forthebothofus | [ 01 ] [ Audio // Commentlog ]

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[ 01 ] [ Audio // Commentlog ]

[Abeni remembered pain; a distinct sharp, burning sting in her abdomen from where the blade had driven in again and again. She remembered the fight, the way she and Zachariah had been ambushed, separated and how she had carried on while he fought his way back to her.

When the man had returned, it had been too late. Abeni had known that and told him to run. The world faded black and there was no doubt in her that she had died... Which was why waking up fully healed but still covered in blood in a strange cell was enough to put her on edge.

She had woken with a gasp, hands moving to fend off attackers that were no longer there. Instead she struck the journal on the table beside and it fell to the floor, pages open to kick off an Audio transmission. It was one that would go unnoticed. Abeni had bigger things on her mind. Confusion ran through her as she found her wounds gone, but the blood that soaked her clothes still wet. No part of this made any sense. Abeni still had her weapons, a hunting knife and a pistol, which only set her caution on even higher alert.]

What-- No. I am not doing this again. This ends now.

[Neglecting the journal and leaving the letter unread, Abeni stepped into the hall. She would not be captive anymore, neither of them would. Abeni would find Zachariah and they were getting out once and for all. The woman wanted answers, and would stop at nothing to get them.]

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[No no no, for once in her life why can't she just listen to him?]

I wouldn't lie to Abeni. I took a bullet for you. There's no way I would lie to you now.

[It's something they both know. Something that can help prove to her that it's really him. He doesn't want to have to pull off his shirt and show her. Then he'd have to explain the other scars covering his body too.]

[She's always been good at reading people, but this one is so right and wrong at the same time that for once in her life, Abeni doesn't know how to respond. Of all that's being said, it's the look on his face that's got her wondering.

Abeni hesitates.]

Where did it hit? And how did you survive it?

[Prove it, Riah.]

[She's really going to do this to him isn't she? He understands why she doesn't trust him, but it doesn't keep it from hurting that she doesn't.]

It got me in my side. You drug me somewhere safe and dug the bullet outta me with a first-aid kit we looted from our hiding spot.

[It's hard to forget something like that. With no pain-killers, no kind of anesthetic, he was awake for the whole thing and he felt every bit of it.]

[He's right. Of course he's right. None of it really makes sense still and while she doesn't drop the gun, both expression and tone take a softer edge. Her free hand knots in the torn material of her shirt, still blood soaked and as though her death was minutes ago.]

Am I dead?

[It sounds stupid saying it out loud, but she has to ask.]

I was stabbed. You were there. You saw the whole fucking thing.

[Abeni frowns, frustrated.]

This doesn't fucking make sense. What is going on?

[He wants to help her. He wants to get closer, but she's still got that damn gun on him and he doesn't know how she's going to react to all of this.]

You...were.

[Zachariah shakes his head and looks just as confused.]

I've been here only a couple weeks, barely know what's going on myself. Something about worlds being unmade and...I don't even know. [His voice starts to shake.] All I know is that it's been six years since I've seen you.

[And dammit, it's so good to see her again.]

[Oh hell no. Don't start with the shaky voice. Abeni finally stops pointing the gun at him.]

Six years.

[Right now Abeni is at the lowest she's been in years. She shoots him a small, barely there smile.]

That explains why you grew up then. [And why she didn't.] Who else is here? And where is here...

Edited 2011-08-20 08:39 (UTC)

[Zachariah starts to move closer. A small part of him wonders if this is some sick trick brought on by whoever owns this weird ass place, but he ignores it. He doesn't want to believe that's whats happening. There's only one Abeni out there and he knows this is her.]

Started eating my vegetables too.

[He smiles awkwardly. Probably shouldn't have said that. Like a stupid joke will fix this.]

No one I know. They call this place Holloway's Keep but I don't have a clue where that is. We don't have to fight here though.

[Doesn't keep people from trying, but he's trying to get her to calm down.]

[If she weren't already tense, she would have done so at his approach. The level of trust in the man is rising, but it's not quite there just yet. There's too many questions, too many impossible things happening.

The look she gives him is confused and questioning.]

You mean we're out of Deadworld then.

[But she's dead and he's older and this sure as hell looks like the cells to her. Abeni glances back toward the room she left.]

Zack, show me out. I want to get away from these cells before someone changes their mind and tries to throw one or both of us back into them.

Yeah, we're out. We're really out.

[But he's not sure they're any safer.]

Right, follow me. Not a whole lot of other places to rest around here but I think I found something.

[Of course she wouldn't want to be in the cells. He can barely stand being in here at all. it just brings dark memories bubbling up to the surface and right now he doesn't have anything to focus on to push them away. Best to just get out of here.

Zachariah motions for her to follow him as he begins to lead her out of the barracks and to the Green.]

[She follows in silence, carefully watching both her surroundings and Zachariah. Abeni wants to believe it's him, but with everything as it is there's still doubt in her mind.

Keeping a set distance between them, Abeni's attention turns to his movement. The way he carries himself is just as Zack had done, and the similarity only aids her building trust in him.

She's about to voice a question when they get outside. Abeni freezes in the doorway, pressing back against the wall as habit orders her to do.]

This better not be a trap.

[That stings a bit but he can't fault her for being careful.]

You can shoot me now and go back inside if you don't trust me.

[He steps outside and turns to look at her.]

I wouldn't stab you in the back Abeni. Not now, I swear.

[She can go back to the cells where she really doesn't want to be, or she can go with the man that doesn't make sense but hopes like hell is Zachariah.

Abeni meets his gaze and holds it. His eyes are the same blue she knows. There's nothing to say this isn't him.]

Alright. I trust you.

[She follows him out and looks around. Nothing hostile appears. Nothing happens. Her gaze turns to the Keep.]

...You're kidding me.

Edited 2011-08-21 03:20 (UTC)

[Zachariah doesn't break eye contact and once she steps out of the barracks he just smiles.]

Nope, it's not Deadworld. You made it out. Just wish it happened sooner.

[That last bit he mutters under his breath. He'll never forgive himself for not being there when she needed him most.]

[Abeni shakes her head. She knows full well that she died.

She could play along, but hiding behind false comments has never been her style. Tone soft when she speaks, Abeni looks to Riah and notes his smile.

Before she realizes she's doing so, Abeni's lips have taken a slight upward turn. The smile is short lived.]

I didn't make it, Zachariah. You know that. Whatever this is, it's something else.

[She's smiling. He got her to smile. Most people might not think this is a big deal but he can count the number of times he's seen her smile on a single hand. Then, just as quick as it appeared, it's gone.

Zachariah sighs. He really should have seen an answer like that coming.]

I know I wasn't dead before I got here, and I know you're alive now. Maybe it is something completely different, but whatever it is it's gotta be better than Deadworld.

[She nods. There's isn't much else to say. Abeni knows that he's right. Before, there was never much to smile about. Deadworld had them constantly on alert and always in survival mode.

The hear that they're out of there is a pretty big thing. If only she believed it. Still, seeing Zack smile and genuinely so struck something in her. Affection, perhaps. Relief, definitely. She'd been convinced that with her death she would never see him again either.]

Where's this place you mentioned earlier? The... rest spot?

[And he just keeps on smiling. This is definitely the happiest he's been since he got here.

When she mentions the rest spot he nods his head and motions for her to follow him.]

Yeah it's over this way.

[Zachariah immediately heads for the stables not even checking to see if she's following him. He already knows she will. After working with her for so long it's easy to fall back into being her partner again.

Once he arrives at the stables he peeks his head in to make sure the coast is clear. Right now he still doesn't know if it's alright to be sleeping here. Seeing no one but the animals he heads into the loft.]

Home sweet home, or close enough anyway.

[It's nice to have that bond back again, even though it was only minutes apart for Abeni. As she moves, she continues to observe, noting the similarities and differences in the man she follows. He's taller, broader, an adult now instead of the young man she'd known.

Following to the loft, Abeni spies the hay and the half smile is back.]

Definitely better than a cell.

[She paces the room, habitually checking for exits, entrances, hiding places and the like.]

How many others are here?

[There's a certain comfort he gets from having his partner around again. He imagines this is what Fiel and Iriel have with each other. An understanding between two people that doesn't need any words.

He lets her pace around the loft as she examines it. He did the same thing after Dos showed him this place.]

Couldn't tell you. I've only met a handful of people since I've been here.

[He wonders if he should tell her just what kind of people he's seen here, like the gryphon or the alien guy, but decides it might be best if she just sees for herself. If he tells her without being able to show her she'll just think he's gone nuts.]

[Satisfied that she knows the ins and outs of the loft, Abeni comes to pause and leans against a hay bale. Arms folded, her attention is back on Zachariah.]

So either they're good at hiding or there aren't many of them.

[She's leaning more toward 'few of them'. Abeni knows what Zack is capable of. A pause, and then she speaks.]

How old are you?

[Zachariah finds his own comfy bail of hay and slumps against it.]

This place is pretty big but it's kind of hard to stay hidden for long. [If they were back on Halis this would probably make a good arena for Deadworld.] Plus everyone's got one of these with them.

[He pulls out his journal and slides it to her. Her next questions catches him a bit off guard.]

Um, twenty-seven by now.

[She picks up the journal and opens it up, only to be stopped by his reply. Abeni looks to Zachariah, mouth open a fraction in surprise. While she was aware of him being older than before, the reality was a strange one to face.]

You're older than me then.

[Flicking through a few pages of the journal, Abeni frowns.]

I didn't get one. Where'd you find it?

Wait, really?

[He's only surprised because he doesn't actually know how old Abeni is. Come to think about it, for knowing her so well he actually doesn't know all that much about her.

That train of thought doesn't last long before she asks him about the journal.]

Everyone gets one. Yours is probably back in your cell. That's how I knew you were here.

[Oh right. The book on the shelf. Abeni hadn't paid any attention to that. She'd been a little too focused on why there were no stab wounds in her front and why she was back in the cell.]

What do you mean by that? It's just a book, isn't it?

[If someone were to tell her that none of this was real, Abeni would probably believe it. The age comment gets no further reply.]

[Zachariah scratches his head as he thinks how to explain this. Hell he doesn't have a clue how it works himself.]

It's a uh, very strange book. Somehow people can communicate through. There's gotta be some real high-tech electronics in these things or something.

[He can't help but notice how she said nothing about the comment on her age leaving him to wonder again how old she really is.]

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friendship + 10

Riah: friendship +infinity

d-daww

:3

Re: :3

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