|
Post by Emily on Jun 4, 2007 23:44:16 GMT -5
*Emily glanced at him furtively before she lifted her shoulders lightly.*
"I keep an eye on things in general. She's Nadir's sister, so I suppose I watch over her by extension," *she said carefully.*
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 4, 2007 23:48:21 GMT -5
*Genghis looked slightly suspicious for a passing moment, but then realized something, his expression softening.*
"I would appreciate any insight you might be afforded concerning either of them. I find that...I am out of my element with them both."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 4, 2007 23:52:37 GMT -5
*Emily turned to look at him as if she were seeing him for the first time, a kind of strange new pity in her gaze.*
"Even I can't undo the past," *she said quietly.* "And even if there were threads to delete...there's so much. Too much. And I wouldn't. The past is what makes us who we are--and even if we don't like what we've become, we're all we've got. The past is gone, and the future will always be tomorrow."
*She shook her head and crossed her arms.*
"I don't know that I would help you, even if I knew how. You have to find your own way, Genghis."
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 4, 2007 23:59:59 GMT -5
"I was not asking for you to...undo the past."
*Genghis's brow furrowed.*
"I was merely...never mind. You are right. I will find my own way."
*He turned to pour her some wine and had a cheese and fruit plate summoned.*
"Forgive my rudeness."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 5, 2007 0:06:58 GMT -5
*Emily rubbed her forehead and sighed.*
"I'm sorry. I just...I don't know how to help you. I don't even know what it is you really want or if that's what you need or what's for your own good and what just might be you being selfish because hey, we're all human and I'm rambling again.*
*she pinched the bridge of her nose in a characteristic way that was eerily similar to Nadir's mannerism.*
"What do you want me to do, Genghis? I mean, really? What can I do?"
*She stared at him, her gaze hard, revealing nothing for a long moment.*
"I know...a lot. About you. About what you've done. I just...do."
*She sat on the floor and hugged her knees.*
"I know...about...about Irene."
*At Genghis' blank and unresponsive silence, she bit her lip.*
"You didn't even...well, she has a name. They've all had names. And lives. Before--"
*She raked a hand distractedly through her dark hair.*
"You're kind of a sick man, Genghis. Really sick, you know? If it's culture or personality or nature versus nurture, I don't know and I doubt you do, either."
*She looked up at him.*
"But I'm here anyway. What does that tell you?"
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 5, 2007 7:39:23 GMT -5
*Genghis recoiled slightly at her forwardness. He didn't know how to respond. He had never been particularly good with the female animal. His words came slowly and softer.*
"I am...I am unsure."
*He tilted his head slightly in contemplation.*
"I do not dare to assume, but on spectulation, perhaps you recognise something in me that you identify with yourself. Even through all of the other parts of who I am that repulse you. I am sorry that I displease you, that was not my intention. It is the way that I am, and have been. I thought it would be the way I always would be...but I am not sure anymore. Things are changing too rapidly to be understood."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 5, 2007 9:40:19 GMT -5
"Change is like that, most of the time," *she said.* "Please, stop apologizing for being who you are. No one should have to do that. Ever."
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 5, 2007 17:33:11 GMT -5
*Genghis straightened a bit and hardened, but not in a malicious way, merely as if she had reminded him of his pride. He gave a single nod in acknowledgement.*
"Then perhaps you might tell me more of yourself, since you already know so much of me."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 5, 2007 19:49:15 GMT -5
*Emily scratched her head.*
"There's really not much to know," *she said slowly.* "I'm Gothic, so I'm angry. I think I might be depressed but I won't take pills for it or even call a psychiatrist because I saw what all that did to my uncle."
*She smiled wanly.*
"He just got off all his pills--cold turkey--for the first time in thirty years and he feels better than ever. On the other hand, my grandmother's been on anti-depressants since 1969 and tried similar tactics to quit a few years back and it sent her into a massive tailspin. My grandpa's probably depressed too, but he's pretty deaf since the war and he drinks a lot after his mid-life crisis when he was fifty. I don't remember it--I wasn't even around at the time. But he left my grandmother for a while. I don't even know why he came back. If it was for the kids or what. He should've stayed gone, I think. He'd've been happier and everyone else would have gotten over it and now we wouldn't have to be on tenterhooks about when we're going to have to hire permanent caregivers for him and..."
*she shut her eyes.*
"Sorry. You didn't need to know that. I'm rambling. It really doesn't matter. Where was I? Gothic. I like wearing black, in case you couldn't tell."
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 5, 2007 20:12:41 GMT -5
*Genghis tilted his head slightly.*
"It was my understanding that the Goths were more often found in furs and skins."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 5, 2007 20:20:06 GMT -5
"You're thinking Visigoths and Ostragoths. Ethnically. Modern gothic culture will arise sometime in the late 18th century, in architecture and literature. Usually implies darkness, mystery."
*Her brow furrowed.*
"Petulant overpriviledged kids will abuse this notion in the years to come and use it as an excuse to write awful poetry and siphon their allowances into crap from Hot Topic."
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 5, 2007 20:26:15 GMT -5
*Genghis nodded, still somewhat confused.*
"Indeed."
*He looked up, trying to find a more comfortable subject.*
"So what are you hoping to accomplish in Paris?"
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 5, 2007 20:28:19 GMT -5
"I don't exactly know. I kind of...got here by accident. I'm trusting that I'm here for a purpose and I'm waiting to find out what it is."
*She tilted her head to one side and took an elastic off of her wrist, scraping her hair back into a haphazard ponytail.*
"What are YOU doing in Paris, anyhow? Besides checking up on your kids, I mean. Planning on decorating the city gates with the skulls of all who oppose you?"
*she popped a grape into her mouth and picked up the wine glass to take a sip.*
"...you're not going to stand there all the time, are you? Come on, I'll be embarassed if you don't join me, here."
*she gestured to the refreshments.*
"So. Tell me your plans for conquering Paris. If that's your objective."
|
|
|
Post by Genghis Khan on Jun 6, 2007 7:17:31 GMT -5
*Genghis shifted purposefully to draw a glass of wine to his lips, but his brow furrowed slightly. He wasn't eager to lay out his plans to anyone, but with the power she carried, she probably already knew and was just testing his honesty. He tilted his head to her.*
"I do move to conquer Paris and with it the rest of Europe. However, I acknowledge my limited experience in Western Europe and therefore have set camp to research the Parisian life as a sample. I do not know how long it will take, but it is foolish to attack uninformed."
|
|
|
Post by Emily on Jun 6, 2007 12:20:48 GMT -5
"No doubt. And then what? After Europe--the known world? Do I need to call Dick Cheney and have him issue a terror alert level red?"
|
|