Hadriel IC Inbox

[redwinekindofgirl]

"It's Julie Cabernet! Leave a message."

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[imhisaunt]

[He shakes his head]

I don't think you don't understand.

[redwinekindofgirl]

[She huffs out a soft breath through her nose and her hands stop moving, but she doesn't speak immediately. Her mind is blank, thoughts pressing at the edges but not finding their way in.]

... Okay. Good.

[imhisaunt]

[He nods quietly before moving to get up]

I'll let you get back to sleep.

[redwinekindofgirl]

Ugh, no, don't--

[Without looking, her hand shoots out and she grabs hold of his wrist. Given Delmar's general behaviour, she trusts her likely lesser strength to be enough to hold him there.

She pushes her free hand through her hair, trying to work out some of the knots.]

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar stops the moment his wrist is grabbed, though he blinks in in confusion, turning back to look at her]

But Julie...you should get your rest.....

[redwinekindofgirl]

Yeah. I will, but could you stay for a minute? Just a minute.

[She, in all likelihood, would not fall asleep again, but the request is made regardless.]

[imhisaunt]

Of course. If you'd like me to....

[He awkwardly sits back down]

...are you alright?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Mm.

[A small nod. She sighs and drops her weight against the back of the couch, resting her head back against the cushion.

Then, gently, she leans her weight sideways until her head is on his shoulder.]

Just sharing this part of my life with you.

[imhisaunt]

[He bites his lower lip, feeling an ache in his chest when she says that. He shifts some, trying to accommodate her as best he can, before shyly turning his head just enough to ghost a small kiss to her hair]

You are always going to be a part of my life, Julie. Even if...

[Though he stops. Deciding against saying the 'even if one day we can't remember this place.']

[redwinekindofgirl]

Yeah.

[He doesn't have to say it. She squeezes her fingers around his wrist then moves them to the back of his hand instead, letting them rest there.]

This place just... makes things so hard sometimes.

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar sits silently a long while, just enjoying the closeness and letting what she says weigh on his mind.]

Have you met Harley-- er--I mean Harlan, Julie?

[redwinekindofgirl]

Hm... He was at your place, wasn't he? When you took that picture.

[She didn't really speak to him, then, but...]

I think we've talked a couple of times. Why?

[imhisaunt]

Well. Harley has told me he's going to try and find a way to take me with him to his world whenever we leave this place.

[He reaches for her hand then, squeezing it]

Do come with us, Julie?

[redwinekindofgirl]

[She doesn't expect that, and goes quite still next to him.]

... I can't. I can't do that.

[imhisaunt]

Why not?

[redwinekindofgirl]

I can't just leave my friends, and my dad... it would kill him. I know he cares about me, he just... doesn't show it well. I can't leave them.

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar bites his lower lip, heart hurting but he doesn't protest. Gently he lifts her hand and pats it adoringly, eyes intent on her]

Then...Harley and I will have to find a way for me to visit.

[He would never want to push her. Not on something so important. She should be with her friends. Her family.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

You probably shouldn't. I don't think I could forgive myself if you got eaten by zombies.

[She's trying to keep her tone light, there, but there's a certain seriousness in it. In truth, zombies aren't the worst of it. What would be worse is if he was noticed, if someone recognised him as a person who didn't belong...

They detained people like that.]

You should just... stay where it's safe.

[imhisaunt]

[He can't stop himself from looking crestfallen, even if he wishes he could shield her from his feelings in moments like this.]

...maybe....we could find a way for you to visit me?

[redwinekindofgirl]

[Julie smiles slightly, giving his hand a gentle pat.]

Yeah... that might be nice.

[Sounds impossible, but it also sounds very nice.]

[imhisaunt]

[Delmar hesitates, unsure]

You don't have to if you don't want to....

[redwinekindofgirl]

It's not that. It's... [A vague hand gesture is made in an attempt to punctuate the sentence.]

I don't want to hinge my hopes on something that might not happen.

[imhisaunt]

[Even Delmar, with his penchant for optimism and cheerfulness, cannot fault her for that. He has the same fear, had it from the moment Harlan told him that maybe there'd be a way they wouldn't have to forget each other.

Delmar has made an active choice to hope for the best. But he knows it would be selfish to ask others to do the same, particularly when they stand to lose so much.

So pressing his lips together in a sad, tight line, he pats her knee lightly.]