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

[called_lioness]

"Which persons, and why do you look like the cat who's caught the canary?"

[last_adam]

"You're rather the cause of that -- or the motivating factor, anyway. And Thom.


...only, reversed."

[called_lioness]

"I'm glad you added that bit," she laughs. "What on earth did Thom do?"

[last_adam]

Adam shrugs, and wraps his arms around his legs.

"He's not happy with Alanna and I."

[called_lioness]

"I rather got that impression from Alanna recently. Why? Do I need to send the twins after him?"

[last_adam]

Hopefully-

"They could take Puff?"

And then a pause, while he breathes.

"He's not happy about the marriage, among other things. Her birthday present."

[called_lioness]

"Puff would likely object. And why doesn't he like her birthday present. Jealous because he wants one of his own?"

[last_adam]

". . . . NO."

He sighs, then, a deep one.



He tries to think of a good way to put it. There isn't one, really, is there?


"Have you ever noticed the charm around she wears around her neck? Wore?"

[called_lioness]

"In passing. Never gave much thought to it."

Lucy slowly hangs from her knees again to get her head closer to his level.

"...Why, Adam?"

[last_adam]

"It was given to her when she was, I don't know. I guess she had to be thirteen or so. It's protection."

[called_lioness]

"Against what?"

And why does she have a bad feeling suddenly?

[last_adam]

"Pregnancy."

[called_lioness]

"--And she's not wearing it now," Lucy says in a very calm voice that she doesn't entirely recognize.

[last_adam]

"She's wearing a different necklace instead."

[called_lioness]

"And it doesn't protect against pregnancy. Which is why Thom is upset." Same calm voice that now she recognizes. It's the one she used in court when she was younger and wasn't about to let anyone see what she was feeing.

[last_adam]

"Yes. He-


I don't know. He told Alanna that she was going soft, if she had kids, and that if she didn't go soft, she'd be a horrid mother, and either way, it was wrong. Alanna's upset, Thom's-

who knows."

[called_lioness]

"Thom's a brother. They're all arses ninety percent of the time."

Her head's tinging and the blood is pounding at her temples and she's barely aware of it.

"He'll get over it."

[last_adam]

"I hope so. Alanna's-


sometimes it would be easier, I think, if he'd just died."

[called_lioness]

Everything's easier if you just die and no one just dies and no one gets to just die and even if you just die then there's everyone else who goes on and you watch and never touch and she's dizzy from too much blood rushing up and

Lucy's leg loosen without her thinking about it and she falls.

[last_adam]

Adam's on his feet and over at her side like he was there the whole time, pushing lightly on her shoulder, pushing pushing, trying for anything.

[called_lioness]

"Ow."

Quietly, and embarrassed, and then, "Oh, ow," as sensation hits again in her arm and her back.

"That was brilliant of me."

[last_adam]

Trying (and not really succeeding) to slide an arm under her, Adam does manage to keep the panic off his face. Mostly.






"Are you okay?"</small

[called_lioness]

"Don't touch there!" she hisses and recoils before crying out quietly at the movement.

"--Apparently not."

[last_adam]

"Fuck."

And he shouldn't curse, he tries not to in front of Lucy, but it's not really as if that's at the forefront of his mind at the moment.

"Fuck bugger damn shit. Um."

He clenches his eyes shut and peeks out of one lid.

[called_lioness]

"You forgot hell," she murmurs and eyes her arm critically, trying to determine how bad the damage is. It's never as easy on yourself with owgoodGodpainow in the back of your mind.