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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 1:09:10 GMT -5
Post by Rudeth Volkova on Jan 8, 2010 1:09:10 GMT -5
The dull glow of the balcony cleaning lights provided the sole light source. The dark was much easier to think in, and Rudeth knew -- through experience, unfortunately -- the the auditorium in complete darkness was nearly impossible to navigate, particularly when there were props scattered about.
The set for Masque was still half-assembled; pieces to the Christmas play were strewn about, ready to be painted. A few stray props from performances past were discarded in strange spots, possibly from the recent interference with the auditorium. The curtains were drawn back, finally untangled from where one of the curtain pullers had gotten stuck in the ropes, so that the backstage was mostly visible behind the sets.
Rudeth had spread the feathered cloak, the very same strange soft black thing that he had found after waking, across the stage, laying down on it. It was about this spot where he had been standing when everything went to hell. He couldn't remember much after the Red Death entered... things got very dark then.
But he remembered the feeling of something shattering, and feeling very cold. And then he saw the look on his mother's face.
It wasn't helping matters that his parents had fought nonstop since his birthday, or that Alex had gotten hurt in the process, or that Hitomi had witnessed the entire thing.
He had told Smoke that he needed to use the bathroom, though he was fairly certain Smoke wasn't fooled. Smoke probably knew more about what was going on with his family than he did. He mostly just needed some time to himself. He wasn't quite in the mood to run lines for a Christmas play. And the dark, cool auditorium was helping.
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 1:27:19 GMT -5
Post by Aritha Bianca Kairavi on Jan 8, 2010 1:27:19 GMT -5
Aritha came in slowly, hesitantly. Rudeth probably wanted to be alone... But she knew the pain of losing someone one loved greatly. His birthday had been... well, she couldn't remember having a birthday as bad as Rudeth's had been. She traveled through the dark easier than Rudeth could, and so traversed the darkness with the grace she always had.
Settling on the balls of her feet just out of easy reach, she watched him, biting her lip. "I know you probably want to be alone... but you... don't exactly have anyone to turn to. If you need an ear, I'm here for you. I remember losing my mother... the connection isn't the same, but I have a vague idea of your pain..."
One hand reached out for him just a little, her dark eyes full of sorrow and just short of tears. She hated seeing pain in her friends... And she would like to think of Rudeth as something a bit more, maybe.
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 2:10:17 GMT -5
Post by Rudeth Volkova on Jan 8, 2010 2:10:17 GMT -5
Rudeth sat up slowly, watching Aritha's silhouette in the dim lighting. He hadn't talked to her much in the last few weeks--but then, he hadn't spoken much to anyone at all.
Rudeth caught her hand between his, his eyes slowly focusing on her in the dark. Her pale hair caught the light more easily than anything else in the room, making her stand out from the dark scenery.
"It's alright," he replied softly. "I don't mind if you stay."
It might help him, to have her here. She was with him then, and though he couldn't remember why -- he didn't even know if there was a reason -- he felt very comfortable around her.
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 2:26:34 GMT -5
Post by Aritha Bianca Kairavi on Jan 8, 2010 2:26:34 GMT -5
Aritha moved closer and sat beside him, her legs to the side so she could sit closer. Just holding his hand, she just looked at him, trying to see what he needed the most. Probably just knowing he wasn't alone.
Honestly, no matter what she said, she couldn't understand how he really felt. He'd known Thrall all his life, had probably shared everything with him. There had to be a hole nothing could ever fill. She knew of the connection twins had. Slowly, she put her other hand on his cheek, smiling sadly at him. No words; she couldn't possibly say anything to make him feel better and she knew it.
Maybe knowing he wasn't alone would help.
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 3:04:33 GMT -5
Post by Rudeth Volkova on Jan 8, 2010 3:04:33 GMT -5
Rudeth closed his hand lightly over the one on his face, his eyes not quite meeting hers. She was strangely warm. Were vampires normally so warm, or was it just her?
"You know," he said, his quiet voice echoing strangely in the cavernous auditorium, "I haven't cried. Not once." He glanced back at her. "It's not that I don't want to, or... I just--I wake up. I look around. And a part of me just keeps expecting to see Thrall right there, you know? I just doesn't feel like he's gone...and they never found the body."
He squeezed her hand tighter, shuddering. "Don't get me wrong, I--it's not like I really think he's coming back or--I know he's gone, but..." His voice cracked slightly. "It's like a part of me just won't accept it."
He sighed. "You probably think that sounds ridiculous, don't you?"
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 15:11:22 GMT -5
Post by Aritha Bianca Kairavi on Jan 8, 2010 15:11:22 GMT -5
Aritha pressed her hand a little against his cheek, "It doesn't sound ridiculous at all. It took me months to cry after my mother died, and I watched it happen."
She gave him a sad smile, pulling him into a close hug. "You're in shock. I barely knew him and I can barely believe he's gone. He was your twin... part of you. And I think... the lack of something solid, something concrete, just makes it worse."
Resting her cheek against his hair, she just held him. "Eventually... eventually it will hit you, and hit you hard. Until then and afterward, I am here for you. No matter what, okay? If you need to talk or anything, you just come tell me. Or if you just need someone to sit with you. Okay?"
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 19:03:25 GMT -5
Post by Rudeth Volkova on Jan 8, 2010 19:03:25 GMT -5
His eyes stung, more from Aritha's words than sorrow for his twin. Rudeth embraced Aritha tightly as he ran his fingers through her long hair. It was surprisingly helpful to have her with him, despite wanting to be alone. Aritha understood the pain of losing someone close to her.
His forehead rested against her shoulder. He took slow, easy breaths, smelling the faint scent of her shampoo. It gave him something external to focus on.
"Thanks for helping," he said quietly. "You've been a really good friend, Bianca."
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Alone
Jan 8, 2010 19:17:24 GMT -5
Post by Aritha Bianca Kairavi on Jan 8, 2010 19:17:24 GMT -5
Aritha nodded a little, "You are welcome. I only do what I think is needed. Right now... that's staying with a good friend of mine who's going through a rough time."
She rubbed his back a little, her arms still around him, still holding him close but with a gentleness that wasn't patronizing, and wasn't enough to make the gesture pointless. Putting one hand on his head, she just gently ran strands of it through her fingers. He was warm in her arms... warmer than she was used to. Was it all him, or was it her feelings too?
Shaking her head slightly, she just held him comfortingly. It didn't matter. He was a friend, and in distress, and no matter how else she may have or may not have felt, she was going to be here for him. And not let her emotions get in the way, even if in a way she felt guilty and wasn't even sure why. She almost felt as though she had been... responsible for keeping Rudeth away from his brother. But she wasn't doing that now, and so she would stay here for Rudeth, give him a shoulder if he needed it. After all, that's what friends were for, right?
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