In-country with Julian: day two

[song_tra_bong]

The rain stops around dawn. No one else tried to come through in the night; Mary Anne was disappointed. She never did actually sleep, which she'll correct later, but for now she's awake and alert.

After a quick breakfast, she shoulders her gear. "Thought we'd do a little exploring--there's a spot to the southwest I've been meaning to check out. Alright with you?"

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[song_tra_bong]

If he wants to wear his superiority hat, so be it. She's knows his worth in a fight, and as of yet he hasn't expressed interest in wanting to kill her. Anything else, she'll deal with.

She eats quickly and silently, gathering her trash to bury in the morning when she can see what she's doing.

"I'm gonna take you up on that watching me sleep thing. Just shake me if you hear something or want to change shifts." With that, she cradles her rifle to her chest, resting her cheek against the barrel; she'll probably have a mark on her face when she wakes. Right now, that's not her concern; she's asleep within minutes.

[ardens-guard.livejournal.com]

Watch you sleep? That wasn't the deal - it was 'keep watch while you slept...'

It seems to him that the distinction is an important one to make. But he doesn't say it and is glad that she drops off quickly, because then he can relax. The trash is gathered and buried, because he knows about that too, and then he settles back against a tree, smoking cigarettes that leave no trace, whittling some wood and...finding that regardless of anything, his eyes do spend rather more time on her than anything else.

[song_tra_bong]

When she sleeps, she doesn't move--a skill refined over the nights she had to take shelter in trees and perfected after shifting in a dream and waking up when she hit the ground.

In the dreamscape, she is hunting but not here (home); it's some place she's never been. She has a companion, but cannot see him (her, it). She seeks, and finds nothing.

Even in dreams, part of her brain never quite shuts off, waiting for a signalsoundtouch to bring her back to wakefulness.

[ardens-guard.livejournal.com]

He watches, hands barely moving, making no sound. And tells himself that he's not wondering whether she dreams.

And wondering, too, what its like to feel fear and fight on anyway. Because all humans get scared don't they? And some cower from it and some don't - and she doesn't.

His superiority melts a little as he thinks about it. Because be mortal and brave - it's quite a feat. Stronger than being immortal and brave maybe.

He shuts the thought off. Immediately.

[song_tra_bong]

In the dream, the hunt is good, though elements of it are strange. She carries a sword--did Preston teach me? or someone else?--and runs past trees that will never grow in Vietnam.

There is a sound behind her and she whirls to strike it down, only to find her companion.

"I've been looking for you," he says, voice stern, but tempered with a laugh.

He has no face.

She does not know what she replies, but in the real world, the stillness of her sleep is broken by her faintly moving lips. There is, however, no sound.

[ardens-guard.livejournal.com]

She is dreaming.

He watches.

But he won't interrupt, not unless she starts making a noise that might compromise them.

[song_tra_bong]

They stare at each other in silence. He takes a step towards her. Her hand tightens on the sword.

They are underground, in the dark. He is closer to her than one step should have brought him.

"And what exactly is it you do want," he whispers in her ear.

She knows that voice. And he is so close.

Her eyes fly open. He is watching her. Her heart pounds in her chest and she does not speak.

[ardens-guard.livejournal.com]

He holds her eyes for a moment, unmoving.

Then looks away, blinking.

Damnit!

[song_tra_bong]

She stays quiet and still for a moment longer, then unfolds herself, rolling her shoulders.

"I'll take watch, if you want to get some sleep," she says softly.

[ardens-guard.livejournal.com]

He hesitates. Doesn't want to show weakness - but at the same time, if there's going to be more action tomorrow, then sleep makes sense. He's not stupid.

'For a while then.'

Besides, it'll quiet his mind. He doesn't like what it's doing at the moment.

[song_tra_bong]

She doesn't consider sleep a weakness, rather a necessity if you want to keep fighting, though she doubts her opinion matters to him.

She just nods to him, turning her face out to the jungle and the possibility of enemies in the night. Her attention, however, remains on him.