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[rockypath]

 

 

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[rockypath]

Sounds great. And I can feed some of my crust to the fish.

[Faith tugs him along to find a spot on the grass to sit, settling the drinks into the ground and leaning plopping down and patting the grass beside her.]

Other than the new Submissive, how's everything else? Good?

[understood]

I can't complain, really. I know it's been quite awhile, but I'm still not used to the novelty of having a place a little ways out of the city. I'm almost embarrassed by what a difference it makes.

[ Meaning, although he would not and cannot admit that he was secretly completely miserable before, he isn't anymore. ]

[rockypath]

Your place is very nice. I'm a ways off from getting a house. Although I don't hate my apartment. Whether I'm there or in a house, I'd still be in this city.

[That wouldn't change regardless of location. She grabs her sandwich and starts to unwrap it.]

I was actually thinking I might try to start a business. Start something from the ground up.

[understood]

[ Fraser cocks his head in polite but very genuine interest. ]

Really? What sort of business did you have in mind?

[rockypath]

I guess it would just be another club, kinda. Which I guess it's boring, maybe? [She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.] I know there's a bunch already. But it would be a space for open mics for any bands, musicians, anyone to play or whatever. And there'd be a dance floor.

[Faith loved dancing she there would have to be.] I just want a simple place. Nothing fancy. I found an abandoned building in the down. Thought I might buy it.

[She shifts awkwardly.] And I want to give my sub, Dinah, a place to sing. Was thinking I might surprise her with it when I got it done.

[understood]

I don't think it sounds boring. It sounds like something that would fill a particular niche.

[ The smile he gives her when she mentions Dinah is soft, and maybe a little curious. ]

Dinah... I think we've met, briefly, at one of Huaisang's parties. You must be very fond of her.

[rockypath]

[Now it's Faith's turn to be the blushing one where it was usually Benton, ducking her head.] Yeah, pretty fond. This place has... not been kind to her.

[Not to anyone, really, but she's had a particularly bad time of it in Faith's estimation. She grabs her tea, takes a sip, and bumps him with her shoulder.] Pretty fond of you too for the record.

[As much as could allow herself to be in this place. With Dinah at least it was free of concerns of who might see.]

[understood]

The feeling is mutual, I assure you.

[ He nudges into that shoulder bump, a normal friendly gesture for any watching eyes, even if the intent behind it is more. ]

But I'm glad she's found her way to you, in that case. You can be kind to her even if circumstance is not.

[rockypath]

Good. I don't let just anyone make me pancakes, after all.

[Mainly because she didn't spend the night with most people, which is a far more meaningful thing than the pancakes themselves.]

I'm glad too. Although it drives me a little crazy that I can't protect her from everything, you know?

[understood]

Yes, I understand perfectly. So often in Duplicity, there are forces that simply can't be fought, or dealt with in any lasting way. If I'm honest, I find it incredibly frustrating, too.

[ Dief is trying to steal his sandwich, so he starts to eat it out of self preservation. ]

[rockypath]

[Faith is already pulling some meat off her sandwich to toss to Diefenbaker.]

I fucking hate it, you know? Before here, I'd only been out of prison-- well, okay-- escaped from prison, for a couple of months? I wanted to really be what I was supposed to be. What I'd failed to be. A hero, I guess? To help people. And here? It feels like a can't do a damn thing for anyone that really matters.

[Like when she'd tried to stop Hellboy only to nearly get herself killed.]

But I'm really trying to do what I can.

[understood]

It's all any of us can do.

[ The way he says it is halfway between consolation and regret. It doesn't feel remotely adequate to him, either. ]

I do believe you are helping people here, though. You've certainly helped me.

[rockypath]

[Faith blinks up from her sandwich as she's handing a piece of meat to Dief.] I have?

[understood]

Very much so, yes.

[ This is probably the point at which a normal person would explain in what way Faith has been helpful, but it doesn't occur to Fraser. ]

[rockypath]

[Faith chews, face a bit scrunched up. Then she swallows.] Okay... care to share with the rest of the class on how?

[understood]

Ah. Well.

... did I tell you that, before Duplicity, I'd only ever been with one person?

[rockypath]

I figured it probably wasn't many. Since you still say 'been with' as opposed to just calling it 'screwing'.

[It's a light tease, smiling at him over her sandwich as she takes another bite.]

[understood]

I don't just mean the physical aspect, but emotionally, as well. But then I arrested her.

[ He says it very bluntly, as much to give Faith a chance to tell him to shut up and fuck off as anything. ]

[rockypath]

[Faith doesn't tell him to fuck off, but there is a bit of fidgetting happening and suddenly her sandwich seems like the most interesting thing on the planet with the way she's staring at it.

'Emotionally'. She's not really expressed fully her feelings for Benton. But it's no different than it had been for Dinah, saying it out loud is hard. She'd rather face a thousand demons. It would never not feel risky, like she's calling disaster to her door.]

Yeah? What'd she do?

[understood]

[ He shrugs. ]

She robbed a bank in Alaska and then fled across the border.

I should have let her go.

[rockypath]

Maybe, but then you wouldn't be you. Would you? [Faith sets down her sandwich to just listen.]

[understood]

That's what Andy said when I told him. I hope it's not true. I would like to think I'm not so entirely barren of spirit that it is simply my inescapable nature to follow a perhaps misplaced sense of duty above all else.

[rockypath]

[Faith is quiet, thinking.] I can't pretend I wouldn't have pissed if I were her. If Angel hadn't given me the choice to turn myself in and had turned me in against my will...? I would never have forgiven him.

But if you had let her go. What then? Do you think it would have made things better?

[understood]

I have absolutely no idea.

[rockypath]

Okay, so hypothetical. Say we happened to be back home. In your time. Your reality. I did all the things that I did. [She averts her eyes a bit, speaking so openly about her past is still hard.] I killed two people. Hurt a lot more. But you know me like you know me now.

I am a fugitive. I broke out of prison. Sure, it was to help Angel and help avert two apocalypses. But still. I should have been there for at least twenty more odd years. Would you turn me in?

[She's not entirely sure what answer she wants here.]