TM - VH and Anna talk

[i_vanquish_evil]

Sometime after the conclusion of this thread...

VH: *walking along corridor* *bumps into Anna - literally - as he's not paying attention to much beyond what's scrambling around in his brain*

Anna: -blinks and steps back-

VH: *still not paying attention, walks right past her*

Anna: -turns, and calls out to his retreating back- Nice to see you too!

VH: *stops suddenly and turns over his shoulder* Oh, Anna. *he turns and walks back* I'm sorry. I didn't see you. *looks back down the corridor, then back to her*

Anna: I must have blended with the wall quite nicely. -she is joking, though she can begin to tell that something is not quite right-

VH: Yeah, maybe. Um, I was going somewhere. *blinks*

Anna: Oh. -she nods- When will you be back?

VH: Huh? *looks confused* I don't know. Did you need something?

Anna: I-...no. I was only wondering. -she turns to be on her way-

VH: Anna?

Anna: -turns back-

VH: Is something wrong? *b/c VH is dumb and doesn't realize Anna was thinking the exact same thing about him*

Anna: You tell me, Gabriel. I don't know.

VH: *not really answering her question* I was going to find Father Darius.

Anna: Alright. Am I permitted to ask why?

VH: *looks to the floor, hat nearly crushed in his fingers* We should talk. *takes a couple steps backward and motions into a room*

Anna: -only just beginning to realize that this might be more serious than she had thought. She swallows hard, and follows him.-

VH: *closes the door* Anna, *turns away from her* this is going to be hard, I think. I don't know. I'm not sure where to begin. Too many questions.

Anna: Gabriel...calm down. -though she's beginning to panic herself- What is the matter?

VH: Sit down. *walks toward a pair of chairs and waits for her to sit*

Anna: -sits- Gabriel....-her voice catches- This isn't about...your employer...?

VH: *shakes his head* No. *takes a seat* It's about me.

Anna: Oh. -she waits for him to continue-

VH: Something... happened the other night... *he trails off, searching for the words to explain it*

Anna: -her eyes widen a bit, but she holds her peace-

VH: *comes out more blunt than intended* Have you ever had sex?

Anna: -if possible, her eyebrows rise even further, but she answers his question- No.

VH: Oh. *looks at the floor* But you know what it is? *which probably seems as odd as the previous question, but hey - he doesn't know stuff*

Anna: -blinks, quite possibly for the first time since their conversation began- Yes...

VH: *this isn't going well* Um... I was talking to someone the other night. A woman named Sabine...

Anna: -stops blinking-

VH: *looks up* Is something wrong? *concerned? more like a little scared on this one*

Anna: Not yet. Go on.

VH: She started touching my face.

Anna: Oh...-she trails off for a moment, nearly positive that she has guessed the end to this tale- And what did you do?

VH: *he frowns, b/c he's still confused on this part* I told her that I thought I should tell her to stop, but she told me that I wasn't going to do that.

Anna: But did you?

VH: *he blinks* I think I tried to tell her that, but she was kissing me and whispering things and... *he looks at her again* This is going badly, isn't it?

Anna: -looks away for a moment- You said her name was Sabine?

VH: *can only nod - voice failing at the moment*

Anna: -shakes her head, beginning to put pieces together- And you let her--Sabine-- do these things...

VH: I don't know that I let her... *he's not sure how to explain this... it's all new to him*

Anna: That's what you're trying to tell me, is it not? That... something happened?

VH: Well, yes, but I didn't exactly 'let' it happen.

Anna: Then what...?

VH: *looks away* I don't know. I've never been in a situation like that before.

*long pause*

Anna: -raises a hand to signify that she has heard enough, and begins to rise to her feet-

VH: Wait. Where are you going? *looks VERY confused*

Anna: -simply- Away from you.

VH: Why? *still confused*

Anna: -not making eye contact- Why do you think, Gabriel?

VH: *blinks, cue that confusion thing again* I don't know. I don't understand.

Anna: -frustrated- Which concept is it that you are having a hard time grasping?

VH: All of it, apparently. *very much resembling a lost child*

Anna: -stops and turns back toward him, though she does not meet his eye-

VH: I've done something I shouldn't have? *it's unsure - probably the most unsure sounding thing he's said in a long time*

Anna: -is quiet for a moment, then, says softly- Only if you did not mean to.... -she means to finish by saying 'hurt me', but stops and catches herself before the words are out of her mouth.. Then she looks away again.-

VH: *looks up - he's still sitting* I hurt you? *he asks with a frown*

Anna: -her tone rises, if slightly- I didn't say that.

VH: I know, but... *stands and turns away*

Anna: -turns back toward him, and asks shakily- Do you love her?

VH: *lowers his head* No.

Anna: I see. -She is is unsure whether she should feel happy or upset at this, but instead finds herself simply...numb-

VH: It happened so fast. Like a whirlwind. *he wants to turn to face her, but can't seem to bring himself to do so* She was saying things and doing things and the reactions were...

*another pause while he thinks for a moment*

(VH: ...instinctual *he means, but doesn't get the chance to say*)

Anna: So she seduced you.

VH: *blinks* Seduced?

Anna: I need to leave, Gabriel. -begins to walk away again, this time at a quicker pace. She cannot stand this any longer-.

VH: Anna... wait...

Anna: -doesn't turn back, but pauses. Then she mentally curses herself for doing so.-

VH: *softly* Anna, I'm sorry. *his hat is very very crushed in his fingers; he doesn't know exactly what he's done, but he knows he's hurt her*

Anna: -struggles for composure, and resists the voice in the back of her mind telling her to run into his arms and forgive him right then and there. Though she can hear the sincerity in his voice, it's not that easy.-

VH: I- I don't understand exactly what I did, but I've obviously hurt you. I didn't mean to. *he lowers his head and turns away again, stepping further into the room*

Anna: -Realizes that, at the least, she is responsible for providing him with an explanation.- Gabriel...

VH: *turns his head, but doesn't fully look over his shoulder; he's angry - at himself, maybe even at Sabine - but, if Anna could see his eyes, they're not hard, there's sadness, confusion*

Anna: I'm hurt because... what you did... at least, the way I was brought up. -She stops herself, realizing that Gabriel has no memory of his early years, or his family... let alone what they might have taught him.- I-... I was always... have always believed that... -She's stuttering now, a rare event in itself.- What you did... should be reserved for the person you love most, and whom you intend to love that way for the rest of your lives.

VH: *quietly, realizing* Oh. *head lowers again* *still quiet* I'm sorry. *he kneels on the floor, realizing he will need to speak to Father Darius more than he thought before; and his poor hat... it may now be dead of smush*

Anna: I know, Gabriel.

VH: *doesn't say anything; he's still processing information*

Anna: -nods, more to herself than to him. She doesn't even bother to take into consideration that he can't see her. She continues to walk back down the corridor.-

VH: *is at a complete loss; if one can do so, he crumples more - not the hat, him - he knows she's gone, but speaks anyway, softly* I'm so sorry, Anna. I wish I knew what to do now.