sticky

[secondchances]

Who: Stephanie Brown and YOU??
What: Sighing a lot and getting tar everywhere
When: Today!
Where: The castle grounds
Rating: PG



Tar, tar everywhere. It was black, sticky, and warm to the touch--which Steph discovered, as it clung to her arms and neck. It didn't take too long for her to realize that many in the castle were being afflicted by this, so she tried to tough through it. It would stop eventually, and she had things to do. There was still a lot to be done in the city, before she and Cass left on the expedition.

However, the more she touched, the more tar seemed to come from her hands.

She wasn't going to be useful to anyone today, let alone herself, she came to realize.

What was the logical response?

To lay down on the grass in front of the castle, of course. Maybe if she didn't touch anything for a while, the sticky goo would recede. In the meanwhile, staring at the sky seems like a good option.

Yeah, castle. She gets the irony. She messes up everything she touches. Ha ha.

Comments

[heloise]

"But you were cruel to us. Cold," she swallows, and feels no shame in crying. "How would you feel if you had to tell Tim to say thank you to Cassandra? Give him the things to thank her with? Are you stone?"

[secondchances]

The crying isn't fair. Stephanie looks down at her hands.

"I'm making an effort. That was me trying. I wasn't comfortable there, but I'm still trying. For your sake."

[heloise]

This always happens. She accuses her of not loving her and only then does she show it, perhaps Stephanie is the better one at the game after all.

She hesitates, before taking a step closer to sit beside her again, looking away at the distance. "You can stop then. I am tired of this balancing act."

[secondchances]

She sighs, splaying her hands out in the grass.

"... you do understand that you're the one who dropped me, right? You told me you didn't trust me. You told me I was only around to stab you in the back. You don't trust me, but then you worry about me not loving you. I don't get it. You want me to earn your trust, but you always think I'm out to hurt you or get you no matter what I do. I can't win."

[heloise]

"I do not want to lose you but more and more I feel it would be easier," she says with a sigh. There, that's her conceding to defeat.

"There was never anyone to trust but family. Cesare would know but he is not here," she turns to watch Steph. She should know what she means if she has read the letter. "Is it not earned? Do you even trust me in return?"

[secondchances]

"It felt like you trusted me before. You trusted me enough to want me to be family." Again, it's difficult not to laugh. What, she has an easier time with Ezio than herself? The guy who wants to murder her brother and father? If only she knew how much Stephanie had put into making sure Ezio didn't do anything against her brother when he was here.

"I'm not going to force you to do anything, or make choices."

[heloise]

"Pretend to be," family is blood and blood alone. "You made me choose when you treated me differently because of Joshua. You still make me choose."

This feels much like with Ezio, going round and round in circles until they run out of weapons to fling at each other and there is nowhere else to go. "No more. No more overtures of friendship if empty words are all you can give me."

[secondchances]

Isn't this just the most pleasant conversation. Stephanie nearly pushes her hair back in frustration, but quickly stills her hands.

"As you wish."

[heloise]

Lucrezia inhales slowly, reaching to take Steph's hand, never mind the sticky tar. Only she stops short of trying to kiss her knuckles, leaning over to peck her cheek instead.

As she wishes then. She would stand to leave after.

[secondchances]

Steph just watches her with a frown, making no move to stop her this time.