AU: Trinity Universe/FreakAngels crossover: First date

[aeons_crackshot]

OOC: Takes place not too terribly long after this thread.

After certain events at the Chicago harbor there had been considerable amusement within the Æon Society over the pairing up of Annabelle Newfield and Connor. (Whitley Styles had won the betting pool, despite Jake's claim that he cheated.)

As for the reactions of the other FreakAngels to the news, well, who knows?

There was a furious spate of trouble starting the very next day, of course. All of the Society's founders have been run ragged for the last few weeks. For the moment though, things are quiet. (Or at least, if things ARE going crazy somewhere, someone else is handling the problem.)

Annabelle and Jake got back in town at some ungodly hour this morning, whereupon she fell asleep on one of the couches near the fireplace. (Jake is probably off somewhere regaling a pretty woman or two with tales of said adventure, because that's what he does.)

Comments

[leadinghome]

Well, Connor has never been to Vegas, but the theater is impressive all the same. But, the environs can not hold his attention away from his girlfriend for long. "Nice place."

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle grins. "They used just about every set production trick in the book, but it seems to work."

There is a small horde of vendors in front of the theater, hawking everything from popcorn to candy to sausages in a bun.*

*There is always someone selling sausages in a bun or the local equivalent where there are gatherings of people. They just seem to turn up, like mushrooms after a rain.

[leadinghome]

Oh, hot dogs! Connor will not pass those, american junk food is the best junk food.

(No, fish and chips and beer are not junk food, they're just awesome food.)

[aeons_crackshot]

Potato, potatahto, as it were. Annabelle likes them all.

There will be hotdogs with mustard, and popcorn, because you have to have popcorn, right?

(Connor may be having reverse sticker shock with regard to how much things cost, depending on how much research he's been doing about how much things cost and how much people make.)

[leadinghome]

Oh, yes popcorn. And sweets, and drinkables too?

Connor demonstrates a good skill in eating tasty food like there's no tomorrow!

[aeons_crackshot]

Absolutely. Don't ask how Annabelle manages to juggle that many things AND keep her pistols out of easy sight, it's a gift.

They can both eat tasty things like there's no tomorrow. Connor, because he can control his metabolism, and Annabelle because she burns off pretty much everything she eats.

No, it's not fair.

They make their way into the theatre, and find seats where they can be off by themselves a bit. Once they've settled in, using the nearby seats as storage if necessary, she scoots as close to Connor as the seating will allow.

[leadinghome]

Life is not fair.

Those two are just happy the 'unfair' is tipped their way now, right? They should be able to sit close enough, cuddle a bit, and settle for movies and snacking and...

...boyfriend and girlfriend things. Kisses, words and whispers, enjoying the day together.

[aeons_crackshot]

It makes for a nice change, that's for sure.

It's probably a bit of a shock, when the theatre finally darkens and the light first flickers across the screen. Not only is everything in black and white, there is no sound at all. The technology doesn't exist, yet, to make movies with sound and dialogue. Other than the occassional black screen with written dialogue on it, everything has to be conveyed by facial expression and body language.

The first film has a character Connor might be familiar with, Rin Tin Tin.

[leadinghome]

He is a bit surprised, but quickly relaxes into the 'pace' of the movie: Connor is more interested on the company, after all...

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle is too, if we're being honest. >.> It's nice having someone there to share the humor, the face-palming and her occassional sarcastic comment with, though.

(She'll also admit to a certain giddy thrill in kissing him in public without having to worry about people staring.)

Well, what do you know? The big feature is an adaptation of The Scarlet Letter.

When the main character comes on the screen for the first time, Annabelle grins and whispers "That's Lillian." The actress she saved a few years ago from being eaten by something nasty.

[leadinghome]

"Oh..." He nods, reminding the incident from the many he heard about. "She looks nice."

"Maybe... one fifth or one sixth as nice as you." Cheesy yes, but Connor is no Casanova.

[aeons_crackshot]

That incident has the dubious distinction of being her first near death experience.

Annabelle does chuckle at that a little, as it is cheesy. It's still flattering though, so she has a pleased blush going on right now. "Flatterer," she teases.

[leadinghome]

"I try." He chuckles, squeezing her hand.

So far, it's working.

[aeons_crackshot]

She returns the squeeze, her other hand moving to caress his jawline. "and honest too," she adds with a chuckle.

Annabelle hopes what techniques she's using are working too. "And you've set your heart on little ol' me, who'd have thought it?" she says with a grin.

[leadinghome]

Connor leans closer, smiling to Annabelle. "And you let me set my heart on you..." After all, love goes both ways.

[aeons_crackshot]

"How could I not?" she asks with a small smile. She doesn't quite grasp how anyone could know him and NOT love him, at least a little.

[leadinghome]

...you know what? There's no good answer to that.

Well, no good answer bu kissing your girlfriend, holding her hands and settling to enjoy the movies and the company, right?

The company, obviously, more than the movies. Any movie. Ever.

[aeons_crackshot]

Oh, absolutely. She leans against him, not out of tiredness, but just to enjoy being close like this.

Warm skin and a warm presence basking in his company. She's not sure what Connor feels, sees, when he's around her, but Connor...

He feels like coming home after a long, hard day, like sunlight peeking through after endless days of cold and storms.

[leadinghome]

She feels like finding home, after a long time lost.

So there.

[aeons_crackshot]

He won't be lost ever again, not if Annabelle has anything to say about it. Connor has, unknowingly for the most part, wrapped himself around her heart.

(Some deeply hidden part of her is still skittish about that realization, because it means he could so easily destroy her now. Could make what David did to her look like a minor bruise....)

This new world must be even stranger to him than the silent, colorless images flickering on the screen, but maybe, just this once, someone she loves won't leave her.

[leadinghome]

Connor... can feel some of that. The fear, the uncertainty.

He responds by drawing her closer, comfortingly.

[aeons_crackshot]

Don't ask how Annabelle managed to end up in his lap, the explanation might make people who are less flexible wince.

So, Connor has a lapful of girlfriend, her face pressed into his neck, just...being here, with him. She's breathing in his scent, feeling his pulse against her cheek, just soaking in his presence.

Life has not been kind to her where those she loves are concerned. Deep down, she's afraid that this won't, can't, last. Because this isn't something she's meant to have, right? Not to keep, anyway....

[leadinghome]

"Annabelle." He cups her cheek and looks into her eyes. "I love you."

And now, he's not the least bit worried about how Annabelle ended on his lap.

[aeons_crackshot]

There should be words, but nothing will come out. It's not rational, and she KNOWS it's not rational, but that doesn't make the fear and the remembered hurt go away.

There have been people who loved her before, and in the end it didn't make any damn difference. She always gets left behind, left alone.

People thought she'd gotten over her mother's death when she was nine, that she'd coped remarkably well. The truth...was more complicated. Bury the pain deep enough, put on a strong face long enough, and you can even make yourself believe that you're unbreakable, untouchable.

She's never allowed anyone to see her cry, to see her emotionally weak, since that day. Not when her father died, when her mentor committed suicide, not in any of life's tragedies since. She's NOT going to cry now, damn it all!

[leadinghome]

Connor shifts a bit, bringing her even closer, resting forehead to hers.

It's okay to cry.

He's there to hold her, and to dry her tears after. And to never go away.