[ she... remembers that much. only after someone else had cut the ropes could she actually retaliate. ]
I... think I was okay after that. [ she lifts her hand to cover his on her arm, squeezing it as well. it's meant to be as reassuring to him as he's aiming to be for her, but there's definitely a blank look in her eyes that suggests she's elsewhere, chasing threads of a memory she doesn't quite remember. ]
Bits and pieces? I know he was dead, but... I don't know who killed him. Just that I came across everything after it happened.
[ she rubs a hand on her forehead, like it's going to shake loose the pieces she's missing. ]
I don't know why either. [ he'd seemed... impossible to take down, to someone like her. but it's usually the case that the loudest and most violent bullies would fall to someone much, much stronger than them, right? ]
[But he knows, as he says that, its going to be futile. Its like he experienced with Mob. Seeing the memory doesn't mean that they'll be able to access it whatsoever.]
[His other hand moves to grip her other arm, before he leans in to kiss her forehead after she pulls away her hand.]
Its okay. Whatever happened...I hope it was eventually for the good. You deserve that much.
[ yeah. she just looks confused. or like she heard him but not what he said, at the same time. ]
...
[ she nods. ]
I said I got taken in, didn't I? It must've been after this... [ her eyes close briefly at the kiss, and she relaxes a little from where she'd tensed up. ]
Haha, no I'm not saying you're strong because of that.
I'm saying you're strong because despite everything you've been through...you keep moving forward. And you don't need someone else to help you to do that.
[ she'd say more but there's another memory bubble popped and this time it's her tumbling into a memory, and while there's no murder or death there's talk of it, at least. of loss, even if it's just part of a general discussion.
-- and a example of just... how strong hansa was, even without the enhancements he'd received from his work.
she blinks a little as the memory fades away and-- ]
-- you caught that coin? Out of thin air? [ excuse me? ]
[ oh my god hansa. she blinks again, before shaking her head -- more like she's still shaking off some of the sensation of falling into someone's memory again. and then she leans up to kiss his cheek. ]
You didn't have it easy, huh?
[ that's... well. whether he thinks that way or not, it's still... sad. in a way. ]
Who was that man in the second memory? He has your surname. [ she can... guess? but still. ]
[The past is a different country, after all. He smiles at the kiss to his cheek, and his fondness at Alex is coupled with the soft tone of his answer.]
Oh, him? He's my mentor, and...he's also my foster father. He adopted me and raised me, after all of that.
It sure was. And there I was thinking that he was there because he had to clean up after all the trouble I caused. I didn't even think he was there because Bishop Dilo wanted him to look after me.
Hey, I swear, I thought I was doing the right thing at the time! But yeah, I caused some trouble.
[At least he admits it.]
He sure did. He was an Executor, and he taught me everything he knew. He's a tough guy - he might be a little hard to talk with, but he knows how to go after you if you aren't up to the challenge.
It'd be more surprising if you weren't causing trouble, honestly.
[ it's hard for her not to sound as fond as she does though? it's fine. ]
... [ that explains some things, maybe. ] And through him you ended up -- [ how to phrase this without the whole static thing taking over ]-- in your line of work, I take it. [ there were a lot of church sounding titles being thrown around there, after all.
Yes, yes, you've been very well behaved. [ when he's not been fighting bears, and crocodiles, and dinosaurs, and setting bear rugs on fire and THEN fighting them.
she leans up to kiss him properly this time. a little balm for the teasing. ]
There's something to be said for the people you meet setting you on a path, huh. [ one way or the other. ] Chance meetings that turn out to be more important than you realise at the time.
[Its kind of funny, just how natural the affection comes between them, like kissing is just an obvious next step in everything and its as simple as breathing. Hansa grins as she pulls away, and its unmistakable, just how fond he looks of her.]
Thank you. And there is something to be said for that. Like how even through all of this...I got to know an amazing woman like you.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ she... remembers that much. only after someone else had cut the ropes could she actually retaliate. ]
I... think I was okay after that. [ she lifts her hand to cover his on her arm, squeezing it as well. it's meant to be as reassuring to him as he's aiming to be for her, but there's definitely a blank look in her eyes that suggests she's elsewhere, chasing threads of a memory she doesn't quite remember. ]
no subject
[And even so, knowing that, she...]
[What kind of man must that have been, to get a reaction like that? Hansa shakes his head.]
You think? Do you...remember, Alex?
no subject
[ she rubs a hand on her forehead, like it's going to shake loose the pieces she's missing. ]
I don't know why either. [ he'd seemed... impossible to take down, to someone like her. but it's usually the case that the loudest and most violent bullies would fall to someone much, much stronger than them, right? ]
no subject
[But he knows, as he says that, its going to be futile. Its like he experienced with Mob. Seeing the memory doesn't mean that they'll be able to access it whatsoever.]
[His other hand moves to grip her other arm, before he leans in to kiss her forehead after she pulls away her hand.]
Its okay. Whatever happened...I hope it was eventually for the good. You deserve that much.
no subject
...
[ she nods. ]
I said I got taken in, didn't I? It must've been after this... [ her eyes close briefly at the kiss, and she relaxes a little from where she'd tensed up. ]
no subject
[An explosive end to one life, and a new start to another.]
Anyways...you're a strong lady. I've seen that for myself.
no subject
[ she frowns. ]
Is it strong, waiting around for someone else to save you?
no subject
I'm saying you're strong because despite everything you've been through...you keep moving forward. And you don't need someone else to help you to do that.
no subject
[ she still doesn't look entirely convinced, but she leans forwards to bump her forehead against his shoulder. ]
I don't know about that. Sometimes I think I'm just a bit too afraid of what'll happen if I stop again.
[ she'd been... what. stuck in a limbo for so long in that place? and now she's just afraid to go back to that. ]
no subject
[He reaches up, laying a hand on her head.]
Even I've been through that.
no subject
...
[ she can't even say "Really?" because... well. She's seen him at low points by now. She knows he isn't just saying that to make her feel better. ]
Fear, the great motivator? It'd be nice if it didn't have to come to that sometimes.
no subject
[And as they stand here embracing, a couple of memory bubbles suddenly float up - before Hansa can move, they pop, one and then the other.]
no subject
[ she'd say more but there's another memory bubble popped and this time it's her tumbling into a memory, and while there's no murder or death there's talk of it, at least. of loss, even if it's just part of a general discussion.
-- and a example of just... how strong hansa was, even without the enhancements he'd received from his work.
she blinks a little as the memory fades away and-- ]
-- you caught that coin? Out of thin air? [ excuse me? ]
no subject
...Yeah. I did. I mean, at the time, I just didn't think it was a big deal. I was just happy to have a coin.
no subject
You didn't have it easy, huh?
[ that's... well. whether he thinks that way or not, it's still... sad. in a way. ]
Who was that man in the second memory? He has your surname. [ she can... guess? but still. ]
no subject
[The past is a different country, after all. He smiles at the kiss to his cheek, and his fondness at Alex is coupled with the soft tone of his answer.]
Oh, him? He's my mentor, and...he's also my foster father. He adopted me and raised me, after all of that.
no subject
[ (caitie voice) when is hansa not having a great time, that mentally well-adjusted bitch. ]
-- Oh, and that was your first meeting with him then? [ that's one way to make an impression on someone. ]
no subject
It sure was. And there I was thinking that he was there because he had to clean up after all the trouble I caused. I didn't even think he was there because Bishop Dilo wanted him to look after me.
no subject
Surely you weren't causing trouble. [ it's a little dry. surely not. ]
You called him a mentor too, so he... adopted you and taught you how to fight as well, then. [ that's...
you know, that's nice, actually. to go from losing everything to finding such a solid place in life. ]
no subject
[At least he admits it.]
He sure did. He was an Executor, and he taught me everything he knew. He's a tough guy - he might be a little hard to talk with, but he knows how to go after you if you aren't up to the challenge.
no subject
[ it's hard for her not to sound as fond as she does though? it's fine. ]
... [ that explains some things, maybe. ] And through him you ended up -- [ how to phrase this without the whole static thing taking over ]-- in your line of work, I take it. [ there were a lot of church sounding titles being thrown around there, after all.
... hansa and the family business... ]
no subject
[Hansa lets out a slight laugh, bumping his forehead gently against hers.]
Yeah. He was the one who introduced me to that life, and I haven't looked back since.
no subject
she leans up to kiss him properly this time. a little balm for the teasing. ]
There's something to be said for the people you meet setting you on a path, huh. [ one way or the other. ] Chance meetings that turn out to be more important than you realise at the time.
no subject
Thank you. And there is something to be said for that. Like how even through all of this...I got to know an amazing woman like you.