[ that's the last thing she wants to hear — it hits too close to home. her cage feels worse, in some ways. better that she'd been locked up than what had really happened.
she turns away from jess in a huff and starts walking. ]
[ The silence between them is weighted and stiff and yet no barrier against the sounds escaping the cells at their backs. Jess cuts a step ahead of Alina at the Zoo's entrance, shoving the door ajar. The street noise washes over her like a wave full of flotsam. She shields her eyes from the sun pouring down from above and glinting off the muddied ice.
She looks over at Alina as her eyes adjust. The clearer her vision gets, the more rundown Alina looks. She's not dirty or clammy, her hair's in a fine enough state, but her eyes appear tender at the edges, as if she's had too little or too much sleep. ]
You headed home? [ Her attempt to sound neutral is exaggerated to compensate for the frustration she's still feeling. It comes off as annoyed even though that frustration's been successfully sublimated. She's annoyed at herself for caring. ]
[ something ashen falls over her face. she can't muster even the bite of anger in her own defense. all she can think of is how reggie's eyes had looked. that's what's waiting for her at home.
[ Well that's a red flag. Alina had refused her invitation of refuge after the Darkling had taken advantage of her, so whatever "whatever" is, it has to be worse than that.
She tries to be softer. With a dry throat, it just comes out rougher. To her ears, at least. ]
[ Unless Alina has other business in the Up, or makes some up on the spot. Jess wouldn't blame her. The air between them is charged at best. Granted, it would be the first confrontation between them Alina has elected to slink away from. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I'm not the one locked up.
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We're all locked up, starshine.
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she turns away from jess in a huff and starts walking. ]
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She looks over at Alina as her eyes adjust. The clearer her vision gets, the more rundown Alina looks. She's not dirty or clammy, her hair's in a fine enough state, but her eyes appear tender at the edges, as if she's had too little or too much sleep. ]
You headed home? [ Her attempt to sound neutral is exaggerated to compensate for the frustration she's still feeling. It comes off as annoyed even though that frustration's been successfully sublimated. She's annoyed at herself for caring. ]
no subject
[ something ashen falls over her face. she can't muster even the bite of anger in her own defense. all she can think of is how reggie's eyes had looked. that's what's waiting for her at home.
she wets her lips. swallows. ]
I'm staying somewhere else. For a few days.
take 2
She tries to be softer. With a dry throat, it just comes out rougher. To her ears, at least. ]
Up or Down?
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Down.
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[ Unless Alina has other business in the Up, or makes some up on the spot. Jess wouldn't blame her. The air between them is charged at best. Granted, it would be the first confrontation between them Alina has elected to slink away from. ]
no subject
[ alina grimaces. ]
Don't you have ... errands? Someone to see?
[ she's been in here a while, hasn't she? ]
I know I'm not the person you want to be with right now.