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[versusnurture]

[Abigail knows, now, that it's only a matter of time. He's been allowed into the kitchen. He won't show his true face, but one way or another, he'll start working on people. Ripping them apart, one way or another. Making them see too much of themselves until they eat themselves up from the inside, or worse. And she doesn't know, even now, if she wants to help him or if she wants to run.]

[She's tired of being prey, tired of being helpless, tired of being alone and crazy, and most of all she doesn't want people to know - so why has she been telling them? Why did she tell Arkin, why did she let Zane find out? Why is Ben, who has power, letting this happen?]

[She is afraid, so she ties a bright blue scarf around her neck and makes deliberate appearances in several common rooms, the cafeteria, the greenhouse, and the library, a copy of Jane Eyre tucked under her arm. She's quiet when it's appropriate, polite or even chatty when someone approaches her. But there's something not quite right about the set of her smile, to those who know her very well or look very closely, and her heart beats like a rabbit's every time she sees someone new.]

for ben } thursday

[After Riddick finds her, Abigail thinks about the situation for a while. No, she doesn't trust Ben. She doesn't really trust anyone. But Riddick had at least one point: he seems to have decent motives. He seems to care. And maybe that means she's going about this all wrong. Maybe he's more Will than Hannibal. Or like Alana, even: smart and capable but with a part of him that can't see through what Abigail holds on the outside.]

[He has trouble, she knows, with touch. But he's sweet anyway. He cares.]

[She waits for him outside the kitchen, when his shift is over, hands twisting in the hem of her shirt, eyes on the floor.]

Comments

natch.

[versusnurture]

[Abigail watches her drink. Her heartbeat speeds up slightly. Not much, but some.]

You don't read?

[A little snappish. She's tense.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena manages not to smile and instead just licks her lips.]

I do. Or did.

I've got an eternity to read. I'd rather do other things in the immediate future.

[versusnurture]

Like what?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Whatever I want.

[Elena looks down into her cup and lifts the straw up, finger over the tip until the other end has emerged. She lets her finger go to let the contents of the straw fall back into the glass before putting the straw back.]

I'm a little limited here, sure. But why be a Debbie Downer? I have all my powers back.

[versusnurture]

[Abigail gives her a sour look.]

I know you're trying to draw my attention. You have it. Say what you're going to say or don't.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena snorts and raises a brow.]

Self-absorbed much?

[versusnurture]

Hungry much?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

For some things.

[She takes a few long sips from her glass.]

[versusnurture]

You're not as cute as you think you are.

[But she's grinning, a little.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

No, I'm at least twice as adorable. I don't know how you can stand it.

[versusnurture]

It's difficult.

Why so shy?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena frowns a little.]

Shy? I was aiming more for coy.

[kanyest of shrugs udek]

[Elena gets up and moves around the table to sit next to Abigail. She leaves her blood behind.]

See, the thing is, I have to be careful. I'm unfortunately not the only vampire around here. Unfortunately that one has a stick up her ass. And then there's the hunter. [She reaches over and brushes back some of Abigail's hair.] I mean, I could just make you, but that's no way to make friends.

[versusnurture]

What's the payoff?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

I would think the protection of a vampire would be a pretty good trade-off, but I assume you want something else.

Name it.

[versusnurture]

Do you enjoy violence?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Sometimes. It depends on the situation and who it's against.

[versusnurture]

If I felt someone was going to be a threat, and I needed them dealt with.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Shrug and very matter-of-fact:]

Well, it'd depend on how much they annoyed me personally if I would really enjoy it or only just enjoyed it.

[versusnurture]

But would you do it?

[forgetyourusedtobe]

If that's the trade-off here, then yes.

Hell, I'd even give you my blood if you managed to get hurt...

[If she still ends up dying and comes back a vampire then o well~~~~~]

[versusnurture]

Then it's fine.

[Hell, she's been more dinner than this. Why not? It's not like it bothers her.]

[It absolutely doesn't bother her.]

[forgetyourusedtobe]

[Elena smiles. Or smirks is more accurate. But she likes to think of it as a smile. Either way, she's pleased.]

You'll have to keep it covered. So either scarves or somewhere else.

[She reaches across the table for her blood.]

Ooh and be sure to eat your spinach. Don't want you getting anemic.

[versusnurture]

Thanks.

[Ever so.]

I wear the scarves anyway. They're fine.

[forgetyourusedtobe]

Come up to my room in an hour.

[Elena stands and gives a little wave before walking off. She doesn't bother with threatening Abigail with what will happen if she blabs or screws up and gets Elena caught.]

[She's a smart girl.]

[She can figure it out.]

[versusnurture]

[She is a smart girl. She also, unlike some people, doesn't have a death wish. So she comes to Elena's cabin obediently in an hour, knocking smartly at the door and folding her hands together in front of her.]

[It's all bullshit, of course, some satirical show of Puritanism, but most wouldn't know it to look at her.]

[(Hannibal would. But she's doing this, in part, so he knows he doesn't own her.)]