redjacketthief | Appointments

[He takes a sip of his tea as he listens to her approach, but doesn't look up when she arrives. The silence was unusual, but not uncomfortable. After a time of thinking and listening to the wind, he speaks up.]

Is there something on your mind?

You're an idiot.

[It's said without venom, however.]

[equally mild:]

Not really. Everything was perfectly calculated.

To prevent us from worrying and to burn yourself out. That is idiotic when someone does it while they are well, Lupin.

You and Luke have enough problems, as does Law. [A beat, another sip of tea.]

I wanted to see you smile.

Working yourself to death would have done quite the opposite.

I wasn't gonna--but relying on you guys for everything is equally stressful. Besides, you and Luke aren't going to help me become stronger.

And yet you feel fully justified in telling me to have faith and rely upon you to help and feel insulted when I don't. Your hypocrisy is frustrating.

[A beat.]

Focus on learning how to cope with the impairment you earned before trying to build any kind of new skill set. Strength is only worth something if you know how to use it.

...You know how criminals are, Angel. Are you really that surprised?

[Neither shame nor regret was evident in his tone--it was a simple fact of his existence, and his career. While he needed an anchor, he was in turn the anchor for so many others. Telling them to worry about themselves first and foremost was second nature.

Thieves were a selfish lot, even if they were high society gentleman.]

I know all of that, but it just doesn't feel like we have a lot of time right now. I only trust the Malnosso as far as I can throw them--and I can't throw them.

I would not say I am surprised. I would say I am disappointed, and very tired of this. Honesty, Lupin. Just a little honesty is all I ask for- and what I've yet to receive.

[She sighs and looks over. Quirks a brow at him and reaches up to tug on his earlobe.]

You've been sleeping too much and eating too little, haven't you? Of course you have. Idiot.

[Easy enough to distract herself with this than it is to think about retribution from the Malnosso. She keeps a grip on his ear and starts walking for the kitchen. He can follow, or he can be pulled. The choice is his.]

[Following--following~]

--You let the fear take over back there, Adele. You ran. I wasn't going to make you worry more with my current problems because of that.

[He trails, and catches himself on the furniture for a second to steady himself.]

It's been storming. The change in air pressure threw me off.

It won't happen again.

[And if she twists his ear a little harder for bringing that up? He can blame her, and she won't feel bad for it.]

You still need to eat, Lupin.

Aah--hey!

[He winces, but doesn't complain too much.]

I'll eat--I'll eat~ Just...give me your word that you won't run again.

Don't run yourself into the ground again.

[She tugs him a few inches further to a chair in the kitchen, releasing him to start rummaging in the fridge.]

You are worse than Remy, truly.

[He flops into the chair and buries his face in his arms with a pitiful groan as a wave of dizziness catches him.]

Okay~ I'll give you my word if you give me yours.

[As stern as she's been so far, once he flops over by the table she pauses to reach out and run her fingers through his hair. He was an idiot. But he was her friend, her brother, and she was going to keep him well if it killed her.]

I won't run again. I swear it.

[He peeks up at her when she ruffles her hair and offers her a tired smile. It was enough for him, and more than he could count on even Fujiko for at this point. Such a vow couldn't have been more valuable.]

Thanks, Angel. Seriously, thanks.

Now swear that you'll quit being an idiot and making yourself sick by running yourself ragged.

[She ends the hair ruffle with a light flick to one ear before returning to the stove. Grilled cheese. She can make that easily enough.]

[He winces at the flick--but it was in jest, playing up the repartee.]

All right. I'll try to rely on people more. [It was going to be difficult, however. Decades of bad habits were hard to rewrite.]

..Just smile for me every once in a while. I love what it does for your eyes.

[She snorts under her breath and starts buttering the bread, pan already on the stove heating a measure of butter.]

That does not sound much like a promise, Lupin. But it is most likely the closest to one I shall get from you, mm?

Edited 2012-07-31 03:44 (UTC)

[He just settles further into his arms and debates the further merits of a nap versus food. Adele's voice was an excellent anchor.]

You know how men like me are, Angel, and how difficult that request is. I will try though.

It probably will be the most helpful thing to do right now.

So long as you try.

[She peeks back over her shoulder to make certain he's not overly irritable before turning her attention back to the bread, butter, and cheese grilling in the pan. Something simple and easy, and filling. Though hadn't Robert always insisted upon having this with soup?]

It would also be helpful to stop volunteering yourself for things while you know full well you're under house arrest.

[No, he is by no means irritable over this turn. In contrast, the various conversations he had over the last week have left him more contemplative. They were all asking him to be something that he was inherently not--an honest, trusting man.

Feeling somewhat more steady, Lupin leans back and stares out the window as Adele works. He wasn't surprised that she had taken to stalking him over the journals. Not really.]

...If you're talking about that thing with Marco, I made it amply clear that I can't join his game immediately. It's really no effort for me to synthesize a chemical like that either, because all I need is the raw materials and a lab.

It will give me something mundane to do once I'm allowed out of here anyway.

Which you'll be provided if you can hold out and cope with remaining in the house for however long Law and Luke have determined.

[If that wasn't incentive to listen, she couldn't think of anything else that might work. There's a sizzle from the pan, and Adele slides the finished sandwich onto a plate, slices it diagonally. A glass of tea refreshed for Lupin and one for herself are poured before she sldies teh plate across to Lupin.]

If you need busywork- make another model. There are matchsticks enough for you in the house- if not I'd be happy to provide them for you.

I know--just let me do my thing. Talking to people and reading the journals helps.

[His tone is mild, conversational, but the expression on his face is more akin to weariness. He knew the stakes, knew the risks, but he also knew the importance of all of his actions in the larger scheme. He took a sip of his tea as she slid the plate over and regarded her calmly.

No, he's not playing.]

I've been trying to contact Kipinn actually. Been trying for a few weeks too. Being in the house doesn't help with that at all, but it gives me something to think about.

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