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Post by Jude Dorrian on Dec 29, 2007 15:49:15 GMT
Aah. Loaded with symbolism.
Jude looked at the ring on her finger, then back up at her, and those blue, glassy eyes.
"I'm a metal bender."
Expand, Jude. Expand instead of stating the obvious.
"I could... get rid of it, if you wanted..." he said slowly, extending his hand.
It was her choice. He hated helping her in it but... he got the feeling she needed it.
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Dec 29, 2007 17:53:07 GMT
A quiet whimper escaped Madeleine.
What, melt it down? But -
No, it was a good idea. Jude was right, as per usual. She needed to get rid of it. Having it off her finger would stop reminding her, but it'd still be there near her, always there.
This made sense.
But... it was Cecelia's; Shaun -
That was just an excuse; she knew that. Shaun and Cecelia were dead. It wouldn't matter if she destroyed the ring. That wasn't why she didn't want to get rid of it. She knew that.
"Yeah. Yeah, that's a ... that's good..."
Her fingers touched the silver, but they made no motion to pull it off her finger.
"Jude, I don't... I don't..."
Come on, Madeleine, it's just a ring. And it's not like it's a friggin' wedding ring, or something. This is just... a symbol. Go on.
I can't...
Yes, you can. It's for the best. You have to do this.
Her fingers hesitated on the cool ring, the muscles instinctively screaming in protest at it, but as usual, her brain prevailed over her instincts, and the band slid off her fingers.
She reached out and dropped it into Jude's open palm, fighting back tears that shouldn't have come.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Dec 29, 2007 21:05:30 GMT
Jude tried his best to ignore her tears as he closed his fist on the little ring, and felt its weight in his palm.
"Just remember," he said softly, "if you ever want me to, I can remake it. Me or Ailith, or anyone else with metal powers. So, unless you want it to be, this isn't permanent."
Sighing inwardly, he drew back his closed fist, and let a sudden, boiling heat run down his fingertips, and bleed into the little ring. Magic. It melted immediately, and this part was easy. Cutting off the heat, Jude rolled the metal between his fingertips into a crude little ball as it cooled off. Finally, once he was satisfied, Jude held out his hand again to Maddox to reveal a little lump of silver.
"Y'all can keep it if you want," he muttered, passing it to her.
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Dec 29, 2007 21:41:44 GMT
The molten silver, now shaped into a tiny sphere, sent an electric current of hurt shooting straight through her veins, resulting in her trembling slightly.
Madeleine averted her gaze from the little lump in Jude's hand, shaking her head and biting her lip. "That's... um... probably not the best idea."
The ring had proved its symbolic powers once again. This destruction of it, it's ending, was showing her that it all really was at an end.
Time to give up any hope, Maddie.
It's all over, now.
She slumped, head buried in her palms, and a muffled Romani curse word quietly sounded.
All of a sudden, she was acutely aware that she was sitting in the gardens, crying, wearing a prom dress.
That was so stupid. If she lived in a TV programme or film, it'd be "poignant", as Professor Gregg would say. But in real life, it was just stupid.
And of course, Jude was dressed formally. As Ailith would be...
She sat up straight again, and looked him in the eye, trying to ignore the fact that her eyes were swimming again slightly. "Thanks, Jude."
There was a small pause, before she sniffed. "I think I need to be alone for a bit. But thanks. It mustn't be the best thing you could be doing with your time, but it ... really, means a lot."
She then laughed suddenly, and added in a falsely cheerful tone. "You should go back inside. Find Ailith, be happy. And Jude? Em... try not to make any... accidents, like I did. Because I think you two could end up with something really, really great."
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Dec 29, 2007 22:14:36 GMT
Jude smiled at her; feeling strangely warm all of a sudden. "Thanks, Madeleine."
He straightened up, looking upwards now at the sky.
"Are you sure y'all don't wanna come back in?"
He sort of already knew the answer. The music which had faded to silence was now beginning to pick up in volume again; and his ears were already beginning to anticipate their hellish sound. He felt in his pocket for his ear plugs, hoping he hadn't dropped them in the Gardens...
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Post by Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford on Dec 29, 2007 22:34:29 GMT
He'd called her Madeleine.
She shook her head, and when she answered, her voice was thick with tears. "Sorry, I think I just... need to be alone right now."
Yes. Her finger felt much too light, and all she wanted to do was to go into the forest and... scream. Cry. Punch trees. Breathe.
She took a deep breath. "Look, Jude, Lee can't know any of this. Actually... I don't really want anybody to.. to know, but I'd say they've worked it out. I just can't let him know because... I don't know if he'd be hurt or confused, or... whatever. But I don't want him to... know."
Eloquent, Madeleine, eloquent.
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Post by Jude Dorrian on Dec 30, 2007 15:03:13 GMT
Jude smiled sadly down at her now, on his feet and ready to leave. He felt bad about leaving her... but what else could he do?
"Really, Madeleine," he winked. "Y'all should give me some credit. I'm the type of guy who takes secrets to his grave. Even without your request, I wouldn't have said a word."
He nodded to her, and turned, heading back towards the formal; and back to where everything that had just passed between himself and Maddox became a distant memory...
... as if it had never even happened.
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