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birthright_rpg2013-12-06 01:18 am
st_clare) wrote in birthright_rpg2013-12-06 01:18 am
Firmer Ground
She felt much better in the daylight.
Julianna felt much better altogether, really. She'd done the best she could to cleanse her office of the taint of Elfleda's presence. Her desk had been removed and was being replaced. There had been questions about the damage, but she'd deflected them with a set of careful half-truths. The school had asked her to compensate the institution for the expense of a new desk. The cost was an inconvenience, but a small one.
Nathan's calm demeanor had assisted immensely in restoring her equilibrium. When she left his apartment to retrieve her car, he'd given her a hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. She was certain he must have dozens of questions, but he had yet to ask them. If this was going to go on, she'd have to think of something to tell him.
December weather was crisp, even in Nevada, a cold front having come in. It made her smile with fondness, because it reminded her a tiny bit of home. Wisps of clouds dotted the blue sky. She'd left a note with one of Valerie's professors, asking the Slayer to meet her on the patio of a coffee shop near the campus. There was a mug of tea in front of the Watcher, one she'd been sipping from. The stone was in her messenger bag, wrapped in a scrap of cloth. She was glad she'd be rid of the filthy thing.
The sunlight was comforting. Natural light was best to ward of entities like the Corruptress, at least according to the new information she'd obtained. Julianna was still afraid. Only a fool wouldn't have been. But she was no longer scraped down to the bone by terror as she had been. The fear was manageable, and that was the first step towards being proactive.
Julianna felt much better altogether, really. She'd done the best she could to cleanse her office of the taint of Elfleda's presence. Her desk had been removed and was being replaced. There had been questions about the damage, but she'd deflected them with a set of careful half-truths. The school had asked her to compensate the institution for the expense of a new desk. The cost was an inconvenience, but a small one.
Nathan's calm demeanor had assisted immensely in restoring her equilibrium. When she left his apartment to retrieve her car, he'd given her a hug and a chaste kiss on the cheek. She was certain he must have dozens of questions, but he had yet to ask them. If this was going to go on, she'd have to think of something to tell him.
December weather was crisp, even in Nevada, a cold front having come in. It made her smile with fondness, because it reminded her a tiny bit of home. Wisps of clouds dotted the blue sky. She'd left a note with one of Valerie's professors, asking the Slayer to meet her on the patio of a coffee shop near the campus. There was a mug of tea in front of the Watcher, one she'd been sipping from. The stone was in her messenger bag, wrapped in a scrap of cloth. She was glad she'd be rid of the filthy thing.
The sunlight was comforting. Natural light was best to ward of entities like the Corruptress, at least according to the new information she'd obtained. Julianna was still afraid. Only a fool wouldn't have been. But she was no longer scraped down to the bone by terror as she had been. The fear was manageable, and that was the first step towards being proactive.
no subject
The confession had the blonde watching the elder curiously. Julianna could have easily said nothing and just handed it over with the words of caution but she hadn’t. She chose to share that part, she chose to expose her inner workings and worries and while it touched Valerie it left her feeling heavy with guilt. The blonde had been honest but had made a point to not discuss Certain Things that could quite seriously cause some sort of Council wrath. Teeth worried the inside of her lip as the stone got placed on the table between them. She didn’t reach for it, just took a moment to reflect on it, bundled up.
“She found me without it, she’ll find me with it.”
Valerie’s features twisted between a small smile and a grimace as she looked at the elder.
“I’m kinda damned if I do, damned if I don’t.” She shook her head, a slight lift of shoulders. “I’ve had a few strange dreams, I can’t actually remember them though I’ve tried, but when I wake I feel…” Valerie lifted her hands and let out a huff of breath. “Restless. I can actually feel the essence inside me. I have since I met her, and I don’t…” She struggled, forced herself to maintain eye contact. “I have no idea what it means. I mean I don’t feel different, I’m just acutely aware that it’s there.” She cleared her throat. “Merged with me.” She added in a whisper, like it was some sort of dirty secret.
When did life get so complicated? No, wait, when did life get more complicated? University had been a dream, this was meant to be the time of her life, not a risk to it. Since coming to UNLV she’d come to the conclusion that the area itself seemed more dangerous than anywhere else she’d been. Nevada was like a magnet to supernatural activity. It was like an open door frat party only the human’s were the snacks.
“Listen, Julianna there’s something I…” Valerie’s gaze dropped to the mug of cocoa as she worried her lip between her teeth. “Okay, there’s this… It’s just...” A huff of breath to accompany a shift in chair. “I can talk to you, right? This isn’t like you’re a teacher and you’ll go report me to the Council for bad behaviour or anything, I mean there’s not like a rulebook.” One foot began to bounce beneath the table. “Is there?”
no subject
Julianna's mug of tea was still three-quarters full. When she looked at the surface of the liquid, she could see a hazy reflection of the sky. Seconds ticked by on her gold wristwatch. The corners of her mouth turned up into a rueful smile.
"There isn't a 'rulebook', per se," she told Valerie. "There is a list of very strong suggestions that govern the relationship between Watchers and Slayers, and most of those are directed at Watchers. Acceptance of those suggestions has helped to build the Council's tradition of grooming girls into warriors. As for me..."
She paused. She didn't want the blonde getting the wrong impression, that she was some kind of rogue who'd strayed from the beaten path because she'd been unnaturally attached to the girl she'd trained. If she'd been a different person, she could have taken a much darker route to escape the pain. But she genuinely believed in the Council's work, and even now that included most of their ideals. So where did that leave her?
It left her conflicted, is where it left her.
"I did think you seemed troubled when you sat down," she finally said. It was best to be frank. She wanted so badly to return to the place she'd been seven years ago, to be good at this again. That meant establishing trust and honesty.
The Watcher sipped more tea. "If there's something concerning you besides the dreams, you can speak to me about it. Anything you say will remain in the strictest confidence."