thecapitol | Even though you know it's the wrong thing to say

Who| Felicity & Open.
What| Felicity tries to cope with girlfriend drama.
Where| Tribute tower common area.
When| During Family week.
Warnings/Notes| N/A? I'll update if necessary. Tag at your leisure! :)

Felicity was a mess. There was no other way to describe her current state of mind. All of the months she'd had to grieve and get her thoughts in order were meaningless now that Pippa was here. Beyond that, Pippa didn't seem to understand Felicity's resentment, having no idea of the betrayal she would eventually commit. The Pippa she was faced with was an uncorrupted, purer version of the Pippa she'd last encountered, and that made Felicity's heart ache all the more. She was enraged at Pippa, and for what? For something Pippa hadn't even done yet. It was all so unfair!

And she couldn't even appreciate Gemma's presence. Gemma, her dearest, truest friend in the world, the one person she could trust with her secrets, here at last. But soon Gemma would be gone, and Felicity would be alone again, left to mourn not only her best friend, but the girl she loved all over again. Felicity would have no one.

But perhaps it was better this way. Love was for the weak. Affection made people soft, and Fee could not afford the luxury of softness. She had to be bold and strong, and she couldn't let her feelings show. Instead, she put on a brave face, even as she excused herself from Pippa and Gemma's company in the District Two suites for some time spent alone in the common areas of the tower. She had to collect herself and be strong. Without her strength, she was nothing but a miserable, heartbroken little girl.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not as exhausting as you may believe." Thane found it easier than dealing with the things that may appear out of the woodwork. Perhaps, though, it ws due to the life that he lead that he found it so simple. As an assassin, he already had to be ever vigilant. "And very worth the effort."

"But how can a person be ready for anything? On a practical level, it doesn't seem humanly possible." She spoke before she could stop herself, or pause to recall that this gentleman surely wasn't a human. A little embarrassed, she pursed her lips. "I am making excuses, I realize. Surely there is a way to do it, I suppose."

"You are taking it far too literally. It is not to actually have the capacity to know any situation that may happen. It is that you are able to understand anything can happen, and having the capacity to take it as it comes," Thane answered. Of course, his ability to do so was part of his training in his youth. It came so naturally, that he didn't know that he could tell another person how to do it.

That sound of thing didn't come as naturally for Fee. She was used to be disappointed in her lot, but she somehow managed to set her hopes too high. That was where the trouble lied, she thought.

"You wouldn't happen to know how one might learn that capability, would you?" She studied him with lowered eyes. "I fear I've done a rather poor job of that so far."

"You have to teach yourself," Thane answered. It sounded complicated, sure, but he didn't really think it was as difficult as others made it out to be. "It can't be taught, otherwise." Thane didn't have the patience to really teach anyone anything, as it is. He learned it on his own, after all.

Patience was a virtue Felicity had never quite master, but she was willing to try anything at this point. Sighing, she nodded in understanding. "I shall have to learn by trial and error, I suppose. It is, in the end, the only way one may be able to survive, not just here, but in general."

"You are correct," Thane answered. In part, his faith had helped him to do it, but he was not about to share those beliefs with a stranger. "In time, it is about learning to not react to things that might normally cause a reaction." Thane's calmness and ease was obvious in his posture. He seemed at ease. Relaxed. At peace.

For her part, Felicity was a bit put off by his clm demeanor. In a way, she envied it. Her entire life had been spent on edge, as a scorpion ready to sting. She could not help what she was. But if it were possible for her to change, by God she would change herself.

"You are very kind to have such patience with me. I'm well aware that I have a tendency to be especially disagreeable." She tilted her head, observing him.

"I have a son," he admitted, "who is not the most agreeable of people at all times." True as that is, Kolyat, Thane believed, was a lot like his mother. He never had the same calmness or approach to handling situations that Thane did. "I don't offer advice out of kindness or patience. I offer it out of honesty." Nothing more, nothing less.

That made sense to her. She didn't have personal experience with a decent paternal figure, but she knew how close Gemma was with her father, so she knew it was at least possible for men to care for their children. Or at least, to feel some sort of fatherly attachment toward them. "My father would not offer advice to me one way or the other, so you must know that I greatly appreciate this, sir."

Thane had missed out a lot on fathering Kolyat. He had abandoned him for the sake of revenge, and then never returned due to his work. Kolyat had been safer out of Thane's care, true, but all that time was gone and he could not get it back. "No need," Thane nodded. "You appeared upset."

"It's funny," Felicity said, tilting her head as she studied Thane's face a bit more intently. "I was rather upset. I suppose I still am, in a way. But I'm not about to explode over it, as I was before."

"I've been told before that I am a calming presence," Thane said, shifting a little. He tilted his head as he watched her. Perhaps it was because he was so at peace with his own life - it was easy for him to bring it to others.

"That is a gift," she answered, not quite smiling. "In my experience, such a trait is rare and precious in a man. Most men I have met are harsh and horrible. It is difficult to relax around them."

Thane would consider himself a horrible man in so many ways. He killed a long list of people - many horrible, both men and women, of a variety of species. "All people are capable of horrible," he offered. There was no arguing that point. Still, having lived his life and realizing how soon it would end, he changed.

He bowed his head. "I should take my leave. I go by Thane, if you should wish to speak again."

"And I am Felicity," she answered, the meaning of her name seeming so wildly out of place on her just then. "I shall recall that you were kind to me, Thane. I am grateful."

He bowed, "A pleasure, Felicity." He stepped away. "Until another time." He turned on his heel and proceeded away.

Even though you know it's the wrong thing to say

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