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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 10:57:19 GMT -5
He glanced at her. "Better than what?" he asked quietly.
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 11:06:34 GMT -5
*Sarah dropped her eyes and gave a slight shrug, embarrassed to be called out on finishing the thought.*
"I don't know. I figured that you didn't want to spend the rest of...well, forever, tied to a bed."
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 11:13:04 GMT -5
Norman looked away.
"No, I don't," he said. "Which is why... if this doesn't work, I want you to kill me."
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 11:22:43 GMT -5
*There was a long pause.*
"Kill you?" *Sarah whispered, horrified at the thought.*
"But...just because one man can't...it doesn't mean that you can't get better, Norman." *She tried to assure him.*
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 11:27:10 GMT -5
Norman's serious expression dissolved into a habitual embarrassed smile.
"Oh, I know," he said. "I don't mean him. I mean... this isn't the first... I've never been right, Sarah. My whole life. And I'm getting to the point where it doesn't seem like anything is going to work. He's not the first to try. I don't want to spend my whole life tied to a bed. But at some point you have to ask what the most compassionate thing is."
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 11:44:11 GMT -5
"And you want me to..." *Sarah couldn't even force herself to say it.*
How can you ask that of me? You have to know that I...have feelings for you.
*But she couldn't burden him with that. Not now. Probably not ever. Not when he was already in so much pain.*
"I..." *She shook her head nervously.* "I don't know if I can..."
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 12:20:37 GMT -5
He felt bad. Guilty for putting this on her. He pasted on a smile, the sort of smile that used to come so easily, before he knew it was all him doing these things. One might see the strain about the eyes, but most people would only see a handsome, sheepish young man.
"Forget it," he said. "I shouldn't have asked you. I'll be fine, Sarah. I'm sorry to make you worry more about me. You've done so much. Don't think about it again."
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 14:01:16 GMT -5
*But the problem with trying not to think about something was that was all that Sarah found herself thinking on, no matter how hard she tried. In her desperation, she caught his cheek with her small hand, shaking her head slowly.*
"I'm sorry. I know it must be hard. But..."
It's so drastic.
*She'd failed so many times; been let down, punished for her shortcomings. This though hung heavy about her, threatening to drown her without a moment's notice. But she did everything in her power to stay strong.*
"I don't want you to die." *She whispered.*
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 15:39:00 GMT -5
"Oh," Norman breathed, because he didn't know what else to say. He had to process this. He... Well, she was a kind person. She didn't like talk of death, or thinking about it. Who did? Not someone sweet like Sarah. She was a vampire, sure, but she wasn't a monster. And if anything, it only made him realize how out of place he was in the world. She'd gone through that ordeal, and come out this way.
He'd been a monster before he'd ever been bitten.
"Well," he said with nervous jocularity, "I'll do my best. F-for you."
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 15:53:49 GMT -5
*Her eyes softened. It was getting worse and it was her fault. And for that Sarah felt terrible. But she tried to remember their agreement. The way things had to be.*
"For you. You shouldn't have to do it for me." *She offered gently, wondering if she'd ever be able to right this.*
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 17:19:03 GMT -5
He couldn't remember the last time he'd been able to do anything for himself. But it made her uncomfortable, he could see that now. Damn it, he wasn't any good at people. Well, he just wouldn't tell her.
"Okay," he said, too easily. She couldn't know it was easier for him to have someone to do things for. That he wasn't good enough. "Okay, for me."
She was stuck. He felt it. She couldn't let go now, and that was his fault, and he shouldn't have drug her into this.
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 10, 2009 17:30:20 GMT -5
((It's sad they have that in common.))
*Sarah seemed to brighten a little easier. Maybe because she couldn't take the darkness anymore. There had to be some hope.*
"Let's get you home then." *She smiled innocently.* "I still have a bit of time before dawn. We might read some more, if you like."
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 10, 2009 18:12:52 GMT -5
One corner of his mouth turned up in a sad smile.
"You should be... doing something else," he said. "At least sometimes," he hastened to add. "I hate that you're cooped up, with me. I wish..."
He trailed off, not wanting to voice something stupid, something impossible.
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Post by Sarah von Krolock on Feb 11, 2009 8:39:55 GMT -5
*Sarah blinked expectantly, brows lifted as she watched him. But when he didn't continue, she leaned in with concern hanging about her.*
"What?" *She was a little too blunt and tried to soften it.* "What is it that you wish?"
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Post by Norman Bates on Feb 11, 2009 12:43:03 GMT -5
He ducked his head.
"Oh... It's silly," he protested. "I wish we could do something else. But it's too dangerous. I shouldn't even be out here. If we encounter people, if I smell... I might not be able..."
But he wanted to, he didn't even know, take her somewhere. A walk, the theater, something.
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