Blood from Stone [AU]

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I thought I was dead," she says softly. "I was stabbed -- there was so much pain, and everything went black..."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

''You nearly were. More than once, as I understand it. Liz had to stop and stabilize you repeatedly.''

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I think..." she begins, slowly, hesitating. 

"I think I've been looking for a way to die for a while, now."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon's breath catches in her throat. Her hand snaps out and grabs the front of Cindy's shirt, yanking her face to face. ''That stops now. I cannot lose you, Cin. I can't. I just got you back and-'' Her voice cracks, shatters and tears start to drip down her cheeks.

[Coquette Blacquin]

That opens the floodgates for Coquette; she sobs, great broken sobs, clinging to Shannon and letting it out onto her shoulder. "Yes," she whispers, between sobs. "Yes. It stops. It's done."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon rocks them both back and forth for several minutes, both ladies just crying together. ''Come with me? Live with me?'' she whispers. ''Be with me?''

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," whispers Coquette again. "I think.. I think I need to stop being a hero for a while. Learn how to be a good daughter, a good lover, a good friend."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

''Okay. That's- yes. Okay, yes. Please. You can still help. I- I have a lot of resources and manpower and- and no real use for them, besides making more of both. I mean- it's not the same of course but- but safer.''

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes," she breathes. "Yes. Let's do that. Let's make things better in Coalside, in... did you hear if Cattown survived?"

[Shannon zi'Marass]

''Survived, yes. It... they had more than a few deaths. Like... hundreds. And nearly a quarter of the buildings are gone, burnt down or near to. Virtually all of them have some damage. But I have heard with fair reliability that both their Keeper and Light survived, so at least they have leadership and funds to refund. Limited perhaps but funds.'' She bites her lip as she leans down in the bed, patting next to her. Though her posture make is clear that laying partially atop her would be fine too. ''What are your thoughts?''

[Coquette Blacquin]

"I'm glad Adonis and his father survived," says Coquette quietly. "Beth would have been heartbroken if the father of her children perished. I... want to help them rebuild, if we can."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

Shannon pouts a little at Coquette not joining her. ''I can understand that,'' she replies, staring at her lover steadily. ''Just them? The rest of lower Coal also suffered a fair bit of damage and they have no Light to assist them. Well, not one personally involved, I am sure Pan will step in but it is not the same I would think.''

[Coquette Blacquin]

Coquette sighs, laying down with her head on Shannon's shoulder. "It... doesn't feel quite real, I think," she says slowly. "I'll want to walk through the burned area, to really get a grasp on what's happened. But.. you're right. The rest of Coalside, that doesn't have a light.. you're correct."

[Shannon zi'Marass]

''I think I understand. I've been reading report after report and... just numbers and words so far. I... much of my life has been numbers and words. It might be... good to see some of it myself. Painful. But good.''  Eyes fixed on the ceiling, the merikos aasimar starts running her fingers though Cindy's hair.

[Coquette Blacquin]

"Yes. And the Lord Hand will-- you called him Pan?" says Coquette, suddenly. "Am I... in the way?"