All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.

[iago-excolo.livejournal.com]

[Saturday, June 19th (Day 384)]
[Early afternoon, Main Street]

Iago's having lunch at the Miskatonic Cafe, when Jarmyn stops by his table.   Despite being wary of Iago's sharp tongue, Jarmyn decides to sit down anyway, along with the newly-arrived Leah.  Iago gleefully takes the opportunity for what it is and needles Jarmyn mercilessly in front of their confused table-mate, and without realizing it, the rest of the cafe, as well. 

Glass arrives, looking for her own meal and quickly notices the tense duo before settling at a nearby table.  She's within hearing range and catches various snippets of their back-and-forth conversation, much to her amusement and consternation.

Meanwhile, Iago's practically dared Jarmyn into apologizing to Glass.  The cafe patrons and Iago are riveted.  Jarmyn gives it a shot but Glass isn't interested and after a tense moment, he returns to Iago's table.  It only get worse from there, and after another tense exchange, Iago leaves the table and joins Glass at hers.  The estranged couple agree to leave the cafe and are currently strolling along Main Street while they talk.

[continued from here]

~ ~ ~

"You set aside him beating me 'til I'd've died in our bed with my brain crushing against my skull and you'd not forgive him running afraid of you?"

I shake my head, curious as I ask, "Glass, if it bothered you so much, the beating he gave you, then why did you take him as a lover in the first place?  I feel like you're angry with me for it but I didn't make that choice for you."  My voice is quiet as I continue, "I won't disagree that I thought it the right thing, setting things aside so we could have the relationship I thought we both wanted." I'm regretful as I add, "If you didn't want it, I wish I'd realized it then.  I wouldn't have encouraged it otherwise."

When she mentions 'running afraid', I chuckle lightly, vaguely amused as I shake my head again.  "There are none that fear me, love, least of all, him. That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." I scowl, recalling my conversation from the cafe with Jarmyn and continue, "As for the louse, I didn't say it was fine or right, not now and not when it happened.  I've told him so as well.  Today even."

I pause, swallowing my disappointment at her words before quietly asking, "Love, I'm confused. You tell me you love me but we can't live together?"  I sigh, taking a long drag.  "I disagree. You're not helping me by pushing me away."  Curious about her perspective, I ask, "Is it helping you any?"

[Open to Glass]

Comments

[glass-beddau.livejournal.com]

"You ask me how I felt about things in our past and I've told you. It never seems to be what you want to hear though and more and more, I'm of the mind that perhaps you and I may be discussing two entirely different bits of the same situation," and I bloody well hope that those two things are different to his mind because if he's thinking the only reason I may not care for what I'm hearing is misunderstanding then he's forgotten more than I care to think he might...

Strikes me I'm hearing precious little about how he feels when we disagree, only about what I feel. Leaves me some unsettled, and not sure why.

"You seem to want to delve into the heart of things but what you consider that to be may be different that what I do. Rather than ask me to lay it all out and let you pick over it, why don't you ask me one question? Perhaps if we start with one small bit, we won't get lost in another knotted tangle. Does that sound fair to you, love?"

"No," I say blunt. "Sounds like you're missing the problem I have with speaking of the matter. Moment ago you were so unsure of way of things you were after writing down my thoughts on it, setting aside any of your own. What good do you think my asking you about anything'll do when you can't tell in your own mind what did or didn't happen?"

Well, then. Suppose that's one question, in its own way, but not one as is going to settle matters; nor does it. End up walking him back home in the rain, and parting ways.