0207: Accidental Video

[livingmyths]

[... it's hard to see or understand quite what's going on at first, darkness with the occasional glimpse of tree or ground, star or moon. Eventually the device seemed to be set down on the ground with the glint of river in the background. Rain appeared, kicking off her shoes and wading out into the river to climb up onto the big rock in the middle. She stared up at the stars and moon speechlessly for a while, then just buried her head in her arms and rocked herself under the stars.]

Comments

text: for when Rain wants to read it

[charring]

Stop by my teashop if you can?

[She has photos of Arthur from her wedding that she's hoping will help Rain.]

[skintoskin]

Uh...

Rain...?

[livingmyths]

[Her head came up as she heard her name and looked around uncertainly. Then she slid down off the rock and waded over to the edge of the river where she could reach out and get the device. For a moment he'd have a clear glimpse of her tear-stained face and then it would be gone again as she waded back out and climbed onto the rock, taking a moment before responding. It was clear she was trying not to cry.]

Hi, Neil.

[Video]

[brothertragedy]

Even here, the sky is familiar, isn't it?

Re: [Video]

[livingmyths]

[She'd gotten the device to talk to Neil earlier so it was close at hand, though she wasn't paying much attention to it.]

Sort of. I haven't been paying much attention tonight.

[skintoskin]

Hi...

[Pause.]

Um...

[He isn't going to ask if she's okay, but she obviously isn't...]

What happened? Are you hurt? Did someone hurt you?

[He'll kill them if they did, whoever they are...]

[livingmyths]

Arthur's gone.

I stopped being able to hear him and so I went to look and... he's gone.

And I just know he's not coming back.

[skintoskin]

...

Which Arthur?

[livingmyths]

The one who's going to be king in Camelot one day.

[skintoskin]

Oh.

Were you guys, like, an item?

[livingmyths]

I...

I think so?

[skintoskin]

Oh.

I'm sorry, then. That... sucks.

[livingmyths]

I'm just... very sad.

[skintoskin]

Probably... Probably nothing I can do, right?

[livingmyths]

You're being really nice to me.

That helps.

[skintoskin]

[He shrugs. He doesn't know if he's always a nice person, but at least he's hewre for her now.]

Okay, good.

[livingmyths]

Has this ever happened to you before, Neil?

[skintoskin]

What? Someone I like leaving?

[livingmyths]

Yes.

Or is that not nice to ask? If I shouldn't ask, I'm sorry and you don't have to answer.

[skintoskin]

No, you can ask. I haven't really hooked up with anyone here like that, do no, I don't really know what it's like.

[livingmyths]

Hooked up? What's that?

I guess I'm glad you don't know what it's like. It doesn't feel so very good.

[skintoskin]

Uh... 'Hooked up' is... liking someone.

A lot.

Together.

You know?

[livingmyths]

[There's a long pause.]

...

I don't...

Are you talking about the sex thing?

[skintoskin]

Uh, sex or just, you know... a couple. Not everyone has sex at the start...

[Not that he's experienced that personally...]

[livingmyths]

Oh.

I guess... maybe?

I sort of loved him.

We didn't do the sex thing, though.

It's silly, though. He was going to be a king and I'm just a nothing. And dirty.

But I miss him.

[skintoskin]

['Sort of loved him'? Hmmm...]

So he was going to be king? Who gives a shit if you aren't officially a queen? He didn't. Why should you?

And you're not 'dirty'.

[livingmyths]

I don't know if he did or not.

[She wasn't going to touch the not dirty comment. She'd never been brave enough to tell Arthur about what she'd done and part of her absolutely believed he would have shunned her if he knew.]

It doesn't matter now anyway. He's gone home.

[skintoskin]

I know, I get that, but don't put yourself down. Negative shit is bad, right? I think we've covered that.

[livingmyths]

Okay.

I'll try to be good.

[skintoskin]

Rain, you are good. You have no choice.

[livingmyths]

I don't know if you're right, but I hope you are.

[skintoskin]

[Virtual hugs!]

[livingmyths]

[And fade?]

[skintoskin]

[And fade... :)]