex. As he made his rounds, she followed, not saying a single word to him nor those they met. Only giving a nod to indicate acknowledgments both ways.
AIendral: It had become a waiting game--though he knew that it was not a game he would win. He could ignore her for hours and stubbornness would see her through. But he could not help but allow a small though to slip by. But she will not succeed either. She follows, but you do not have to give in, and then what is achieved? it wouldn't precisely be impeding to his work.. so, he did just that. It took the better part of an hour to speak to noviates, to mete out orders and receive reports, heedless of the looks they gave to Danae, from confusion to incredulity, before he saw him back in his office. Upon returning to it (doubtless she wouldn't let him get enough distance to get a chance to literally lock her out) and returning to his desk, going right back to writing. Fine, let her follow. As long as she refused to get in his way,she was doing nothing but wasting time... and as much as he hated to leave her so cold, he could not afford to tear himself away from this. Not now...
Danae: A waiting game indeed and how right he was that he'd sorely lose. There had been times where she was perched in trees for days on end, waiting for the right time to make her move. Stubbornness was something Danae could say she had perfected and no one could argue that. As he continued on about his work, she remained ever close. The others that picked up on whatever it was going on between she and him, to give her their looks, she found amusing. Even had to smirk a couple of times. If they thought their looks or whispered comments would bother her, they didn't know her very well. Once his visits were done she could see they were making their way back to his office and her things had been placed just outside his door the first time around. As they moved in, her belongings were gathered and brought inside with her. He reclaimed his seat and Danae? Well she took up residence at the wall next to him where she was in his range of view. She hunkered down on the floor, choosing it over the chairs nearby and sat Indian style with her back pressed against the wall. A carving knife and a piece of wood was pulled out. As he went back to his work, she say quietly carving away at the piece of wood in her hand. The shavings would fall where they would, and if she had to, she'd clean up the mess herself.
AIendral: Hours passed in complete silence, immersed in his work without so much of a hint of interest in her going ons. Finally, after what was an aching silence between the two, he spoke, jarring in the soundness, but still utterly cold. "...Danae... I can't do this right now. I just can't. Please... leave me alone. You can't help me right now by doing anything but... leaving me to this. I am asking you... honestly. Just... leave me be. " he rubbed his eyes again and struggling to put a rein back on his emotions. She just couldn't be made to understand the scope of what was driving him right now, and the very act of explaining it would kill him.
Danae: Passing time like this was nothing knew to her. She had traveled lands near and far, been on missions where they left her to do this very thing at times and so it came easy no doubt. When he finally decided to speak, she failed to lift her gaze in his direction. Keeping quiet still... she wasn't wanting to play games here, but if its what it took to make him see she wanted to understand, she was more than willing to play them and play them by his rules. Long slender fingers continued to both hold the wood and work the knife before she finally decide to look up at him. He had wanted to play the silent treatment, and so here they were. She moistened her lips before reluctantly speaking, which meant a partial submission in a sense, but felt it was needed. ``I'm not doing anything but sitting quietly, in utter silence, leaving you to your work as you wanted. `` In order for her to be made to understand, he'd need to do something, something that would require explanations. However little they may be... otherwise, she'd never understand and would continue to sit right where she was. She uncrossed her legs, letting them stretch out straight and cross at the ankles. A few shavings were gathered up and placed in the small bin next to her before she took up the knife and wood again and looked to him as if waiting for him to say something more, whatever it might be.
AIendral: "Damn it, Danae. " he said, much as he had in his own head half a dozen times. "You wanted honesty and now you got it. Leave me be. I am aware you are trying to help, but you can not, in any way, help me with this. I am dealing with unfinished business from years ago and I will not sleep easily until it is resolved. You can't help. Go back to your men and your duties and leave me to mine or so help me I'll have my men force you out of here. I can't...afford to play this blasted game with you any longer!" the words came out like a hiss, frustrated and clearly exhausted. There would be no explanation coming--none he could possibly give that would sufficiently explain it. God, he just wanted to be left to his own and sort this out. He had to if he wanted to see this through.
Danae: A single dark brow arched at his yelled at her. She didn't flinch of course, there was little that could scare or startle her and this was not one of those things or times. ``Did you ever think that maybe I'm not here to help, that I'm here just because I want to be close to you. To spend a little time with you, however little it might be in whatever way it can be had? Alex, I realize that their have been, are, and will be times I can't help. That's something I'm more than willing to come to terms with, given the right reasons. And as far as games are concerned, I'm not the one who started them...but I sure as hell will finish them. If there is something you want me to know, quit beating around the f**king bush about it, have some balls and tell me damn it. Because I'm sure that whatever it is that you share, however little it might be, would shine a hell of a lot more light on the subject than you think. And don't bother calling your men, half of them can't keep up with my ass anyway. But I'll save you the trouble of cleaning up your own mess and see myself out.`` she moved to stand to her feet, putting away her knife and the piece of wood, brushing the shavings off her body and then gathering them up before placing them in the bin. She turned to him, glared with burning ice blue hues and began to gather up her things.
AIendral: Alex only glared than, and withdrew even further, staring balefully as she went on her tirade. Perhaps it was for the better, in the end. She would resent him for it--he could hardly fault her for that, but if she persisted in involving herself? how would that end? He couldn't live with that answer. No matter what he did. So he remained utterly silent. She's from a world completely separated from the one we live in. Letting her know a word of it puts her in danger she could scarcely comprehend. This way is better. Better for all of them. "...I'm sorry, Danae. More than you know." was all he said in reply, and with that he turned back to his work, burying himself into his parchment without another word.
Danae: She saw the glare he gave her and it seem to only add to the already boiling temper within. ``Don't you dare look at me like that... you don't have any rightful reason.`` the last of her items was hefted up and hoisted over a shoulder. She made her way to the door as he gave his apology and she paused. The Commander sniffed, turned to look at him and smirked in a mocking fashion. ``Sorry? you're sorry? No you're not... f**k you and f**k your apology.``She lingered in her position a few moments, just to see what his reaction would be, perhaps hoping he'd actually show some sense emotion. Something that would let her know that he really did care, but she was likely to have more luck in far less chance able things. Finally she shook her head and moved out, she didn't even bother closing the door behind her and though She was pissed at him, she knew she couldn't stay mad at him forever. After a bath, and maybe something to eat, she be left to lay in his bed alone and worry about him there, proving to be another sleepless night like all her
nights had been recently since he'd been like this for the past month.
AIendral: Alex's expression did not change. He took the wound without the merest hint, drawing upon his masks as he so often did. In perhaps its own way that was her answer, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of letting her know she'd struck beneath his armor. When she slipped away, he only reluctantly returned to his work, glaring at the pages of a book before slamming it shut with fury. I will not allow this thing to dictate my life! he mused, forcing himself a moment to collect himself. It was.. difficult, forcing Danae away, because the truth was--if he was truly honest with himself, it had very little to do with her. Revealing what transpired to create him.. what he was involved in now would break him down utterly in front of her, and with all this happening he could not--would not bear that right now. So, with the realization that he had, in his own way contributed to her suffering, he buried himself in his work again, the only thing he could find solace in, and tried not to think of how it might still see his fate fall right into their ordained hands.
