002 ♔ text/action

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

Is there a limit to how much we can ask of the Castle?

Angel;
Were you the one who brought me here?

Clark;
I'm sorry.


[ She can also be found at the gym, as always, practicing.

You may hear echoes of this music from outside, accompanied by the occasional sound of wood tapping against linoleum. Once she finishes a round, she takes a few minutes to breathe, then does it again. Sometimes she rehearses a part many times, perfecting it. And sometimes, after a good round, she curtsies to herself in the mirror and smiles.

But Nina doesn't smile when she dances. ]

Comments

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you.

[ Now it's her turn to beam. Validation is what she lives for. ]

I'm--I'm Nina.

[ruined-jaw.livejournal.com]

[He shrugs, he's never thought about it real hard. He's never really had the time.]

{I's th' right thing t'do, mostly. Because there're others who'd rather see "normal" folks wiped out. We fight th' one's who give us all a bad name.}

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

[Beamity grin times forever, basically.]

My name is Drusilla.

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

It's nice to meet you, Drusilla.

[ And she really means it too, because Nina thinks she just reminded her of why she kept dancing in the first place. ]

Is there anything else you'd like to see?

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

[ Nina thinks on that for a moment, looking down at her own lap. She doesn't think she really understands. ]

That must be so difficult.

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

[And that makes Dru happy. She likes feeling like she's got a purpose other than the one she's trying very hard to suppress. And this actually may be the first time she's felt that.]

Your favorite.

[rock-it-punch.livejournal.com]

Afraid of giving me a bad opinion of ballet choreographers?

[save-the-souls.livejournal.com]

Ah...I guess that's true.

[I'm not going to tell the part where if I don't, loan sharks will try to hurt me very much...]

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

[ Another bout of approval and Nina would be eating out of Drusilla's hands. But her request strikes a raw nerve in her. She has been rehearsing all the lead roles, all of them but the Swan Queen. She is afraid of it, but she can't possibly say no. ]

The White Swan is my favorite.

[ Nina manages a nervous smile before walking to one corner of the room and beginning this variation (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpsk0GPEI1U). She is graceful and precise, the ideal Odette. ]

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

What's exorcising like?

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

No--I was just kidding.

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

[She can see the conflict in Nina's eyes, and finds it all the more lovely since she overcomes it. Dru is a very appreciative, enthralled audience, and smiles wildly.]

[ruined-jaw.livejournal.com]

{Sometimes, sure. I guess what it comes down to is acceptance. Sure, we're different than "normal" folks, but that don' make us any better or worse'n they are. They like t'think it does, but it don'.}

{Unfortunately, not everyone's as tolerant as we are. There're groups o' humans an' mutants alike that'd love t'see th' other wiped out, but what would that accomplish?}

{Fer one thing, I'd lose me favorite football team. Mutant sports are jus' unfair.}


[He laughs a dry laugh.]

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

[ The smile is returned twofold, as Nina curtsies a second time to Drusilla. She did it perfectly, like last time, like every time, and she has an appreciative audience who seems to approve. She laughs with glee. ]

You're such a wonderful audience.

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

[ She echoes the laughter, mildly glad that he seems light-hearted enough about himself. ]

I wouldn't want to see you wiped out.

[save-the-souls.livejournal.com]

Exorcising?

Ah...

It's hard to say exactly. It can be very hard sometimes...a lot of bad things happen and I wouldn't...wish it on anyone else.

But...it's what I want to do with my life.

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

Was never graceful, but always loved to see it.

[There's a pause as she considers this, then:]

Every step in place. Your heart beats with the music.

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

[ Nina laughs again, joyful. ]

I've danced that variation since I was 13 and I love it now more than ever.

[ She turns to her with a hesitant smile. ]

I could teach you--if you want. We have too much time here.

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

It's dangerous, I guess?

[save-the-souls.livejournal.com]

It is, yes. I do a lot of fighting.

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

What made you want to be an exorcist?

[ruined-jaw.livejournal.com]

[Is that a blush? It maybe, possibly is...]

{Bah, yer jus' sayin' that because yer jus' gettin' t'know me. I can be a proper curmudgeon when I get in one o' me moods.}

[He laughs again, a proper laugh. It's amazing to think that only a few days ago he'd been threatening a girl who'd insulted him and his teammates, and had suffered a pretty harsh depression as a result of what she'd said to him.]

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

Afraid my feet wouldn't learn properly.

[But she desperately would want to, and that hopeful look in her eyes might say as much.]

[whichswan.livejournal.com]

Were you injured?

[ Nina thinks she has grace enough, and technique can always be learned and practiced. ]

[pixiesinmyhead.livejournal.com]

[A shake of her head.]

Simply skittish.