InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Wait, there's no such thing as"

Marian (sweetspring) wrote in nevermore_past,
@ 2020-05-10 02:27:00

Entry tags:

guy of gisborne, maid marian

WHO Marian & Guy
WHEN 1996
WHERE A diner in Los Angeles
WHAT an easy date
WARNINGS actually very little

Almost two months ago, Maid Marian, beloved of Sherwood Forest's heroic archer, walked into a bar and ended up drinking with Guy of Gisbourne, Villain Extraordinaire, thorn in the side of the Merry Men.

And it had been... well, it had been fine.

More than fine, it had strangely filled some hole in Marian that had been growing, like a hungry cavern deep below the ground, constantly rubbed away by water. She felt more lonely than she had in her whole life, immortal or otherwise, and had by now completely given up on ever finding any of the Merry Men, let alone her dear husband of old.

So it was timing that got her to stay sitting with Guy on that night, but it was a strange attraction that made her give Guy her phone number, perhaps a little against her own judgement.

Since then they had seen each other four times, going out for dinner when Marian had the time (or the energy). She thought slow was better anyway. He was unpredictable, and a slow pace might make him... well, easier to predict.

A lot of this was against her better judgement, but there was also a voice inside that said: what if this is a role you're supposed to play now? If there's darkness in him, maybe you are a thing that can temper that. No, she wouldn't stay if he turned out to be... well, the same old Guy, but so far they seemed to be getting along well.

There was always a thread of disquiet that ran between them, a little bit unsure of whether things were about to go south. But, with each dinner, that feeling went away a little more.

They weren't dates - Marian had made that very clear on the first night. She'd said, I don't really know what this is, but can we just hang out and talk and not make too much of what it might be? But they did sort of feel like dates, complete with a low undercurrent of attraction.

But again, Marian wasn't making too much of it. Or at least, trying not to.

Tonight she had chosen the same diner they'd met up at on the Second Not Date, a weird little 50s themed place that was literally nothing like what Marian actually remembered from living through the 50s, but they did good burgers and they were cheap and - she knew from one of the waitresses - they paid their staff well.

When Marian saw Guy coming through the door, she lifted a hand to wave so he'd knew where she was sitting.

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black_guard
2020-05-10 07:46 pm UTC (link)

Robin nor his band of bandits had made an appearance since he started seeing Marian like a proper man would. Conversations, going out in public places, paying for dinner. He was getting tired of the run-around and still she seemed to refuse wanting to be anywhere with him alone. He'd wanted to take her star-gazing a time or two, not just because it put on the romantic gesture, but it also meant being under the cloak of the dark midnight sky alone.

There had to be only one reason for that----

She still didn't trust him.

Had he not shown her that her presence alone without being bombarded by those fools was greatly admired? Did she think he would strangle her? Or worse? He had no reason to think those things, until she showed him he should. He was becoming completely smitten with the idea she could and would be his. That alone pushed him to get these inconsequential dates out of the way. Eventually, she would fall completely head over heels for him.

She had to.

He didn't wave, but put on that incredulous smile and sat down across from her. Maybe tonight he'd convince her after a meal and maybe a coffee that they should break this chain of leaving with just a goodbye and a phone call.

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	sweetspring 2020-05-11 06:13 am UTC (link)
	"I got you a drink," Marian told him as he joined her, sliding it across the table. She knew by now what he liked. Her own was one of the random beers they sold, because Marian had never been that fancy. "Have a good day?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	black_guard 2020-05-12 01:53 am UTC (link)
	She was learning his tastes aside from herself, this was definitely progress. He hadn't had a good day (as he'd told her before he hated that job, it was so beneath him), but seeing that ivory face and that bounce of red hair, well, it made up for that. "I still plan to burn down the building, but it was tolerable." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sweetspring 2020-05-12 06:31 am UTC (link)
	"Well, fire is pretty," Marian grinned before taking a sip of her beer. "No one can deny that part, at least." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

black_guard
2020-05-13 05:42 am UTC (link)

Guy would not be made fun of by his peers or stomped on like he was just a weed for them to pull up and cast out. He was struggling though to raise his head and pull himself above the ranks. It was a side of him that Marian was getting to get a tiny visual into, and that could be dangerous.

"One day I won't be some one that others walk all over." Guy above all things deserved their admiration, just as he was getting from this bright, beautiful creature.

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	sweetspring 2020-05-13 05:56 am UTC (link)
	It was comment that sounded ominous and Marian watched him carefully. Then she said, "don't let your ambitions get the best of you. If I recall, those ambitions were what led to a lot of pain back in the day." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

black_guard
2020-05-15 01:33 am UTC (link)

The problem with pain is one could hang onto it and use it as a tool to destroy others. Robin was the root of a lot of his pain, so was the Sheriff. Guy felt ridiculed and abused and that pain meant he deserved what no one else would give him. He had no figures in his life that actually helped him channel that pain or direct him down a path that might not be as destructive---too little too late now right?

One day she would stand by his side. He would be the only man she needed. "I am fully aware of what I need to do. Don't worry."

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sweetspring
2020-05-15 11:54 am UTC (link)

Marian couldn't be entirely sure if he and she were on the same page with what he 'needed' to do, but she still wanted to hope for the best. She did spend a lot of time when they were together feeling like she was on the wrong foot, despite something in her nature telling her she needed to give him a chance. Wasn't she just as bad as anyone if she didn't offer a chance for redemption?

(Or maybe that's just what she told her because she was attracted to him. Very attracted to him, even when he said things that worried her. She brushed them off.)

Any slight concern or darkening of her expression passed and she said, "I was thinking about you today," Marian told him. "Someone told me that the Planetarium is starting a new show about black holes. I was thinking, maybe you'd want to go along?"

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	black_guard 2020-05-16 04:23 am UTC (link)
	That undoubtedly caught him off guard. "Thinking of me?" he asked, his eyes actually showing confusion instead of trying to stake a claim. There was the smallest of smiles that appeared at the corner of his lips. She'd remembered his interests? Maybe they weren't so off course. "I would." He might even enjoy himself. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	sweetspring 2020-05-16 06:13 am UTC (link)
	"Yeah," Marian nodded. "I know you mentioned astronomy before, so I thought it could be cool." She smiled when he agreed, before adding: "Alright, I check out the dates for it. I think it starts tomorrow and then carries on for a while." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	black_guard 2020-05-17 10:34 pm UTC (link)
	He caught himself just watching her for what felt like ages. He wondered what the end of this date would bring, or if they could take this elsewhere. "Just tell me when." He'd be there, early. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

sweetspring
2020-05-19 02:20 am UTC (link)

From out of her bag Marian pulled a pen and, on the back of her hand, wrote SPACE DATES. Then she looked up at Guy again and said, "or I'll completely forget to do it." She shoved the pen back into her back and then turned her attention to the menu and said, "I am going to have the biggest burger. I might not be quite ready to burn down my building yet, but they did make me work through lunch so I'm starving."

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black_guard
2020-05-21 04:29 am UTC (link)

So her appetite was only for food, or she was still tip-toeing around him. Had she lost her trust in him or was she still deciding if he was a worthy suitor. Without Robin around, how could she deny him? He'd have to continue these little circles until he grew tired of it. He was trying to sway her opinion of his character, which meant he had to work a little harder for it.

"I won't let you forget," he insisted. "I don't want dinner to be the last time I see you." He wanted to keep seeing her, face full of burger and fries even.

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