ArchivedLogs:Total Eclipse of the Heart

Total Eclipse of the Heart
Dramatis Personae Anette, Akihiro
In Absentia	2016-06-22 "If it wasn't me, it would have been him."
Location <BOM> Common Room - Main Lodge - Ascension Island
The common room's rustic-lodge feel has been somewhat mitigated by the modern amenities inside its sturdy wooden walls. It has comfortable couches, several chairs, a refrigerator (stocked with snacks and drinks!), a pool table, a pinball machine (METALLICA!), an assortment of books, a television -- with several game systems! -- and a splendid view out the windows (when their lacy yellow curtains are drawn open) for the rest of the island. The pale wood floors have been covered in places -- by a pair of soft thick blue rugs, by a large squishy pair of beanbags that stand in front of the stone fireplace. There's also a board up on the wall, half corkboard, half whiteboard, with a variety of community notes (and occasional insults) to other Brotherhood members. Large doors on the right-hand side lead off to the kitchen and dining room. In the back of the room, the council room's heavy oak door bears solid locks that are almost never actually barred. A short hall adjacent to the council room's door leads to a trio of multi-stalled bathrooms; these might once have been marked with the typical man-woman-handicapped signs, but someone has given them new plaques on the door; a stick figure with horns and a long tail, one with wings. One -- the large single-user toilet -- has instead been given a helmet and a cape. It was several days ago Akihiro arrived, and in that time he's taken to filling his days with manual labor, doing this and that. It appears his day is drawing to an end though, he's showered and is currently wearing a sleeveless tee and pajama pants, and his hair has been secured in a messy bun. "What to watch.." he mutters, eventually settling on V for Vendetta. For the better part of most of those days, Anette has been more or less invisible. Other than the occasional night time flight, she's been cooped up in her apartment. Today, she's finally ventured out of her cabin and into the main building. Clearly not expecting to run into anyone, her hair is pulled into a very quick and messy ponytail and she wears a tanktop and grey leggings. When she steps into the main room, she barely makes it into the door before she sees Akihiro. She stops suddenly, watching him for several seconds before slowly closing the door behind her. "Hey," is all she says. She looks tired, circles under her eyes though she otherwise seems alert enough. "Hey." Akihiro replies, his nostrils flaring slightly. "You alright?" If he notices anything out of the ordinary he doesn't comment on it, rather pause the movie and turn his attention towards his ex. "Fine," Anette says, glancing towards the TV briefly once it's paused. "Good movie." She doesn't move, awkwardly shifting from leg to leg as she mentally debates with herself what to do. Finally, she slowly makes her way towards Akihiro, though she finds the seat furthest from him and sits down. "Get settled in yet?" "As settled as I can. I work all day on this and that, and at night I can't sleep. Not sure where my bag left though. Had something important in it." Akihiro reaches up to rub at the back of his neck, not quite looking over at the woman. "What could you possibly have that's important? Finally get daddy's phone number?" This is said with some venom though perhaps not as much as there could have been. Maybe Anette is genuinely curious. Either way, she focuses her eyes on the TV, watching intently even though the image is still frozen. "I'm...sorry. About the other day," she eventually says, not looking at Akihiro as the worlds stumble out. "It was my only picture of you." Akihiro admits. "I don't care about him. Or Romulus. All of that is in the past, and I plan on keeping them there." This seems to throw Anette off and she looks at him, narrowing her eyes faintly as she studies him, wondering just what that means. "A picture...of me. After all this time? Why?" Her voice is beginning to soften though she's still trying to keep her emotional distance. "It was the closest thing I had to you. I wasn't lying the other day. I could have went anywhere, but I came back here." Akihiro finally looks that way. "Even though I knew you'd try and claw my eyes out." "And I wasn't lying either. You hurt me and seeing you I just felt...scared and confused and angry and...I don't even know what I felt. I still don't know how I feel." Anette sighs and leans forward, crossing her arms on her lap as she looks toward the ground. "If you're looking for forgiveness, I can't give it to you and I don't know if I ever will." "As long as you're happy, and safe. I know I can't give you happiness, it's why I didn't go knock on your door." Akihiro smiles a dead smile at Anette. "But that doesn't mean my job here is finished. I can be useful, and I will. Even if I'm not defacing property and acting like a child anymore." "Happy. Well, things were finally calm before you came back," Anette says, before slowly looking up toward him again, her lips pressed together. "But can I trust you? You say you're fine but...well, you've nearly killed people for looking at me funny. If you see me with...someone else, can I trust you not to...do something stupid?" "You mean Killian? As much as I'll want to skin him, or whoever, I won't. Probably just have to keep my hands busy." Akihiro attemps to assure Anette. "Gotta worry more about me killing myself than whoever you're with." "I never said it was him," Anette says rather quickly, looking up to Akihiro sharply. She eventually sighs and leans back against her chair, glancing towards the paused movie again. "I just...you're the first person I ever loved. And when you were gone, it made it easy to move on. Now that you're back...just please promise you won't try to win me back. Or sit around and wait for me to fall for you again. Because it's not going to happen. I'm happy now. I love him. He's been good to me and he's been there. Trying to open myself to him has been hard enough as it is and if you get in the way..." "Scouts honor." Akihiro says, raising his hands defensively. "I've learned my lesson. I've done too much shit for karma to ever let me be in a relationship." "No, I mean. Actually move on. Fall out of love. Find someone else. I don't want to be in your head, I don't want you thinking of me, even if you're mourning. We're coworkers, that's it," Anette says, remaining stern and forceful. "Because that's what I'm trying to do. And I can't do it if you're going to be sitting there, waiting. Even quietly." "I cut off a woman's hand and broke your heart. I don't want to try and find another relationship, I'm going to stay single. If I hurt you again I couldn't live with myself, so you don't have to worry about me trying to get you to fall back in love with me. I had a shot and blew it, so I'm done." Akihiro states the facts quietly, clearly ashamed of himself. "Good. As long as we're clear," Anette says, just as quietly as she glances towards the TV again. "What makes you think it's Killian?" she eventually asks, not breaking her gaze from the glowing television as she digs her talons into the arms of the chair. "Because I know the type you like. If it wasn't me, it would have been him." Akihiro casts his gaze to the ceiling. "He was part of the reason I ran off, actually. Somebody like him can grow old with you. In fifty years I'll still look like I do now." Anette hangs her head, shaking it gently as she closes her eyes. "You make it sound like I'll still be alive in fifty years. I think we both know I'll get myself killed or OD before that ever happens. If I make ten years, I'll be lucky. So what...you want us to be together?" "What I want doesn't matter." Akihiro says simply. "All that matters now is that I keep busy. I don't think I could handle having idle hands." Anette nods briefly before rising back up out of her chair. "Actually, I'm feeling the same." With that, she quickly turns and heads back towards the door. "Stay safe out there." Akihiro calls after Anette, sighing quietly and switching the movie back on.