(no subject)

[patterns_bloom]

Alana has collected her gun, and donned her protective jumpsuit from Jay under her red, dahlia-patterned wrap dress. She's ready to leave, to confront Hannibal Lecter in her world. She's tired of waiting for Rae--the past two years have been mind-numbing--so Alana has decided to take X's offer and go home with just her instead.

Hands trembling, Alana pens a few notes while sitting at the bar. Her nerves are jittery; for two years she's been putting off this confrontation, and though she's wracked with anxiety, she does feel she's ready.

Dear Guppy Sandhu,
I'm leaving the bar to confront Dr. Lecter in my world. It's time. I might not be coming back, so I wanted to say goodbye to you personally and apologize for leaving you with Life Support. Wish me luck.

-Alana Bloom

And also:

Dear X,
I'm ready to leave the bar, and I need your help. Rae Seddon will not be coming with us. Please contact me when you're ready. Thank you for being willing to help me.

-Alana Bloom

And finally:

Dear Rae,
I'm ready to leave the bar. I'm sorry I couldn't wait for you any longer. I hope that whatever you needed to accomplish in your world was finished to your satisfaction. Thank you for offering to help me. I might not be coming back, so take care of yourself.

-Alana Bloom

Notes delivered, Alana wraps her shaking hands around her latte and waits.

Comments

[souffle_girlek]

Now, Oswin doesn't know something is up. No one told her, she didn't get a notice, she's not clairvoyant (thank goodness).

But she's a total screaming genius.

Notes have been written. Items have been gathered from Bar.

And Alana Bloom is sitting there looking like the door might bite her. Oswin knows what that look is, she's seen it a few too many times in the mirror.

So she brings over a little mini mousse dessert. As one does.

"One for the road?" Sure, it's a risk, but Oswin's pretty confident in her skills. And in her baking.

[patterns_bloom]

Alana starts, looking at Oswin from Alana's perch on her barstool. "Oh! Oswin," she says, inhaling a gulp of air. "That's beautiful. Thank you so much. Do you have a minute?"

[souffle_girlek]

"For you? Of course." Oswin smiles, hopping up onto a nearby barstool and settling in.

[patterns_bloom]

It's clear from the look on Alana's face that her heart sinks. "Oh, Oswin. I'm sorry. I don't know how to tell you, this, but..." She glances to her gun. "I'm leaving the bar."

[souffle_girlek]

Oswin smirks, slightly.

"Yeah, I sort of figured, sorry." She offers, gesturing to the cake. "You sort of gave the game away."

[runningred]

Jay spots her, and the way the suit sits under her dress. Most people wouldn't but Jay knows his own work well. He gives her a nod and gestures for permission to join her.

[patterns_bloom]

Alana doesn't jerk when she spots Jay, despite her nerves jangling. She returns the nod. "Jay," she says, managing a tight smile. "Please, sit. I want to say goodbye to you."

[runningred]

He orders a coffee and joins her. "You look resolved." It's most definitely a compliment.

[patterns_bloom]

"I am," Alana says, nodding firmly. "I'm ready to go back and face him, come what may. And I don't think I'll be coming back even if I survive."

[runningred]

Jay nods. "You've been kept for your life long enough."

He looks around. "Rae gearing up too?"

[cutting_edgex23]

X slips into a seat next to Alana, movements quick, quiet, and economical.

"Alana."

Beat.

"Hello."

[patterns_bloom]

"X," Alana says, relaxing a great deal. She manages a tight smile. "Thank you for coming. Are you still willing to help me confront Dr. Lecter in my world?"

[cutting_edgex23]

"Yes."

X is matter-of-fact.

"You know what you will do?"

[patterns_bloom]

"Yes," Alana says, more confidently than she feels. She inclines her head. "I have a protective suit given to me by Jay, and a fully-loaded gun. I'm... I don't mind, I don't think, if he dies. I've barricaded myself in his office. The police are coming, but I'd like to try and take him down before they arrive."

[cutting_edgex23]

"You have fired under pressure before?"

X's gaze is piercing.

"Your gun."

[guppy_sandhu]

"Hey."

Guppy gives her a small grim smile.

"I wish you all the luck in the world, and you certainly don't have to apologise. There'll be room on the roster when you come back, if you want it."

[patterns_bloom]

"Guppy," Alana says, managing a tight smile. "Thank you. But that's just the thing--I don't know if I'm coming back even if I survive. I've been trapped here for two years, and I'm sick of the bar."

[guppy_sandhu]

"I know you have to do what you have to do." Guppy says, sitting down. "You can't be trapped in eternal purgatory. But I still hope to see you back, and preferably not as a ghost. A friend can hope, at least?"

[patterns_bloom]

Alana reaches out and squeezes his hand. "Thank you, Guppy, for being my friend. And for your hope."

[cook_the_rude]

Dr. Hannibal Lecter passes by on the way from the back into the kitchen, with two bright orange Hokkaido pumpkins under his arms.

He just nods to Alana with a smile, says nothing, and vanishes through the kitchen door.-

[patterns_bloom]

Alana glares at his retreating back, now more than ever galvanized to go home and confront her own Hannibal Lecter.

[childofrebellion]

(OOC: If you're up for another thread, if not, I can delete.)

Cassian's ordering a caf when he sees Alana with the weapon, her anxiety is almost palpable. Once he has his drink, he moves over towards her, "Alana, what's going on?"

He's been preparing for a mission, so he's in his captain's jacket with a blaster at his hip.

[patterns_bloom]

Alana jerks, startled at his saying her name. "Cassian," she says, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm finally leaving the bar to confront Dr. Lecter. I... might not be coming back, even if I do survive."

[childofrebellion]

He nods as he understands preparing that way, with every mission, not coming back is a constant risk,

"I hope that you're able to have the choice to return if you want to. Do you feel comfortable using that?"

With his mug, he gestures at the gun.

[patterns_bloom]

"I do, but I've never fired under pressure," Alana says, sighing. She glances to the weapon sitting on the counter. Then her gaze darts away. "I'm taking X back with me."