video | un: detdecker

[couldkillthedevil]

Besides all this mumbo-jumbo about portals and the fact I've obviously lost my mind and am lying strapped to a hospital bed somewhere, I've got a few things I'd like to clear up—

[The blonde woman frowns deeply at the screen, brows drawn tightly together in displeasure.]

—namely, it's been told to me that we can't leave this place until they've scrounged up enough 'resources' to send us back, which seems oddly convenient. Does anyone know if there's been success with that yet? Has anyone been sent back home, or is that some nebulous 'someday' thing they're telling us? Second of all...

[Her hand comes up to gently cup a small gold locket hanging around her neck; a gift from the city to her, it seemed. Her mouth works for a moment, trying to find the words.]

Trixie, baby, if you can hear me, mommy's here and going to find you. I promise. Just sit tight, monkey.

Comments

[couldkillthedevil]

It's fine.

[It slipped out before she could really think about it, but it was the truth. She was fine, perfectly fine, but at the same time she felt herself unraveling a bit. Like someone came and took the rug out from under her. And suddenly all her thoughts coalesced into one giant tangled mess as she tried to work through this. Thought of moments where he'd done something out of the ordinary or things she couldn't explain. Of his behavior the past few weeks...

What it all meant.

And that, above all else, was something she wasn't equipped to deal with yet. Either that, or she'd lost her mind.]

I'm fine, it's just— you're really...?

[She didn't say it. Didn't think she could, really. But she looked at him as if imploring for the answer anyway, as if she just needed that one last push.]

[hellicious]

The Devil...?

[Dear Dad in Heaven, he'd really broken her. She had this desperate look on her face, like she wanted him to take it back. Like he'd changed the rules on her, even though he'd never been anything but honest.

And that look, that mess of a look aimed at him... It hurt. Much more than in the way a fat man on his chest would.]

[couldkillthedevil]

[She nodded wordlessly in response, unable to speak right away. Seems her voice had disappeared on her. But she could see that look on his face, too; the quiet hurt there, the anxiety, the concern. It cut through her momentary lapse in... well, general human intelligence, and pushed her to clear her throat as she tried to word what was going through her head. Even though she hadn't quite worked that out herself yet.

Her voice was quiet, almost small.]

Yeah. That.

[She released a shaky breath.]

I'm okay. I'm fine. I think I just need to... clear my head.

[hellicious]

Right.

[How could he have expected anything else? At least she wasn't screaming. Or wetting herself. Or throwing anything at him. There were a variety of actions she could take, but she wasn't. Though, that didn't mean he didn't wish she'd be okay with it right off the bat. 'I know you', she'd said.

It seemed she didn't know him as well as she thought she had.

He nodded, looking over at the door that was closer to her than himself.]

Well, ah... you know where I am now. If you... need me. To talk. Or... if you need me.

[couldkillthedevil]

[She followed his gaze until they landed on the door, biting her lip a bit before she nodded.]

Yeah. I'll— [And suddenly it felt like she needed to say something, wanted to ask a million questions even as they all flew into her head at the same time. Or at least she wanted to reassure him, which was how she found herself approaching him until she reached up to place a hand at his elbow.]

— it's... it's okay. Really. It'll be fine, and we absolutely need to talk, I'm just... I think I just need a little space. To clear my head. Which I already said. Okay.

[And as if to indicate that, she let him go and took a small step back, gesturing at the door.]

I'm gonna just... yeah.

[hellicious]

[That she touched him at all was a small miracle in itself. His smile was soft but still a little sad as he nodded.]

Of course, Detective. You... take the time you need. I don't think I'll be going anywhere.

[couldkillthedevil]

You'd better not.

[It was an empty threat, but one she felt she needed to make anyway. They needed to figure this place out, and Devil or not, he was her partner.

That much she still knew. So when she got to the door, she gave one last glance over her shoulder.]

I'll... see you later, then.

[hellicious]

I hope you will.

[And he meant that. Whole heartedly. The idea of her leaving and not coming back to him... he felt the wobble in his knees at the thought of it.]