InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Not the gumdrop buttons!!"

Bran Wilder {The Phantom} (lemortvivant) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-05-20 23:51:00

Entry tags:

christine daaé, phantom of the opera, plot: riddles

Who: Bran and Lotte
What: Awkward conversation
Where: The lobby
When: After the doors opened for Group G.
Warnings: None?

Bran was halfway through the doors when he heard Lotte calling him, but the last thing he wanted to do was stop and spend any more time in whatever messed-up world lay behind him. He realized he was being rude by ignoring Sherri, but he wasn't exactly a friendly person in the best of situations, which meant that right now he didn't give a damn about what she thought of him. His apartment was the next step, and after that he would have to consider what to do next. As soon as he crossed over the threshold into the lobby, the realization that the scars on his face were still visible hit him and he tried in vain to cover them with his hands.

The only hitch in his plan was Lotte. As much as he wanted to get away before anyone else could stumble upon them, he couldn't just ignore her. Bran almost made it to the staircase before stopping, turning around to face her with a stifled sigh. "Yes?"

(Read comments) - (Post a new comment)

lemortvivant
2010-05-24 07:25 am UTC (link)

Bran did see the sense in their plan, although he couldn't help but dislike Daniel and Ella's involvement. He knew that the man on the roof became a beast during the full moon, and not even Erik's skills would be very successful against a threat like that.

Regardless, he did his best to return her smile. "I'm sure she'll be fine with it... I hope she is, at least. The less interaction Erik has with people, the better."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

still_lotte
2010-05-24 01:26 pm UTC (link)

At that, Lotte couldn't help but relax. How was it that someone who became Erik could see the sense in things? The fact that he understood it all was mindblowing. Her smile stayed on her face, even as she nodded, keeping eye-contact.

"Exactly. She should be good about it though-" If not, she could find somewhere else. No one on the 12th Floor was an option, but there should be someone, somewhere who could keep an Opera sing for the night. Lotte shrugged, carefree for a moment before asking. "What are you going to do now? I mean - not the moon but afterwards as well." Her lip was bit, more out of thought than worry and she added, "You're still going to be here, right?"

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lemortvivant
2010-05-24 05:46 pm UTC (link)

Bran sensed the change in her demeanor, but he was more worried about Erik than he was about other people. He needed to stay out of the public eye for his own safety first and foremost, but if Lotte wanted to think that he gave a damn about other people then he wasn't going to correct her.

That was a very good question, but he still wasn't sure of the answer. "I think so. I guess I'll just... lay low for now and see how things go."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

still_lotte
2010-05-24 06:27 pm UTC (link)

She took that as a good sign, even if she didn’t know why she was relieved he wasn’t leaving. It would have been bad if it had been her fault, she figured. And despite the lying, she did like him and think he was nice. “Let me know if you need anything?” It was a quiet offering and with a smile. “I mean – I know, you said before, you didn’t want anything to do with me or the fable business…” She looked down at his mug, rather than his eyes.

“But hopefully I didn’t annoy you too much? If you need help or anything. Or talk.” Lotte felt her cheeks heat up and she took the moment to stand. Taking his mug and hers from the table, she gave him a quick smile. “Not that you have to. But you did just go through all my questions…” She headed towards the kitchen, head ducked.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lemortvivant
2010-05-24 10:56 pm UTC (link)

He was almost surprised that she still thought he might not want anything to do with her, but then again he'd done a fairly good job of distancing himself from Erik in terms of obsession. Not that he was obsessed with Lotte, because he wasn't; but few people would have the mental capacity to recognize that. "I will, but I really don't want to inconvenience you any more than I already have."

Bran finished the rest of his tea, setting the mug on the table. "No, you didn't annoy me at all. If anything... you've been far more understanding than I expected." He stood when she entered the kitchen, but didn't move towards the door just yet - he'd learned to observe social cues, and he was waiting for his. "I did owe you the answers to your questions, at least."

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

still_lotte
2010-05-24 11:14 pm UTC (link)

Lotte simply left them in the sink – she’d wash them later, in the morning after she woke up or when she came back from work tomorrow – before coming back. Her hands went to pajama bottoms, brushing against the side while she shook her head. “You haven’t – not really,” Lotte said, because he hadn’t. He’d been understanding and helped her – they were going to be able to get through the Moon and now Ella should be able to realize Lotte wasn’t blindly defending him.

She didn’t exactly move towards the door, as it would have been rude, instead heading back to the couch. There was a moment where she looked up at him and the scarred face, before she shook her head, smiling slightly. She gave him a quick hug the same she would have given to Diego or James. Friendly and perhaps a bit too eager to feel safe. A thank you was said into his right shoulder, before she pulled away - hoping she hadn’t overstepped a line she shouldn’t have. With a sheepish smile, she moved to the door, asking, “If we don’t talk beforehand, email me after the moon?”

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lemortvivant
2010-05-25 01:34 am UTC (link)

He was sure her existence would have been a lot less complicated without a Phantom living in the building, because it was no secret that the Lloyd Webber romance between Erik and Christine didn't actually exist. Still, he really would try not to draw attention to himself, although how much his counterpart would contribute to that effort remained to be seen. He didn't say anything in response, offering a weak shrug instead.

The way she looked at him - particularly the scarred side of his face - made him shift uneasily, and he barely had enough time to think before she was hugging him. Bran's surprise was paralyzing, allowing him to do nothing but stand there numbly until it finally sunk in; but by that time Lotte had already pulled away. "You're welcome," he managed, following her to the door. "I... I will." He offered an awkward smile before leaving, making sure the coast was clear before disappearing down the staircase.

(Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

still_lotte
2010-05-25 01:43 am UTC (link)

It hadn't crossed her mind that a hug would be awkward to him - not even from the hint he gave about his family and the mask. He hadn't protested on contact before and it was simply something she did, would do to anyone. She only realized that maybe it wasn't the best of ideas when he left, but she couldn't bring herself to care. Giving him one last wave, she shut the door and locked the locks more out of habit than anything else.

Even with everything that happened, Lotte suddenly felt relieved and a startled laugh escaped her. She wasn't as frightened as she'd been before and there was a definite hope - a possibility - that things would work out alright. Hugging herself, she went to her bedroom. The only thing left to do was make sure everyone else was alright.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(Read comments) -