7th lie

[valaunbound]

[Moving a grandfather clock up several floors was no mean feat, but Vala's very determined and against all the odds she's managed it. After trying to shunt it to no avail, she asked for a trolley from the castle on castors and she wheeled it right down the hallway into the lift, up to Daniel's floor and now she's standing outside his room on the 13th floor looking very smug with herself and knocking. THIS is the answer to her prayers.

Yeeeeaah. Probably best not to ask, but feel free to wtf at her and question her if you're feeling like banging your head against a brick wall as she makes her way up there - HUGE clock in tow. Coherency is not guaranteed.]

Comments

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[Daniel opens the door, first looking at her then... uh, wtf.]

[valaunbound]

[have a nice big smile Daniel!] Hi! [eyes shift to the clock and then back at him, the smile saying 'look what I've got!']

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[he pastes on a smile, looking oddly from Vala to the clock] It's... a grandfather clock.

[valaunbound]

It's for you, I brought you a present. [still smiling, because clearly it's the most awesome present ever.]

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

Okay... why?

[valaunbound]

[stand back, clock coming through. No she didn't ask. Anything miraculous happening yet btw? Curious glance his way.] Because I thought you'd like it.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

Well as... flattered as I am, Vala, this is a bit... strange. [D: D: moves]

[valaunbound]

Well, granted it's not what you might expect for a gift, but... [trails off, because...] Where do you want it? You do like it don't you, Daniel?

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[looks at the clock... and her... and the clock... hands in pockets, he gives the room a glance] I - yes? [pause. waiiiit.] Where did you get that?

[valaunbound]

Good! [it can go here then, she decides, for lack of input from Daniel] That's not important, what is important is -- are you feeling any different? Towards me perhaps?

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[blink blink.] Aside from developing the opinion that you may be losing it, you mean...?

[valaunbound]

Yes, aside from that-- [what?] I mean no! Not that at all... You seriously don't feel any different do you? [hmm, irritated pondering] Try touching it maybe, trust me, it will all make perfect sense just as soon as-- oh just touch it.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

Vala, just tell me what's going on.

[valaunbound]

[sigh and a sad face, emotional blackmail will work maybe?] Will you just touch the clock-- please? For me? Then I promise I'll tell you what's going on.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[glance, glance. reaches out, pokes clock. eyebrow raise?]

[valaunbound]

Nothing, huh? I don't get it, the compass definitely pointed to the clock, [sigh] unless Jack's getting me back for that ruby.

[well, it was an explanation at least, sort of]

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

What compass?

[valaunbound]

The compass that Jack let me borrow, it's got some kind of power that allows it to... well clearly it doesn't, it was all a big con.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[rubs his eyes] Just tell me what it does.

[valaunbound]

Supposedly points you in the right direction for obtaining your heart's desire. [cringe]

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

And it... pointed at the clock?

[valaunbound]

Well, after a while anyway, initially it kept at pointing at my chest. [clueless gesture]

[valaunbound]

[sudden realisation] I've got it! Why didn't I think of this before?

[she'll be starting to take her top off, right about noooow.]

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[aslkdjflsd puts a hand out] Vala - Vala -- Vala, wait. Assuming all this wasn't some kind of elaborate prank, can you just -- think? For a second? Stop that.

[valaunbound]

I've done nothing but think Daniel, it pointed at me easily three or four times before it pointed at the clock, I thought it was malfunctioning, but that's the thing, it wasn't. The answer is to offer myself, clearly, which I haven't ever explicitly done.

[the top gets cast aside and she's standing there in just a camisole vest now] When I failed to get the clue, it pointed at the clock in order to tell me I didn't have much time.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[he stands there for a moment, thinking, doing a 'seriously, Vala'-face before... laughing. sorry, Vala.]

[valaunbound]

Right. I take it, that's a no then? The laugh, it's not particularly ambiguous is it?

[for a second she looks completely gutted, not to mention humiliated as she grabs her top and holds it awkwardly to her chest. Then her look hardens momentarily and she forces a fake smile through]

Enjoy your clock then, I suppose. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a pirate to kill.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[pff] No - I'm sorry. Don't leave. It's just... this compass basically tells you how to get your heart's desire... and it pointed at you before it pointed at the clock?

[valaunbound]

What does it matter? What I want and what you want are clearly two different things, Daniel. No compass can change that.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[aheh, rubs his forehead] Or maybe you just misinterpreted it.

[valaunbound]

[just wants to get out now] Maybe, perhaps I should take the clock instead.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

Vala.

Maybe it means it's up to you... [points at her] ... and that it'll take time. [points at clock]



... Assuming, of course, that it is what I think it is...

[valaunbound]

[looks back at him, hopeful yet completely humiliated, which quickly leads her to shut off and joke.]

Probably... just add idiocy to the list of my faults too, if there's room on your list still, of course, which I highly doubt.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[sighs, moving over to where he can sit down. he's smiling very faintly but isn't sure what to say]

[valaunbound]

It's fine, I understand. [shrugs it off dismissively like she doesn't care and puts her top back on]

If you want me to get rid of the clock, just let me know.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

I don't know what to say to you that you won't blow off, Vala, but I think I'm right. Getting where you want to go won't take anything but time and your own willingness.

[valaunbound]

Well from where I'm standing, you're just trying to let me down gently. [a shrug an eyeroll] When there's really no need for it.

I hardly need treating with such fragile caution Daniel, I'm not some young naive girl who hasn't been there and seen it all. I'd just rather you were honest and told me you don't me find attractive, because this 'I need you to change' moral high ground is starting to grate, and all you're doing is dangling an absurdly impossible to reach goal infront of me.

I'm not that bothered.

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[time for frustration!monologue!Daniel]

When -- when did this turn into whether I find you attractive? I thought you wanted acceptance, Vala -- your place, where you wouldn't have to run anymore. It's not absurdly impossible. You got there, you reached it. I saw you. And even from this - ridiculous - spot you're in, you changed on your own because you wanted to. It didn't just happen. And how you've managed to miss this point completely for a second time, I have no idea.

[valaunbound]

I said that, didn't I? ['eep, forgot about that' face] That whole acceptance thing, that was before I got obscenely drunk.

Well, I might not have meant it. Not everything I say is the truth, you of all people know that.

Oh and I'm ridiculous now as well, just because I haven't had opportunity to show you that I can be selfless if I want. I've apparently already done it in your timeline, so you know I'm capable, isn't that enough? What am I supposed to do Daniel? Go and put up an advertisement in the Lobby saying 'selfless help for hire -- no charge'?

[xthchance.livejournal.com]

[frustration!gesturing!Daniel]

Why is it that even though you seem to understand what I'm saying to you, it never sinks in?! You don't need to show me. I do know. You're the one who said you didn't feel like you belonged -- the only person you have to prove anything to is yourself, and no compass from a drunk pirate is just going to magically give that to you!

Stop trying to sell yourself short, Vala. Out of everything you've lied to me about, I can see right through that.

[valaunbound]

Now you're no making no sense whatsoever. Why would I have to prove anything to myself? I know who I am, I've always been me, with the exception of seven years; I think I know myself better than anybody else can lay claim to.

And for your information, he wasn't drunk when he lent me the compass, actually, and I'm not selling myself short, it's not something I do -- wait, is that what this is about? You apparently knowing me better than I do, because you've got eighteen months on me?