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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 0:41:11 GMT -5
"He knows." Marla replied quietly. "It's just . . ." She sighed and shrugged. "Marcus worries about me. Not just about what people will think at me. He worries that if word got out that I am like I am, the people who don't agree with his positions would make me a target."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 0:46:16 GMT -5
"More likely he's worried they'd use the fact on him," Nate replied flatly.
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 0:54:33 GMT -5
Marla shot him a sharp glance, saying nothing for a long, calculating moment. Then she sighed. "He . . . he doesn't like to admit to himself that he even thinks it -- and he'd be horrified if he found out I know. But yes. He worries about that, too."
She raised her chin. "My brother is a good person, Nate, and I love him. And besides . . ." she glanced away. "He's not exactly wrong, now is he?"
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 1:04:11 GMT -5
Nate sighed. "No. In the strict sense, I guess he's not. But..." He shrugged awkwardly. "The way I see it, if you trade off doing what's right with one person--especially somebody close to you--then you've already lost the fight you're putting up for everybody else's sake." He smiled sadly. "I never could get into that 'needs of the many' philosophy."
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 1:13:15 GMT -5
Marla smiled thinly. "It's not all Marcus' fault." She said quietly. "Mother and Dad were worried about me embarrassing the family long before he started running for any offices. If anything, it's thanks to Marcus that they let me move out here."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 1:19:13 GMT -5
Nate frowned.
"Look... I guess I'm just saying all this because I know what it's like to have someone trying too hard to protect you. My dad tried that. After he manifested, he was afraid I would too if I went into the Army, and he tried to keep me out of it--the one thing I'd wanted and planned on all my life."
He glanced away. "That was why I left... and it's why I wasn't there to protect my sister when she needed it. And my dad and I both have to live with that."
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 1:30:05 GMT -5
Marla bit her bottom lip. "I know . . . I know you're trying to help. It's just . . . it's hard to try and look at your life from some other person's viewpoint."
She shrugged. "I . . . I feel like I have a good life. Like pushing too much is asking for something to go wrong."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 1:34:35 GMT -5
Nate shrugged. "Well... if you're happy with the way things are--I guess that's all there is to say."
Dropping the subject completely and abruptly, he turned to the drawers and started hunting for silverware. "You want a larger fork, or one of these little ones here?"
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 1:41:00 GMT -5
Marla glanced over her shoulder, feeling an odd mixture of relief and dissatisfaction with the change of subject. "The larger ones, I guess. The others are for salad -- which, uh," She blushed slightly, "Which I totally forgot to see about making, come to think of it."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 22:47:03 GMT -5
"Fine by me. I eat 'em because you're supposed to, but I've never been crazy about leafy greens." Nate stared at the salad fork and shook his head, then put it away. "...And that shows you how much I know about etiquette."
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 22:51:55 GMT -5
Marla grinned crookedly. "Mother had us learn how to use all that extra silverware when we were kids. Aside from showing off at a few awards dinners before I manifested, it's knowledge that's been pretty much useless."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 23:05:16 GMT -5
"In the underground, we're lucky to have silverware half the time," Nate remarked. He gathered the plates and forks. "I'll set these up on the table in the dining room."
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 23:09:03 GMT -5
Marla nodded and hefted the serving bowl of pasta. "Right behind you."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 23:17:48 GMT -5
In the dining room, Nate laid out the dishes on the table. He regarded a silver candelabra, then removed it from the table with a slightly awkward grin. That would be a little too much atmosphere, thanks.
"It'll be a miracle if this tablecloth makes it through the night unscathed," he said with a wince, indicating the snow-white lace table covering.
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 23:22:39 GMT -5
Marla bit back a laugh. "We'll call it . . . what's the phrase? 'Collateral damage?'
"Besides," She set the pasta down with a faint shrug, "A house this big must have a laundry room."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 23:30:30 GMT -5
"Oh, goody. More domestic chores. That's one even I didn't have to do in the Army." With a beleaguered grin, Nate pulled out Marla's chair for her.
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 23:37:00 GMT -5
"Oh, um . . . thanks." Marla ducked her head and sat down. "And I thought you said you didn't know anything about etiquette."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 23:43:27 GMT -5
"Holding out your pinky when you drink tea is etiquette. Seating a lady is manners." Nate grinned. "I'm civilized, but I'm not silly."
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Post by skybright on Jan 27, 2008 23:49:59 GMT -5
Marla laughed. "That seems like a pretty good definition to me." She paused, grinned, and added, "And it sounds like something my father would say. I think the two of you would get along."
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Post by Jordanna on Jan 27, 2008 23:57:47 GMT -5
"Well, that's nice to know. Seeing as how my experiences with your family so far have been sort of... mixed." Nate sat down, inhaling the aroma from the serving bowl. "Smells fantastic. I'm hungrier than I thought I was."
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