With mod permission, she downloads it in sullen silence. The second the transfer completes her eyes flutter wide. She gasps. Wordlessly, one tear rolls down her cheek. Then a second on the other side, racing its brother to her jaw.
Rosamund looks to him in horror.
Then her lip twitches and her eyes flash. She reaches out and slaps Charles bluntly across the face.]
[She doesn't move to attack him again. Her hand flexes in his grip and her eyes dart between his. It's a queer feeling. Cutting in and out. She's suddenly furious about agreeing to this at all, and then there's a fissure of dawning horror.]
[Her hand closes around his. Her eyes stay wide, unblinking, shifting between his at a frantic clip. Her already pale skin goes whiter yet.]
Charles, I don't... [More tears slip loose. Then she shakes. Her teeth grit and she wrests her hand away.] Why would you do this? Why would you do this to me?
[The shaking spreads. Her whole body trembles with a mounting rage. Whatever effect the code has, it's not strong enough to douse the fire. Flames may flicker but they refuse to die.]
[he watches her for a few moments, grief and guilt flickering in his eyes before he closes them.]
... If that's what you want.
[as he opens his eyes again, he lets his hand fall back to the side. he's silent for another second, as though waiting to see if she changes her mind or as though questioning his decision to agree, and then he turns to leave.]
[It's better that he leaves now. Before that barked order becomes grasping fingers, before she decides to lay hands on him even with Io on watch. Even his retreating footsteps beg her to follow.
Catch him from behind. If there's a wire, or sturdy cord...
Charles is her friend, but that hardly stopped her before.]
no subject
[It's a small comfort, but a welcome one.
With mod permission, she downloads it in sullen silence. The second the transfer completes her eyes flutter wide. She gasps. Wordlessly, one tear rolls down her cheek. Then a second on the other side, racing its brother to her jaw.
Rosamund looks to him in horror.
Then her lip twitches and her eyes flash. She reaches out and slaps Charles bluntly across the face.]
no subject
well, he is going to try to grab her wrist.]
Hey, hey—
no subject
I...I slit his throat?
no subject
he'll shift his grip to clutch her hand instead.]
Rosamund...
no subject
Charles, I don't... [More tears slip loose. Then she shakes. Her teeth grit and she wrests her hand away.] Why would you do this? Why would you do this to me?
[The shaking spreads. Her whole body trembles with a mounting rage. Whatever effect the code has, it's not strong enough to douse the fire. Flames may flicker but they refuse to die.]
Get out.
no subject
... If that's what you want.
[as he opens his eyes again, he lets his hand fall back to the side. he's silent for another second, as though waiting to see if she changes her mind or as though questioning his decision to agree, and then he turns to leave.]
no subject
Catch him from behind. If there's a wire, or sturdy cord...
Charles is her friend, but that hardly stopped her before.]