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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 22, 2012 16:42:14 GMT -8
As Delilah finished pouring her heart and soul out onto the table, Marcus slowly reached out and gently caught her hands into his own and held her gaze. What she was doing was brave beyond measure and he appreciated her frankness. The last thing either of them needed was to be in a relationship with such doubt hanging over thier heads.
"I know all too well how much that one 'if' can eat you alive Lilah. To be honest, I appreciate you laying it out straight for me. God only knows I'm too thick headed to get it any other way and I feel like shit for allowing myself to put you in such a position in the first place."
"I've learned growing up that sometimes faith and hope can be the only two things that can sustain a person when they had nothing left to them and that when all else fails, you should always be able to rely on family. Love is fine and all, but if you think for a second that theres even a slim chance that your hubby is comming home, then I refuse to stand between you two."
Leaning forward, Marcus kissed the back of Delilahs hand, so tiny compared to his big paws and he winked.
"Besides, I aint no Homewrecker. Not my style, ya know.
So if I can't be your lover, then I would be honored to be your friend."
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 22, 2012 17:21:47 GMT -8
She looked up as Marcus took her shaking hands and straight into his eyes. The earnestness and understanding there was heart melting to say the least. Her forehead began to crease a little as he spoke and her blue eyes welled up with tears that she wouldn't dare let run down her face. But that she could show him: regret, plain and simple. But it wouldn't be fair to her or Marcus (or Oliver... she thought with a sigh) until she knew for certain that Stu wasn't coming for her. Her reason for hoping for Stu was simple. He said he would come for her, and he was going to. She trusted him that much.
And then he kissed the back of her hand and that undid her.
"Besides, I aint no Homewrecker. Not my style, ya know.
So if I can't be your lover, then I would be honored to be your friend."
She groaned and let her head fall forward, her forehead resting against his hands. "Aaaaah, you make this so haaard. Why can't you just be a jerk or something." she chuckled sadly and lifted her head slightly to look at him. "Thank you...and you have no reason to feel bad for 'putting me in that position'. I was on that bed too."
A play on words just shy of a pun. Only low forms of humour were allowed at times like these.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 22, 2012 19:27:18 GMT -8
Marcus coulnd't help but smirk. Grateful that they weren't crying in each others arms or anything like that. He hated looking feeble infront of people, aye but he HATED crying infront of anyone EVER. To him, it was a cardinal sin.
"Well, if it makes it any easier you could see it as making you feel that way about me constitutes as being cruel, thus making me a jerk."
He offered her with a nervous laugh, trying desperately to lighten the mood up. Last thing he wanted was to make this hard for her.
"Thank you...and you have no reason to feel bad for 'putting me in that position'. I was on that bed too."
Oh yes she was in fact.
"And I will ALWAYS have that memory of Awesome makeouts to console me at night!"
He grinned.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 22, 2012 20:28:39 GMT -8
She had to laugh at that. She would too. Oh, yes. She would too.
Almost as an afterthought, Delilah reached behind her head and pulled the red ribbon that was holding her hair in place, letting her ebony hair cascade over her shoulders. Shed take the ribbon and tie it around Marcus' wrist.
"Just in case," she'd say softly. Meant, of course, as a reminder of her overall approval and fondness for him.
A token of the Lady Not-So-Fair to the knight she wanted but couldn't have
Delilah sat back in her chair, an unwilling smirk pulling her lips. "Now what? I don't think either of us are well enough to leave just yet."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 23, 2012 18:51:35 GMT -8
Ok, THAT shook Marcus up rightly. His breath caught in his chest when he realized what exactly that little red ribbon meant. He could feel himself growing misty eyed despite himself. Noone, especialy not one of the female persuasion, had EVER outright given him ANYTHING before. Especialy not a token such as this. It moved him beyond words and for some time he simply sat there, staring at it in facination.
"Just in case,"
Marcus quickly wiped his eyes clear with the back of his hand before looking back up at the young woman who sat on the other end of the table. It hurt him more than he realized how he would most likely never have a moment with her like this again.
"I really.....seriously don't know what to say. Other than thank you."
Well, in all the stories the Worthy Knight always loves his Lady fair from a distance, never truely able to show her how much he adored her right? Chalk another one up to the lonely road Sir Knight!
"Now what? I don't think either of us are well enough to leave just yet."
"Hmm? Oh, Right, yeah. Welp......Lady still needs a looking over. After what we both put her through yesterday I wanna make sure she hasn't pulled a muscle so to speak. Should check her filters, Pipes and oil while I'm at it. Shit, She deserves the whole works all things considered. She definatly deserves it."
And that would be another one he owed her.
"Gotta admit, You looked good riding on her. You got a chopper of you're own Lilah?"
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 23, 2012 22:59:20 GMT -8
Delilah caught the look on Marcus' face and in his eyes as she gave him her ribbon, feeling a heavy pang of regret. Pretending not to notice as he swiped at his eyes, she would smile at his thanks. She only wished she could do more.
A LOT more.
She nodded as Marcus described what he wanted to do for Lady, whom Delilah had parked in the garage after tending to his wounds. Just to make sure no one following them would be able to discern which house they had gone into.
"Sure, I'm pretty sure some if my step-dad's old tools are still in the garage." She stood slowly, wincing. Why did everything always have to hurt?
"Gotta admit, you looked good riding her. You got a chopper of you're own Lilah?"
She looked back over her shoulder at him, grinning as she slowly led him down the walkway to the garage. "A couple, but bikes never really were my thing. I preferred my racing cars, my Lamborghini, the Viper, the 1968 Cadillac.... My step-dad was really into them though. I learned pretty much everything from him."
She came to a large steel door, rather out of place in the otherwise posh settings. Fishing around in her jeans pocket for a moment,Delilah would produce an ornate brass key that matched the lock. She'd place the key in the lock, turn it to the left, back to the right in a 360, then back to the left ninety degrees. The door opened with a click and she pushed it open.
"I wasn't kidding about the house exploding," she said as she slipped into the dark of the room, fumbling for some candles and a lighter. "Every lock leading outside connects a circuit all over the house. If someone tried to force the door open or pick a lock, the circuit breaks, shorting the battery and setting the house on fire. The circuit can only be broken by THIS KEY, as it's made from the same metal and turns off the circuit safely.
"Ah, here we go!"
She lit the large candlbra sitting on the work table, lighting the room brightly. She beckoned for Marcus to come in. Several tools, and supplies littered the room, the shelves stacked with everything under the sun any mechanic would need ever.
"The only reason I even know how to ride is because I fix 'em. I actually built the Crows' dirtbike fleet. With help, of course."
Actually, she'd did it MOSTLY by herself. A known perfectionist, no one she deemed unworthy was allowed to "help".
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 24, 2012 21:35:14 GMT -8
"A couple, but bikes never really were my thing. I preferred my racing cars, my Lamborghini, the Viper, the 1968 Cadillac.... My step-dad was really into them though. I learned pretty much everything from him."
"I hate you for being able to say that so casualy! Dude, you have EXOTIC RACE CARS! I am SO JELLY!"
Marcus would follow behind the young woman, Looking decidedly less shaky now that he had some food in his belly. He still needed the crutch, but at least he no longer looked like a stiff wind would knock him over.
The steel door she lead him to DID seem out of place, but in that cool Movie sort of way, as if they had just found a secret hidden door!
"I wasn't kidding about the house exploding, every lock leading outside connects a circuit all over the house. If someone tried to force the door open or pick a lock, the circuit breaks, shorting the battery and setting the house on fire. The circuit can only be broken by THIS KEY, as it's made from the same metal and turns off the circuit safely.
Marcus was thoroughly impressed.
"Dude! It's so....JAMES BOND! Hafta admit I figured a Ninja chick would have a boobie trapped hidden lair."
Following her cue, Marcus would step inside the dimly what he saw made him gawp with wide eyed wonder at all the beautiful TOOLS he saw everywhere. It brought him back, WAY back to his time with Kitana and her brothers when he worked at thier shop.
For the longest time, Marcus had nothing but his toolbelt and a makeshift shop room to work repairs and maintenance on Lady. Everything else he had to either made do without, or improvise.
Shuffling from shelf to shelf, Marcus looked to all the world like a kid in a candy shop!
"The only reason I even know how to ride is because I fix 'em. I actually built the Crows' dirtbike fleet. With help, of course."
His head whipped around at this.
"You fix the what now? Fleet?"
So much awesome it threatened to make his head spin!
Marcus let out a low impressed whistle. He wondered what else Delilah had in store to show him!
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 25, 2012 0:25:55 GMT -8
"You fix the what now? Fleet?"
She had to grin at his reaction. Ahhh, priceless. Settling herself on the work bench, she grimaced as she jostled her arm a little too roughly. Fuck, that still hurt something fierce. "Yeah, the bikes, the vans, the appliances, whatever needs fixing. I helped set up the electricity in the area. Nothing special, just had to fix the motor for the water turbines and hook that up to a grid that needed rebuilding..."
Delilah coughed into her fist as she realized she'd been talking about herself and her work a little too often. She shifted slightly to cradle her arm with her other hand. "So, what do you do for fun?"
Apart from picking up ladies with your sweet bike, getting into heaps of trouble on various levels and then making out with them in the way you wish never stopped.
Stop. Stop thinking about it. You're making it worse.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 25, 2012 22:48:38 GMT -8
'Listen to attractive raven haired beauties talk shop.'
Was what he wanted to say, but no. He would behave himself. For now, he would walk deeper into the garage, looking for his Chopper.
"Fun? Oh you know, alittle this and that. Fighting, Parkour, Fixing up Lady, Urban Exploration, DnD. Fighting. Darts. Bowling......Fighting. Eating. Yeah that's about it."
Stopping for a moment, Marcus turned to see Delilah favoring her arm again. He sighed, he TOLD her.........
"Mmkay, you DEFINATLY need to put an ice pack on that shoulder. It'll help with the swelling. Common, I wanna fix this lady before I start working on that lady."
Hobbling on his crutch, Marcus motioned for Delilah to follow him as he began to walk out. He may be hurt worse than her, but all he needed now was rest. She still ran the risk of doing more damage to that arm of hers if she didn't get that swelling down.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 25, 2012 23:15:22 GMT -8
"Fun? Oh you know, alittle this and that. Fighting, Parkour, Fixing up Lady, Urban Exploration, DnD. Fighting. Darts. Bowling......Fighting. Eating. Yeah that's about it."
She chuckled appreciatively as he mentioned fighting as a hobby like six times. "Fighting? Ya don't say?"
Just as she adjusted her injured arm to make herself more comfortable, she would catch Marcus glancing over at her with a sigh and the look. Her eyes widened. She knew the look. She'd seen it enough times to recognize it and know she wouldn't be able to refuse.
"Uh-ohh..."
"Mmkay, you DEFINATLY need to put an ice pack on that shoulder. It'll help with the swelling. Common, I wanna fix this lady before I start working on that lady."
Delilah tried to stammer an argument only to give up shortly as Marcus left the room on his crutch. She'd tail after him, looking obedient and sheepish.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 27, 2012 21:35:12 GMT -8
"Oi, common you don't have to go looking like a whipped puppy now. You're making me feel bad..... Sorry If I sounded upset, I just...you know......Your shoulder and stuff."
As if that explained everything.
Suddenly he turned back around to face Delilah.
"You nursed me back to help. What kind of guy would I be if I didn't nag you incessently about minor medical issues. Well....Ok, not so minor. Kind of. Yeah. I mean I know I have no right to say...Cause....Well....."
Not knowing where else to go with his train of thought, Marcus sighed before whirling back around and continuing his walk back to the kitchen. His first target, an Ice pack from the fridge. Or a bag of Frozen veggies.
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 27, 2012 21:55:20 GMT -8
Oh dammit to hell. Why did he have to get all cute and flustered like that? He was concerned about her and, dare she assume, cared about her too.
Only one solution, then.
As he turned away from her, she walked up behind him and hugged him from behind. Her good arm twinned around her waist while her not-so-good one looped under his shoulder to grasp him from the front. She inhaled deeply and she sighed, her body pressing aagainst his.
"I know," she whispered into his shirt. He smelled nice. How long had it been since she had felt taken care of? Too long. It made her wish she could put aside her stupid reservations, but knew she never would. Not until she knew for sure. But if she did...oof. This boy would be in trouble. The good kind.
"Thank you." She popped her head up over his shoulder, looking in the freezer. "Gotta be peas somewhere in that disaster."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 28, 2012 21:03:05 GMT -8
"I know." "Thank you." Two phrases with two words each and they went straight to Marcus' heart. The hug felt good, he really needed one right now. He was trying so very hard to hide the fact that Arkham had Marcus spooked and spooked bad. Barker was bad enough and would take everything he had to beat, but Arkham was a foe he knew would grow into a threat he could not ignore, yet could not afford to fight.
For the first time since a long time. Marcus felt unsure, worried even.
And he was having a hell of a time dealing with it. Delilah helped of course, but he knew what he needed and felt bad that she could not provide what exactly he needed. It just....wouldn't be proper. He just wouldnt be able to live with himself if he wished her husband ill and something DID happen to her.
Such a selfish thing it would be.
After a moment or two of scrounging, Marcus finaly let out a victorious whoop and pulled out a bag of peas, tossing it over his shoulder gently with a "Whup!"
"Well, now that THAT is finaly settled."
He said with a chuckle, reaching out to rustle Delilahs mane of soft raven hair.
"One Lady down, another to go!"
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Post by Delilah A. Black on Oct 28, 2012 22:54:12 GMT -8
She gratefully accepted the peas, sliding the pack under the sleeve of her shirt with a hiss and a sigh of relief. Oooh yeah. That was the stuff. "Oh, that's MUCH better."
"Well, now that THAT is finaly settled."
He ruffled her hair in a way that struck her as both affectionate and comforting, and she smiled shyly. She appreciated it.
"One Lady down, another to go!"
"Onward!" She laughed, turning to stride back down the hall and towards the garage. Slipping inside, she would head to where she parked the bike, pulling off Lady's tarp so they could get a good look.
She hissed through her teeth as she saw the damage. It wasn't terrible nor unfixable, but Lady had clearly seen better days. "Oh, poor baby!"
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Post by Marcus Prasad on Oct 29, 2012 20:36:51 GMT -8
"I know."
Marcus replied dismally with a shake of his head.
"It's like you're daughter just walked through the door with her clothes all torn, mud and tears caking her face."
Just the thought made the man furrow his brow as he felt his temperature rise.
It was heartbreaking, but not hopeless. The paint was chipped and scratched, an easy fix as long as he had the paint. What he was actualy worried about was the Air filters being clogged and the engine needing flushing after driving through dust clouds and debris fields. THEN he would have to check the engine to see if anything had shaken loose considering both Marcus and Delilah had put the poor girl through her paces.
Taking a deep breath, Marcus would nod to Delilah.
"Mmkay, gonna need air filters to fit a 2009 Era Softail Springer, engine oil and Paint if you got it. I figure double check the engine to start, make sure nothing shakes loose, then filler up, let her idle for mabey Ten minutes or so, then Flush the engine and filler back up again. Give my baby a fresh coat of paint and BOOM! Good as new!"
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