lukeoutbelow | (no subject)

(no subject)

Stiff after the long drive, Lisa rotated her head on her neck and stretched kinks out of her back on the walk to the little cafe where Arnold had wanted to meet her. It was bitterly cold, but she wasn't too bothered. She had her green wool jacket. Ethically sourced, it hardly bore saying, she knew something about everyone and everything involved from the sheep and alpaca to the young woman who'd applied the buttons, and tailored expertly to her frame. It had a certain military flare and while Lisa couldn't condone just about any military she knew well, she had to admit it looked good on her.

"Just a tall chai, please. 'Lisa' is fine." She found a stool, grateful this place was sleepy just now, and checked her designer watch. He might be caught up in a project, or just met an unusually large and fluffy dog. It'd hardly be the first time. She smiled with fond resignation, thinking back.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

He ducks his head shyly "Sorry. I think some of that might be him, as well. Elves are apparently faithful for life. I know that whoever this man was he is in your past, and so... but irregardless, I love you now, and it isn't whoever I was in the past who tells you 'forever', no matter what might have been."

"I hope not. I did just tell you that I didn't marry an elf." Lisa has heard that most of the Numbered are quite young. This seems to be one of the few areas where that's an advantage - they aren't likely to have to negotiate a subject like this.

She hopes she doesn't meet the young man herself.

"We can't worry too much about these other lives and everything they got up to. It's all too far away."

"That's what I love about you" He smiles at her, "Always so practical. You keep my feet on the ground and my heart light."

He hopes that too, even as he hopes he never learns if his other self had a wife.

"Well, I suppose we'll deal with things as they come then. If we have to, we can both just leave the boundaries and stay outside. Thorir told me he wrote notes to himself, I can do the same - that way, we'll know to keep an eye on Liam"

"And you always know how to flatter me," she retorts softly.

Lisa considers unhappily. Arnold wants her to stay, and truly, she can understand why and see the draw, and yet. "This promises to be very interesting, but I can't stay to find out. It would be irresponsible." And she's not sure she wants to know more or be more like this other-Lisa, and risk knowing her fiancee. "I will visit. You can talk to me or come home whenever I'm available. But, Arnold... It's better if I don't live here."

She knows the effect she has on her 'boys'. They are more careful around her, and - rightly! - anxious not to disappoint. But they are also more restricted. If Liam is growing up he should be let to grow up.

"I only tell the truth" He retorts and cannot help the flash of disappointment, although he nods.

"Alright" He says wistfully. "If you think so, then I won't argue. It isn't as if I can't visit often, and you the same. Liam probably wouldn't want us both here, anyway. He'll get annoyed with me soon, just watch."

And then he smiles, because this is Valentine's Day, and Lisa should be smiling. "Besides, we'll always have Skype" He drawls at her.

They could have been a power couple like no other.

"He can get used to it," she retorts mildly. "If it bothers him that much he has the option of moving out. Just don't let him kick you out. It's the family's house."

Lisa shakes her head fondly. "Oh, you. Of course we've still got Skype. I'm not out of your life so easily." She smiles crookedly, one corner of her mouth curving up more than the other. "Let's go somewhere a little more private. I need a better look at your ears."

They are too awesome to be allowed to exist in the same place for long.

"I will make sure to tell him. I do believe he has a place of his own, actually - which I am sure he will remember soon once he gets tired of having me underfoot."

Arnold laughs and gets up to offer her his arm with a grin. "Of course, whatever milady wishes. Home? Or shall we go out?"

Inevitably there would have been holding hands while covered in the blood of enemies. Glee over a giant spirit energy cannon. Swords. It would be unfair to outshine all the other characters.

She rises with a grace barely touched by her ankle twinging and delicately lays her hand on his arm. "I think I'm a little tired from the drive." In itself that is an act of trust. Lisa's not in the habit of admitting to weakness. "Unless you know somewhere too good to pass up, I'm just going to see what Teagan did to the house."

Exactly. It simply wouldn't do!

"Of course" He smiles and escorts her, pleased that she feels like indulging his occasional playful wish for courtly manners. "I have a nice bottle of champagne in the fridge that we can share."

"That sounds wonderful," she admits, allowing him to steer her out. Though, outside she'll want to go to her car.

"And you'll need to tell me your pulses, sweetheart. I need to know if it's gone beyond ears and territoriality. I'll need to know when it does." She's going to be disappointed when you get a friendly doppleganger and don't tell her that same day.

"Only the best for my lady" He assures her and waves Jeeves off to slip into the drivers side of her car.

"Of course. I've been told I can expect to age in reverse, at least, as far as probably my late twenties? Perhaps gain some height. Those seem to be the things that others have noticed physically. After that... weapons skills, maybe, and memories, seem to be the main thing. I'll keep you up to date."

The poor man will have to get Arnold's car back somehow. Oh, well, he'll manage. Lisa's electric car is quite small. Two people have to be rather cozy to fit into the back.

'Aging in reverse' gets one of Lisa's famous raised eyebrows. Her brows are distinct, sharp and mobile. "I see. That should be interesting."

She knows some things about the Numbered. If this other Lisa was an elf, or even had much to do with them, the ears would have set off another Numbered episode.

Jeeves is used to it.

"Mm - well, I suppose folk might think you a cougar, love, but if you dislike it, I will leave when it happens" He promises.

He guessed that much as well, and it saddens him - elves, the stories say, are immortal, or close to it. If Lisa has not echoed the ears, not here in the boundaries of Locke... she is not. And he refuses to live immortal without her.

"I admit, I am rather hoping for something useful or fun! Did you know Thorir echoed a golden harp and the skill to play it?"

"I'll handle it," she says firmly. She doesn't like how people take an interest in her relationships, but she has long been resigned to the fact that it happens. "You can do things without me - but I hope you'll come visit the real world now and again."

Lisa thinks she might go for youth and immortality, if it was offered. There's so much left to do, and she's getting older. No matter how she builds her company it will change without her. It might lose its way. But it's not an option, and even if her husband outlives her into perpetuity - a prospect which does make her feel uncomfortably small and insignificant - he doesn't have the temperament to take her role in it.

"Is that so? Wasn't he terrible with music?" Lisa has had just a little to do with the man. While they haven't hit it off and she knows he isn't fond of her, she also knows that compared to her brother Teagan she seems friendly and personable.

"I sometimes feel like I can't" He shoots her a grin but mostly keeps his eyes on the road. "I'm lost without yoU~" He croons and then laughs and stops. "As often as I can, yes, absolutely."

It isn't so much the though of immortality that he minds, so much as the thought of forever without Lisa. It wouldn't be worth it, he thinks.

"Not terrible as such, but certainly he had no skill with it before!"

Arnold is more sensible than he likes to appear. Lisa doesn't let many people drive her car - actually, watching movies she's been known to complain about drivers not paying enough attention to the road. "Then we'll manage. We'll get through this."

He's going to get in trouble here, she's sure of it, and there won't be much she'll be able to do. If the worst happens, she can manage alone, but it's such a lonely and unpleasant prospect.

"So you're hoping you'll become some kind of bard? Or something less far-flung?"

"We will" Arnold nods, eyes on the road. "The same way we get through everything yeah? Together. I'll try not to get in too much trouble."

It is inevitable, he knows. But he can try and mitigate the damage.

"Hm. Well a bard might be fun! But I was rather hoping for magical powers, like the stories in the books, you know?"

"Be sure you do. You and Liam." They do need to be able to work without her.

She leans back in her seat. "You want to be able to fly and throw fireballs, don't you."

"Eheheheheh" Arnold giggles sheepishly although he does not actually duck his head while he is driving.

"Well. Maybe not throw fireballs... exactly...." Yes he totally does.

"Not in the house," she says firmly. "It's been in the family too long. Teagan would have your head."

"Aw" He pouts a little at her and then smiles "True. I don't want to upset him. Well, maybe I will and maybe I won't. Either way, I promise not the break anything in the house"

"Don't break everything in it, either," says a Lisa used to the loopholes people will pull. "It's better to tweak his tail in other ways, anyway. You could buy a barn and fill it with used pottery."

"Yes dear" He says meekly but he laughs. "I could, yes. But I do actually like your brother, even if he despises me! I will be careful, I promise."

"Nothing you do will make him like you. He hates almost everyone, so try not to worry about that," she tells him dryly. "We're coming up on the house. Any additions in there I should know about?"

"One day I will win a smile from him!" He vows with a laugh and shakes his head. "Not in the house proper. Liam has a dog, but he doesn't keep him here. And he echoed back weapons, I think, but again, I don't think he keeps them in the house."

(no subject)

betterthanwu - 2015-03-31 04:44 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

bythewaves - 2015-03-31 14:20 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only