Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He heads into the hotel, moving up to the room without delay.

Xu Xian: It's a decent upscale suite, with a wet bark a mini fridge a table and lounge area, with a bedroom off to the side.

Xu Xian: ((wet bar...the wet bark is the puppy with Micah...))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He moves to the door and knocks. He's calm, looking around the hallway briefly before looking back to the door, waiting for it to open.

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((*L*))

Xu Xian: He's holding a gun behind the door, and after admitting Jer, places it to the back of his head. "Hands up, while I pat you down."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He nods and raises his hands in the air a requested.

Xu Xian: He removes Jer's gun, checking it for evidence of having been fired recently, and sets it inside the closet shelf, closing the door while he frisks Jer for other weapons.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "This is a first..." The remark is made with a tone of temperance.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: No other weapons on his body. His cell, car keys, wallet. Cigarettes, lighter.

Xu Xian: (he clean the gun since he shot Xu with it?)

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((Yes, he cleaned it when he got home.))

Xu Xian: ((roll dex+repair to clean it properly without leaving residue))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 1,5,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((Whoopie.))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((Whoopsie, even.))

Xu Xian: "Somebody shot at me on the boat the other day. Judging from the residue on your weapon, and the caliber...and the fact that you were reportedly there with me...I'm going to assume it's you."

Xu Xian: He lets jer keep his other stuff, but leaves the gun in the closet, nudging him ahead to go sit at the table.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "That would be an accurate assumption." His hands remain in the air until he's told he can lower them. "I shot at you, aiming for the legs in an attempt to disable you."

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He nods and moves to the table, taking a seat and lighting a cigarette.

Xu Xian: "Why? Was I acting violent? Did i threaten you?"

Xu Xian: He holsters his gun and sits across the table from him, regarding him intently.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "You were looking for Roosthorn." He takes a drag of the cigarette, regarding Xu. "According to Jan, you were likely to check places that are controlled by Spiral kinfolk. You'd already checked the Concerto. Only place left was the yacht and the Spiral-held places, and when you were done with there, I decided to take you to a place I knew I could restrain you, and tried to disable you there, so you wouldn't walk into Wyrm-corrupted hands."

Xu Xian: He considers this, then nods. "I remember...looking for him." He looks at Jer to continue.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: A slight pause. "You'd told me that if you ever called me Dirk, to let Jeremy out immediately, or I'd pretty much be dead. SO I did. When we got to the boat, I tried to shoot you. Missed." He shakes his head a little at that failure. "I hit you in the leg on the second shot, and you dived into the cabin. I then took Glabro and opened the door, and you surrendered. I restrained you."

Xu Xian: He considers this, exhaline, and staring out the window. "I must have thought you were Roosthorn."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He nods. "Yeah, you did." Another drag of the cigarette.

Xu Xian: "So you restrained me. And healed me, obviously." he nods to that. "Then what?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Xu..." He pauses, watching the man closely. "I'm not sure if you want me to continue. If you say you do, I will. I'm just telling you this now. Some things I would not have done if I wasn't Jeremy at the time occured."

Xu Xian: He stares at him. "I remember putting a stake into Dirk's chest. But I don't think i ever did that in real life."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He shakes his head. "No, you did that to me. You thought I was Roosthorn, and when my blood didn't taste...however vampire blood tastes, you decided I was Dirk. Obviously, I survived, though I won't say it didn't hurt like a bitch and damn near did me in."

Xu Xian: He nods to that, eyes narrowing. He gets a pensive look as he turns to stare out the window.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I don't blame you for doing it, Xu. It was survival instinct, based on who you thought I was. In fact, it was my own damn fault for not removing all your weapons in advance." His lips twist up in a bit of a smirk, rubbing his chest in remembered pain. "Consider that a lesson learned."

Xu Xian: He nods. "Bug it didn't end there. Roosthorn came back in the room..."

Xu Xian: ((But. reall fading here, may hve to pause soon.00

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: A slight nod. "I was...Jeremy, Xu." He watches the man closely. "And Jeremy was very angry with you. So when I had the opportunity, I continued the delusion. When Angelia showed up, I deceived her into believing I was normal, and you were too...just having moved from the flashback to periods of insanity, lashing out at those you cared about, trying to hurt them, so that she would leave. I tortured you, and beat you." His expression is remorseful, though not absolutely stricken as it perhaps should be. "And then I broke you."

 

Xu Xian: His jaw pulses as he considers Jeremy's words.  "I was after the blood."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: “Yes, you were.” His gaze on Xu remains steady and calm, yet intent.

Xu Xian: His face remains calm, blank, save for a few twitches of the cheeks here and there.  and the pulsing jaw.  "Did you enjoy it?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: A moment's pause, as he considers. “Part of me did, yes. I was in control. Not being controlled. Yes, part of me liked it very much.”

Xu Xian: He draws in a long breath via his nostrils, mouth pursed tightly shut.  He nods. "And then what happened?"

Xu Xian: "Why did you stop?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: “You...started singing. You regressed back to your youth. And that brought Dream back.” He sighs. “Of course, after freaking out, I tried to heal you as best I could without Gnosis. Failing that, I took the time to regain some Gnosis, then healed you.”

Xu Xian: He shakes his head, eyes narrowing, as if Jer's account doesn't match what he remembers.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: “After that, I came in to try and bring you out of it. You thought I was your father. Nothing I could do would convince you otherwise. So I tried to undo the damage I did. Dream and Jeremy worked together. And we talked to you.”

Xu Xian: His brow furrows more deeply as he tries to recall, and then suddenly he looks stricken, as if Jer had just stabbed him in the aorta.  He backs away from the table, knocking the chair he's sitting in over in his haste.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He watches Xu, his expression a little sad. “I'm sorry, Xu. I don't know what else to say.”

Xu Xian: He backs away to the other side of the room and just stares at him.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He remains sitting there, watching the other. “Xu, everything I said, I meant, as me. Whoever you thought it was, the words still have meaning.”

 

Xu Xian: "Did you fuck me then, too, Jeremy?" his accusation is thick with disgust and self-loathing.

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He looks at Xu, almost a little disturbed by the thought that he would do something like that.  "No, Xu.  Absolutely not...nor would I.  Ever.  To anyone with the mindset of a child."

Xu Xian: He draws in a deep breath, staring at Jer, looking him over intently.  His gaze moves from side to side, like a frightened animal looking for some escape route.  He swallows hard.  "What did you do to me, then?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I spoke with you. Hugged you.  Treated you as a father should treat his son.  With love and respect."

Xu Xian: He starts to look a little sickened, and keeps his gaze averted, his back to the wall.  "I don't remember that."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He regards Xu with soft eyes.  "Xu...please believe, I would never.  EVER.  Take advantage of you in such a situation.  Nor would I ever reveal anything told to me in such a position."  He watches Xu.  "And nothing you said to me has made me think any less of you in any way."

Xu Xian: "I don't remember it," he says, starting to panic slightly.

Xu Xian: He seems to get ahold of himself and then says, with a bit of anger in his voice "How can you not think less of me, Jeremy?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Why would I, just because I saw you in a flashback as a child?"  He looks at Xu.  "There is nothing you said that could possibly make me lose respect for you."

Xu Xian: "You fucking had your cock up me."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I manipulated a situation in order to control and break you, Xu.  The fault there lies with me.  Not you.  That I could do that to you because of your past doesn't mean that you're any less of a person today, or even then.  Under the control of a man like Roosthorn for as long as you were, anyone would have been controllable.  It doesn't change who you are now, and how much I respect the person you are."

Xu Xian: "Break me for what?  Because you could?  We all break, Jeremy.  I told you that."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He's quiet for a long moment.  "Because...I felt you were a potential threat to me and...my situation with Alexis and T...her child.  It's a situation that I...feel very strongly about.  And I thought you might stand in my way.  So I needed to subjugate you and make you less of a threat.  Controllable."

Xu Xian: His eyes flash, a snarl coming to his lips even tho he doesn't leave his position against the wall.  "What kind of threat?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I know you're very...possessive, Xu."  He chain-lights a new cigarette off the butt of the old one.  "I fully intend on carrying out my promise to Liam.  I will care for and protect Alexis and her child as if they were my own.  While not breaking the condition that we do not have sex, as admittedly as much of a challenge as that is.  I love that child, even though I never thought of myself as father material.  And I believe I may love Alexis.  And I know what you told us about what would happen if we ever became intimate."

Xu Xian: "Fine," he says, whirling away to stride toward the door.  "Fuck her for all I care."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I don't plan on it, Xu."  He sighs.  "You're missing the point entirely.  We both understand the risk of what might happen.  I'm simply explaining to you why Jeremy decided to break you when he had the chance."

Xu Xian: "That's bullshit."  He turns around and glares at him.  "Jeremy did it because he ~wanted~ to do it.  Because he ~could~."

Xu Xian: "Because he wanted to get back at me for what I did to you in that very same boat."

Xu Xian: 'Because it feels good, to own someone.  To have them grovel and beg to please you."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "There's that, too."  He nods a little bit.  "But believe me, the number one thing that's been weighing on my mind as of late has been Lex and her baby.  Probably because I pushed what you did so far down."  There's a strong hint of tension coming to his face as he even discusses it.  "But I know all I want to do lately is protect her.  And all Jeremy wants to do is hurt those who might harm her, or take her from us.  So that was a large factor, Xu."

Xu Xian: "But you didn't break me, did you?  Not in the end.   I escaped, into my own fucking head."

Xu Xian: "And as far as Lex goes, you fuckign deserve each other."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He nods.  "True enough.  You did escape, thank the Goddess.  And once again, Xu, I can't express how much I wish what happened didn't.  But it did, and I am very, very sorry for it."  He watches Xu, sighing.  "So where does that leave us, now?"

Xu Xian: "Never mind that I fucking saved her life ~and~ yours.   Never mind that she pledged herself ~to me~.  I'm a fucking threat."

Xu Xian: "You're not sorry for it, or you wouldn't have done it."

Xu Xian: "At least have the fucking balls to admit ~that~much, or are you too much of a coward to face the truth about yourself even when it stares you in the face?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "What do you want me to say, Xu?  That I don't care for her, and I don't view someone who threatened to make us both hurt in ways a statue would scream if we every touched each other a threat?  And yes, I enjoyed it at the time.  But I am still sorry that it happened.  Are you saying you've never purposely done something you were later sorry for?"

Xu Xian: "Alexis is a fucking faithless cunt, and she has manipulated you against me.  She will hurt you the same way she hurt Liam."

Xu Xian: "The same way she hurt ~me~.  The ~only~ reason I saved her life from the fucking Garou was to save that fucking child, who isn't even ~mine~ but the product of a fuckign rent boy swish who I ~warned~ she treat like a fucking sperm donor and he fucking fell for her anyway."

Xu Xian: ((she would treat))

Xu Xian: "If you want to fuck her, than fuck her.  I don't care anymore."

Xu Xian: "But she'll disappear with her child and leave you fucking heartbroken."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I know that's possible.  I'm not blind.  But even if I take Alexis out of the situation, I care for the child.  And I want to see it cared for."  He sighs.  "Love is a risk.  It's not like it has potential to go any worse then Ita, Xu.  I'm willing to take that risk, and I'll accept the consequences of that.  With eyes wide open."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "But I also don't want to hurt you over this, Xu.  I just don't know how Alexis fits into your equation at all."

Xu Xian: "It's a bit late for that, isn't it?"  His cheeks twitch, and his eyes waver.  He looks sick.  Or perhaps disgusted.  He turns away, shaking his head, swinging his hand back at Jer in a throwaway motion.  "I'm fucking done with you people."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "None of us can help how we feel, Xu.  But I can help my actions.  If you want me to back away from the situation, I won't like it, in fact, I'll fucking hate doing it.  But I will back off from any attachment to Lex.  I won't walk out of her life, but I'll remove any chance of it being anything more then friends."

Xu Xian: He doesn't say anythign to that just keeps going out teh door.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Dammit, Xu...what do you want from me?"  He watches him leave, more then a little frustrated.

Xu Xian: He continues into the hall, and heads down to stab the elevator call button with his fingers.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: With a sigh, he stands up, walking out of the room and down the hall.  "You won't tell me to back off her, but you're angry that I've let myself become attached.  What do you want?"

Xu Xian: "I'm angry...." he turns and glares at Jer, and it seems that he's just barely restraining himself from killing him.  His voice drops into a low, furious whisper, his face turning slightly purple.  "Because you ~raped~ me for her."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He stops, sensing the man's anger, keeping a safe distance, though he stands his ground a little.  "And I don't blame you for being angry with me."  As much of an understatement as that is, he just shrugs, unable to express it properly.  "This is why Jeremy scared me so much, Xu.  I know that I will destroy myself or anyone else to protect those I love and care about, if given the chance.  Jeremy was that chance."

Xu Xian: "You're fucking going to rationalize it now, Jeremy?  JEREMY.  You're a fucking worthless cocksucking piece of shit."

Xu Xian: "So you go hide away.  In ~my~ house.  And socialize with the people ~I~ saved.  And enjoy your fuckign life with that cunt and her bastard child.  And know, every fucking second you're there, that ~I~ did all that.   And you repaid my kindness by fucking me up the ass."

Xu Xian: He turns around and stabs the button for the elevator again, leaving his back to Jer, shoulders tense, jaw pulsing.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((Jer: 4,3,2,4,4,4,  Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 2,5,4,9,4,2,)) "I'm not rationalizing shit.  I'm not making excuses for what I did.  Yes, I did that.  What you said.  And you know what?  You knew what Jeremy was, a lot better then I did.  And you told me to pull him out if you ever called me Dirk.  Yes, I repaid your kindness by fucking you.  And it's all my fault.  Nothing I can do will take that back."

Xu Xian: He ignores him, stepping into the elevator when the doors open.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "And that's not a plea for pity, either.  I don't expect your pity or forgiveness.  I just wanted to clear the air.  And tell you that yes, even though I did it, on purpose, I'm sorry that it happened.  Whether you believe it or not."  He turns to head back to the room, and get his things.

Xu Xian: He glares at him as he turns away, and stalks out of the elevator after him.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He stops and turns around as he sees Xu approaching.

Xu Xian: dex+stelth: 5,2,1,5,9,9,3,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((Per+Alert))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 7,1,2,2,5,3,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He doesn't note Xu's approach, merely walking back into the room, moving to retrieve his cigarettes, then back to the closet for his gun.

Xu Xian: So he follows him back into the room, without Jer realizing he's behind him.

Xu Xian: As soon as the door's closed adn they're alone in the room, he cold cocks Jer (or tries to)

Xu Xian: 4,7,4,6,1,3,2,

Xu Xian: 3,7,6,5,

Xu Xian: (2 bashing, roll soak)

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 2,6,

Xu Xian: So he doesn't knock Jer out but gives him a sock to the back of the head. And follows through with a knee to the kidneys (rolling init now)

Xu Xian: 1,

Xu Xian: (7)

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 1,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((6))

Xu Xian: ((Dayum!)

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: Oh, SHIT. One word too many, probably...he's been hanging around Alexis too much. He stumbles forward, decked by Xu. He tries to move out of the way of the man, to twist around and back up. ((Dex+Dodge))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 3,2,7,8,

Xu Xian: 3,1,8,10,6,4,7,

Xu Xian: 3,7,1,6,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 5,2,

Xu Xian: He slams a knee into Jer's torso, missing the kidney but connecting for 1 bashing.

 

Xu Xian: "You're not sorry! You're not fucking sorry!"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Try again!" He knows he won't win by going on the defensive. So he goes on the offensive, trying to deck the man in the face.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 10,3,5,9,

Xu Xian: (waiting for you to declare)

Xu Xian: He figures he can take the knock on the chin and plows a fist into Jer's midsection.

Xu Xian: 2,2,7,5,2,8,4,

Xu Xian: 9,5,4,10,7,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 4,2,2,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: ((That was damage...this is Soak))

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 8,3,

Xu Xian: Jer takes another 2 bashing this round for 4 total so far.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Ooof!" That's about all he gets out. Oww. He tries to move around a little, and kick the man in the knee.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 2,6,3,3,

Xu Xian: He ignores the man's ineffectual blows and plows another fist into his face.

Xu Xian: 3,9,1,7,7,1,6,

Xu Xian: 7,9,4,2,10,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 2,5,

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: Oooh, look, a knock-out blow. With a grunt of pain, the man goes down.

Xu Xian: He kicks him a few times, for good measure.

Xu Xian: 7,5,5,8,6,6,4,

Xu Xian: 1,1,3,3,7,7,3,

Xu Xian: not doing much damage, but it's satisfying, nonetheless.

Xu Xian: 8,7,7,5,2,7,6,

Xu Xian: 2,2,8,3,3,1,6,8,

Xu Xian: Tho the second kick looks as tho it hurt a little.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: 9,3,

Xu Xian: He glares down at him, breathing hard, furious at how easily he went down.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He grunts in pain again, as Xu kicks a man while he's done. Curling to protect his vitals.

Xu Xian: 1,

Xu Xian: 4,7,9,5,5,3,7,

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He lies there, letting his body heal itself, while he coughs a couple times, trying to get air back into his lungs.

Xu Xian: "This isn't Dirk," he tells himself. "It's Jeremy."

Xu Xian: With that, he forces himself to turn and walk away from him.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: Yeah, an ass-beating is enough to warn anyone off. He makes no move to follow the man, even when he can.

Xu Xian: He moves to head back out in the hallway but thinks better of it and diverts into the bathroom, washing his hands and face with cold water.

Xu Xian: "You're not sorry," he says from the other room. "You don't give a fuck about me."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: Once his body is healed enough for him to stand, he does, stumbling to the chair he was sitting at. He grabs for his cigarettes, wincing the whole time, and lights one, before getting up to go. Best that he not be here when Xu comes out of the bathroom. He heads toward the closet, to retrieve his gun.

Xu Xian: "Because if you respected me. Or cared about me. Or even ~liked~ me, you'd at least bother to ask for forgiveness."

Xu Xian: "But you don't even expect if from me, that's how fucking low you think of me."

Xu Xian: He's sitting on the toilet, wiping his face with a towel, his hands still moist.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He holsters the gun, then leans against the closet for a minute, taking one more breathe of air. "I already asked you for forgiveness, Xu. You just don't remember it." A sigh. "And saying that I'm sorry is a plea for forgiveness. You have no idea how much I want your forgiveness, Xu. I just don't think I deserve it, for what I did."

Xu Xian: "Why? Why do you want my forgiveness? Ita and Alexis are more important to you. Micah is more important to you. The fucking unborn child of another man is more important to you."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "They're all important to me, yes. All in different ways. So are you." He takes a drag of the cigarette, wincing at the lingering pain in his chest. "Goddess, Xu...your forgiveness for my wrongs means more to me then any of theirs for whatever I may do."

Xu Xian: He doesn't say anything, face still hidden behind the towel. He takes a deep breath, and says, voice low and muffled. "They made me kill my own son."

Xu Xian: "First they...kidnapped me and...raped me...to get me to perform on the bitch. Then, two years later they...made me rape and kill him."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He looks up at that, surprised. He doesn't quite know what to say. So he just listens, quietly.

Xu Xian: "It wasn't very hard...the killing part, anyway. I wanted to...I hated...how he'd been concieved. They had to torture me alot to get the rape out of me tho."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Why?" It's all he can think of to ask. "Why did they do it?"

Xu Xian: "Part of a ritual."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Jesus." He shakes his head, the last of the pain finally fading away. "I...shit, man. That's fucked up...I'm sorry that happened to you." He sighs.

Xu Xian: "I can forgive the rape...I understand wanting power. I understand...not knowing how to stop Jeremy when he gets going...but this bullshit about doing it for Alexis? To protect the baby?" He shakes his head, lowering the towel from his face to look at Jeremy. "Why am I such a threat for trying to keep you all safe?"

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He sighs. "I don't know where you stand with her, Xu. I know there's some bond there...something. But I have no fucking clue what happened at her trial. I didn't know you saved her life. No one's told me shit. All I know is that I've seen you attack her before, and while I know it's because she provoked it, something inside of me recognizes that potential for a problem. It's something Alexis needs to work on, to not speak to you in ways she knows will set you off. But as much as I want to help you, I want to protect her...and I know I'm rationalizing here. But you asked for an explanation." He shakes his head. "It's not rational, what I feel. At all. I know I shouldn't want to protect her from you."

Xu Xian: "She wants me to hurt her. She wants me to ~fuck~ her. And when I won't, she hurts me."

 

Xu Xian: "And christ, I don't know what to do about her. I don't." He sighs. "I don't trust her to raise a child without molesting it."

Xu Xian: "She has incest fantasies that would make all of Appalachia blush."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I know." He sighs a little. "She's seriously fucked up. I know that. But she's..." He sighs. "I don't know. I'm fucked up, Xu. I fall in love with vampires and outcasts. I'm about to go tell my Sept to fuck off tomorrow, because none of them returned my efforts to make contact. And what's more, I'm scared to admit when I love people, because I think it's a death knell for them. But I can't help what I feel."

Xu Xian: "Jeremy...Ita...is someone worthy of your love. Really. I hate vampires because of what Roosthorn did to me. And to my father. But Ita...is a good person. Even if she is dead."

Xu Xian: "And I regret...violating you on the boat. I was trying to get Jeremy to come out, trying to get you to at least say 'no' in a way that you could stand behind."

Xu Xian: "Because if Dream can't say no to me doing somethign like that, how in the hell will he ever be able to stop Jeremy when he needs to?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I never wanted to be a father figure, Xu. Not until recently. Thought I'd suck at it. Hell, I still might. But that kid...I don't understand why. But I love it, mine or not. I was adopted, remember?" He shrugs. "Genetics doesn't determine love. And I know she's worthy of my love. Hell, I barely think I'm worthy of hers. She's a vampire, and she's a far better person then I am. It doesn't change the fact that even if I wasn't telling my Sept to fuck off, I'll never be welcome there because of her."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: His eyes drop to the floor at the mention of the violation. "I...guess I can understand that. It was just...too much for me, that day. Between what you and I went through the night before...and Ita and I had had an argument...dealing with what Liam had asked of me. I just...couldn't. Deal."

Xu Xian: "I'll set Ita straight on that."

Xu Xian: He sighs, and tosses the towel onto the counter, looking down at his hands and the scuffs on his knuckles from popping Jer. "I apologize. When you've been raped as often as I have...you forget how...traumatic it can be for first timers."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Set her straight on what? The child?" He sighs. "She doesn't want me to walk away from it. Doesn't stop her from being jealous, as she admitted. I just...pushed too far. Read all the wrong things. Said all the wrong things." A bit of a smirk. "Both Alexis and Ita don't feel bad for each other, and themselves over this. Micah thinks I need to make a choice, or walk away from them both." A hint of bitterness in his smirk. "He thinks this is a test from the Goddess. Of whether I love either of them more then her."

Xu Xian: "And I'm sorry about you...and the Sept."

Xu Xian: "Micah wants you to choose him, so he can dump you for Jim."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Story of my life. Last one...well, they were worse. I've always been more comfortable when I'm not with a Sept. Maybe I'm just meant to walk a different path then the average Garou." He looks back up. "And thank you. For apologizing."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Yeah, and that's not going to happen. And he knows it." A shrug, as if it's a given. "He knows I don't love him in that way."

Xu Xian: He shrugs. Stares dully at his reflection in the mirror.

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Xu...what should I do?" His voice is weary. "I don't trust myself to make the right decision here. I know I'm hurting them both...in that, at least, Micah's right. I can't make Ita comfortable with being around the baby, and I can't make Alexis comfortable with the fact that Ita's hurt. But I can't seem to bring myself to choose between them."

Xu Xian: "Tell them they're both wrong and if they can't get their heads on straight you're leaving them both."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He's taken aback by that for a moment. "That's a hell of a bluff."

Xu Xian: "Ita's a fucking idiot for thinking she'd be anythign less than a godsend for any child. Children are so fucking self absorbed, they would never notice she doesn't age until they at least hit puberty. And if the child's trueborn it'll have a helluva lot more to deal with during ~that~ time then whether or not auntie Ita's got a new wrinkle."

Xu Xian: "Alexis is simply a selfish, spoiled bitch who has no fucking ~right~ or claim on you, other that she waves her cunt at you and you think that lusting after forbidden fruit translates to some kind of cunstruck love."

Xu Xian: "Alexis has had two people who loved her, who she totally fucked over: Laidan, and Liam. She'll do the same to you if you let her, and she's only in fucking love with me because I ~won't~ let her get her claws into me."

Xu Xian: "And it's not a fucking bluff. It's the fucking truth. Grow some fucking balls, Jeremy. Just because you're fucking adopted doesn't mean you're unloveable. Christ, your adoptive parents loved you, didn't they? That's a helluva lot more that millions of kids in this world ever see."

Xu Xian: ((than millions)

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He bites his words back at his assessment of his feelings for Lex. "Like I said, I know the risk, Xu. I'm willing to take that risk, and if I fall prey, I have no one to blame but myself and her. Doesn't change how I feel."

Xu Xian: "How are you helping Alexis by letting her manipulate you? How are you giving that child any kind of healthy environment?"

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: That last spurt by Xu sinks in, and he nods a little, sighing. "I know. Believe me, I know how lucky I am, having had the parents I did."

Xu Xian: "You want me to show you how fickle Alexis is? You want me to prove to you how quickly she'll drop you? I'll fucking take her away from you in three days."

Xu Xian: "But if i do you'll send Jeremy after me, for putting you through the pain of seeing the truth about her."

Xu Xian: "Hell, she fucking tossed Laidan out on her ear because she had fucking ~dreams~ about Fausto."

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I don't plan on letting her manipulate me. I'd like to think that unlike Liam, I know what she's capable of. And under no circumstances will I ever let her hurt her child, or try to pull it between us." He takes a deep breath.

Xu Xian: "Hell, I bet I could make ~you~ fall in love with me."

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "I know that. Believe me. When I was infected, I was perfectly ready to put a silver shotgun shell through her knee for what she did to Laidan. I hated her for what she did to Lai." He smirks a little. "And knowing how many people you've got in love with you, you might just be able to. I'd rather you didn't, though. I've got enough love life issues as it is." His tone has a hunt of humor at that.

Xu Xian: His jaw pulses and he rises, turning to head toward Jeremy, who's blocking the doorway. He studies him for a long moment, as if considering something.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He raises an eyebrow a moment, watching him. "What?"

Xu Xian: He looks almost as if he's going to say something, then shakes his head and motions for Jer to move aside.

 

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: He moves to shift his way out of the doorway.

Xu Xian: "I'll talk to Ita," he says as he moves to exit the room.

Jeremy "Dream" Thomas: "Thank you." He nods a little bit to the man, eyes showing his gratitude.

Xu Xian: He doesn't catch the look, not meeting Jer's gaze as he opens the door and heads out into the hall.