|
Post by skybright on Dec 20, 2007 23:43:37 GMT -5
Marla brightened slightly. "Marcus and I were the same way. I mean . . . we never went much of anywhere, but . . . we were always inseparable, even with Marcus being nearly five years older. I guess that hasn't really changed much."
She glanced sideways at Nate. "What about you and your sister? Are you still close?"
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 20, 2007 23:46:40 GMT -5
Nate was not successful in hiding the flash of pain that crossed his face.
"Deanna is gone," he said quietly. "The first time Nicholas Tiernan tried to have my father killed--she was the one who died instead."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 20, 2007 23:54:02 GMT -5
"Oh . . ." Marla flinched visibly, dropping her eyes to her clasped hands. "I . . . I'm so awfully sorry. I didn't mean to . . . to bring up painful memories."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 0:10:05 GMT -5
"It's okay." Nate sighed and shrugged. "Deanna's the reason Dad and I are fighting Tiernan now. Well... the start of the reason, at least." He smiled solemnly. "It's funny, but you stop thinking about things like that when--when you know that what you're doing is the right thing. And when it's the thing that has to be done."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 0:16:38 GMT -5
Marla glanced at him silently for a moment, then examined her hands. "I can't even imagine . . . any of that." She said quietly. "Losing someone that close . . . or fighting a war . . . or standing up to someone like that man." She shivered.
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 0:30:01 GMT -5
Nate wanted to say he was sorry for that--but he thought she might take it as an insult to her life of insular helplessless, and he had no wish to open that can of worms ten minutes into their forced weekend retreat. So he simply shrugged again.
"I couldn't imagine not fighting for something. I guess I get that from Dad."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 0:36:01 GMT -5
Marla grinned crookedly and glanced back at Nate. "Marcus hasn't told me much about your father -- except that he can't 'hear' him and that he's very . . ." She paused abruptly, searching for a tactful word, "Strong-willed."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 0:53:49 GMT -5
Nate chuckled. "That's my dad all over. The only time I ever saw him give up on anything was... well... after his mutation showed up, when he was wounded in Iraq. He took it hard."
The young man shook his head slightly. "It took Deanna's death to really pull him out of it, and make him the man he used to be again. Sometimes I... I don't think she would have minded giving her life for that. Not knowing what Dad's accomplished since then, and all the lives he's saved."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 1:03:47 GMT -5
Marla tucked her long white hair back behind her ears and regarded Nate gravely. "I . . . I'm sorry there wasn't some other way that could have happened." She said quietly. "But . . . but your father and his people are doing an awful lot of good. Marcus told me that much."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 1:08:11 GMT -5
Nate raised an eyebrow. "Really? None of us has really felt sure... well, exactly where your brother sits on the playing board. Every time I've listened to a talk with him, I've had the impression he'd sort of like us all to just go away--my dad especially."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 1:16:52 GMT -5
Marla smiled, crookedly but genuinely. "Marcus is . . . proud." She said, "And awfully stubborn. And . . ." She laughed softly, "And used to getting his own way, not doing what someone else says. Even so . . . he may not see things just his way, but Marcus respects your father . . . grudgingly."
She flushed slightly, giving the pale-blue skin of her cheekbones a purpleish tinge. "He'd never . . . he'd never really say anything about it. But," She touched two fingers lightly to her temple, "I can tell."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 22:02:19 GMT -5
Nate ducked his head slightly. "You're gonna convince me if I'm not careful." Then he grinned apologetically and made an ambivalent gesture. "Sorry... being a hard sell is something else I get from my dad. And with all the lives at stake, I wouldn't want to be any less cautious than I am."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 22:52:26 GMT -5
Marla smiled faintly and nodded. "Oh, I don't blame you. Your people don't know Marcus like I do. And . . . you have to be careful, with all you have to lose."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 22:58:17 GMT -5
Nate spared Marla an inquisitive glance. "So exactly how much do you know about everything that's going on?"
It only occurred to him belatedly that this might have been a dumb question, if Marla was apt to know whatever her brother knew.
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 23:09:37 GMT -5
She smiled crookedly and glanced out the window. "Marcus doesn't keep much from me." She said. "He can't, really -- we've been so close for so long I can 'hear' him much more clearly than I can most people."
She sighed. "So I know this man Tiernan would kill every regular human in the whole world if he had his way. And I know . . . I saw just an echo of what Marcus saw when he looked into Tiernan's mind." She shuddered and her voice grew quieter, "I know he's a monster."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 23:21:52 GMT -5
"Some of us have found that out without having to see the inside of his head," Nate murmured grimly, thinking again of his own sister. Then he shook his head.
"It doesn't help that Tiernan knows your brother is one of us, either. Between that and you... well, he could pretty much put the whole city in his pocket, if Mister Cole lets him."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 23:32:06 GMT -5
"Marcus . . ." Marla abruptly fell silent, cutting short whatever denial she had been going to make. She sighed and gazed out the window. "He tries to do the right thing." She said quietly. "Or what he thinks is the right thing."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 23:42:27 GMT -5
"Tiernan probably thinks what he's doing is the right thing," Nate said, and immediately regretted the words. He sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry. It's just... hard to deal with someone who wants to pick and choose the sacrifices they're willing to make."
|
|
|
Post by skybright on Dec 21, 2007 23:50:44 GMT -5
Marla pressed her lips together and nodded slightly. "I guess I can understand that." She murmured. "When all of you are willing to give up so much."
|
|
|
Post by Jordanna on Dec 21, 2007 23:56:11 GMT -5
"Or already have," Nate murmured, thinking of his father, and Miriam Van Linden, and Sid Rosenstein.
Then he shrugged, as if physically shrugging the topic from his shoulders, and changed the subject.
"So, uh... what do you figure on doing to pass the time, when we get out to this place?"
|
|