Natalie Godfrey (![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} bornincrossfire) wrote in ![[info]](https://www.insanejournal.com/img/community.gif){kind=small} nevermore_logs,@ 2011-06-13 13:43:00 |
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WHEN: Monday afternoon (2011-06-12)
WHERE: Central Park
WHAT: Puppy love. Oh, it's a pun. Or something.
Natalie's attempts to stop drinking had proved, so far, strangely liberating. She'd stopped because she wanted to make herself better but she refused to think about it as an attempt to be good enough for Conrad. That bird had flown.
But when she wanted to drink she instead got herself out of the house and went walking, usually with a cigarette in hand. (No way she was giving up both. She wasn't insane.)
In Central Park everyone seemed to be out enjoying the sunshine and Natalie was just one of them, smoke hanging between her lips as she watched a group of teenagers playing frisbee. Then suddenly there was a very familiar furry shape coming bounding towards her and Natalie blinked in surprise as Moritz jumped up to try and lick her.
"Hey boy," she said crouching down to pat him. "Where'd you come from?" She looked up to see if she could see Con.
Moritz barked and jumped up overly excited to seeing Natalie. For months it had been just he and Conrad, the pup had missed the extra attention. He sniffed around her pockets expecting her to fish out a treat as she did when she came to visit. She'd spoiled him over the years.
Conrad wasn't far behind having been walking slowly. Moritz hadn't bounded off in such a tear in a long time, he was more obedient than that. As he caught up seeing the dog happily dancing around that familiar brunette, his heart suddenly took a leap into his stomach. Yet, he still approached.
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[info]bornincrossfire
2011-06-12 09:55 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
The smile that Natalie gave to Conrad was soft, wary, and a little apologetic. She didn't move from her crouched position, her hands still buried in Moritz' fur.
"Hi," she said, this time not actively trying to disappear into a wall unlike their last chance meeting.
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[info]the_red_knight
2011-06-12 10:05 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
He couldn't deny the way he immediately wanted to turn the other cheek, but though he'd been harsh on her he could not be completely angry. She looked well, healthy and far more settled than he'd ever seen her. He gave her a warm smile, his hands shifting in his pockets as he watched Moritz play.
"He must have seen you as we came around the corner," Conrad said lightly giving the dog a treat from his own pocket.
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[info]bornincrossfire
2011-06-12 10:09 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
"You can't run away from daddy, kiddo," Natalie told the dog and kissed him on top of the head. "We don't have joint custody." She grinned up at Conrad but there was discomfort there. This whole thing was uncomfortable, even if she wanted to make a joke about it.
"You're looking good," she told him, glad of that.
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[info]the_red_knight
2011-06-13 12:38 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Moritz whimpered as Natalie cooed and petted him before happily turning to his master and sitting his haunches at his feet.
Conrad held out a hand to help her stand back on her feet, feeling that shock against his nerves at that small touch.
"As do you, Ms. Natalie."
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[info]bornincrossfire
2011-06-13 12:40 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Natalie wanted to badly to hold onto his hand and not let go, as though that would repair the damage done. But it couldn't and she couldn't, so after lingering for a moment she let him go.
Her smile was slightly embarrassed as she admitted, "I quit drinking."
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[info]the_red_knight
2011-06-13 12:45 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
His hand lingered in the same way, as if the break away would solidify even more the fact that things had changed between them. Their friendship. Their relationship, and yet...
The Baron shook his head giving her soft eyes. "I'm glad to hear of it." The words sat on the tip of his tongue waiting to come out and yet they never did.
I miss you.
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[info]bornincrossfire
2011-06-13 12:54 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Natalie's eyes were on his for a long lingering moment before she made them drop. "Yeah," she said, trying to break the horrible want crackling right there. "Figured it was time for me to start being an adult."
She wanted, so desperately, for him to understand the subtext of it all. See, I've changed, I'm not the screw up who hurt you, I'm better now, I can be better and responsible and not ruin everything.
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[info]the_red_knight
2011-06-13 04:11 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Those were words Conrad had scarcely heard Natalie say and follow through with. He never berated her before for her actions or the choices she decided upon, but he was upfront when he felt she'd done wrong or needed a shoulder. For months he'd been able to be neither. He'd left her on very hurt terms, but the rational side of him wanted to skip past this.
Had it taken him lashing out at her to understand the danger in the way she treated herself or those that cared for her? He couldn't ask that question of her now, not when he saw her so put together.
"It's a good step to make, dear. I'm pleased to hear it." Everything sounded so formal even when using his usual terms of endearment toward her.
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[info]bornincrossfire
2011-06-19 10:34 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Natalie shoved her hands into her pockets after tossing away the end of her cigarette butt. "Saw you were gonna go for your license again," Natalie said after too much awkward silence had past. "That's good," she told him with a little smile. "You belong up there like no one else."
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[info]the_red_knight
2011-06-21 03:18 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
"I am," he said confidently as Moritz sat on his haunches at Conrad's feet, sticking his tongue out as he watched other passerby's skid by.
Conrad's eyes cast down. "I've missed it." There was no feeling like being in the air.