Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Late night. He's
back here. Always finds himself hanging around the cannons, when he needs to
think of times being good. He's left the trench coat behind today, wearing one
of his old wrestling shirts. It's a nostalgia night...because one year ago
today, he was saved be a silver flask to the groin. He walks up toward the
cannons, taking a deep breath and leaning on his staff as he lights a cigarette.
Gina Torrio: *The curvy italian is walking
quietly through the cannons the park is named for, brassy gold hair spilling
over her shoulders as she reads inscriptions and lingers like a ghost*
Gina Torrio: *Seems she just can't dress for
the weather. She'd wrapped in a long green sweater that hangs just above her
knees. A bangled gypsy style beld hangs at her waist, making the sweater into a
sort of dress. At first glance one might think she'd get overwarm, until a
closer look reveals she's wearing ONLY the knit sweater, and a pair of light
sandals. A Satchel hangs heavy at her waist, puppies head popping out of it
occasionally, a sling dangles at her front, containing a dozing baby. She sighs,
all but obscured one of the larger cannons, small as she is.*
Gina Torrio: (by one of the cannons..
*coughs*)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Per+Alert: 9,4,8,4,2,4,
Gina Torrio:
d10: the same: 8,5,5,7,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He seems to sense
someone nearby, but doesn't give them much thought. The cannons are a popular
place. He sighs deeply, making his way over to a particular spot. He looks a bit
older. Calmer, yet sadder. Off to the spot next to the cannon he heads, where
once he was pounced onto.
Gina Torrio: *a heavy sigh as she notes
someone approach out of the corner of a sad brown eye. trust et tae a bloody
New Yorker tae peck THA bloody cannon fer a fag. She fumes, turning to get a
better look at the culprit and stopping still... Oh.*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He turns around the
corner...and stops dead in his tracks. The cigarette dangling between his lips
as he stares at Gina, wide-eyed. Wordless.
Gina Torrio: *Its a testament to the
blonde woman's shock that several long seconds drag out between them before both
her hands come to cup Archie to her chest. Her posture protective. She makes a
pained yip in her throat that dies almost as soon as its voiced. The puppy
struggles in her satchel and peers out blearily*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He takes a step back
when she gets protective over Archie...hands coming up without thought. Clearly
showing no intent to take her son from her. He stares at her mutely for several
more moments, until one of those hands rises up to pluck the cigarette from his
mouth. "Ummm...hey." Yes, that's the best he cam come up with, stunned as he is.
Gina Torrio: *her brow knits, as if she's
stuck on some puzzle she can't quite figure out. A swallow as she turns her body
from him and bites her lip. Its awhile before she drums up an unfamiliar voice
and trills almost petulantly* You've your own bloody park..
Gina Torrio: *the wrinkled puppy thrashes a
little at Gina's side. She sniffs, a hand slipping off the baby a moment to
press the satchel, before zipping back up to clutch at her son*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He nods a little bit,
looking down. "Yeah. But I..." He frowns as his eyes flicker up and then away
quickly, a deep sigh shaking his chest. He flicks the cherry of his cigarette
away, stamping it out as the butt goes in his pocket.
Gina Torrio: *Gina sniffs again. She'd be
damned if she was going to cry, her insides could yowl all they'd like. Archie's
held close as she bites her lips. She should go. Slap him. Hug him. Cry..
Something... But all her body seems willing to do is stand tensely, baby
sheilded from him carefully. Her voice wavers as she repeats* You have your own.
You do. *her jaw sets a little and she swallows, tears beginning to dribble down
her cheeks, despite her best intentions*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He nods a little bit
and sighs. "Yes, but I don't have any good memories of the inside of that
place," he mutters, a hand coming up to riun through his hair. He's
clean-shaven...almost an eerie resemblance to how he looked way back when, with
the clothes--but for his expression, and the sense of being older, wiser, and
sadder. "I'm sorry."
Gina Torrio: Don't do that. Jesus christ
Don't do that! *she blurts, shaking her head. Blonde hair gets further mussed.
She resembles how she looked way back when only in mannerisms. She loosens a
hand on the baby in order to hold herself, head cocking as she peers tearily
into his face*
Gina Torrio:
d10: per emp (wp): 8,9,5,9,1,
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He blanches, looking
up finally, eyes wavwering when he sees tears coming. "Not for..I mean, I am,
but..." He stammers is way through it, then takes a moment to recollect his
thoughts. "For...I didn't know you were here. Not that I don't...you know...gaah..."
He puts his hand to his forehead, teeth grinding in frustration. His words are
just...lost.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3] -> Gina Torrio: He's
stressed. Not doing well at all, without her. He's calmer now then he was at the
end, but that could very well be because he was so busy trying to conceal the
plan. He seems more put-together then their phone conversations since, and
certainly then when he walked out. But he's lost and desolate. Ethan is there,
but it's not...it's not THE Love. It's just...love. He misses her horribly, and
is torturing himself over it. And he's worried about her, and prays she's okay.
Gina Torrio: *The hand holding herself keeps
shifting, nothing comforting to the woman. Her tears are drying up as quickly as
they arrived. One can only cry so much, afterall. Hurt crumples her features,
before she nods slowly, eyes shut*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He reaches up,
scratching at the back of his neck. "Are you--" he starts, then lets it drop
with a sigh. He looks over Gina a moment, letting his gaze finally make it's way
to her for more then a moment. Daring to look.
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]:
d10: Per+Emp: 9,4,3,6,3,9,4,
Gina Torrio: *Perhaps she can feel his eyes
on her, as hers open, and catch his, Baby clutched ever closer as she backs a
step away. Her satchel whimps*
Gina Torrio -> Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: Is she..
well? No. Its hard to see any of the stallwart optimism in her anymore. She's
hurt, and hurting. She's confused and betrayed. Its clear she doesn't know what
to think anymore. Had he genuinely loved her. Did he? It seems all thats been
lumped into a wound to fester.. all catagorized into "It doesn't matter now" for
the sake of her sanity. She's mourning him, vulnerable and bitter. She doesn't
seem to think as much of herself, and certaintly has none of that old ita will
to save the world.))
Gina Torrio -> Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: The loss
of Tori hurts her perhaps the most obviously
Gina Torrio -> Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: (hence
the clutching of archie. She doesn't trust him)
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: His jaw clenches,
tightly. Pulsing once or twice, as he steps away. "I...fuck." He looks down,
taking a deep, shaky breath. "I can't do anything right."
Gina Torrio: You do too much *she whispers,
bubble of blood welling from where she's bit her lip. Old habits, but now she
can't heal it, and so it dribbles to the corner of her mouth unnotticed, Brown
eyes watching him mournfully*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "Someone has to," he
says, almost a bit bitterly. Not directed at her. He shuts his eyes, swallowing
against the lump that's stuck in his winpipe, trying to force it down. "I...I'm
sorry. I never wanted this to happen. I just didn't see any other way. Not one
that ensured you and the children would be safe." He leans heavily on his staff
for support. "I don't...expect your forgiveness. Ever. But I would never take
Archie from you. I didn't..." His voice lowers to a near-whisper. "I didn't want
to take Tori. But I had to. Not because of you. Because of..." He trails off,
shaking his head.
Gina Torrio: *she begins shaking her head
at his first statement, swallowing. Renewed sorrow bends her in two as he
mentions the little girl* Jesus christ *she blurts again, more a pained yelp
than a genuine exclaimation. Her hand comes to her mouth, tears starting up
again. She shakes her head, letting it fall into her hands as her shoulders
shake.* Just..Just go dream. *a soft keen as she turns away from him in her
greif*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He makes a soft,
moaning sound. "Love..." He takes an unconscious step forward, works and action
done without even thinking about it. Everything inside of him says to take her
in his arms and comfort her. But he stops short of that. He can't anymore. He
lost that right. "Gina, please." He doesn't even really seem to know what he's
asking for. He's just...asking. Begging, really, for everything and nothing.
Gina Torrio: *she makes a weird noise in
her throat, choked. Her head shakes, hair obscuring her face. Archie begins to
fuss as his mother's chest heaves with swallowed sobbing, jiggling the little
boy out of his nap. Her horrible noises fade to hiccupping as she tries to
soothe her son, cradling him close. Bloody kisses are pattered on his forehead
in desperation. She doesn't look at Aerin*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He reaches out
slightly, then stops himself. "Can I...at least heal that?" Said quietly, ready
to pull back if she so desires.
Gina Torrio: No. *she whispers, face
tearstreaked as she fusses with archie. A hard swallow around words stuck in her
throat. She peers at him from under wet lashes, eyes redrimmed.* it'll be
alright *she whispers determinedly. "It'll be alright" and other famous lies
they'd told each other. She'd find it humurous if it didn't hurt so much* Just
go.. *archie's blanket is tucked around him*
Gina Torrio: *shoulders slumped, she makes a
great fuss over arranging herself, the puppy, and the baby. Anything to take her
mind off .. just.. anything*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He flinches, then
nods, taking a couple steps back. His posture tenses, forced deep breaths
coming. Shoulders tight and hunching a bit, jaw clenching rhythmically. "I
thought you'd be safe...thought you'd be well. Just...be happy. Please. You
deserve it. I don't." He shakes his head, a free hand coming up to clench at his
chest. "I'll never forgive myself, love. But I hope you can get past it. Past
me." He turns away from her.
Gina Torrio: Stop it. *she snaps* Stop it.
Stop bloody well martyring yourself. God damnit.. *her anger is shortlived,
telltale waver creeping into her voice as she turns away with a sob.* damnit
just... go dream. *its warbled out thickly as she makes to move in the opposite
direction, fading into mournful gaelic. She's curled protectively around her
son, shoulders slumped and shaking as she makes for hell's Kitchen, and Joe*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: "I'm not..." He gapes
after her, frustration setting in. "Fuck...Gina! Please, I'm sorry, I...gaaah!"
The last word is a strangled sound, a sort of frustrated, growling whimper. He
stares after her, eyes mournful and earth-shakingly sad. Hurt. He's not even
speaking to her anymore, on purpose, at least. "Please, just...don't hate me."
He shakes his head, holding in a sob, and turns to go his own way.
Gina Torrio:
d10: wp: 2,3,9,3,3,9,9,
Gina Torrio: *She resists the urge to
comfort. A new thing for the woman, whimpering painfully as she looks over her
shoulder with teary eyes. She stares after him sadly before continuing on her
way, hiccupping against sobs*
Aerin Thomas [PB 3]: He heads off out of
the park, very much not watching where he's going. He could get hit...right now,
he doesn't care. It doesn't seem like he can die much anyway lately. Cutting
through the sparse late-night traffic, he staggers toward home.
Gina Torrio: ~~fin~~