(no subject)

[true_desire]

There's an Endless in the bar.
It's shocking.
Desire. In the bar. Who would have guessed?
... Well. Perhaps anyone even vaguely familiar with this particular Endless, but that's neither here nor there.

Desire seems to be without intent this evening, just staying at the usual table, smoking the usual cigarette, and a simple glass of champagne in hand.

An undirected Desire is a bored Desire.
Bad news for anyone who wasn't looking to become Desire's evening entertainment...






[OOC: I've had to slowtime because I'm out of practice -- I'll get back to this!]

Comments

[balletrat]

. . . non quoi?

*He(sheit, but Meg is sort of trapped in 'daughter' mode at the moment) can't mean what it sounds like he means, can he?*

[true_desire]

Oh, yes he does.

"Non, petite. ... I do not approve of some of the company ton cher ami keeps."

[balletrat]

*Desire. Disapproving of someone?

This is . . . new, and more than a little unnerving.*

. . . I'm some of the company he keeps, *Meg feels obliged to point out.* And I know lots of the others, and it's not as if I've ever been, tu sais, respectable, so . . . pardon-moi if I'm a little confused?

Er - who is it that you don't approve of?

[true_desire]

Demons. They're really a tricky lot, and Desire can't forget what they almost did to Dream when he first escaped his near-century of imprisonment on Earth.

Desire doesn't forget that there are rules, and rules within the rules when it comes to them -- so if Desire's a little frightened at the thought of Meg slipping up...

... Desire covers it up in anger and disapproval.

"Ne demandes plus, petite. Tu n'vas pas avec lui."

[balletrat]

*Meg's back straightens, a little.*

J'ai deja dite que je serai, *she points out, as reasonably as she can, though her heart is beating a little loudly. She's never exactly defied her father before - and especially not after going to live with him. (Derry situations don't count.)

Then again, he's never exactly forbidden her to do something, either.* J'ai promets.

I can't break a promise without an awfully good reason.

[true_desire]

"Veux-tu savoir pourquoi?" Desire is on his feet, standing before and nearly towering over his daughter: He takes her by the shoulders, and the tension in his too-warm hands speak of wanting to shake her.


"Je ne veux pas te perdre," Desire hisses, eyes blazing.

[balletrat]

*Meg's eyes widen in shock, pale and blue as she stares up at her father - far, far up, a great distance and in more ways than one.*

Je - *she begins, and then tries again, voice pitched as reassuringly as she can.*

Tu ne me perdre pas - je le promets! Tu ne peux pas -

*She fumbles around her neck for the necklace that brings her back to the Threshold; holds it up like a Talisman.*

Je toujours rentre. Toujours. C'est pour cela que j'ai celui-ci -

[true_desire]

"Mais il y a règlements, petite." Desire does give her a small shake now, the anger in her papi's tone giving way to something more pleading. "Toujours règlements quand ils ont affaire avec son sorte. Say the wrong thing, or let one trick that necklace away, and there is nothing I can do to save you. Comprends-toi?"

[balletrat]

Je comprends, bien sur - je ne suis pas si bete.

*Meg's hand tightens around the pendant.*

I don't take it off. I don't ever take it off - not for any reason. Someone would have to, to knock me out to get it off, and that's not going to happen, bien?

[true_desire]

Like that, Desire lets Meg go, hands falling loosely to his sides.

"J'ai peur, petite."

[balletrat]

Pourqoi?

*Meg's voice is quiet.*

Pourquoi maintenant?

[true_desire]

"Pourquoi pas?"

Desire fumbles with a fresh cigarette for a moment, and then turns a melancholy, thoughtful look on Meg.

"You've never wanted to leave, before."

[balletrat]

- but I've been on all kinds of trips!

*This is, perhaps, not the wisest thing to say, but Meg is too startled again to think of anything else.*

To New York, and to Phantasmoraniagoria to see Amy's baby, and - all of them short. Just visits.

That's not - not wanting to leave, not really.

[true_desire]

There is the point that Desire could have followed her any of the other places, should her papi have chosen... But others' realms are trickier things.

Desire has no response for Meg: Not verbally.

Instead, Meg is pulled into a warm and disconcertingly demonstrative hug.

"Pourquoi me fais-tu toujours cela, petite?"

[balletrat]

*It is disconcerting - to Meg, especially, who has never been accustomed to parental demonstrativeness of any sort - but she hugs him back, tightly.*

Je serai prudent, *she repeats. It's really all she can think of to say.*

Je le promets.

[true_desire]

"Si non, tu es privé de sortie, petite. Pres'que ce je le dites différent."

Yes, Desire did just tell Meg that she's grounded if she doesn't keep that promise.

... How many millennia can an Endless hold a grudge?

[balletrat]

*Meg takes a step back, and tries not to look as if she's eyeing him warily.*

. . . prive de sortie de Milliways? Or from the Threshold?

[true_desire]

Desire offers Meg a tight smile.

"Tu ne veux pas découvrir, petite."

[balletrat]

*Meg looks back at him - and then gives a short nod, head held high.

He can do it, and she knows it. She made the bargain herself.*

Je ne vais pas.

Je ne casse pas mes promets.

[true_desire]

"Souviens-toi, petite," Desire reminds, unneccessarily. "Tu as promis."

And then Meg's papi is gone, the half-bottle of champagne and the scent of peaches the only proof Desire had been there at all.