[FUN GHOUL ➜ VIDEO 004]

[tooghoulforschool]

[Private to Jesse Finch]

How you holdin' up, man? Sorry it took me so long to check in, there was-- ... we had shit goin' on. Status report.

[Private to Anna Milton]

Girl, I think we need to talk. If you got a sec.

Comments

[tooghoulforschool]

[Ghoul smiles, taking another step closer.] Because you wouldn't have disappeared on me if everything was A-OK. Is there anything you need me to do? If I can do it, I will.

[Because she's a good person. She doesn't deserve bad shit.]

[afallenstar]

[ Well...that's a pretty fair point. She gives a little half smile, and as she shrugs her shoulders she just stares away at the floor. ]

It's, I'm fine. I've just. I've been trying to stay under the radar, just in case anyone from home... Well. Just in case. Guess I kind of screwed that up.

[ Not that she would ever take that decision back. That she has no regrets about at least, and it's not like there could have been anyone better for her to accidentally expose her secrets to. Anna's gotten far longer than she ever expected she would be allowed to. ]

It's okay. I've got this. Thank you, really, but I think I've got to handle this.

[ She appreciates it though, Ghoul, she really does. She just doesn't want to risk anyone becoming collateral damage. ]

[tooghoulforschool]

You tryin'a tell me you're on the run?

[Because you failed to mention that the first time, Anna, and he's a stubborn motherfucker. He finally closes the distance between them and sets his hands on her shoulders.]

I'm real good at runnin', angel eyes. You got it handled now, fine, but the second you don't? You call me.

[Fuck the risk. He'll take the damage.]

[afallenstar]

Sort of. They'd kind of caught up to me back home.

[ The hands on her shoulders take her by surprise, and she looks at Ghoul for a moment before attempting a smile. It's half-assed but it's still there, and she gives a little shrug before nodding. ]

Guess I'll keep that in mind.

[ And she won't. Anna knows she won't, because the last thing she ever wants to do is put more people in danger for her sake. Shaky truces are hanging by single threads, but the more people that turn up from her world, the more she thinks that the next might not be so sympathetic. Her luck's got to run out eventually. ]

You don't have to do this, you know. You'd be better off staying away from me.

[tooghoulforschool]

[Smile's still a smile. And even though he's smiling back, you can bet he's taking all this in.]

Better off? Maybe I got a thing for the girls with a past. You don't know. Not fun if it ain't gonna get you killed, huh?

[But come here, Anna. He missed you. He was worried. Come here. He wraps his arms around her to hold her close.] We still friends, chiquita?

[afallenstar]

[ Oh man, you're killing her here. She's trying so hard to take the moral high ground, keep everyone at arms length and give them ample opportunity to get away, and he's not listening. Anna could make him, she could push him away and run like she did last time, but she doesn't have it in her. She's so tired of running. ]

You promise me you're not going to get yourself killed or anything stupid like that, and yeah - we're still friends.

[ She's serious, Ghoul. Her arms wind around his waist and she's more than content to lean into the hug, take the moment of comfort, but seriously. ]

Works both ways though. If you ever get caught in a spot, just call and I'll be there, okay? I might not look like much, but you'd be surprised.