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[capturedevotion]

"You've reached Dave Finch. I'm unavailable at the moment, but leave me your name and number, and I'll return your call. Thank you."

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[capturedevotion]

[The silence is something Dave welcomes. Where can they go from there, really?

He shifts, getting more comfortable, and his eyelids droop. Sleep sounds so nice right now and he had been getting ready for bed... It doesn't take him long to give in, staring into the fire as he drifts off, arm still around the princess.]

[onlyhisdreams]

[The last thing Lorna remembers before falling asleep was opening her mouth to tell her companion they should get back before they're missed. The words never came out.

That little flame, the idea of running away, raged like a wildfire in her dreams. They left the Institute without a word. They traveled to places she had never been, and all of it looked suspiciously like what she'd seen on television or in books. No matter. During their adventures, the two of them fell madly in love. They also helped mutants and there was definitely a pegasus involved somehow.

Meanwhile, back in the real world, the sun has risen and the two of them are tangled up in each other on the couch. Probably for warmth, seeing how the fire burned itself out.]

[capturedevotion]

[Dave doesn't dream as sweetly; there's no pegasus, no running away, nothing of the sort. There's nothing that plagues him either. On the whole, it's a dreamless night; Dave is a simple man.

Sometime around sunrise, he comes to enough to readjust his position, his neck stiff from hanging over the back of the couch. One of his hands is very warm though and he burrows it further down for warmth (right between poor Lorna's cleavage) without a second thought.

Should she open her eyes, she'd find him with his mouth hanging open unattractively like a dead fish, drooling just a little.]

[onlyhisdreams]

[Open her eyes? Why would she ever want to do something like that? As she slowly comes back into her body, she begins to realize that she didn't fall asleep alone. This doesn't feel like her bed, even though it's about as small and uncomfortable. There's also someone with her. Someone very close. Touching her...

She seriously must still be dreaming. If she opens her eyes, the dream might stop. No need to do that. Her hand feels over Dave's side. She leans her head up and her lips come in contact with his neck. Then his jaw. Aaand now she's kissing the corner of his mouth.

Her brain is definitely not in working order right now. Please check back later.]

[capturedevotion]

[That? That felt nice. The soft lips on the skin of his neck send a shiver down his spine and he draws the source closer. This is a dream, surely, but it is a nice dream and in it, Dave doesn't see Lorna, doesn't even remember her.

This is someone else, but not some nameless woman.

It doesn't hit him in his partially awake state where they are and he turns his head to kiss her full on the mouth, slow and sleepy. His arm is still around her shoulders and down the front of her nightdress.

He breathes a sigh against her lips, breath most likely unpleasant.]

Eliza..?

[onlyhisdreams]

[He's kissing her.

Dave just kissed her.

This isn't a dream. This is real. They fell asleep together, his hand is...wow. That whole being cold thing? Is suddenly no problem. At all. His lips are soft and, for some reason, very moist. Her heart is pounding. She can feel him breathe against her lips. Well, they both have morning breath. That's all right. Everything right now is fine.

Everything is--

Wrong and horrible and painful.

Lorna can't jerk herself away from him fast enough, but his meaty arm is extremely heavy. At least she manages to get his goddamn hand off of her chest. And then, because they're friends and she loves him so much, she shoves him with all her might and shouts:]

Get your damned hands off of me!

[capturedevotion]

[That is not the voice he expects. That is not even the reaction he expects, given what had just been going on and he doesn't know where to put his hands because he's not entirely sure where they are.

Dave opens his eyes in surprise, finally coming back down to earth and...

Oh.

Oh shit.

Even as she shoves his hand away, his arms are flying off her like she's on fire. He goes down and hits the arm rest of the couch, already in the process of scrabbling away backwards. There cannot be enough distance between them.]

That was -- [He kind of wants to puke. It would be undignified, but it would be more pleasant than the lingering feel of her lips on his.]

I am so sorry, I did not mean -- !

[onlyhisdreams]

[Put distance between them? Sounds great. The second she's able, she practically throws herself off the couch and stumbles to her feet. Because of him, she has to adjust the top of her nightgown. She feels vile. She doesn't know whether to scream, cry, or grab one of those very appealing wrought iron fire pokers.]

You are never to put your hands on me again!

[Looks like screaming won. And you know that accent she gets when she's upset? Yep. She grabs her boots and fights to get them on while standing up, getting her silk nightgown caught everywhere.]

Let me tell you my secrets, Lorna. Run away with me, Lorna--GO TO HELL, DAVID!

[capturedevotion]

[Dave is just staying put. It seems the safest option right now as he tries to piece everything together.

Then he realizes that he probably is going to hell (not that he's terribly surprised; this is just another nail in his coffin, really.)

In a small voice, he chimes up with:] I was joking about running away, Lorna...

[And god, what does he even say. He puts both hands up in surrender, trying to show he means no harm, didn't want to cause any in the first place.]

I did not mean to put my hands on you in the first place!

[onlyhisdreams]

I wish you had!

[That jumps out of her mouth before she can stop it. Afterwards, the graceful princess nearly falls down while pulling on her second boot. Thankfully, she catches herself, but her face is so red. Tears burn her eyes.

She stomps forward to grab her cape away from the couch, acting like Dave is some wild animal she shouldn't get close to.

You know what? Screw it. She'll just run with this tangent.]

You are a horrible person! [Hence why he's going to Hell.] You use people, you never stop to think about anyone but yourself, you're absolutely reprehensible--

[She's shaking as she puts her cloak on her shoulders.] I am a fool. All this time I thought--no. You will never love anyone but yourself.

[capturedevotion]

[Okay, she just said that. Not that Dave is surprised at this point because he's got the signals down pat now at this point, but it's still pretty awkward and he wants to burn his offending off. Just. Stick it right in the fire until it's nothing.

He stands up slowly; the last thing he wants is to be thrown into a wall again or end up dead at the bottom of the lake.

It was just very unbecoming.]

Lorna, dear, I think you should calm down. It was an accident.

[onlyhisdreams]

[Get up, will he? Once her cloak is clasped around her neck, she takes a few steps back toward the fireplace. Before she even thinks about what she's doing, she picks up a fire poker and holds it out in front of her. Oh, and if that wasn't terrifying enough, for some weird reason the fire poker shapeshifts into a goddamn wrought iron sword.

Lorna actually looks surprised, glancing down at it, then resumes her "I hate you more than spiders" expression. The young woman's hand is shaking.]

The only accident I see is me allowing you into my life.

[capturedevotion]

[Oh, okay then.

With an illusion up, the real Dave takes some steps backward, looking to the locked windows helplessly. The fake one continues to talk.]

Lorna, put the sword down. You don't want to do anything rash...

[onlyhisdreams]

[Put her fire poker sword thing down? No. She instead points it right at him. Then, very slowly, still facing him, she starts to walk toward the den entrance. Tears are officially streaking down her cheeks, but at least she still looks lucid.]

You stay away from me.

[capturedevotion]

[When Dave has a window unlocked and is standing half-in, half-out of it, he allows the illusion to drop away. There is a flat, unamused expression on his face, an underlying note of fear in his features.]

No problem there. You have yourself a good life.

[onlyhisdreams]

[When the illusion fades, Lorna spins to see the real Dave. She's shaking so much she can't even hold up her wrought iron weapon. The tip scrapes the floor. Tears dribble off her chin.

All she can manage to say is this:]

I pray you get everything you deserve.

[It was the kind of thing someone heard before they died in some horrible, fitting way. But she just stands there, feeling like he stabbed her in the chest.]

[capturedevotion]

[It pains him, but comes out of his mouth next is rash. He's never been that way, but he's angry, hurt, and wants to distance himself from her as much as possible. In a way, it's almost subconsciously calculated.

He drops out the window to other side, landing with his slippers in the dirt. Both hands are on the sill, ready to slam it shut.]

By the way, Lorna? I don't believe in Hell. I think you'll be praying a long time.

[onlyhisdreams]

You are a coward.

[She practically spits the words at him, still not moving.]

If your mother could see you now, she would be ashamed.

[capturedevotion]

[It's like those words have taken physical form and slapped him in the face. Quiet fury flashes in Dave's eyes as he stands rooted to the spot.]

Don't you dare bring my mother into this.

[onlyhisdreams]

Why should I refrain?

[Her voice is towing the line between angry and miserable.]

She and I probably have something very much in common. In some manner or another, you have more than likely broken her heart, as well.

[capturedevotion]

[He thinks of running away, the minimal contact he's kept with his parents since that day, the strangely routed postcards for Christmas... It's true, he probably has broken her heart, but that doesn't mean he wants it pointed out.]

Don't talk to me about what you don't understand! It is absolutely NONE of your business!

[onlyhisdreams]

[This is all so hard. Too hard. They need to stop. He needs to leave. Yet here she is, still yelling at him through the window.]

You are wrong. I understand so much more than anyone dares to think. I know who you are--I know that you regret. I see you are terrified and alone, and you will remain that way because you will never let anyone in.

You are petrified of getting hurt!

[capturedevotion]

[That only reason Dave doesn't leave is because of the need to protect his reputation, even if it is to one person.]

I like being alone! I enjoy it! It is a much better use of my time than -- than this!

[onlyhisdreams]

[That's it. That is the final straw.]

My sincerest apologies, are you not entertained? Are you not enjoying the game you play? [The sword clatters to the ground as she makes a grand gesture. Her voice is catching in her throat. Tears blur her vision.]

Here she is, her royal highness Crown Princess Polaris! What a tragic child. This is the first man she ever loves. You are the first man I-- [Her voice breaks. She coughs, then pushes herself to shout.]

Why are you not laughing? Are you not pleased? You are everything my father protected me from! LAUGH, DAMN YOU!

[That's all she can manage. She breaks down into sobs, her face in her hands. She stumbles back and collapses against a wall.]

[capturedevotion]

[There is a part of him that is tempted to offer up a sarcastic laugh, but that would be cruel and her words are like needles in his heart.

He debates on just leaving her here -- now would be a good time -- or going back in and attempting comfort. The latter wins, only because he's worried. It's not like he cares or anything, god.

It takes him a second to get through the window again (he has to calculate for his gut,) but he's back inside and crossing the room slowly. When he reaches the sword he kicks it aside for good measure before crouching near her.]

Lorna, dear, did you bring your inhaler? Is it okay if I give you a hug?