[ He believes he's good at reading her, but what good does that do him if he can't find a way to use what he's learned to help her? Just like it is with him, if she doesn't want to let him in enough to help, then... he might not even get anywhere. That doesn't mean he's going to stop, or give up, because she's never given up on him thus far, and if he's learned anything about her, she won't give up on him either.
He doesn't say anything, and he doesn't move. He doesn't expect her to answer before she's ready. He just stays where he is, arms around her and holding her as close to him as he can manage.
Finally, she says what's troubling her, and Alan feels his face fall. It makes sense now. Maybe it should have always made sense. He should have known how that would have affected her. Didn't her own death nearly destroy him too? It's certainly something he refuses to talk about to anyone.
Can I guarantee that I won't die again? Can I promise her that? What if I break that promise? She'll never trust me again. That's what I'm afraid of. ]
You can ask me for anything that you want, and I'll do my best to put it in. I mean that. And- and I'll do my best to not die again. [ I know that I can't guarantee that. I shouldn't tell her that. But as long as it's in my power to avoid, I'll do what I can. ]
You could demand everything. The entire world, even, and I would try to get it for you. If there's anything I can do about it, you won't lose me so easily.
[ At least, not to death. But then again, sometimes, the things the Dark Presence does feels like a fate worse than death. I won't say that to her, though.
He's about to say something else, but then he stops, having seen that strange shift in the room, followed by the appearance of the two oppositely colored orbs. He knows this. He's seen this before. When the orbs line up, he sees things. Visions. This time is no different.
I don't know this woman. I don't think I do, anyway. Wait, she's talking.
Alan goes quiet as he listens, and as he does, his confusion only rises. ]
What the hell? C4? Damn, she wasn't messing around. But what's the Nail?
[ At first, Alan doesn't realize he's even asked those questions aloud, but too late, he realizes what he's done. ]
Are you seeing this too? Who is that?
[ He quiets again as the woman in the vision reappears and talks more, this time about Jesse. Alan listens with rapt attention, taking in what she has to say. And when she reappears again and says what is apparently her last lesson, Alan stiffens.
No, he knows that not everyone can be saved, but... That doesn't mean you stop trying. Except, he can't shake the feeling that maybe in this story, he's the one who doesn't get saved. He's certain Jesse would reject that idea, but even the mysterious woman said it. Not everyone gets to be saved.
But it isn't until the scene shifts and the woman turns a shade of red that horror strikes Alan like a ton of bricks. The silhouette changes, but then she glows red again just seconds later. And then the words come, and Alan freezes in place. Jesse can most likely see that he's gone stiff. Rigid. He knows those words.
He pulled them out of a shoebox. What happened to the strange woman? Something tells him she wasn't one of those who got saved.
A second passes, followed by another, and Alan rubs his face with his hand. ]
no subject
He doesn't say anything, and he doesn't move. He doesn't expect her to answer before she's ready. He just stays where he is, arms around her and holding her as close to him as he can manage.
Finally, she says what's troubling her, and Alan feels his face fall. It makes sense now. Maybe it should have always made sense. He should have known how that would have affected her. Didn't her own death nearly destroy him too? It's certainly something he refuses to talk about to anyone.
Can I guarantee that I won't die again? Can I promise her that? What if I break that promise? She'll never trust me again. That's what I'm afraid of. ]
You can ask me for anything that you want, and I'll do my best to put it in. I mean that. And- and I'll do my best to not die again. [ I know that I can't guarantee that. I shouldn't tell her that. But as long as it's in my power to avoid, I'll do what I can. ]
You could demand everything. The entire world, even, and I would try to get it for you. If there's anything I can do about it, you won't lose me so easily.
[ At least, not to death. But then again, sometimes, the things the Dark Presence does feels like a fate worse than death. I won't say that to her, though.
He's about to say something else, but then he stops, having seen that strange shift in the room, followed by the appearance of the two oppositely colored orbs. He knows this. He's seen this before. When the orbs line up, he sees things. Visions. This time is no different.
I don't know this woman. I don't think I do, anyway. Wait, she's talking.
Alan goes quiet as he listens, and as he does, his confusion only rises. ]
What the hell? C4? Damn, she wasn't messing around. But what's the Nail?
[ At first, Alan doesn't realize he's even asked those questions aloud, but too late, he realizes what he's done. ]
Are you seeing this too? Who is that?
[ He quiets again as the woman in the vision reappears and talks more, this time about Jesse. Alan listens with rapt attention, taking in what she has to say. And when she reappears again and says what is apparently her last lesson, Alan stiffens.
No, he knows that not everyone can be saved, but... That doesn't mean you stop trying. Except, he can't shake the feeling that maybe in this story, he's the one who doesn't get saved. He's certain Jesse would reject that idea, but even the mysterious woman said it. Not everyone gets to be saved.
But it isn't until the scene shifts and the woman turns a shade of red that horror strikes Alan like a ton of bricks. The silhouette changes, but then she glows red again just seconds later. And then the words come, and Alan freezes in place. Jesse can most likely see that he's gone stiff. Rigid. He knows those words.
He pulled them out of a shoebox. What happened to the strange woman? Something tells him she wasn't one of those who got saved.
A second passes, followed by another, and Alan rubs his face with his hand. ]
What the hell...