[Day 2, Night - A House South of Town]

[direstnews]

[Written into the ground alongside one of the houses to the south of town tonight are a series of strange letters, forming a rough circle near the wall. A figure of approximately Loki's build, not there during the day's exploration, leans against the wall at the corner. The door to the house is open.]

[Some hours after the sudden switch from day to night, Loki stands in front of the door, a candle before him, a kitchen knife in one hand and a spoon in the other. He checks the mirror set carefully in the darkness, nothing yet visible in its surface. Then he strikes the knife with the spoon's handle, and he holds his breath - and he waits.]

Comments

[tearsinnajar]

[She's in no mood for this either, being just as tired and confused and scared and frustrated. But he's crossing the line between protective and over-protective, and she can't have that.]

Then what point are you trying to make?

[assworthsaving]

That I can't control what other people do, but I sure as hell can do a better job of watching your back if I'm actually there to watch it.

[tearsinnajar]

[A straight answer for once. And to be honest, it's not an unfair one.]

... Okay.

[assworthsaving]

[And just like that he's been diffused, though still a bit prickly. He won't deny any accusations about being overprotective. And while he didn't know how to properly voice the reasons behind it, fearing they will sound wrong somehow, he can't change how he feels.]

Did you really think there was any other reason?

[tearsinnajar]

No, Nate. I understand that you worry. And I worry about you, too. It's not that I don't want you to look out for me—all I want is for you to dial it back a little bit, okay?

[assworthsaving]

[In a single, fluid motion he closes the gap between them, which wasn't far by now, not even sure what he is doing until he gently ghosts his hand over her left side.

His voice is thick, heavy when he speaks and barely above a whisper, but he manages to hold eye contact.]

That's what happened the last time I dialed it back. [Switching trains of thought, unable to say anything more on the subject, he lets that hang in the air for a couple of seconds before speaking up.] C'mon. We should make sure this thing is actually dead.

[tearsinnajar]

[She stands, stunned lips silently parted and unable to articulate everything she has to say before he switches subjects on her. He was right there when that happened, and there was nothing that he could have done. With the moment passed, she sighs.]


... Yeah, we should.