Part Fifty-Four: Gaston's Tour of Duty

[matrixrefugee.livejournal.com]

Miss Meglomania (10:46:09 PM): My husband's 6'3'' and he's NOT the tallest in his family...
Matrixrefugee197 (10:46:41 PM): Mero 2.5: "Hm, same height as yours truly..."
MR: "Beat it, you!"
Miss Meglomania (10:47:26 PM): 6'3''? Hmm, LM's short-man-disease taking hold?
Matrixrefugee197 (10:48:15 PM): LM: "Part of me wants to know what it's like to be looking *down* at people inside of *up*."
Miss Meglomania (10:48:36 PM): Ilia: "And the other part?"
Matrixrefugee197 (10:48:59 PM): LM: "The other part is content with being as small as I am."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:49:56 PM): Castor: "Yeah, only a little guy coulda fit behind that access panel in the TV transmission station we captured the day of the coup d'etat."
Miss Meglomania (10:50:45 PM): Ilia: "Well, it is good you have accepted that you are *lacking* in some aspects." (to Castor> "You have been in service that long?"
Matrixrefugee197 (10:52:25 PM): Cstr: "Oh yeah... I've been with the Merv since before he *was* the Merv. I had a different shell then -- I used to be a bit taller -- but some nut tried plugging me with an EMP: wrecked my shell, but
my cube survived."
Pollux: "And then they made me to keep Castor company."
Miss Meglomania (10:53:25 PM): Ilia: "How fortunate for the both of you."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:53:37 PM): Cstr: "Not like I wanted it that way, but hey, he's pretty good back-up. ...My name was Talos back then, but I like Castor better."
Miss Meglomania (10:54:12 PM): Ilia: "That is Greek, yes? Some myth, I do not remember. Long time ago."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:55:25 PM): Cstr: "I think it is: y'd have to ask the Merv, he knows more about it. I'm smart for what I do, but I'd be the first to admit I ain't no intellectual."
P: "I think you're *really* smart."
Cstr: "Yeah, next to you, I look like a *genius*!"
Miss Meglomania (10:57:02 PM): ((Lol-- a line in a crime film I like has one char. saying to the other, "And YOU'RE the one they always called the smart one? I musta looked like a friggin' retard1))
Matrixrefugee197 (10:58:09 PM): LOL! Kinda fitting, since Castor and Pollux's sense of fashion has been described as "Hollywood Mafia bodyguard chic".
Miss Meglomania (10:59:05 PM): ((this one is an indie Ed Burns directed New York gangster one starring Elijah Wood. Yes, Elijah Wood in a gangster movie. This is why I had to watch it))
Matrixrefugee197 (10:59:42 PM): ((Frodo in a gangster movie?!!? Sorry, had to let that out...))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:00:13 PM): Hm... The Lord of the Crime Rings???

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<joking!>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

<lj-cut text="A situation on the fringes of his empire calls the young king away...and Nitika fears for his safety">

Miss Meglomania (10:46:09 PM): My husband's 6'3'' and he's NOT the tallest in his family...
Matrixrefugee197 (10:46:41 PM): Mero 2.5: "Hm, same height as yours truly..."
MR: "Beat it, you!"
Miss Meglomania (10:47:26 PM): 6'3''? Hmm, LM's short-man-disease taking hold?
Matrixrefugee197 (10:48:15 PM): LM: "Part of me wants to know what it's like to be looking *down* at people inside of *up*."
Miss Meglomania (10:48:36 PM): Ilia: "And the other part?"
Matrixrefugee197 (10:48:59 PM): LM: "The other part is content with being as small as I am."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:49:56 PM): Castor: "Yeah, only a little guy coulda fit behind that access panel in the TV transmission station we captured the day of the coup d'etat."
Miss Meglomania (10:50:45 PM): Ilia: "Well, it is good you have accepted that you are *lacking* in some aspects." (to Castor> "You have been in service that long?"
Matrixrefugee197 (10:52:25 PM): Cstr: "Oh yeah... I've been with the Merv since before he *was* the Merv. I had a different shell then -- I used to be a bit taller -- but some nut tried plugging me with an EMP: wrecked my shell, but
my cube survived."
Pollux: "And then they made me to keep Castor company."
Miss Meglomania (10:53:25 PM): Ilia: "How fortunate for the both of you."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:53:37 PM): Cstr: "Not like I wanted it that way, but hey, he's pretty good back-up. ...My name was Talos back then, but I like Castor better."
Miss Meglomania (10:54:12 PM): Ilia: "That is Greek, yes? Some myth, I do not remember. Long time ago."
Matrixrefugee197 (10:55:25 PM): Cstr: "I think it is: y'd have to ask the Merv, he knows more about it. I'm smart for what I do, but I'd be the first to admit I ain't no intellectual."
P: "I think you're *really* smart."
Cstr: "Yeah, next to you, I look like a *genius*!"
Miss Meglomania (10:57:02 PM): ((Lol-- a line in a crime film I like has one char. saying to the other, "And YOU'RE the one they always called the smart one? I musta looked like a friggin' retard1))
Matrixrefugee197 (10:58:09 PM): LOL! Kinda fitting, since Castor and Pollux's sense of fashion has been described as "Hollywood Mafia bodyguard chic".
Miss Meglomania (10:59:05 PM): ((this one is an indie Ed Burns directed New York gangster one starring Elijah Wood. Yes, Elijah Wood in a gangster movie. This is why I had to watch it))
Matrixrefugee197 (10:59:42 PM): ((Frodo in a gangster movie?!!? Sorry, had to let that out...))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:00:13 PM): Hm... The Lord of the Crime Rings???
<Joking!>
Miss Meglomania (11:00:59 PM): ((Lol, no prob...I mean, this is Nicky's stand-in, a stand-in I chose for several reasons. Nicky as a member of the Irish mob???Shooting several people??? HUH????))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:01:17 PM): Oh my...))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:01:46 PM): Interesting range of roles some actors play...))
Miss Meglomania (11:02:10 PM): ((yeeeeeah....))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:02:53 PM): ((Gigolo Joe's real-world counterpart as a creepy crime scene reporter who moonlights as an assassin???))
Miss Meglomania (11:03:48 PM): ((Cal's counterpart as a Russian mail-order-bride involved in international crime and...oh, wait, that kinda fits, doesn't it? Nevermind..))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:04:47 PM): ((And yes, I got the idea for Cecie being pregnant, from the news that her chief stand-in Carrie Anne Moss had a baby.))
Miss Meglomania (11:06:31 PM): ((everybody else have personalities roughtly like the characters their stand ins have played...La Desperada is based of Carolina from the 'El Mariachi' series, Rekha [the Contessa], is usually noble and
graceful...))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:07:59 PM): ((Marilyn was originally very ditzy, but then she absorbed some of Monica Bellucci's poise.))
Miss Meglomania (11:10:48 PM): ((Yulia is based of Helena Bonham Carter in "The Wings of the Dove", so that's her stand in...GOD knows what Ilia was based off of, probably the same character! Three central characters of
"Wings" are the stand ins for Kitty, Kosmos and Yulia...))
Miss Meglomania (11:11:54 PM): ((Ilia: "I am a unique individual. And because of that fact, everybody should be thankful."))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:12:56 PM): Castor and Pollux were inspired by a screenshot of Cain and Abel from the video/PC game "Enter the Matrix", which I don't own... but I got my hands on a transcript of the game script online... and whaddayah know, but theire personalities are strikingly similiar.))
Miss Meglomania (11:13:08 PM): Lol!
Matrixrefugee197 (11:14:15 PM): Both pairs work as goofy henchmen, Both pairs squabble incessantly, even their intelligence levels are about the same. With the apparantly younger one of the pair being not exactly the sharpest dagger in the weapons case...
Miss Meglomania (11:16:40 PM): ((LOL!!! Gee, who does THAT remind us all of? And who's Julien based on?
Hm, I just remembered-- Ilia's also a big part 'Paolo' from Tennessee William's "The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone"...the story of an aging Broadway actress who goes to Italy and becomes involved with a 20-something 'nobleman'...
Ilia: "Are you suggesting that I am a common hooker? Please! I like to think myself rather *uncommon* in that respect..."))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:17:51 PM): Julien is a wholly original character as far as I can tell... though his whinging when he has no one to love him is a blatant self-parody.
Miss Meglomania (11:18:47 PM): Lol...awww, but it's so CUUUTE...
Matrixrefugee197 (11:19:44 PM): I know, he is a sweetie...
Miss Meglomania (11:20:00 PM): He's just so easily flustered and offended...
Matrixrefugee197 (11:19:14 PM): I'm having a hard time finding a stand-in picture for him... Hard to find a cute-faced, slightly tousle-headed, pleasingly plump fellow in his early 20s to serve the purpose... Brown hair, black eyes... slightly effeminate looking... The closest I came up with was Carravaggio's painting "The Lute Player".
Matrixrefugee197 (11:23:11 PM): Hm... see if I have that Carravaggio painting on my Photobucket...
Matrixrefugee197 (11:25:07 PM): Okay, found it! http://img73.photobucket.com/albums/v222/MatrixRefugee/RPG_Pics/81b79178.jpg
Miss Meglomania (11:25:35 PM): Awww, yep, that's Julien!!!
Miss Meglomania (11:29:24 PM): I found a nice B&W of Ilia, BTW, which I put in his folder(in the Contessa's
folder), in the PHUN folder on Yahoo...he's SO particular about pictures of himself, he has to personally approve them (rolls eyes))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:29:45 PM): Ooh, I'll hafta take a look...
Miss Meglomania (11:32:09 PM): (Ilia: "It is not my best...but it will do for now. I hate having my photograph done...there is no passion to a photograph, no movement."))
Matrixrefugee197 (11:32:18 PM): LM: "Not bad..." (internal: rrrrraaaOOOWWW!!!!.... hold on there, old man, whoodyah t'ink yer growling over.>
Matrixrefugee197 (11:32:47 PM): LM: "It all depends on the photographer."
Miss Meglomania (11:33:29 PM): Ilia: 'I suppose...that one was for the Kirov, a few month back. House photogrpaher, supposed to be doing headshots. Annoying old bitch..."
Matrixrefugee197 (11:34:09 PM): LM: "Headshots, faugh... A carefully posed full-length is better."
Miss Meglomania (11:35:07 PM): Ilia: "You have your point. Besides, the stage is so far away from the audience, who is going to know what our faces look like anyway? They do not come to a production to see faces, after all."
Matrixrefugee197 (11:35:51 PM): LM: "Well-put."
Miss Meglomania (11:36:31 PM): Ilia: "You seem awfully interested in photography...a hobby?"
Matrixrefugee197 (11:38:02 PM): LM: "I used to be a photojournalist a long time ago... It's become a hobby by force of circumstances, but I must add, that the official photos of my family were all taken by me."
Miss Meglomania (11:38:33 PM): Ilia: "The ones on the posters, you mean? Like stock ones, I guess you could call them?"
Matrixrefugee197 (11:40:03 PM): LM: "Yes, though unfortunately, the graphics designer we hired decided to edit the photos... translate that to: ruin them by cropping them off."
Miss Meglomania (11:41:03 PM): Ilia: "How tragic for you, to see your....artistic vision mangled in such a way. But, still, very good work from what I have seen. Impressive."
Matrixrefugee197 (11:41:51 PM): LM: "Thank you. I wish it could have been better, but if it's still effective even in its imperfect state, then it serves its purpose."
Matrixrefugee197 (11:42:34 PM): Gaston: "Wasn't there some quote about the measure of something being a masterpiece was the fact that it had flaws in it that didn't detract from the overall effect?"
Miss Meglomania (11:43:57 PM): Ilia: "I would not know myself. I am afraid those in my profession have the need of perfection drilled into them as soon as they can walk." (somewhat bantering>
Matrixrefugee197 (11:44:55 PM): G: "But even still, there's an element of human frailty that only helps to create a welcome contrast."
Miss Meglomania (11:46:25 PM): Ilia: "I suppose, but try telling that to most instructors, and see where it will get you. The probalem with the arts is...they are not allowed to be artistic. This is not rocket science, there is no 'right' or 'wrong', but you would not guess that from instructors and lessons. Everything must be perfect, or you are a total failure.".
Matrixrefugee197 (11:48:11 PM): G: "I know what you mean: I taught myself to play the violin, and I'm good at it, but I have a snowball's chance in Gehenna before I'd be allowed to perform with the New Boston Symphony Orchestra."
Miss Meglomania (11:50:21 PM): Ilia smiles. "Most artistic styles-- music, dance, painting or whatever-- came out of mistakes. So, if there are no mistakes, there is no creativity, and is not being creative what art is trying to be? I am not saying always fuck up, and make fun of what you are trying to do, but...do not become a slave to any one way, because there is no one way." laughs. "I sound like a Minister of Culture-- forgive me."
Matrixrefugee197 (11:51:11 PM): LM: "You do, as a matter of fact: Madame Rimbaud has said similar things: She wanted to run... an exhibit of some of my early photography at the Louvre... I argued it wasn't up to standards, but she pleaded with me. She's still pleading with me."
Miss Meglomania (11:52:52 PM): Although he doesn't show it, Mero can tell that hearing 'Madame Rimbaud' sparked an immediate interest in Ilia...he turns to Mero, llooking at him directly. "Did she? And is she always like this?
So...against standard?"
Matrixrefugee197 (11:55:01 PM): LM: "She's been called 'a maverick' and 'contraversial' by her critics, and 'a genius', even 'the tenth Muse' by her defenders. If a woman honestly wants to run an exhibit of crime scene photographs at the world's most well-known museum, she's certainly a non-conformist to say the least."
Miss Meglomania (11:56:31 PM): Ilia: "How very interesting...I should like to meet her. I think we would get along most agreeably..." (internal: That is, if you keep your word, my dear king...>
Matrixrefugee197 (11:57:57 PM): LM: "I think you'll find her fascinating and sympathetic to your ideas ... but a word of note: don't try scoring with her; she's a lesbian."
P: "Yeah, he found out the hard way."
LM: (glowers at Pollux>
Miss Meglomania (11:59:05 PM): Ilia looks offended: "Excuse me, did I say I wanted to do anything except talk to her? What the Hell do you take me for?"
Matrixrefugee197 (11:59:54 PM): LM: "I meant it as a word of warning: she's a very attractive woman. Even Gasque briefly took a fancy to her."
Miss Meglomania (12:01:46 AM): Ilia (rolls his eyes> "Please, I do know the meaning of self-control." (internal: Even if I do not find myself applying it all that often...>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:02:12 AM): LM: (not a mind reader, but he got a vibe from that thought...>
Miss Meglomania (12:03:12 AM): Ilia: "Besides-- a relationship between an artist and the Minister of Culture? Can you imagine how bad that would look in press?" (internal: And that is why I am in this with *you*, dear king...you control that ministry and are *far* more discreet...>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:05:06 AM): LM: "Helene is careful to conceal her affairs from the public eye... her fiance is a screenwriter, but they maintain the relationship discreetly."
Miss Meglomania (12:05:54 AM): Ilia: "Screenwriter? Anything I would have heard of?"
Matrixrefugee197 (12:07:01 AM): LM: "Mostly documentaries: I worked with her on "World in Fusion", the documentary covering the coup d'etat."
Miss Meglomania (12:07:43 AM): Ilia: "Charming." (internal: Like I would have seen THAT...>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:08:20 AM): Cstr: "Yeah, she was the one willin' to stick her hand in the lion's mouth--er, take scans from my memory logs to include in the film."
P: "Wasn't she the one staring at the viewer-thingy when they were running the footage of the boss with his shirt off crawlin' into that access hatch?"
LM: "Only in your dreams, if you had any, Pollux."
Miss Meglomania (12:10:13 AM): Ilia: "Fantastic, good for her. Can we change the subject now?" (internal: I am not going to sit around crowing abou the glories of the coup...I cannot...>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:11:44 AM): LM: "I think... she started off writing romantic comedies, of all things... That one about the woman and the search engine AI falling in love via IMs. Gasque, what was the title of that?"
G: "'Search: Romance', I think..."
Miss Meglomania (12:13:45 AM): Ilia: "Hm, interesting idea. Not like I watch romances or anything...too contrived."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:15:12 AM): LM: "This one was extremely contrived: It ended with the AI being downloaded into a Mecha shell; search function AIs don't have enough programming for that kind of housing."
Miss Meglomania (12:17:03 AM): Ilia: "I can see the spin-off: 'Google Me', the story of a stalker and a search engine terrorising a starlet..."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:17:52 AM): LM: "Hm, maybe I should pass that idea on to Mdme. Renee Monette."
LM: "The ARM would be delighted if the final twist was the stalker was a deranged search AI."
Miss Meglomania (12:20:23 AM): Ilia smiles wickedly at LM. "You are so creative when you choose to be, Meroveque...I forget that about you."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:20:58 AM): LM: (shrugs> "I have my moments..."
Miss Meglomania (12:21:55 AM): Ilia: "But no sugar-and-sunlight stories for you, you are far from romantic. Much darker...but I suppose it suits you, or else you would not think these things up."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:22:36 AM): LM: "Indeed.... the only romantic comedies I let myself half enjoy are the ones my wife appeared in a long time ago."
Miss Meglomania (12:22:58 AM): Ilia: "Ah, such devotion. I am sure she appreciates it."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:23:23 AM): LM: "She deserves it...."
Miss Meglomania (12:24:05 AM): Ilia: "Of course she does. A worthy woman in all senses, who deserves so much. I am sure you supply that."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:24:44 AM): LM: "I do my best, but I am, after all, only human..."
Miss Meglomania (12:25:39 AM): Ilia raises an eyebrow in sympathy. "I know you are. So hard to be perfect, there is no way you can be perfect. But you try-- if not to be perfect, than to be human..."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:26:47 AM): LM: "She's learned to accept me as I am. It wasn't easy for her, and grief knows I've tried her patience, but she's learned to look past my flaws."
Miss Meglomania (12:27:57 AM): Ilia: "That is hard to do, beloieve me, I know. But you have your good points, that you can see if you look hard enough." (internal: As I've already told you about, my dear king...if you were listening, of course.>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:29:39 AM): Harmann, Gaston's secretary, enters at this point, approaches Gaston and speaks to him in a low voice... something's clearly come up...
G: "Yes, I'll take that. Excuse me, gentlemen..." (rises, follows Harman out>
Miss Meglomania (12:30:50 AM): Ilia nods his head. "Until later, Your Majesty." settles back on the couch and lights a cigarette...
Matrixrefugee197 (12:32:26 AM): Julien scurries in at this point, clearly flustered. "Mon Seigneur, the printer is about to self-destruct!"
LM: "Not again... I showed you how to clear the memory cache yesterday."
J: "I tried that, but it went crazy!"
Miss Meglomania (12:33:10 AM): ((what, something not going right with Julien? When is ANYTHING going right with him?))
Matrixrefugee197 (12:33:13 AM): LM: (exasperated sigh> "Very well... We'll continue this coversation another time."
Miss Meglomania (12:33:44 AM): Ilia smiles at him and raises an eyebrow, words coming out with smoke. "I am sure we will...good day, Your Majesty."
Matrixrefugee197 (12:33:47 AM): J: "When my lord and master is with me and he has not forsaken me with another male for a day."))
Miss Meglomania (12:35:57 AM): ((aww, poor Julien...))
Matrixrefugee197 (12:36:45 AM): LM: (follows Julien out, favoring his left ankle slightly...>
Miss Meglomania (12:37:19 AM): Lol!!! ((Ilia: "Like I said-- not my fault..."))
Matrixrefugee197 (12:38:13 AM): He's clearly not doing it for show: If he was, he'd be leaning on Julien's shoulder for support.
Miss Meglomania (12:40:01 AM): Ilia finishes his cigarette and heads to his studio...doesn't doubt they will be continuing their conversation, but that's a while off...might as well work on these preliminary moves for 'Caligari'...
Matrixrefugee197 (12:42:36 AM): The call Gaston got turned out to be rather important: Insurgents in Ruritania attacked the government center, and he's been called in on a diplomatic mission.
Miss Meglomania (12:43:06 AM): (yuh-oh)
Matrixrefugee197 (12:43:47 AM): G: (preparing to leave, his father helping him pack> "Can't you come along?"
LM: "If I know Ruritania, it'll be a quick job, one you could handle with youe eyes closed."
G: "But you've always been there...."
LM: "Gasquin, I can't... It's time you flew solo anyway: you're old enough and wise enough. You'll make a better leader than I ever did."
Miss Meglomania (12:47:11 AM): (aww...).
Matrixrefugee197 (12:47:46 AM): LM: "I believe in you, fella."
G: "I don't want to fail you."
LM: "You won't fail me. I know you too well."
Miss Meglomania (12:51:35 AM): (Nitika: "I trust him..."
Yulia: "Careful, my dear, that could be seen as buttering up the opposition.")
Matrixrefugee197 (12:52:34 AM): G: (Replies with a wary smile and closes the lid of his suitcase... He has to tell Nadia what's going on....>
Miss Meglomania (12:54:38 AM): (ah, the joys of being a political wife...welcome to statehood by proxy, Nadia!)
Matrixrefugee197 (12:55:41 AM): N: "Do you think you can handle this?"
G: "No. But there's only one way I can find out if I can."
N: "I wish I could go with you..."
G: "That will come soon enough..." (Leans closer to her, his lips parting just a bit...>
Matrixrefugee197 (12:55:56 AM): N: (she meets him halfway, kissing him gently...>
Miss Meglomania (12:57:28 AM): (again: awww....)
Matrixrefugee197 (12:57:56 AM): She lets him go with a note of reluctance she quickly conceals...
And last, but not least, he informs his mother of what's come up...
M: "I will pray for you, that you'll be successful."
G: "Just pray that I'll have the strength to do the right thing."
Miss Meglomania (12:59:29 AM): Nitika is in the Common room when he comes out, looks up with a smile. "Hey...where are you going?".
Matrixrefugee197 (1:00:09 AM): G: "I've been called out on a diplomatic mission: There's been an insurrection in Ruritania. Wish me luck: I'm flying solo this time."
Miss Meglomania (1:00:55 AM): Nitika frowns a little. "Is it serious?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:01:35 AM): G: "They've seized a government building and they're holding the president's family hostage."
Miss Meglomania (1:02:07 AM): N: "Oh, God..." she looks very worried. "Are you gonna be okay? How long will you be?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:03:05 AM): G: "It's a situation that could go either way: It could be settled easily, or it could turn deadly... The group that's responsible is notoriously disorganized, so it fall apart by itself. I hope we can clear this up in a week."
Miss Meglomania (1:05:04 AM): Nitika comes closer and wraps her arms around his neck. "Be careful...promise me you'll come back in one piece."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:05:44 AM): G: "I promise you..." (goodness... he could kiss her...>
Miss Meglomania (1:06:32 AM): She pulls away and hols his hand for a bit, smiling self-depreciatingly. "I don't know what I'd do here without you, I've no one else to talk to. Good luck, Gaston."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:07:07 AM): G: "Take care of Nadia for me: she'll be lonely, too."
Miss Meglomania (1:07:53 AM): Nitika: "I know she will-- I'll do my best. Goodbye."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:08:28 AM): G: "Goodbye, Nitika..." (Lets her hand go slowly...>
Matrixrefugee197 (1:08:51 AM): Then heads for the door, where the unflappable Harmann waits for him....
Miss Meglomania (1:32:31 AM): (reading a health-caluctator online...hmm, for a 5-foot 30-something guy, Hal's not all that off-target for ideal weight...Ilia's 15 pounds underweight, however...Nitika's at her ideal...I'M underweight by 5
pounds...)
Matrixrefugee197 (1:33:35 AM): H: "I have trouble with the BMI thingy: it keeps reading me as a 12 year old. I'm built tall for my height, though."
Miss Meglomania (1:34:20 AM): Ilia: "It is bullshit. I am *supposed* to be 15 pounds underweight."
(how tall is Julien?)
Matrixrefugee197 (1:34:47 AM): J: "I stand exactly 5 feet 3 inches tall."
Miss Meglomania (1:35:16 AM): 112 min, 141 max
Miss Meglomania (1:35:22 AM): pounds, that is...
Miss Meglomania (1:41:05 AM): ((just discovered via the same site that Ilia's daily practice burns 3,403 calories-- no wonder he can't get any weight on 'em...))
Matrixrefugee197 (1:41:20 AM): My goodness!
Miss Meglomania (1:41:51 AM): ((add acute anorexia and cocaine, and it's incredible he hits the triple-digets..))
Matrixrefugee197 (1:42:25 AM): LM: "I think I consume about that much in a day, but it all burns off: sex burns calories."
Miss Meglomania (1:42:59 AM): Ilia: "200-something an hour...263, i think, if it is, ah, 'vigerous'. So I have heard."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:43:56 AM): LM: "I have a high metabolism as well, always did."
Miss Meglomania (1:44:28 AM): Ilia: "A man of a thousand secrets. Where did your son go?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:45:29 AM): LM: "He's heading to Ruritania to quell an insurrection: A bunch of angry titanium miners took over one of the government buildings and took the president's family hostage."
Miss Meglomania (1:46:07 AM): Ilia: "Hm, exciting. He will be all right. Good head on his shoulders, even if he is a little young for government."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:46:54 AM): LM: "He'll be fine: the particular bunch of rabble-rousers he's dealing with are notoriously disorganized. Should be easy to blow them out."
Miss Meglomania (1:47:17 AM): Ilia laughs. "Rabble-rouser? What does *that* mean?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:48:12 AM): LM: "It's a slang term for a very crude revolutionary who barely knows what he's doing."
Miss Meglomania (1:49:17 AM): Ilia: "I like it. Rabble-rouser. I think i will start using that. That is American, yes? You are American, I think..."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:49:30 AM): LM: "I was by birth."
Miss Meglomania (1:49:45 AM): Ilia: "What is it like there?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:50:36 AM): LM: "Disorganized, uncultured -- whatever that means -- crude... but fascinating."
Miss Meglomania (1:51:43 AM): Ilia: "I always hear how great it is, how the people are so different and there is so much to look at. I have never been-- I keep meaning to go, but..." shrugs. "So far there has been no reason for me to be there."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:52:50 AM): LM: "You'll get your reason to go... Didn't you have some film job in Nova Hollywood, or did that fall through?"
Miss Meglomania (1:54:27 AM): Ilia: "It is filming in Italy, so they will only do technical things there. And it is on hold while the lead actress tries to have a baby. Julia McKenzie, some Broadway woman, I have never heard of her.
Supposed to be a bitch."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:55:00 AM): LM: "Ah, I see..."
Miss Meglomania (1:55:47 AM): Ilia: "So, that will not be happening for maybe a year, which is why I want to go forward with 'Caligari' now. It will take up the time, and I will be better known, you know?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:56:10 AM): LM: "Never hurts to build up one's resume."
Miss Meglomania (1:56:28 AM): Ilia: "Exactly." (pause> "How is your ankle?"
Matrixrefugee197 (1:57:07 AM): LM: "It's healing. It wasn't as bad a sprain as we feared."
Miss Meglomania (1:57:30 AM): Ilia: "Hmm, good to hear. I would say I am sorry, except we both know I would be lying."
Matrixrefugee197 (1:57:39 AM): ((BTW: did you ever get a calculation on Julien's height/weight?))
Miss Meglomania (1:57:52 AM): yep-- 112lbs to 141
Matrixrefugee197 (1:58:05 AM): Hm...
Matrixrefugee197 (1:58:35 AM): He's described as being 141... <wondering if I should up it a smidge>
Miss Meglomania (1:59:40 AM): ((lol! "Look ou! He's gonna BLOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!"))
Matrixrefugee197 (2:00:07 AM): Okay, 141 it is.
Miss Meglomania (2:00:27 AM): (Ilia: "Still quite fat...")
Matrixrefugee197 (2:02:03 AM): LM: "We go well together, he and I: my hard angles and sharp lines with his soft form and gentle curves."
Cecie: "You still look like a comedy duo with a thin guy and a fat guy."
LM: "Thanks a lot."
Miss Meglomania (2:03:16 AM): (lol!!)
Matrixrefugee197 (2:03:59 AM): LM: "Come to think of it, Frank said something similar about us."
Miss Meglomania (2:04:14 AM): Ilia: 'I would rather not think about it..."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:04:57 AM): LM: (to Ilia> "Bear with her: she's going to be lonely for the next few days."
LM: "Therefore, she'll be bothering me with her attempts at humor."
Miss Meglomania (2:06:30 AM): Ilia: "I will try my best...I must represent my country and be brave in the face of advasary." (self-parodying tone>
Matrixrefugee197 (2:06:54 AM): LM: "You sound almost like my son." (teasing>
Miss Meglomania (2:07:44 AM): Ilia: "Well, we are the same age...almost."
Ilia: "It must be something that happens around this time-- we will grow out of it."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:08:53 AM): ((You got the line about Frank leaving to cover the insurrection, which I sent just before my comp crashed?))
Miss Meglomania (2:09:08 AM): ((no, but I guessed he would be...))
Matrixrefugee197 (2:09:22 AM): (Nuts)
Matrixrefugee197 (2:10:36 AM): It wasn't much, basically Cecie helping Frank pack and begging him to let her come with him, but he turned her down, telling her she really shouldn't be going into a semi-war zone in her condition; and she agreed saying she should be spending some mother-son bonding time with David. She'll be hiding it, but she's gonna miss Frank terribly...
Miss Meglomania (2:13:18 AM): Ilia: "They will be back shortly-- besides, it is not like they will be shipped out on front lines, they are in groups. Little danger."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:14:20 AM): C: "True... but I miss him. He's been doing this kind of reporting all his life, and he's survived some pretty bad stuff. But I can't help worrying just a little."
Miss Meglomania (2:14:50 AM): Ilia: "I imagine it is-- he will be all right. He is a grown man, after all."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:15:11 AM): C: (nods, accepting this...>
Miss Meglomania (2:17:05 AM): Ilia: "You are worried, which is a good thing. Shows strength and that you care about him. If you were not worried, it would mean you did not love him. But you are not panicked, you are not overexaggerating, which is a show of strong character. So feel good that you are worried, or else your marriage would mean crap."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:19:34 AM): C: "Some of my extended family were extremely critical of him and I getting married. They said that we were marrying just because we 'had to', because I was pregnant. But it wasn't like that at all: I married him because I fell in love with him. I've known him since forever... well, not forever, but at least since I was 23 and he was 25 and he married my step-siblings's cousin."
Miss Meglomania (2:20:03 AM): Ilia laughs. "To me, that *is* forever."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:20:44 AM): C: "He kinda... got a crush on me during the wedding preparations, but we both treated it like it was: just a crush."
Miss Meglomania (2:21:08 AM): Ilia: "But...you know, he loves you, you love him. No reason to change anything, so if you found the person you were supposed to spend your life with, fuck what anybody else says. Your life, you need to do what is right for you."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:22:15 AM): C: "There's just one problem, though... I still love my ex-boyfriend... I'm not a polyamorist, but I still have a large place for him in my heart."
Miss Meglomania (2:22:41 AM): Ilia: "That is natural...I am assuming he was your first. You seem a little cold in that area."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:23:01 AM): C: "I do?"
Miss Meglomania (2:23:40 AM): Ilia: "Yes. I do not wish to embarrass you, of course..."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:24:19 AM): C: "I'm told I don't show my emotions easily... or that I overreact. Depends on what it is."
Miss Meglomania (2:25:15 AM): Ilia: "You seem to me...not 'frigid', I do not think. But one who is...likely to be more offended than complimented if someone wants to fuck you."
Miss Meglomania (2:25:38 AM): He smiles to himself. "That was...a little blunt."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:25:47 AM): C: "You're damn right, though. You've probably seen me giving the Merv withering looks when he thinks I can't see him ogling me... funny thing was, I had a crush on him at one point, but that would have turned into something nasty if I'd followed through on those feelings."
Miss Meglomania (2:27:22 AM): Ilia: "I thought I would be correct. You wonder how they think they have the right to see you in that way, yes? Any outward form of sexual attraction is not good for you, you think it personally
degrading."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:28:42 AM): C: "I think of myself as being sexy but far from slutty. Like some of those warrior goddesses in different mythic systems."
Miss Meglomania (2:29:57 AM): Ilia: "But you have a hard time accepting it when people think you are...sexy." (shakes his head> "I hate that word, it is the cheapest form of a compliment because it lasts the shortest."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:30:31 AM): C: "Exactly... what's a better word for it... alluring?"
Miss Meglomania (2:31:41 AM): Ilia: "I think that means something else. There is sexy, there is alluring, there is glamorous and then beautiful. Alluring is a temporary thing, because sooner or later what is so mysterious
will be found out."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:32:23 AM): C: "Ah... Glamorous: doesn't quite fit, at least to me."
Miss Meglomania (2:33:43 AM): Ilia: "It fits to very few people, really. I have known maybe 3 that could be called that, and I am in a business where that is supposed to be the normal thing. It is rare, and always for women. Marlene
Dietrich, she was glamourous. Lauren Bacall, Lana Turner."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:34:03 AM): C: "Audrey Hepburn?"
Miss Meglomania (2:34:19 AM): Ilia: "Too skinny for me. But I could see it."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:36:12 AM): C: "This might sound like I'm putting myself down, but I don't think of myself as being beautiful. If someone thinks I'm beautiful, I accept it and I'm happy with the compliment. But I just don't think
of myself as some raving beauty queen."
Miss Meglomania (2:37:37 AM): Ilia: "Thank God for that-- I have known WAY more than 3 of those, and they are insufferable. Me, I am vain, but I do not proclaim it. If I do get a compliment, I think it is because I deserve it."
(smiles> "Which makes me as insufferable as the prima donnas."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:39:01 AM): C: "Please don't take this the wrong way: I didn't used to agree with Frank for saying you're a nicer fellow than you make yourself out to be, but now that I've gotten to know you better, I can see you
that way."
Miss Meglomania (2:40:15 AM): Ilia laughs at her and reclines on his side. "I am an asshole, I know I am. I do not find it offensive because I see it in myself. But I make no apologies for it. This is how I am, I will not change that because some people do not like it."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:42:28 AM): C: "That's the only person you can be: I've had to deal with people who've tried to change me one way or another all my life, and I've been tempted to cave in once in a while, just to keep the peace,
but I knew if I did that, I'd be lying to myself. So, I just keep on being myself -- just to aggravate the crap out of the people who want me to change to suit their ideas."
Miss Meglomania (2:44:47 AM): Ilia: "I figured a long time ago, if people do not like who I am, fuck them. There are plenty others who will. I have had people up my ass my whole life, but what the Hell do they know any better than i
do?"
Matrixrefugee197 (2:47:13 AM): C: "Nice to know there's some willing non-conformists in this world." (internal: He's a little too thin for me, but he's not bad-looking...>
Miss Meglomania (2:49:02 AM): Ilia laughs. "I think I get it from my mother. Very non-conformist from what I am told, a....what, hippy? Met my father in college, she was going to be a doctor but she dropped out to marry him, and
her family disowned her. At least...that is what I heard. I do not know if it is true."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:51:27 AM): C: "My parents were non-conformists in their own way: my mom graduated from college with a degree in world literature, but she eventually settled down with my dad and had her own home business making artificial flower arrangements. My dad was a public prosecutor who'd been a biker when he was in college; used to annoy his boss by riding into work on a motorcycle." ((And while we're on the subject of character backgrounds, I got the idea for Declan Martin on seeing a man in Boston wearing a business suit, riding out of the parking lot of the Suffolk county DA's office on a BMW motorcycle.))
Miss Meglomania (2:53:45 AM): ((LOL!!!))
Ilia: "Really? My father was in law, too. Police officer-- he...got shot when I was three, tried to stop someone from robbing a store. Strange way to die...he was just buying some milk, and the next minute he was dead."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:56:07 AM): C: "That's terrible... My dad died from a car crash while he was in the middle of a case involving a man who murdered his spouse and the only witness was their housekeeper Mecha; my dad wanted to admit the Mecha as a witness, but the laws wouldn't allow... so he snuck in her testimony as material evidence.... We think some anti-Mecha group had something to do with that accident."
Miss Meglomania (2:57:29 AM): Ilia: "Sorry to hear that. Shit happens, you know?" Lays back on the sofa and stares at the ceiling, lighting a cigarette. "Nothing you can do about any of that. People die, you get over it."
Matrixrefugee197 (2:58:30 AM): C: "It's not easy to do that when you witness their death... I'm sorry..." (she knows: Frank told her everything>
Miss Meglomania (2:59:19 AM): Ilia closes his eyes for a moment and inhales, not letting the breath out for a moment. "It is okay..."
Matrixrefugee197 (3:02:12 AM): That evening, the first news starts coming out regarding the Ruritanian insurrection: the insurgents are threatening to kill their hostages if the current president does not resign and/or reverse some
recent new regulations on mining practises...
Miss Meglomania (3:04:37 AM): Nitika hears the news with some apprehension bust says nothing...God, she's worried about Gaston...why's she worried? She shouldn't be...
Matrixrefugee197 (3:05:37 AM): Gaston has been listening to both sides of the issue, as much as he can from the insurgents' side, since they're extremely suspicious of him...
Miss Meglomania (3:09:21 AM): Nitika sends a short email to him: "Dear Gaston, I've heard the news coming over the wire. Horrible. But I know that you of all people can talk sense into them. Please take care of yourself, I'm
worried about you. Yours, Niti"
(sends it, then immediatly wishes she hadn't...great, now he'll think she's stalking him....)
Matrixrefugee197 (3:10:41 AM): He's got his hands full... He doesn't not notice the message, but even when he gets a minute to check his inbox, he reads it almost absently before moving on to the next message.
Frank sends a quick message to Cecie: "It's a mess here, not as bad as I feared, but bad enough. I miss you horribly. Kisses, Frank."
Miss Meglomania (3:13:40 AM): Ilia's absent from dinner...decides that another hour of practice is better than needless calories...Nitika attempts a few times to talk to Nadia, but feels awkward in doing so so she keeps quiet...
Matrixrefugee197 (3:14:11 AM): Nadia: (internal: Gad, I must seem like a dumb blonde to her...>
Miss Meglomania (3:14:42 AM): Nitika: (internal: Must not talk to fiancee of best friend...it'll be weird...>
Matrixrefugee197 (3:15:57 AM): Le Mero has been darting glances at Nadia all through dinner, but the Queen Mother catches those glances.
Later:
M: "You were looking at her."
LM: "I was just trying to read the expression on her face."
M: "You were still looking at her."
LM: "I'm worried about her since she's worried about Gasque."
M: "That better be the whole of it."
Miss Meglomania (3:16:53 AM): Lol!
Matrixrefugee197 (3:18:33 AM): LM: "Mari... this is the girl Gaston wants to marry. She's going to be our daughter-in-law very soon..."
M: "Why couldn't he have chosen someone else? Someone you haven't slept with."
LM: "She fled to Versailles to get away from the brute she'd been engaged to. Gasque took her in to protect her, and he fell in love with her."
M: (listens, not sure whether she believes this...>
Miss Meglomania (3:21:55 AM): ((I admit, this WOULD be awkward for everyone...))
Matrixrefugee197 (3:22:19 AM): The royal couple ends up spending a rather chilly night together...
Miss Meglomania (3:23:44 AM): The Contessa has a visitor that evening...
TC: "So you've come after all..."
Ilia: "That is the terms of our contract, isn't it? How are you?"
TC: "Like you really care...I'm holding up. How are you occupying yourself?"
Ilia: "Let us just say I am, and leave it at that..."
Matrixrefugee197 (3:24:35 AM): Julien lies sulking on his master's empty bed... at least he is with his wife but still...
Miss Meglomania (3:26:48 AM): TC: "I trust the rest of the world is...ah! Don't do that, please, I don't think I'm up for it...Liyla, for God's sake, I didn't request it...oh, God..."
Ilia: "Shh...do not say anything, just let me take care of it..."
Matrixrefugee197 (3:28:16 AM): J: (considers his options: the Contessa's daughter? No, she nicked him with those claws of hers, though she has been calmer lately... The reporter's wife? She's been with Mecha before... >
Miss Meglomania (3:29:44 AM): Lol! (...I hope the guards outside the Contessa's door can keep their mouths shut, because within an hour there's some modest monkey-screaming coming from behind it...)
Matrixrefugee197 (3:30:42 AM): J: (Ah, the lovely Mdme. Kitty... he hasn't had a minute lately to spend with her: he hopes she hasn't forgotten him...>
Matrixrefugee197 (3:34:17 AM): Gets up, checks his reflection in the mirror, adjusts his vest and heads out, going to her room...
Miss Meglomania (3:34:23 AM): About an hour later...
TC: "Oh, God...oh, God...what on Earth..."
Ilia: "I was feeling energetic...I do hope you did not mind."
TC: "Are you *kidding*?" (slaps herself-- JEEZ, that was juvenile> "I...thank you."
Ilia: "Not a problem. If you will excuse me..."
TC: "Hmm? Oh...oh, yes, of course...good night, Liyla." (watches him as he exits, then sinks back on the pillows with a big sigh...>
Matrixrefugee197 (3:34:57 AM): J: (tiptoeing along the Russian hallway...>
Miss Meglomania (3:35:27 AM): Ilia lights a cigarette and glances up at Julien as they pass in the hall. "What do *you* want?"
Matrixrefugee197 (3:36:07 AM): J: "Nothing of you; I am merely visiting Mdme. Kitty... if she will allow me to enter her chamber."
Miss Meglomania (3:36:34 AM): Ilia: "Are you still mooning over her? When are you going to admit defeat?"
Matrixrefugee197 (3:37:14 AM): J: (Puzzled expression>
Miss Meglomania (3:38:11 AM): Ilia (rolls his eyes> "She is not going to screw you, okay? I think you would have figured that out all ready."
Matrixrefugee197 (3:38:19 AM): J: "I will give this up only after she has lain in my arms for one night."
Miss Meglomania (3:40:55 AM): Ilia: "Well, then, it will just be for sleeping. She does not fuck anyone, and even if she did..." he shakes his head. "I am afraid you have just a little too much equiptment for her."
Matrixrefugee197 (3:41:23 AM): J: (that doesn't register in his head>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia (looking blankly amazed> "You really do not get it, do you? I do not know how to explain this any better...she likes women, okay? And as totally unmasculine as you are, you still have a dick. Sorry to shatter your hopes and dreams."
Matrixrefugee197: J: (ponders this, manages to put two and two together, since he knows his master swings both ways, and that some of his male lovers have been exclusively drawn to males... thus, it must be the same with some females.> "I see..." (utterly dejected now, hanging his head...>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia puts his hand on Julien's shoulder. "Oh, come on, cheer up. Better you find out from me than her."
Matrixrefugee197: All his hopes dashed...
Miss Meglomania: Ilia: 'Now, she thinks you are a good friend that she is having odd allergic reactions to, instead of anything else. Besides, not like she sleeps with women, either. Not with anybody...I would not know myself if I had
not...walked in on a rather akward moment."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "Please, spare my ears..." (shuts off his hearing>
Miss Meglomania: Ilia smiles at Julien and pats his shoulder. "Such is our lives, Julien, full of endless disappointment and riding on luck and a fuck..."
Matrixrefugee197: Doesn't hear, slips out from under Ilia's touch and goes away... to find some corner where he can weep alone (not that he has tear ducts, but what he feels is certainly like what Orga must feel when they weep for
sorrow...)What is it that hates him? Why must his happiness always be snatched from his hands?
Miss Meglomania: Ilia smiles at Julien's retreating back-- well, he had to find out sometime, didn't he? and goes into his room, throwing his robe on the back of a chair and crashing into bed, staring up at the ceiling through a haze of
smoke...such a peaceful hour, right before sleep...
Matrixrefugee197: Now he has nothing left to hope for...
Miss Meglomania: awww....
Matrixrefugee197: Goes out onto the balcony off the common room, looking up at the sky and the stars...
Miss Meglomania: Nitika (from beside him>: "Ah! Who is it?"
Matrixrefugee197: J: "EEP!!! Don't kill me..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: (stepping out of the shadow and wrapping her robe around herself> "Julien? what are you doing out here?"
Matrixrefugee197: J: "Wondering why I must exist if my joys are so fleeting."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika smiles a little and glances out into the sky. "Well, that makes two of us, I guess..."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "Have you ever hoped for something with all your heart and only had it snatched from you by someone with a harsh tongue?"
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "Constantly. What happened?"
Matrixrefugee197: J: "I know it is impossible for something like me to fall in love, though it is commonly known that I am utterly devoted to my master... but I have hoped to give myself to Mdme. Kitty.... only to find out from that
repulsive Hungarian that, so he claims, she has no interest in anyone of the sterner sex."
Matrixrefugee197: There, he's said it, though it scalds his heart.
Miss Meglomania: Nitika can't help smiling. "Well, if anybody knows about anyone's sexual habits, it's Liyla...I'm sorry to hear that. I'm sure she would have appreciated the sentiment."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "I'm told that as a lover, my skills are rudimentary, but I hope I might make her happy... I could even avoid... entering her. I'm not very well-equipped... that way."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "Yeah, I've...seen it."
Matrixrefugee197: If Julien could blush... J: "They made me to be submissive... I don't mind being so with my master... But I love delighting the hearts and senses of the ladies."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "It's okay, that's not what you were built to do. I understand. But she...I dunno. If she doesn't dig guys, she doesn't dig guys. At least you have the courage to try and do something about what you feel, which is more...than I can say for myself, really..."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "But I don't know what to do... I cannot risk offending her..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "I really couldn't help you there, I'm sorry...Julien? Can I ask you a question?"
Matrixrefugee197: J: "Yes..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "When humans are in love, what are they feeling? How do they act? I've got no experience, and you've been around far more sensualists than I have..."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "How can I begin to describe it? I think I know it myself.... as far as I am able. You want nothing more than to be with them, not just in their arms, but in their presence, to have the same light or shadow fall upon the both of you... You carry their name inside you, and it is the one word that means the whole world to you...."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika falls silent, listening...looking out at the night, her jaw tightening a little...God, make him stop, please, she cant bear this...
Matrixrefugee197: "Their light is your light, their sorrow is yours..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika hangs her head a little: "Don't...please, that's enough...God..."
Matrixrefugee197: "Have I offended you?" (wary and concerned>
Miss Meglomania: Nitika shakes her head. "No more than I have offended myself..."
Matrixrefugee197: Maybe she needs him more... but perhaps not...
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "It's just...Mom and Daddy didn't want many people to know about me, they were afraid I'd get hurt. So I've been in that bloody castle for yeas now, and now I'm....I'm out of there, I'm in Italy and I'm around
people for once in my fucking life and I...I'm feeling things that I can't describe and...and, oh God..."
Matrixrefugee197: Reaches out... carefully... places a hand on her shoulder... hoping his touch is soothing...
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "But there's nothing I can do about it because...because there's a lot of reasons but the main one is that...there's someone else, and..." she sniffs and puts herself next to Julien, putting her head on his chest, closing her eyes. "I'm sorry...i don't know what I'm feeling..."
Matrixrefugee197: "Someone else? Who?"
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "Nadia...I'm-- oh, God, I might as well just say it, I think...I think I love Gaston."
Matrixrefugee197: "You do?" (a bit hopeful>
Matrixrefugee197: "I never really thought much of her: she turned my master's head after all..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "Well, she's the reason I can't...I'm sorry, now I sound jealous. I'm *not* jealous, I'm really happy for them. But I just...Goddamn it, is this a curse with my family? That the guys we're in love with are already engaged? Shit..."
Matrixrefugee197: (puts his arm about her comfortingly>
Matrixrefugee197: "If it is meant to be, it will happen... if not, there is another..."
Matrixrefugee197: Realizes he's just spoken for himself.
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "I know, i know, I keep telling myself that...it just *hurts*, is all..." she raises her head and wipes er nose on her sleeve. "Thanks...please, don't tell Nadia. I couldn't live with myself if she knew."
Matrixrefugee197: "Your secret is safe with me." Leaning closer to the side of her head. "Don't be afraid, it's not *that* kind of a kiss..." (kisses her hair>
Miss Meglomania: Nitika manages a small smile. "Thanks...people like me aren't supposed to be accepted by either your kind or humans, but I feel a lot more comfortable around you than a lot of Orga I know." She hugs him. "Thanks for being here."
Matrixrefugee197: Amazed at how she has accepted what little he has to offer! Hugs her back, gently...
Matrixrefugee197: "Are you different somehow?"
Miss Meglomania: She looks up at him (she IS one inch shorter) "What do you mean?"
Matrixrefugee197: "You said something about people like you not being accepted by Mecha or Orga... I don't seem to follow... Forgive me: I'm told I'm not the brightest candle in the room."
Miss Meglomania: "It's okay..." Nitika closes her eyes. "Mom and I...we aren't human, not in the, dunno, truest sense. We were, but we got sick-- she got in a bus wreck and I got Sinclair's Syndrom, and...and so we're the same people we
were, we're the same humans we were but our bodies didn't work anymore. So they had to take who we were and put them into something that did work. And that something just happens to be made of a bunch of metal and electricity..."
Matrixrefugee197: "Ahh..." He thinks he understands. "But that does not make you any less worthy of love."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika: "Thanks...it's just, not a lot of people think that. Mom was lucky, Daddy didn't care and by the time she met Ilia she was so rich she coulda been a baboon and he wouldn't care. But...I guess I'm new at the
game, and I don't know if my luck's gonna hold."
Matrixrefugee197: "Give it time. If you ever need anything in that regard... I think I could be there for you..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika puts her head on his chest again. "Thanks...it's really hard for me to find people that will be."
Matrixrefugee197: J: "Would you mind if I stayed with you this night? we are both lonely souls in need of comfort, the little we can share."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika nods and wipes her nose again. "Okay...but just as friends, okay?"
Matrixrefugee197: "Just friends... you need one now..."
Miss Meglomania: Nitika leads Julien back to her room and crawls under the covers...he'll have to find room amist some of the cuddly toys, lol...
Matrixrefugee197: Doesn't mind... his first master's wife was fond of them too...
Matrixrefugee197: Lies on top of the covers beside her...
Miss Meglomania: Before going to sleep, Nitika crosses herself and picks up a framed photograph of the Count, kisses it and puts it back on the table..."G'night, Julien."
Matrixrefugee197: "Good night, Nitika...." </lj-cut>