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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Jan 19, 2008 19:47:46 GMT -5
*Holmes looked at her steadily, while she was looking away. He couldn't handle her eyes on him, but his wanted to drink her in.*
"I only meant that my concern here is you. I can survive whatever she can devise. But I don't know how to protect you from her. If I leave, she will merely find another way of... Perhaps an even less forgivable manner of getting to you."
*He hated himself for not having solved this yet. For being no further along than he was. The entire thing was mystifying, and he hated that more than anything else.
Almost.
He made an awkward lunge for her hand and grasped it with a fervor he never would have dared, sober.*
"Irene. Listen to me. Whatever she does, whatever she puts between us, I love you. I love you as I've never loved anyone. And I will do everything within my power to see you yourself again. No matter what she does, I will never hate you."
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Post by Irene on Jan 19, 2008 20:15:44 GMT -5
*Irene turned back to face him. For a moment, she could say nothing. Then she kissed him passionatly on the lips, holding him close to her*
"I love you, too."
*Pulling away, she wiped tears from her eyes*
"But I'm bad luck. You'd be better without me."
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Jan 19, 2008 20:26:38 GMT -5
*Holmes' heart quailed.*
"I know it cannot remain so between us," *he said bitterly.* "I am not that much of a fool. Were it not for... Well, there is your husband. And my... work."
Rather, my entire character.
"If it helps, in the days ahead, just know that she will not succeed in turning my heart from you."
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Post by Irene on Jan 19, 2008 21:28:34 GMT -5
*She nodded, looking down*
"I feel awful about this. I do love my husband, but I love you too. I haven't meant to, but I've hurt everyone I care about."
*She sighed*
"I would never want to keep you from your work. I know it is what you live for, and your calling."
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Jan 21, 2008 13:33:08 GMT -5
*He pulled her closer, as if he could block out the rest of the world and everything that lay between them if only he could lessen the distance. He cradled her head in his hand.*
"Shh, Irene. It was not your doing. That doctor did something. I cannot yet determine what it was. But he... fractured you somehow. I must put you back. And when I do... I stake no claim on your life or affections."
She loves you.
*He could not bring himself to acknowledge it. He knew very well the power his personality had for dependency. He could not allow himself to need her more than he did. For she was not his, and the world was not theirs.*
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Post by Irene on Jan 21, 2008 17:33:20 GMT -5
"I understand. ANd I do love my husband, he nearly died for me..."
*She put her head in her hands*
"I wish there was something I could do...that I could cut her out with a knife, anything to drive her out!"
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Jan 22, 2008 11:25:29 GMT -5
*Holmes placed a hand on her back in a paltry attempt to comfort her. He knew there was nothing he could do, nothing he could say. Even his love was a dull, unwanted thing. A man like him could offer her nothing.*
"Sometimes it is the finest minds which are most susceptible to this kind of ill," *he said quietly.* "But we should go."
I can walk now. And she might return.
*He rose and offered her his hand.*
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Post by Irene on Jan 25, 2008 11:20:30 GMT -5
*Pulling herself together, she took his hand*
"Alright. Wherever you lead."
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Post by Sherlock Holmes on Jan 25, 2008 12:00:54 GMT -5
*Holmes was absurdly pleased by the touch of her hand on his. After what had just happened--what she had awakened to--he would not have blamed her if she could never look upon him again. The thought gave him pain, certainly, but that did not make it go away. Indeed, he wondered how much greater the pain would become, the longer he allowed this... this thing inside him to grow. To fester.
On top of that, she would not be safe from herself, no matter where they went.*
"There is an inn," *he said.* "No one should know you, there."
((Le Rouge...))
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