capeandcowllogs | (real bros sleep with bro's wives.)

Entry tags:

(real bros sleep with bro's wives.)

WHO: cross marian (

ioudas) and danger!!! (

heartlessglitch)
WHERE: MAC, cross's new apartment
WHEN: forward-dated to this weekend.
WARNINGS: it's ... cross ....
SUMMARY: after his conversation with madison, danger feels the need to emotionally punch cross in the feels.
FORMAT:action to start!!

(why, why, why, did he decide to do the honorable thing and ask madison if he was still married lillian? why did he have to do the honorable thing and say that he would stay away? why did he care? cross, always wondering if he was getting soft and weak.

but, that was in the back of his mind as he started to move from the MAC to the new apartment on the upper east side. he hadn't told anyone that he was moving, cross figured that it would be best to keep at least some air of mystery around him. lenalee, he had hoped, was settling in properly but the more he moved his books the better.

argh, why was being such a good person such a buzzkill? the door's open as he fills up the taxi and the movers to move his precious books. basking in his spot in the sun, as always, was the giant gold ball timcampy (grown considerably larger over the course of the few days as a measure to protect cross) sleeping happily.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ danger tilts her head at him, considering him a long moment with those white, alien eyes before she answers, plainly: ]

You care for Lillian. Genuinely. [ a small beat. ] If I'm identifying the emotion I feel now correctly, then I am regretful that I must interfere.

I just hate to make women unhappy, I suppose. (he shrugs nonchalantly:) I'm not the sort of person who dwells on things he can't have.

... I'm sorry that you're stuck in the middle.

I don't think you can be blamed for the entirety of Lillian's unhappiness. She is unhappy often, and for many reasons.

[ a little pause. ]

Regardless, you should not feel sorry for me. I have chosen, in some ways, to be in my position. I don't let go of things as well as you seem to, Cross Marian. I dwell on the things which I cannot have.

Reasons that we both know, but we won't comment on.

(he shifts a little, wondering how she'd react:)

Well, should it sometimes be too much to bear, my door is always open.

[ she pauses again before replying, giving him that considering look, the corners of her mouth just a little turned down.

finally: ]

I would prefer not to aggravate jealousy, on either side. [ another slight pause. ] But your sentiment is appreciated. Thank you.

(cross groans, leaning forward on his counter top and rubbing his hands through his hair in confusion.)

I don't know, I'm not used to this whole "being a good friend" thing. (he scoffs from under his hair.) If I'm still a friend.

I find the nature of human relationships in any incarnation to be complicated and susceptible to conflict. This is no exception. But perhaps you have chosen the correct course of action, abiding by your promise to avoid Lillian.

[ pause. ]

What will you do, if she seeks you out?

Maybe I've just done the right thing for the wrong person.

(his face still stays pressed to the countertop as he thinks.)

She won't. I've been avoiding her at all costs and she probably thinks me to be a liar that was trying to get her in bed with me. When that failed, I probably didn't want to see her anymore.

We both know that to be untrue. As I recall, you referred to her as a woman so beautiful that you didn't know if you could even approach her. Even with a proper sense of human aesthetics, I could infer that a man doesn't normally use such language to describe a woman he only wishes to sexually experience once.

[ she tilts her head, half-wanting him to look up, because she already finds it difficult to read humans when she can see their faces, let alone when she can't.

curiously: ]

Are you not concerned you will hurt her, if she does come to believe your intentions towards her were shallow?

I have a way with words. I don't stay in one bed for too long, I've worked hard for that reputation.

(he gave her a small reassuring smile that he'll be absolutely fine.)

And if I tell her the truth, that Madison doesn't want me seeing her?

[ after considering her answer for a minute: ]

I personally find the truth to be preferable, even in circumstances where it might hurt me. In any case, I think it's probable she will find out eventually, one way or another.

She won't react well to knowing that her husband told me expressly to make her feel even more lonely.

(he shrugs, as if it's just the fact of the matter.) I'm alright being the bad guy in the situation.

Lillian doesn't react well to most things. I suspect that is a result of her chronic unhappiness.

[ pause. then, in a way that doesn't show if she thinks what she says next is a bad thing or a good thing: ]

Madison loves his wife.

I'm not going to say anything else then, my apologizes.

(why does he feel like this is one battle he can't win?)

[ mmm. she seems unsure how to respond to his response, tilting her head and considering him a long moment before she reaches out and just briefly touches her fingertips to the top of his head. that's as close as she can get to comfort, apparently. ]

I am sincere when I say that I am sorry. I am aware that Lillian cares for you.

(it doesn't show, but cross gives a small smile. he rolls over like a cat, being in an almost impossible position before staring up at her.)

I know. You're a very extraordinary woman, Danger.

[ she meets his stare, steady and calm, opposite in many ways to lillian. she's quiet for a while, her answer unhurried and her expression unreadable again.

at length: ]

Thank you. [ pause. ] I have been called an extraordinary machine. But not an extraordinary woman.

Whoever doesn't see you as such is blind.

(that smile falters slightly, because he knows that this is terrible for all of them involved and he's actually letting himself show some sort of emotion in front of someone.)

[ another little pause. ]

Regardless, I am a machine before I am a woman. I wish to return to my mechanical state as soon as possible. This body is difficult to cope with, and I believe Madison is uncomfortable with closeness to any organic woman. Perhaps even Lillian.

[ then, perhaps almost wryly-- it's hard to tell if her humor is that developed or not: ] You, I suppose, do not have that problem.

(he gets the small humor in it before thinking for a moment about his answer:) Flesh or steel do not make a human human.

(he shrugs awkwardly.) I just don't get close in general.

Are you attempting to protect yourself that way?

(there's just a bitter laugh, not even a machine could comprehend the tragedy of what being an exorcist (even more so, a general) is.)

It is our curse.

[ she just watches him, contemplating that brief response a few moments before answering: ]

But did you not wish to be close with Lillian?

I only wish for her to be happy.

(as complicated as everything is, the simple truth is all that he can offer Danger.)

[ she makes a considering sound. ]

Perhaps it is irrelevant. She will return to her home universe to die eventually. That is the inevitable future, and the truth of the matter.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject