Post by Shadowe on Jan 28, 2008 11:28:49 GMT
((Not massively relevant to life in the FA, but I wrote it, and felt like posting it, so there. 
))
{Huntington Manor, 27 January 2008, Approx 3.00pm}
Richard sat in the comfortable high-backed chair, a glass of whisky in his hand, and stared into the fire.
What am I doing? Am I insane? Have I lost it completely?
He thought back to the events of the last few weeks. Meeting Lucy in the ski chalet had been fun - she was sweet, and clearly in love, and he enjoyed her company, but then there was Laura... A dangerous woman, for certain. He'd not asked about her cybernetic arm, and she hadn't offered any information on it, and to be honest he didn't care. She had only been in his life for one night, and he found himself spending an inordinate amount of time remembering it, and dreaming about seeing her again. She seemed both confident and unsure of herself. The dichotomy fascinated him. The fact that she had vanished preyed on his mind, and it was all he could do not to ask Helena to deploy recon drones and run a full sweep of the Isles. As it was, he had her analysing images from the CIA spy satellites that had good views of the island chain. He knew that until he saw her again, spent time with her again, he couldn't make a decision about how important she was to him. And then there was Jolanda. The memory of their date the previous day was still fresh, still vibrant in his soul, and he shifted uncomfortably in the chair. She was still exciting, and beautiful, and he knew that she liked him. Liked him so much that she had rather blatantly invited his kisses and touch. And he was more than willing to oblige. An image popped into his head. An image of a beautiful young woman with a bandage over her eyes. Ling. Someone else he cared for. But was his caring for her simply his protective instinct clutching at the chance to look after someone? He didn't know, and because he hadn't seen her for so long, he couldn't be sure, and the complications added by Jolanda and Laura meant... something. He had no idea what.
He sipped from the glass, and considered his position further.
He loved Kit. Loved her so much that the thought of her not being in his life pained him. But history had shown that while he loved her, and she cared deeply for him, it wasn't enough, right now, to keep them together. Perhaps in a hundred years or so. Perhaps when everyone else was gone. Maybe then he and Kit would turn to each other for comfort, and if that happened, he would be glad.
So, for right now he had four women, each with a claim on his heart, to varying degrees, each of whom meant a great deal to him, but for different reasons.
Lucy represented stability. She was a solid rock of love and affection, and he knew that if he wanted to he could count on her love forever. But she was uncomfortable with many things about him, not least the man he really was.
Ling was need. Rightly or wrongly he felt that she needed him as a guide and protector, and he desperately wanted to comfort and nurture her. She liked him for who he was, but was he honestly interested in her as a woman? Or was he just being a caring man? He didn't know.
Jolanda meant excitement. She enthralled him, and beguiled him, and he found himself unable to think straight whenever she was near. Was that real? Was it lust? Could it become something more? He had no clue. About all he did know was that with Jolanda in his life, he was happy, and he knew that things would never be dull. But coupled with that was the fear, and the knowledge that while she was a true delight to be with, to spend time with, she was also a mystery, and had some dark secrets. Part of him was desperate to unravel the mystery. Part of him was scared of doing so.
And finally there was Laura. Dear, delightful, sensitive Laura. She pushed a lot of his buttons. She lived a dangerous life - being a 'Monster Hunter' in the Rogue Isles would never exactly be safe - and was confident, flirtatious, and a delight to talk to. She was technically brilliant - despite only a single night together, he had picked up enough to learn that she was a genius in her field, and it was close enough to his own that they had a suprising amount in common. She had secrets, that much he was aware of - but who didn't? - and the mystery enticed him. Yet at the same time she seemed hesitant. Unsure. As if she was afraid he would sneak past her barriers and lay her heart bare and then destroy her from within. That combination of surety and uncertainty was intoxicating, and he recalled idling away many hours at a time trying to puzzle out what she could be hiding from him. And the best thing about it was that he didn't care what it was. It didn't bother him, as he knew Jolanda's secrets did. He didn't feel protective of her, like he did with Ling, either. He knew she could take care of herself, and didn't need him in her life. And she liked him as the man he was.
"Damn," he murmured, his first words in a long while. "I'm falling for her." He rose smoothly from the chair and left the sitting room, brushing past Kara, completely ignoring her.
He strode quickly and confidently to his study. "Helena? Please activate the beacon to St Martial. I need to take a trip. Also, set an alarm for 7.30 this evening - I need to be back around then." He pushed the button that opened the concealed door to the basement, scurried down the stairs, and searched out the leather jacket and heavy boots that were the signature clothes of 'Rich Hunter'. Time to see if he could do more good out there than he could here.
)){Huntington Manor, 27 January 2008, Approx 3.00pm}
Richard sat in the comfortable high-backed chair, a glass of whisky in his hand, and stared into the fire.
What am I doing? Am I insane? Have I lost it completely?
He thought back to the events of the last few weeks. Meeting Lucy in the ski chalet had been fun - she was sweet, and clearly in love, and he enjoyed her company, but then there was Laura... A dangerous woman, for certain. He'd not asked about her cybernetic arm, and she hadn't offered any information on it, and to be honest he didn't care. She had only been in his life for one night, and he found himself spending an inordinate amount of time remembering it, and dreaming about seeing her again. She seemed both confident and unsure of herself. The dichotomy fascinated him. The fact that she had vanished preyed on his mind, and it was all he could do not to ask Helena to deploy recon drones and run a full sweep of the Isles. As it was, he had her analysing images from the CIA spy satellites that had good views of the island chain. He knew that until he saw her again, spent time with her again, he couldn't make a decision about how important she was to him. And then there was Jolanda. The memory of their date the previous day was still fresh, still vibrant in his soul, and he shifted uncomfortably in the chair. She was still exciting, and beautiful, and he knew that she liked him. Liked him so much that she had rather blatantly invited his kisses and touch. And he was more than willing to oblige. An image popped into his head. An image of a beautiful young woman with a bandage over her eyes. Ling. Someone else he cared for. But was his caring for her simply his protective instinct clutching at the chance to look after someone? He didn't know, and because he hadn't seen her for so long, he couldn't be sure, and the complications added by Jolanda and Laura meant... something. He had no idea what.
He sipped from the glass, and considered his position further.
He loved Kit. Loved her so much that the thought of her not being in his life pained him. But history had shown that while he loved her, and she cared deeply for him, it wasn't enough, right now, to keep them together. Perhaps in a hundred years or so. Perhaps when everyone else was gone. Maybe then he and Kit would turn to each other for comfort, and if that happened, he would be glad.
So, for right now he had four women, each with a claim on his heart, to varying degrees, each of whom meant a great deal to him, but for different reasons.
Lucy represented stability. She was a solid rock of love and affection, and he knew that if he wanted to he could count on her love forever. But she was uncomfortable with many things about him, not least the man he really was.
Ling was need. Rightly or wrongly he felt that she needed him as a guide and protector, and he desperately wanted to comfort and nurture her. She liked him for who he was, but was he honestly interested in her as a woman? Or was he just being a caring man? He didn't know.
Jolanda meant excitement. She enthralled him, and beguiled him, and he found himself unable to think straight whenever she was near. Was that real? Was it lust? Could it become something more? He had no clue. About all he did know was that with Jolanda in his life, he was happy, and he knew that things would never be dull. But coupled with that was the fear, and the knowledge that while she was a true delight to be with, to spend time with, she was also a mystery, and had some dark secrets. Part of him was desperate to unravel the mystery. Part of him was scared of doing so.
And finally there was Laura. Dear, delightful, sensitive Laura. She pushed a lot of his buttons. She lived a dangerous life - being a 'Monster Hunter' in the Rogue Isles would never exactly be safe - and was confident, flirtatious, and a delight to talk to. She was technically brilliant - despite only a single night together, he had picked up enough to learn that she was a genius in her field, and it was close enough to his own that they had a suprising amount in common. She had secrets, that much he was aware of - but who didn't? - and the mystery enticed him. Yet at the same time she seemed hesitant. Unsure. As if she was afraid he would sneak past her barriers and lay her heart bare and then destroy her from within. That combination of surety and uncertainty was intoxicating, and he recalled idling away many hours at a time trying to puzzle out what she could be hiding from him. And the best thing about it was that he didn't care what it was. It didn't bother him, as he knew Jolanda's secrets did. He didn't feel protective of her, like he did with Ling, either. He knew she could take care of herself, and didn't need him in her life. And she liked him as the man he was.
"Damn," he murmured, his first words in a long while. "I'm falling for her." He rose smoothly from the chair and left the sitting room, brushing past Kara, completely ignoring her.
He strode quickly and confidently to his study. "Helena? Please activate the beacon to St Martial. I need to take a trip. Also, set an alarm for 7.30 this evening - I need to be back around then." He pushed the button that opened the concealed door to the basement, scurried down the stairs, and searched out the leather jacket and heavy boots that were the signature clothes of 'Rich Hunter'. Time to see if he could do more good out there than he could here.