milliways_bar | (no subject)

*Coincidentally, Alanna is also bored in the bar. Having left Angel and Indy to chat, she's back in her booth again. Her knees are drawn up to her chest and she looks fairly miserable.*

So. Boredom means that you try to do something, right? So why does Peter merely feel like going back to his room?

Right. So this is what happens when a Wiggin gets depressed, bored, and doesn't have to be on duty for the day.

Peter glances around the bar, and, spotting Alanna, a small grin crosses his face. So, go back to his room, eh...? Maybe not so worth it, now.

He walks over.

"Greetings, Lady Knight." He says in a formal sort of tone.

*Alanna glances up and manages a weak smile.* Hello, Peter. Why so formal? *She turns her head to sneeze. Eyes stormy, she looks back at him.* I really want to hit something.

"What's wrong?" Peter asks, instantly serious.

*Alanna sighs, moving over to give him room to sit down.*

I have a cold. I could cure it, of course, but... *She trails off, looking him in the eye. Now that she has the opportunity to talk to him about this, she's oddly hesitant.* I still haven't told you what happened while you were gone.

But she doesn't like to use her Gift. "What happened when I was gone?" And why does it sound foreboding?

*Alanna folds her hands on the table and looks at them as if they are the most fascinating things in the immediate vicinity. She wants to look at Peter. She just knows she won't get this out if she does.*

Thom was arrested for the bar defacement. Bigby barred me from the office. There wasn't much I could do, and Thom in all his stubborn pride refused to tell the truth. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and approached Bigby about having Roger question Thom. I hated the idea, of course, but Roger gets answers out of Thom where the rest of us fail. Bigby listened in and discovered that Thom was guilty, but someone put him up to the deed. Someone egged him on, and he truly had no concept of what he was doing to Bernard. He thought it nothing more than an act of petty vandalism.

*She takes a deep breath and finally looks at him with expressive eyes.*

Part of Thom's punishment involved stripping him of his magic. *She pauses.* Guess who was chosen to keep it for him?

*Her eyes well up and she returns her gaze to her hands. Sure, she had volunteered readily, not trusting anyone or anything else with Thom's Gift, but she's not thinking very clearly right now.*

"And how are you handling this?"

*She gives him a baleful look, blinking back tears.* Oh, fabulously. Can't you tell? *Frowning, she glares at the opposite wall. Her temper has been quick to rise recently.* It's too much, Peter. I never should have agreed to this. Gifted individuals aren't meant to carry the Gifts of others. I want to tear my hair out. *She laughs harshly.* When we transferred his Gift? I almost blew up the bar. That should be an indication of just how well this is working out. That's why I didn't heal myself when I got stabbed. That's why I'm suffering through this head cold right now. I am afraid that I may destroy both myself and others before this is all over. *Suddenly hot, she tugs on her shirt laces and tries not to sneeze.*

"So get rid of it."

*She twitches. Hurt, Alanna rests her head on her knees, fighting back tears and anger.*

I can't. Not yet. I will as soon as I can.

"Why?" Peter puts a hand on her shoulder.

*At the feel of his hand on her shoulder, Alanna can no longer contain the tears. She whimpers once, but bites her lip before any other sound escapes. The desire to throw herself at him and force him to hug her is nearly choking her, but she determinedly clamps down on all such thoughts. She could do that to George, but he had known her forever. Peter might not appreciate it. After several minutes of trying to get herself under control, she looks up, croaking out a response.*

He's my brother. I'm the only one who can even feasibly carry his Gift. If anything happened to it, if he somehow lost his power permanently, it would destroy him. Also, at least I know that I can keep it safe from Roger.

"So why not give it back to him?"

*flatly* His punishment isn't over yet. I hope this will change as soon as I talk to Bigby and explain the problem. I think Thom's learned a great deal from this experience. *At least, she hopes he has.*

Peter's eyes flash. "It better change." He's not going to let her stay like this. "But if it doesn't... could you put it in someone else?"

*She exhales, rubbing her palms against her eyes.* No. It would destroy anyone else. The only reason I'm not dead is because I'm Thom's twin. However, Thom's twin or no, I've had it far too long.

*She grimaces and scoots closer, laying her head on his shoulder before she's even aware of her own actions. Sighing, she closes her eyes and tries to clear her clouded mind.*

Sorry.

"So break it up. Share it with someone. Won't that work?" This is no time for apologies, so Peter doesn't even address the one she had given.

*She shakes her head stubbornly, ignoring the fact that Tim had given her the means to do just that. She used the band... sometimes.*

Who? Roger? I don't think I could give it to someone with a foreign magic. No, it has to go back to Thom. *Her eyes go wide. Maybe I should just talk to Bernard. She stores that thought away to consider later.*

"So don't give it to someone with a foreign magic." Peter says significantly.

*Alanna's head slowly rises and she looks at Peter with wide eyes. Is he suggesting what she thinks he's suggesting? Worried, she furrows her brow.*

I'm fairly certain that it's absolutely impossible for non-Gifted folks to carry magic.

*She chews on her lip and watches him.* Why?

Peter smiles without actually smiling. "Because it's too much for you to carry."

*Her lips twitch.* I forgot your stubborn streak is as wide as mine. If you are contemplating what I think you are, I would never let that happen. You mean too much to me. *She says this fiercely and promptly blushes.*

"What would it harm?"

To put it succinctly? You. I can't do that.

*Her eyes narrow and she looks determined.

...

Uh oh. Peter's about to get pounced if he doesn't watch out.*

"You don't know that."

I do know that. I may not be the mage my brother is, but I'm no lackwit when it comes to magic. Mithros, I'm a Bazhir Shaman. I do know a thing or two.

*She utters a growl of sheer exasperation.*

You are...

So. Bloody. Difficult. You think... It's not... can't... DAMMIT.

*Frustrated, she leans over and kisses him in the hopes that maybe THAT will divert his attention.*

It doesn't. Peter pulls back. "I'm not letting you keep getting hurt, Alanna." And if he has to pull some drastic measures to prevent it, he will.

*Since she was leaning pretty heavily on him at the time, she nearly topples off her chair when he pulls back. Surprised, she straightens and wrinkles her nose.*

Peter, I'm not sure you can help with the magic situation, but you can certainly help me. The very best thing you could possibly do for me is just be there. *Her eyes gets suspiciously bright again.* Talking helps. Not pulling back when I kiss you helps even more. *She grins impishly.*