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[speakingtruth.insanejournal.com]

WHO: Cassandra & Hector
WHEN: Late night Thursday
WHERE: Their apartment
WHAT: Brother, sister, and wee little baby.
WARNINGS:

Cassandra had been sitting in the dark of her bedroom for more than an hour, so when she padded quietly down the hallway and into the nursery she needed to lights to guide her, her eyes already adjusted and moonlight spilling through the windows. From the cradle she drew out her baby niece, the child gurgling and making a few sounds of protest at being moved. But she didn't seem terribly bothered and Cassandra liked that. Cassandra enjoyed being in the presence of someone who didn't think her fundamentally broken in some way.

Since her return to the apartment the day after Valentine's, Cassandra had been completely silent. Not one word had passed her lips but now, in the silence of the sleeping house, Cassandra began to sing a song she remembered Hecuba singing to her. Her queenly mother would gather Cassandra and Helenus onto her lap and the twins would pull at her hair and her clothes and only settle down once her melodious voice managed to calm them.

In Cassandra's arms the babe pulled one of her aunt's fingers into her mouth and sucked on it as Cassandra quietly sang.

Hector never slept well. a decade of war and nightmares of his death still plagued him, but he knew enough to listen to the doctors and talk when he needed it. Tonight it had been dreams of his son's death. But in this time it had been Kayla and the vivid dreams had him up and out of his door in a few moments.

He only paused at the door when he heard a familiar song in the room. He'd worried himself nearly sick at the change in his sister but hadn't pressed. She'd speak when she wanted and he could only be a silent support.

He welcomed the change, and the memories. Cassandra took so much after their mother really. He smiled and leaned in the door to let himself remember and soothe his own fears at seeing his little girl safe and sound.

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-01 01:19 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Cassndra didn't look up but when she stopped singing she said into the darkness, "she'll live many years and her grandchildren will miss her when she passes."

In the dim light she looked over at her brother in the doorway.

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-01 01:35 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
He was soothed by that and he gave his sister a warm smile. After so long he just liked hearing her. Knowing his daughter would be well was a plus. "She likes you." He said in turn and stepped closer, not turning on the light.

He leaned down to set his finger on the girl's cheek, nothing but love for his daughter. For this little life, he'd burn the world down to keep her as safe as she was right now. "Bad dreams." He sighed and crouched near the two, mostly to explain why he was here. "I remember that song. Mother sang it a lot. I asked her to teach Andromache when she was pregnant with our first. I miss Mother."

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-01 01:53 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Kayla may have liked her now, but Cassandra didn't know if that would last for long. Once Kayla understood language and the curse of Cassandra that came along with it, how long would she care for the aunt she thought was always lying to her? And what pain would Cassandra bring Kayla by giving her warnings she would then have to ignore?

"I know," Cassandra said as she pressed her thumb against his forehead as though she could feel the thoughts there. In some ways she believed that she could. Cassandra rocked the child in her other arm gently. "When I was five I told mother that the babe she carried would still in her womb and never be born. She told me I was cruel to say such things but a month later that child was dead." Cassandra frowned. "I don't believe she ever truly loved me again after that day."

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-01 02:00 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
He hoped Cassandra thought he loved her. He did. She was his sister and he truly tried to understand her curse. He tried not to doubt it, even when it was hard, and to take her words as truth.

He hated the gods for what they'd done to his little sister. He remembered her smiling more, picking her up and carrying her around and showing her all the things he could.

He smiled to the touch. "Thanks Cassie." He sighed, "I don't think that. Mother loved all of us." He kissed his sister's temple, "want to come sit in the kitchen with her? I need some tea."

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-01 10:00 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Cassandra accepted the kiss with a small smile and stood. "She wants only sleep," Cassandra said, gently putting Kayla back into the crib where the little girl made a small sound in the sleep but didn't wake. "But I will come with you." She followed her brother, taking his hand and letting him lead her.

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-01 11:45 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Smiling he led his sister to the kitchen, releasing her hand only then, and making them both some tea. He yawned as the water cooked but didn't ask. If his sister felt like sharing she would in her own time.

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-01 11:55 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Cassandra curled her legs up against her chest on the seat and rested her chin on them. "Eros struck me an arrow," she finally said. "I walked upon feet that were not my own to a love I'd never met." She sighed. "I should know better than to ever think myself free of the ruinous workings of gods."

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-02 12:28 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
He sighed and looked to her, setting her mug in front of her. "I'm sorry sister. I wish I was stronger, less human, so I could make sure they wouldn't hurt you. But I can't do anything and it frustrates me. I'm supposed to protect you."

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SUCH BLUE EYES *swoon*
[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-03 10:34 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
"You have always done all you could," she smiled up at him gently. "You are one of the few who never spat upon me or fled in horror, though I know both must have sometimes tempted you. I knew from the beginning where my path would lead and when my death would come. Nothing could protect me from those things. But you tried to love me, and that was better."

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-03 11:39 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
Cassie," he sighed and took her hand, "I didn't try anything. You're my sister, and thus I love you. There is no if or but about it. No maybe's or trying. I couldn't understand then, but now I can. I wouldn't have gotten you out of that place if I didn't love you."

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-03 11:45 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
"But sometimes it's hard?" Cassandra asked him, wrapping her hands around the hot mug but not picking it up yet. Then she smiled at him. "I'm happy to be with you though. I like it here."

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[info]holdingfast
2012-03-03 12:01 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
He set his fingers over hers, "only hard because I don't know how to help." Gently he went to brush her hair from her eyes, "I don't understand the curse. It's not something physical I can fight. And it hurts that I have to see my little sister so hurt." He smiled to her, "I'm glad you like it here."

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[info]speakingtruth
2012-03-05 02:43 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select
"I'm glad you can't fight it," Cassandra said, stroking his fingers gently. "These hands have held too many weapons. It's time for quiet." She looked up at him. "I never predicted this world and this life, but it's good for you, for all of us. A world where Achilles won't hurt you, and where no Clytemnestra waits with a dagger for me."