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[called_lioness]

Lucy's curled up in a pile of leaves.

She's still, mostly, in a grand mood, which is what really must be the case when one's husband has stopped, as she puts it, "being stupid," and when there's a mug of hot chocolate to warm you on a cool day, and when even though you're not sleeping all that much more you find you're not as tired as you were a week ago.

So she can curl up in the leaves and look at the clouds, as Corella's been cared for, and hum to herself a little.

Comments

[called_lioness]

He's getting eyed.

A lot.

"...Why?"

[last_adam]

Because you're acting disturbingly strange.











"No reason."

[called_lioness]

She sighs and flops back in the leaves.

"You're so queer today," he's informed.

[last_adam]

"M'queer every day."


It's said as an off-side, even as he's paying attention to other things, deeper things, shaking his head in confusion, and frowning.

[called_lioness]

"Does Alanna know?"





Yes, she's smirking, a little.

[last_adam]

"'course she knows."


Conversation, rote, give an answer, ask a question, smile politely.

[called_lioness]

"Oh, good," she says cheerfully.

That's it.

[last_adam]

"Maybe you should take a nap, Lucy."

[called_lioness]

"Why? I actually have energy for once, why waste it? It won't last," and it's a bit wistful.

[last_adam]

I'm worried about you.

But that's not worth the energy of the words.




"Just a thought."

[called_lioness]

"I'm tired of sleeping," she says, and it's a little wistful, still, and it's softer, and maybe because it's not directed with irritation it just sounds honest beyond that.

[last_adam]

Adam nods, and sighs, and he doesn't know what to say, because now his head hurts, and he settles down into the leaves.

[called_lioness]

She doesn't want to sleep

(oh, let me wake up)

ever again, really, if she could just get away with it. As it is, she looks up at the clouds and then over at him.

"...Sorry I snapped at you," and it's shy and sheepish, cause she knows she did, she does, and she didn't mean to, even though it's entirely his fault because he kicked her.

[last_adam]

"S'alright."

'Cause that's not the problem, never was, and he closes his eyes 'cause he can't really stop.

[called_lioness]

She doesn't know what the problem is, then, and just watches him with a puzzled frown before going back to studying the sky.

There's too much to see to close your eyes, she thinks.

[last_adam]

There's more than she'd ever know, behind the lids of Adam's eyes.



"Can't wake up yet."

[called_lioness]

He's not supposed to do that. He's not, and she's furious, except it's Adam, so she doesn't mind, he's just not suppoesd to, except maybe he is and it's that he wasn't and she doesn't know how that changed or why it's okay now except it is and she feels angry anyway and she doesn't know why.

But she doesn't sound angry, just almost sad, as she looks at the clouds and says, "But I want to." Sad and small and young and she never sounds the last two, almost. Not any more.

[last_adam]

He's Adam, and he does what he does, and there isn't much more than that.



"You're not ready."

[called_lioness]

"It's not fair!"

But he's right, and she knows it, because there's so much more to walk and she can't get there yet, even if she ran every night, there's always more, but it isn't fair and it hurts so much to say it and to add, not aware if she's crying or not, "Why can't it ever even once be fair?" because it doesn't feel like it ever has been, not really.

It would be a temper tantrum if there weren't so much grief and pain in it because it's just not fair.

[last_adam]

Adam sits up then, sighing, or breathing maybe, and offers her a hand, an arm, something.



"Faster won't help," and it's quiet, almost whispered.

[called_lioness]

His hand is always there and always has been and sometimes she thinks that's the most constant thing around, that Adam will hold her hand, and she's quiet and wiping at her eyes with her other hand as she says, "I know." And she does, but it still hurts.

[last_adam]

"I'm sorry," is all he says, and he doesn't say more, because he won't take away the hurt, and he can't help her.






Not with this.

[called_lioness]

She doesn't say "Not your fault," just, "Me too," after several moments and finds she's resting her forehead on her knees.

She hates this. Hates it all and hates feeling helpless and stuck and wishes it were easier.

[last_adam]

"Then it wouldn't be life."

And maybe he doesn't even notice.

[called_lioness]

"It's not, though, is it?" she half-laughs.