if once was great, why not a second time through?

[called_lioness]

It's warm--well, hot, really--and Lucy's been tree climbing again.

Some things you don't get tired of, and hanging from a limb like a monkey is apparently one of them.

She's terribly mature, really, but she's also enjoying the pull under the knees and the rush of blood to her head.

Maybe not terribly mature.

Comments

[last_adam]

"Surprise!?"







"Please let me fix it, Lucy."

[called_lioness]

She should, Lucy knows, as she lifts her head.

She obviously should. And then no one will know. And it can be over.

And she opens her mouth to say, "Yes," and says, "No," instead, staring straight out at the lake.

[last_adam]

And Adam opens his mouth, and then closes it again, and then opens and closes it once more.






. . .

Yeah, he has no idea what to say.

[called_lioness]

"No," she says again, and still doesn't look back at him.

"I won't."

[last_adam]

"Why?"

[called_lioness]

"Because assisted suicide doesn't appeal to me today?" she says lightly.

[last_adam]

"That's not FUNNY."

[called_lioness]

"Who said I was joking?" Lucy asks, looking back at him finally out of the corner of her eye.

[last_adam]

"It's not-

I mean, you weren't-







it's how you ARE. were."

[called_lioness]

"I know." Sharply.

"Do you think I ever get to forget that? I know, Adam. But I'm--I'm not."

[last_adam]

"But that's MY FAULT and-"






He just shakes his head.

[called_lioness]

"I'll forgive you that fault."

[last_adam]

His head goes back into his hands, and he rocks, slightly.

[called_lioness]

"I'm sorry, Adam."

[last_adam]

"I'm-"


He's not even sure what. Sorry? Yes, in some ways. And so very much not in others. He lets out a deep sigh and stands.

"I should..."

[called_lioness]

"Don't suppose you'll come tell Caspian with me?"

[last_adam]

He looks over at her like she's grown three extra heads.

Or, y'know, like he can't imagine why she'd want him to do that, unless she wishes him dead. But then, maybe that's just as well.





"Okay."

[called_lioness]

"Okay." Clearing her throat. "Okay. We should--do that. Then." She nods, and rises to her feet after a moment, rubbing the back of her neck.

"We should do that. I should."

[last_adam]

He nods, then, and clears his own throat, and puts his hand at the small of her back.

[called_lioness]

And it's something like reassurance as she takes a breath and they walk back to the bar.

She's forgotten her book behind.

(Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it?--every, every minute?)

Later, she'll think about that, but now

(No. Saints and poets, maybe--they do some.)

she has other things on her mind.

(exit stage left)