OOC: Trinity Universe/FreakAngels AU

[aeons_crackshot]

OOC: (Set almost immediately after this.)

Picture two young people, very much in love, their naked bodies intertwined. Their passion spent, sweet sleep has staked its claim on them, the dark night broken only by their soft, slow breaths as they lie dreaming.

But the past casts long shadows. Before the man in her arms set foot in this world, Annabelle endured terrible suffering at the hands of so called SCIENCE. The weeks afterward were hellish, but she thought the last of those "spells" was far in her past.

How the excruciating agony and paralysis of that terrible Machine tormented its prior victims after it was scrap and ash is still a mystery. And yet, the Society had had every reason to believe that the last of its poisons had been purged from Annabelle's body: discounting that one solitary twinge after she first kissed Connor, no hint of its presence had shown itself in more than a year.

Feeling as if every pain receptor has been switched on all at once and left to fire again and again without mercy, feeling her body stiff and unable to respond to her will.... is not the worst part. The worst part is that her mind drags her back Then, back to that hellish lab, the near madness and despair. (Psychology is quite literally in its infancy in this time and place, and the idea of "Shell Shock" or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as something that can happen to anyone other than soldiers who were shelled is an utterly foreign notion.)

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[leadinghome]

Nightmares are something nobody enjoys.

Nightmares out of real fear, real trauma, real pain, instead of imagined things and temporary insecurities, are worse.

Luckily, Annabelle has Connor: still deep asleep, he can feel her distress and react.

Annabelle.

It's not real.

You're not there.

You're here, with me.

The sensation is familiar, the tender love, then gentle presence. You're safe.

[aeons_crackshot]

Connor! Love, relief, a touch of shame at her helplessness.

Is it possible to cling to someone mind to mind? Because that's certainly what she's trying to do at the moment.

The pain, alas, had its birth in current physiological phenomena, so it doesn't fade with his interference. Neuropathic pain was a bitch to treat even Back Then, in the 1920's...well, it's not even recognized for what it is.

[leadinghome]

They can deal with that, together.

At least, she's not trapped and helpless, but being held by Connor, and comforted. You're here.

[aeons_crackshot]

Yes. Yes, I am. A thought to drive back the horrors even further. She's here with the man she loves, safe.

The pain passes after a minute or two.
I'm sorry you had to see that she apologizes. To see her weak, to feel her pain and her fear.

[leadinghome]

Connor just shakes head, placing a finger over her lips, then kissing her.

Yes, the kiss is plenty real enough, in the quiet shared dreamscape.

[aeons_crackshot]

It's only fair that good things should feel as real as the previous horrors.

Hm. That feels nice. Very nice. Annabelle returns the kiss eagerly, wrapping her arms around him.

She's easy to distract so long as the distraction is Connor, apparently.

[leadinghome]

After a moment, there's a mental chuckle. Do you realize we're doing almost the same in awake-land?

[aeons_crackshot]

Well, you ARE irresistible, she replies with a mental chuckle of her own.

Really, how many people out there would be able to cope with all of her...baggage?

[leadinghome]

Well, if she can cope with all his strangeness as well... Connor, and by extension all the Freakangels, are far from 'normal people'.

Better? There's still worry there.

[aeons_crackshot]

Almost everyone Annabelle knows would fail the 'normal people' test, so she doesn't think of them as being strange.

Better. Annabelle's a little worried too. I haven't had a spell like that in over a year...fucking Iverson.

Said scientist should probably be very thankful that he's already dead.

[leadinghome]

Very much.

Connor draws her closer, resting forehead to hers. Hm, time to wake up, have a cup of tea and clear our heads?

A dose of solid reality might help.

[aeons_crackshot]

Tea's good, so long as I can have it with you.

Yes, she's still a little afraid he'll cut his losses and run. Fear is seldom rational, after all.

[leadinghome]

If he did not knew the feeling all too well, Connor would be sad at her fears.

But he does. You first. A light kiss, and a mental nudge to wake her up...

[aeons_crackshot]

"Mrgle," mumbles the now awake Annabelle. She can feel the residual ache that's leftover from her earlier agony, but it's bearable.

On the plus side, she can ogle her boyfriend for a moment or two while he wakes up.

[leadinghome]

Connor stretches, then tugs Annabelle into a 'real' kiss, a light one. "Hmm..."

..okay sleeping in the nude and waking up close to her is still the most awesome thing ever.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Hmmm" 'Real' kissing is very nice.

When he woke up yesterday, would he have guessed that he'd discover the most awesome thing ever for his birthday?

Annabelle goes through a quick mental inventory. "....damn. I don't think I've got anything in here suitable for making tea." Which probably means putting clothes on, unless they want to see if they can get room service from the household staff.....

[leadinghome]

Connor is really pondering if he feels like getting dressed.

So far, he's leaning to a negative.

"Hm. We need to learn to turn invisible." That would help, right? "So we don't have to get dressed."

[aeons_crackshot]

"That only works when the weather is mild," Annabelle points out with a grin. Chicago gets much, much colder than anywhere in England. "Although I have no objection to you being naked more often."

Annabelle stretches, the motion unintentionally enticing. Long legs, smooth curves, graceful muscles, perky breasts, all in motion at once.

[leadinghome]

Sorry, what she said? Connor is in his happy place right now, enjoying one eyeful of very hot girlfriend.

Hmm..

[aeons_crackshot]

Annabelle catches his blissfully dazed expression and blinks in surprise. Then, she blushes a bit. "I would have thought the novelty would have worn off by now."

[leadinghome]

"Hm?" He's still there in Happyplaceland...

"...worn out?" That's a really strange concept.

[aeons_crackshot]

"Worn off," she reiterates with an almost sheepish smile. "I wouldn't have thought the sight of me could still transfix you so."

Considering that he's known her not only in the biblical sense, but in ways those ancient scholars couldn't have imagined....

[leadinghome]

"That's because you don't know how hot sexy pretty you are." Connor grins, looking her over. "I am the luckiest guy in the whole world."

[aeons_crackshot]

"Flatterer," Annabelle replies, blushing a little more. She leans forward to kiss him...

Annabelle might argue that SHE'S the luckiest girl in the world, you know.

[leadinghome]

Connor is very happy with kissing, massaging her shoulders lightly, letting his hands wander a bit...

...I guess we could get dressed, but right now, I can't find a reason to.