neornithes | anon;

[ Will couldn't put his finger on why, but the thought of meeting Marian face to face was enough to put a knot in his stomach. Everything that she had said to him seemed off somehow. If she had been found out, it would make some semblance of sense as to why she wanted to talk more easily than on the network, though it was hard for him to imagine that she didn't have someone else she could trust more than him. He considered her a friend, sure, but it wasn't as though they had known one another for much longer than a day.

That train of thought was a waste anyway. She had made no indication something had gone wrong. If it had, wouldn't she have just said so? He really had no clue, especially considering how cryptic her message was to begin with. Honestly, he still couldn't convince himself that she was capable of wronging someone enough to want to hide from them. She seemed too nice, too gentle. Like Ana used to be.

The thought of Ana made him feel even more sick. It was becoming harder and harder for him to figure out just how he felt about her. In truth, the emotions raging through him because of her made him angry as hell. He had spent so bloody long trying to forget he had ever known her, and in just a matter of hours the dam had ruptured and everything he had pushed to the back of his heart had come pouring out. He felt so many things he couldn't even identify one emotion from the next. They were all equally as powerful and painful as the other.

Will shook his head and tried to clear his mind. This was about Marian, not him. He had spent his entire walk to the courtyard with his head in the clouds and not a single idea of what to say to her or even what to expect. For all his musings, he was no further off than he had been when he left his cell. ]

[ The reality of the situation was settling in as Will came into view and Ana pressed her back to the wall she was against, looking up at the sky as if she were expecting some sort of lightning come strike her down at any moment. What was she doing? She didn't have any bargaining chips, anything besides the vague notion that Will might still love her.

The definition of madness was to try the same thing over and over again with different results and that was why Ana hadn't considered going to Will before with how they had just argued and argued. Not until she came to him as Marian and saw that somehow or other he could still see that white in her no matter how draped in red she had become. That was what made her think that maybe, just maybe, it might be worth trying something other than wishing with all her heart but never believing in magic. ]

Will.

[ Her voice rang out, but it wasn't that powerful voice she used as the Queen. It wasn't confident. It was hopeful and desperate, but still managing to hide all the fear that he would just walk away. She clutched that crown in her hand as she stepped closer. ]

[ At the sound of her voice, everything stopped. Every ridiculous thought Will had been entertaining dropped out of his mind, leaving nothing but unfiltered emotion rushing through him. He felt as though his body was torn in half, one part wanting to run and the other anchored to the ground like a statue. He couldn't even fathom forming a sentence. It had been hard enough seeing her on the video feed, but in person it was like the wound she had left on his heart all those years ago was opened anew and gushing crimson.

And yet, somewhere deep inside, there was a part of him that wanted nothing more to embrace her the way he had used to. It had been so long since he had seen the face of the woman he had fallen in love with. He had grown so used to seeing the make believe queen that he had very nearly forgotten the feeling of happiness that just looking into her eyes had brought him.

He lowered his head, clenching his fists in silence. In a way, they were horribly alike. He had clung so hard to who he had become as the Knave of Hearts because it was the only thing he had believed he would never lose. He thought if he cut his heart from the equation that he could live the rest of his life however he wanted. That he could forget, but the harsh truth came raining down on him now like daggers. Forget her he could not. ]

Ana.

[ Perhaps the most humorous aspect of this whole situation was the expression gracing Anastasia's features. Indeed, someone who had seen her any of the many times she had looked as though she'd been backed into a corner or as though she thought she was going to lose might have recognized such a face. It was never a face for them though. All those foolish games, right up until the point that she'd thought she'd lost everything when she'd been forced into Wonderland she was just trying to find a way back. To find a way that she wouldn't feel like crying just from thinking that she might not be able to get what she wanted: Will Scarlet.

Will wouldn't even look at her before now, so he wouldn't have known. As Anastasia approached him, he still wouldn't look at her and her pace slowed. He wouldn't even look at her. For a few seconds, Ana forgot everything that she'd come out here for as she tossed the crown she'd brought with to the ground at Will's feet. ]

Will, look at me.

[ Everything else was important. It was. But all she wanted from him right now was for him to look at her instead of keeping his head down. She gritted her teeth a little, but it wasn't because she was angry, she was just trying to make sure that she didn't feel the raindrops on her cheeks. ] Please look at me.

[ Will's eyes immediately moved across the ground when he heard the thump of an object hitting the snow's surface. He stared at the crown for a very long time, the sight creating both anguish and the vaguest thread of hope within him. Was this her way of showing she no longer wanted to be the Queen? That she wanted to be herself again? Surely it was his own desperate wishful thinking that clouded his perspective. She would never give her wealth and power for someone as lowly and pathetic as he was.

At her words, he sharply inhaled. He could hear her moving closer, and it made his body tense with apprehension. In that moment, he could finally understand why she had hidden from him. Why she had lied and kept her identity from him. He understood because more than anything, he now wanted to hide from her. Just as she was different from how she had been in their past, so was he. And he hated who he had become. For now, he decided, he couldn't look Anastasia in the face. But maybe he could look at Marian. He raised his eyes to meet hers, an evident hesitation spread across his features. ]

What was the question?

[ What was the question? Anastasia was good at planning for all that she was, but she couldn't help but wonder just what the most important question here was. Would he take her back? Did he still love her? If he didn't, was there any chance that he ever could? Would he forgive her? ]

I wasn't lying when I told you that no one could stop caring about someone that easily, Will.

[ It was obvious that she was having trouble keeping herself together. Even her voice was shaking a little bit. It wasn't anything she could act her way through. She was scared more than anything that he would tell her no. ]

I spent every day after I left you wanting you back, then I ended up here and I thought I'd never see you again. I didn't have the chance to make it right before, but if you love me I'll give it up. Everything.

[ She knew that she sounded pathetic. Weak. For once she didn't care. Once those words had begun to spill out she just wanted him to understand. ]

I don't want it if it means you don't love me.

Bloody hell, Ana.

[ The words came out at a near whisper, his own voice weak and faltering. He held his hands to his head and glanced at the courtyard over her shoulder, searching for anything to look at but her. Seeing her so weak and vulnerable was a sight more than he could bear, yet despite himself he couldn't keep his eyes off her for more than a moment. She was pouring out her heart to him rather he liked it or not, and it completely and utterly commanded his attention.

For once, he had no scathing words to throw back at her. There was nothing he could come up with to chase her away, and for the first time in years he didn't want to. He didn't want to go another day of his life not seeing her beautiful face just as it was now, pure and untarnished by the bloodstains of red. This woman had to be same as that he had known and loved. How could she ever put on an act like this?

His eyes fell to the ground once more in an attempt to build enough courage to speak. What to even say? He wanted more than anything to trust her. He wanted it more than he wanted freedom from this place. As much as he wanted to believe, he couldn't stop the doubts beginning to creep into the back of his mind. His eyes ventured to the crown laying on the cold ground; he knew it was the only way he could truly know. He bent down and pulled it from the cold, dusting the white flakes off of it's shimmering jewels. He looked at her again, his hand offering the crown to her. ]

I need to know for sure, Anastasia. If all you say is true.

[ Anastasia's brow furrowed just a tiny bit in confusion as he picked the crown up. She should have known that just words would not be enough, but.. that was the first real ounce of hope she's had in a long time. A glimmer when she'd spoken to him as Marian, sure, but now..

He was giving her a choice. A real choice and he wasn't like her. She could trust that he would really give her a chance if she could do whatever it was he was asking. Probably to get rid of the crown for good. It was hardly the only thing she had, but it was the most symbolic. Anastasia stared at it for a moment, the tiniest bit conflicted. ]

I'll give it to Jefferson and tell him to get rid of it. I'll sell the clothes back if they let me, I'll talk to Second about the room... whatever you want.

[ Second was.. a whole other set of issues. The fact that she had to talk to him to get rid of the room was probably indicative of something but it didn't look like she wanted to say. ]

[ Will silently listened as she spoke, his heart pounding so fast he could barely hear her over the thumping in his ears. It felt like what he was experiencing wasn't real. Like it was a fairytale in a children's book. His life had never been one with happy endings -- how was it possible that he could have her back?

Slowly, he reached his hand forward and cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand. The crown again dropped to the ground, but this time by his hand as he moved to grasp hers. His vision began to grow clouded, but he didn't care. He couldn't stop looking at her lest he blink and she was just a dream. ]

All I've ever wanted was you, Ana. Just you.

[ This had gone even better than she could've imagined. There were a lot of things that were going to change for her from now on. A lot of them she wasn't sure what to do without anymore, but she knew for absolute certain now that as long as she had Will things really would be okay. She knew what it was like without him after all.

Ana stood still as he touched her. There were tears flowing down her face and she looked like she couldn't hold back a smile even as she was starting to cry. It didn't last for long though, as she launched herself forward, her arms around his shoulders now and her toes barely touching the icy, cold ground. ]

You're all I need, Will. [ She holds onto him a little tighter, like she's afraid to let go. ] I love you.

Edited 2014-02-12 08:13 (UTC)

[ Will couldn't begin to count how many nights he had looked at the night sky and wished upon stars that this moment would come true. When she fell into his arms, the sensation of her body against his felt more perfect than he had remembered it. He choked out a laugh amidst his own tears and pulled her into a tight embrace, his hands clenching at the fabric of her jumpsuit so to be sure she could never get away from him again. When she spoke those three simple words to him, he felt like every sorrow that had ever weighed him down had lifted from his shoulders. ]

And I love you, Anastasia. I never stopped.

Me neither, Will. I'm so sorry.

[ Even if he couldn't see her face because of how tightly she was hugging him, it was obvious by her movements behind his back that she was moving her hands to get the tears off of her cheeks. Her voice was cracking though, like she'd been holding this in for an eternity, so much that she'd practically been drowning in it. ]

I'm sorry. [ And yet, there was a little laugh coming through her voice just after a sniffle. She might not be able to stop crying, but it was obvious that she was the happiest she's sounded in years. ]

[ Will reluctantly pulled away and gently placed his hand on her shoulder, using the back of his other hand to wipe away the tears from her face. Even with the eyepatch and the trail of tears trickling down her cheek, he couldn't imagine a time when she looked more beautiful. He was so overcome with it that he didn't bother wiping the tears from his own face. He shook his head at her second apology as if to wave it away. ]

I forgive ya.

[ He had never thought those words could come so easily, yet they slipped from this tongue like they had been there all along, just waiting for the moment to be spoken. He grinned then, his features entirely encompassed by the first genuine smile that had met his face in longer than he could remember. ]

[ Anastasia almost wondered if perhaps he was lying to her. This was coming too easy, she thought. For all the pain and suffering she'd been through and caused to others, this certainly seemed too good to be true. She knew it wouldn't be easy even after this, but right now she didn't particularly care. Will was smiling, they were both crying, and he forgave her. Even though neither of them were particularly good people anymore, she couldn't help but recognize that he'd always had a bigger heart than she did.

Reaching up with both hands, Ana wiped the tears off of his eyes with a dainty touch. ]

Let's go inside before our feet freeze off. I want to talk to you.

[ Just talk. And talk. She missed him, so much, and even when he was here that was the one thing that he wouldn't let her do properly until now. ]

[ With the way she was looking at him, he couldn't have lied if he had wanted to. Their past would always hurt to a degree, but he couldn't ignore what was standing right in front of him. He would have been a fool to turn her away.

He closed his eyes at her touch, the feeling of her fingers on his skin bringing warmth to his heart despite how cold they were. When he opened his eyes again, they focused in on her eye patch. He wouldn't let himself feel it before, but that someone had hurt her in such a way made him sick. He quickly focused his attention back to her functioning eye, hoping she hadn't noticed him looking. It wasn't as if he thought it made her any less beautiful.

He took her hand and interlocked his fingers with hers, holding out his arm toward a nearby door. ]

After you.

[ He wasn't just saying that to be a gentleman. He had no idea where she wanted to go. ]

[ She had noticed, but it was hard to blame him when she was certain that everyone noticed. With Will somehow she felt a little more self-conscious, especially when he grabbed her hand, another part of her that hadn't gone unscathed. The other damage couldn't be seen, but she was sure that Will could feel the scars on her hand. She knew she should've gotten gloves.

There was an obvious discomfort in her eyes for a moment before she pulled her lips up into a smile again as he told her to go ahead. He hadn't said anything, maybe he didn't mind. She started walking inside, shoving the thoughts aside for now. ]

Do you mind if we go to my room? It's got heating.

[ It's all.. red and queeny so it might make him uncomfortable but her bed was probably bigger than his too if they wanted to sit. ]

[ It was as easy to feel the scarring on Ana's hand as it was to see the uncertainty in her eye, but none of it mattered to Will. He had made a mistake in looking at her eye patch once, but it was a mistake he didn't plan on repeating.

He continued walking beside her, though his thought process definitely stalled for a moment at the mention of her room. He had seen only a glimpse of it before and that alone told him it certainly didn't look like the most welcoming of places, but... ]

If that's where ya wanna go, that's where I wanna be.

[ It was obvious he didn't really want to go but.. Well, red and large or not it was actually pretty comfortable. It's not like Ana would've wanted it if it wasn't. ]

I can't really afford to have it redecorated. If you want me to get another room, I'll see if I can trade it in. If I get a less nice one Second might let me share it.

[ But her bed's like way more comfortable than his maybe he'll change his mind... ]

[ Will shook his head. ]

I'm not gonna make ya go to a shoddy cell because of me, Ana. You stayin' safe is the most important thing. What I've got goin' with Hatter ain't too bad.

[ Well, at least if it was Jefferson she didn't have to worry about Will getting into any trouble that neither of them could get out of. On the other hand, there was the possibility that he just didn't want to yet. Anastasia knew that even if he forgave her, the damage was done. He probably didn't want to be with her all the time anymore. A little bit is more than she had been prepared to get though. ]

Staying safe isn't an option here, but it's comfortable once you get used to it.

[ Ana reached up to push her hair out of her face. It was so strange, not having her hair back at least somewhat. She hadn't just let it free in a long time.

Either way, she's leading him to the F Block now. ]

I'd go back to our van if you wanted me to though. [ Just so they're clear. ]

[ She was right in some regard. Everything had happened so fast that he was still trying to figure out if it wasn't some kind of dream or hallucination. Maybe Hatter had put something in that scotch he'd given him. ]

Ya know what I meant.

[ Despite everything else, he really didn't want her to settle for his sake. He followed her in silence for a bit, his mind running blank on things to say. It seemed as though he had both everything and nothing to tell her all at once.

At the mention of their old van, a melancholy smile crept onto his face. ]

I fixed her up a while after she broke down, y'know. Never did have the heart to be rid of the old girl.

[ Despite how self-conscious she was about this, she laced her fingers with Will's as he started talking about the van. Her pace was leisurely compared to what it usually was when she was out and about. It usually had purpose, import, and determination. Right now, she was with her purpose. She didn't have anywhere she needed to be. She was where she wanted to be. ]

Don't think I could've put her down either. Wonder what happened to her now that we're both here.

[ Will almost looked down at their hands but stopped himself. Ana probably wouldn't appreciate it even if he hadn't intended to look for the reason she would have likely assumed. ]

I've got a friend lookin' after her. She'll be waitin' for us a long time I reckon.

Even if you get out I probably won't see it ever again. I haven't exactly been a model citizen lately.

[ Though Ana knows that he knows that much. It's important to admit it. ]

Even with more than one sentence reduction I'll be here longer than I'll live.

[ And that's assuming that they don't kill her off intentionally before then. It looks like they're almost there. ]

Me neither.

[ It was pointless to pretend he hadn't done bad things in his life as well. If he hadn't he wouldn't be there. ]

That makes two of us. Looks like you're stuck with me.

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]