Who: Achilles and Briseis What: Taking a trip out of NY and away from chaos. When: A few days in since the day after the Oscars. Where: Alexandria, Virginia Warnings: TBD?
Achilles was feeling claustrophobic in the city, especially when his film had lost it's space to The King's Speech on Oscar night. Any victory taken down was a hard blow to the warrior's ego, but the aggression need take a back seat as he'd promised Briseis a getaway from the city. It was time spent with the woman he adored even after the hellish fool's play on Valentine's Day. The warrior had been humbled since his control was taken by the hands of others without his consent. His mind was taken over by Hybris, his feelings played with by Eros, the constant reminder was not settling well within him.
They needed somewhere quiet, somewhere without the bustling city where the old gods appeared to congregate. Both needed a handle on taking back what made them who they were. Briseis needed someone as much as he needed her. Somewhere discreet, further south. While Florida would have been the first choice, it was not a place comfortable from the Egyptian god that Briseis still held ill will towards. Achilles while he may not trust completely for what Set had done to Briseis; he held an understanding for what the darker side of one's mind, soul and body could do. He'd been there when he'd let Hybris take him over. He'd wanted her to, and now he stood on a mountain of regrets.
The climate in the Carolinas and Virgina seemed to be warmer than the cold of the upper north. Now in Alexandria they had checked into a lodge hotel where Achilles still gave her space and her own room. Since David he would not force her to him again in a manner that wasn't like him in the first place. When Briseis came to him he wanted her to come to him on her own will.
The lodge had trails out in the woods, a spa, and a town that held it's own bit of history. It was a nice change.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 01:31 am (local) (link) Track This For the last hour Briseis had been curled in the windowseat of Achilles' hotel room, watching the trees outside and half reading the book in her lap. She looked over at Achilles with a quiet smile. "Thank you again," Briseis told him. "For bringing me here. I'm honestly feeling better already."
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 02:07 am (local) (link) Track This How long they would stay he'd leave up to her, though looking at that smile on her face, the first smile he'd seen in months (and all for him), he could very well keep her here forever.
He'd been typing away on his computer for the next script when he'd finally had enough. Taking a big sigh and resting back against the couch he returned her smile.
Standing up Achilles walked over towards her, large hands resting on her shoulders before easily slipping in behind her.
He just needed to be close no matter how innocent.
"You are most welcome," he said in a soft voice looking out the window at the small hints of a spring that was just around the corner.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 02:23 am (local) (link) Track This Briseis' sigh was quiet and content as she leaned back into him. The quiet was peaceful. The knowledge that they were far from the gods who'd been messing with their lives brought a comfort Briseis hadn't known she'd been missing.
After a long and comfortable silence she asked, "how's your script?"
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 02:30 am (local) (link) Track This His back rested against the side wall letting her closeness sink in. Things had not been so comfortable like this for some time, his chaotic brush with Hybris only pushing those he loved from his reach.
Fingers reached out to brush her hair from her cheek. "It's tiresome," truthfully it dealt with images that he'd rather not focus on too long when he had such a comfortable moment right now.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 02:41 am (local) (link) Track This She liked his closeness as well. It was so much easier to be with him like this when he wasn't pushing for more. "Take a break," Briseis said, putting her book down. "We could go for a walk if you wanted to get out?"
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 03:11 am (local) (link) Track This His hands rubbed against her arms softly. "We shall," he said not disregarding her suggestion, "I'd just like to keep this moment a bit longer." His head rested against the wall, eyes closed.
Something in this reminded him of days they used to share then. Days that were much too short. His hands clasped hers, drawing her in closer, chin rested on her shoulder.
He'd missed her.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 03:29 am (local) (link) Track This "That's good for me too," Briseis agreed, closing her eyes slowly and letting herself relax into him a little more. This was good. Just some quiet time together.
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 03:40 am (local) (link) Track This She was warm, as warm as he remembered. Her hair soft, tickling against his cheek. How long had it been since she'd been close to someone that wasn't under the spell of a mischievous god?
He let his face rest against the back of her shoulder, smelling her hair while those strong arms kept her close.
There wasn't a sound except the birds outside calling out against the air by the window.
He didn't even hear her name escape his lips in that delicate whisper.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 03:58 am (local) (link) Track This Briseis' breath was a sigh, his presence a comfort to her that she couldn't describe. In his arms, Briseis turned her head just a little so that her cheek touched him. Her smile was small, meant only for him.
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 12:07 pm (local) (link) Track This The action was so small, innocent still but inviting nonetheless. His hands unhooked from hers, just holding her there as if no space need be left between them.
His eyes opened, blue-gray shining to see that delicate smile of hers. One hand cupped the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair.
So close, heart aching in a way he wasn't sure she felt anymore.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 06:06 pm (local) (link) Track This For a moment there was a temptation to kiss him and Briseis almost allowed it. But she knew that doing so wouldn't be fair to Achilles. Briseis wasn't over David, nor was she over being controlled on Valentine's Day. What she sought here would be only an act of comfort that would mean something more to Achilles than she could allow it to mean for herself.
So, after a few more lingering moments, she turned her head and said, quietly, "I'm not sure being this close to you is a good idea." She didn't move away from him though
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 09:59 pm (local) (link) Track This Her words were true, which caused his heart to drop, clenching his jaw slightly once those eyes closed. There was so much he could give her this time around if she'd only let him. Or there was just the possibility that he needed to resign himself from loving Briseis.
His hand stayed on the back of her head as he leaned in to kiss her gently on the forehead but press no further than that. Achilles dropped his hands releasing that tight hold and leaning against the wall looking out the window. One hand still clung in between her fingers.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-04 10:07 pm (local) (link) Track This Briseis sighed quietly, slowly drawing away from him and sitting instead so she faced him. She didn't let go of his hand though, and rubbed gently across it with her thumb. "You mean so much to me," she promised him, watching him watch out the window. "You always will."
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-04 10:21 pm (local) (link) Track This You mean so much to me, you always will.
Powerful words but as much as Achilles would love her it just wasn't enough. He wasn't comfortable with not being enough. He continued to look out the window not really knowing what to say, the only indication that he'd heard her being the soft drop of his eyes.
She'd once spoken in the hospital room that day that fate would bring them together, as it had before. Achilles always had the driving need to go forward---it was what had pushed him to leave the city completely a few months ago. A decision that had cost him an uproar between Briseis and Patroclus. Neither understanding why. One of those reasons was right in front of him.
"I know," he said softly.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-09 09:35 pm (local) (link) Track This Briseis squeezed Achilles' hand and gave him a small smile. "I'm going to take a shower," she told him, "but we could go for a walk together after? Get out of this room for a bit?"
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-09 11:16 pm (local) (link) Track This "Of course," he nodded letting go of her hand and standing up to look for a jacket. It wasn't likely to get too cold but when the afternoon dropped it might.
"I'll be here," fresh air could do him some good, though he couldn't help his thoughts racing around. Sometimes being with Briseis hurt more than he'd ever let on. It was a hit to his pride.
He waited on the couch for her to return flipping through the local newspaper.
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[info]spoil_of_war 2011-03-09 11:20 pm (local) (link) Track This Briseis tried not to take too long in the shower but she found herself leaning against the wall of it with a sigh, uncomfortable with how close she'd come to kissing Achilles. It wasn't something either of them needed.
When she finally arrived back at Achilles' room she was redressed and with her coat in hand. The smile she gave him was easy and warm. "Let's go explore town," she said.
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[info]chink_in_armor 2011-03-10 12:21 am (local) (link) Track This His mind continued to flash back, the paper ending up ripped and balled up on the floor. The headliner for the Oscar winners didn't make his thoughts any less violent.
He stood up as she re-entered giving her the same soft smile, hand resting easily on her back as he ushered them out the door with his keys in hand.
The wind blew softly through the trees, a comforting whistle. They walked side by side across the lodge entrance. At least here he was away from the cameras and flashing lights. His hand took hold of hers.