Open RP: Great Hall: It's Alive!

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

The circles under his eyes are more pronounced than usual today. L slips into the Great Hall, to get himself a pot of tea. Once it arrives, he sits and pauses, to wait for it to steep. It needs to be stronger than this.

He's been pushing himself on a case the past few days. It's resolved now, but it was the first real challenge he's had since moving here, so he may have dropped off the face of the earth a little. Time to emerge and make sure everyone is still alive and well.

As soon as the tea is finished steeping, that is.

Comments

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"A, B's here."

Slipping a quick hand through his, for support.

"Hello."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A flinches, and grips L's hand tightly, edging closer to him. He looks at B warily, wide-eyed.

[red-eyed-l.livejournal.com]

"L broke his promise to B..." B said with tears in his eyes. "B was good, and L promised to tell A and L DIDN'T!"

If the normal B had been in control, he would have attacked them both, consequences be damned. Instead, this B looked away and held himself close.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I promised to tell him when I thought he was ready to hear it. I didn't think he was. Your other self hurt him very badly, B, I didn't want to hurt him any more. I said as much to you, remember?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"He's looking at me," A murmurs faintly. He's still not sure what to make of this new B, and he's very glad that Einstein and Schrodinger aren't with him.

[red-eyed-l.livejournal.com]

It didn't matter to B why L didn't tell A. All that mattered was that he didn't tell A. He was very childish in that respect.

He just hung his head and looked very sad.

"B...B wants the mean B to go away. Then A won't be afraid anymore. B tried to help, honest."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"We know that, B. But people are more complicated than that. You need to go now, A will come find you when he's ready to. Following him before that will just hurt him more."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"To go away," A repeats.

Could he tolerate this B, even spend time with him, if the 'other' B was gone for good, really and truly gone?

He thinks maybe he could.

[red-eyed-l.livejournal.com]

B wanted to stay. B wanted to help (and maybe play with Einstein. Schrodinger looked soft and cute, but Einstein trusted him.)

But if A wanted him to go away....

"B will go now."

Cue sad kicked puppy. (oh, the irony).

B did head in the direction of the kitchen, though, so when Beyond returned, he just shrugged off the lost memory and proceeded to get jam.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I really didn't break my promise to him," L murmurs to A, "I told him I'd tell you when I thought you were ready. I just couldn't think of a way to do it without making it sound like you were obliged, on some level, to forgive him. And you're not.

He has to wait for you, A. Even if you're never willing to see him; you owe him nothing."

Squeezing his hand again.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

Stressed, A drops to his knees at L's feet, cheek pressed to his shins.

"He's so different and I don't know what to say and I don't..."

Because hadn't he always wanted, all those years wanted, for B to have been someone he could like?

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Talk about it. Tell me what happens, how you feel."

Winding a hand through A's hair.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"It's not... that's not what B's like. Not ever what he was like. If that was what B was like..."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Then you would have been happier. I don't know who that is exactly, but he's a coherent personality now, who just happens to share B's body.

Do you want to give him a name? To make talking about him less complicated?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I..." He squirms a little, frowning.

"He's... he's not. Not-B."

Naming plants is one thing, but people?

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Not-B is honestly never going to harm you. What do you think of him?"

Carding his fingers through A's hair.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"He confuses me. And he's frightening, because... because even though it's Not-B, it's still..."

A shivers.

"But he seems so sad."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I feel bad for him too."

Keeping his hand moving, slowly and steadily.

"But the most important thing is to take care of yourself. He'd like it if you'd talk to him, but if you're too frightened, you don't have to."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Looking at him," A whispers, "It makes me feel sick inside."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Then it's too soon."

Soft, reassuring.

"That's understandeable."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I don't... if it's not B, it shouldn't..."

It doesn't seem fair, but it hurts to look at him.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Remember what I said about taking care of yourself first and foremost?"

It's important.

"I have an idea, though. How would you feel about owling him?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I don't... I don't even know what I'd say to him."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Maybe you could explain that you don't hate him?"

It'd be a start.

"Not-B, I mean. And ask him if he wants a name."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Maybe," A says softly, and shivers. The idea is still a little intimidating.