Green Thumb [2430-1-2 Thur 1:00 pm]

[Titus Vere]

Titus glanced at the girls. Skye looked... conflicted. And Persephone seemed to be in full mother-hen mode. It was probably best to step in and defuse whatever was passing between them. "I'll come inside. I was simply admiring the view. I see they've added a new tower to the south."

They had. And with the new hight, it would give an assassin a fantastic view of the rooftop. Perhaps it was paranoid to wonder if Digeo was behind this. But in Titus' line of work, there was no such thing as a coincidence. If everything seemed to be dropping into place, that's because someone was directing the drops. He left his post on the roof and followed the girls inside and down the stairs.

[Skye Thompson]

She had thought it was best to leave Titus be, but apparently Persephone thought differently. Skye watched her new guardian carefully, eager for his answer, hoping it would be the one she wanted. She smiled. So he was coming in. Although perhaps it wasn’t good to tear him away from whatever important thoughts he’d been having. Even though Titus said he was only looking at the view, Skye assumed that if he was doing so, the view must be important somehow. This was the Top after all. Everything was important here.

Skye didn’t want to be important exactly. It would have been nice, but she thought it was aiming a bit to high. Then again, she’d thought going to the Top was aiming to high, and here she was. Still, maybe wanting to be an important person was asking too much. Yes, it probably was. Skye just wanted to be happy. Although if the whirlpool of emotions that she was feeling right now continued, her happiness would come at a price. With a sigh, she followed Persephone inside.

[Persephone Ruspoli]

"They started that a few months ago." Persephone told him as they headed inside, walking into the kitchen/lounge. She checked the fridge to see what she had. There was a bottle of wine Titus had brought over ages ago that she hadn't had any from. This seemed like a good time to have a glass.

Titus had already picked out his usual place on the sofas, lounging where he had his back safely near one wall, and his eyes on the door. She brought out the bottle of wine, showing it to him, and when he didn't motion no, she grabbed the glasses.

Then Persephone thought better. While she and Titus would enjoy a glass, Skye might have different feelings. She set the bottle down and looked at the blonde girl, "Skye, would you like a glass of wine, or something else? I've got water and milk, and maybe some sodas tucked in the back."

[Skye Thompson]

As she stepped inside, Skye felt her feet sink once more into Persephone’s lush carpet. She smiled. Someday she would have to ask Persephone’s permission to sleep there, it was so comfortable. Although a tiny, childlike, part of her was afraid she might just keep sinking into the rug until she fell into oblivion. Skye shook her head as she sat down next to Titus on one of the couches. It was such as silly thought.

She turned her head at the sound of Persephone’s voice. Suddenly the world was spinning round and round, tilting from one side to the other, making her feel dizzy and sick. Her head ached, and she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. Images flashed through her mind, images of her father lying in the storeroom after her mother had left, of her father’s whiskery face pressed much to close to hers, of his fist swinging forward to connect with Adrian’s face, which was set with grim determination. The cover of blank indifference that she usually cast over her fear broke like a dam, and suddenly Skye was not just flooded with panic, she was drowning in it.

Then it stopped. The world stayed still, though she still felt dizzy. Her head still hurt, and she was still filled with panic, but she was able to control it once more, though she was fighting to keep it from overwhelming her. Skye glanced around nervously, feeling distinctly disoriented.

[Persephone Ruspoli]

Persephone was glad afterwards that she'd set the wine bottle down on the counter because she knew she would have dropped it on the ground, and that would have made it all so much worse. The broken glass and wine would have needed cleaning up before they stained her carpet, which would undoubtedly stain no matter how quickly she did act. And Skye would have been even more wrecked, blaming herself for Persephone's only stupid mistake.

Instead, when she saw the fear on Skye's face, she quickly abandoned her glasses and got her hands out, just in case Skye collapsed. But Skye seemed to catch herself just before that happened, sense swimming back into her features. "Skye?!" Persephone allowed herself to take hold of Persephone in order to make her sit down, "Are you alright?"

[Skye Thompson]

At Persephone’s touch Skye sat back down, though she hadn’t realized she was standing up until that moment. She closed her eyes and focused on the pressure from Persephone’s hands. That was something real, something tangible that she could grab hold of and use to bring herself fully back to reality. Once she was there, Skye opened her eyes and starred at Persephone’s anxious face in front of her. Had Persephone asked her a question? Yes, Skye thought she had. What was it? Oh yes, now she remembered.

Her lips seemed to be numb, and she struggled to make them move. “I’m sorry,” she murmured uncertainly, “I-I just-” Skye hesitated. What if Titus and Persephone thought she was crazy, and sent her back to the Below? It would make sense to them, she knew, there were a lot of crazy people in the Below. But then an even worse thought occurred to her. What if she really was going crazy? Then not only would she be back in the Below, but she wouldn’t be herself, and she would be… just like her father. Skye honestly couldn’t imagine anything worse. She opened her mouth again. “I’m fine.” She lied, her voice much steadier now, “I just… have a headache.” At least that was partly true.

[Titus Vere]

Titus was taken aback by Skye's sudden attack. It was as if she had gone off into her own little world. And wherever that world had lead, it hadn't been a pleasant one. Persephone was trying to comfort her, and Titus felt... he wasn't sure how to react. He wasn't even sure he could put his emotions into words, which only made this already uncomfortable sensation worse.

He did know one thing. She wasn't fine at all. And he couldn't take her home like this. If sitting with just the two of them set this off, the crowds would destroy Skye. "I think you should have a lie down." Titus glanced at Persephone, "Is the guest room set up?"

[Persephone Ruspoli]

She stroked Skye's hair, feeling her heart ache a little. This was Persephone's fault. She'd pushed Skye too hard and now Skye was feeling awful. Titus was the right idea. A sleep would do her some good, and then Titus could take her home and make sure his sister got the peace she needed. "The room's ready, I made it up the other day."

Persephone got up and fetched a glass of water and some headache pills, offering both to Skye, "Here you go. Take these, and lie down, and we'll see if that helps." Persephone was fairly certain it would. And maybe she could compare notes with Titus to find out what they'd did before they came to visit so she could make sure he knew not to push her too much.

[Skye Thompson]

It startled Skye how worried everyone was about her. Usually it took a lot more than fear to make people concerned. Even Adrian would only have given her a hug and been on his way. Maybe there was some truth to what she had heard about people in the Top; they were so used to everything being wonderful that even small, unfortunate incidents became a huge deal. But that couldn’t be the case. Titus was an assassin. His parents had been murdered. Skye found it hard to believe he was so easily shaken. And Persephone had lived in the Below, she knew how harsh life could be.

So what was the reason? Why did they both seem so concerned by her fear? Skye couldn’t deny that it felt good to have someone else care about her emotions. Yet she felt strangely guilty for that fact, as if she were manipulating Persephone and Titus somehow. “I’m okay.” She insisted, even if it wasn’t true. “Really, I am.” Never the less, she took the things Persephone offered her and then looked back up at her friend, awaiting further instructions.

[Persephone Ruspoli]

Poor Skye. You could tell she wasn't used to this sort of attention. She probably wasn't used to any attention, except the unwanted kind. They'd have to show her that it was okay to get attention, espeically if you'd just had what looked like a small panic attack.

"I think you should still lay down." Persephone made sure not to sound like she was forcing Skye, but it really wasn't a suggestion anymore. Skye did need to relax, centre herself again, and maybe figure out what brought it on. "It doesn't have to be for long, just a short little nap to recharge. We'll still be here when you wake up."

She glanced at Titus and he nodded, assuring her that he would be there. Persephone just hoped he could keep this promise. Skye would be looking for him when she woke up, and if her brother was off... that could start another one.

[Skye Thompson]

It was a comforting thought that if she went to sleep, everyone and everything would still be there when she woke up. Yet, though Persephone said it with such conviction, there was a small part of Skye which insisted that if she even blinked, this whole world would be gone in a moment. She knew that wouldn’t happen, but… but what if it did?

Yet Persephone seemed committed to getting her to lie down and rest, so Skye figured she should probably do so, though she wasn’t sure it would have the effect Persephone and Titus were hoping for. She didn’t feel relaxed, and doubted she could make herself feel as such on command. But Persephone knew more than she did, so the best idea was probably to listen to her.

Gripping the glass of water tightly in her right hand, Skye nodded. “Okay.” Her voice was quiet but audible. As she stepped forward a few paces, she glanced back at Titus, seeking something in his expression. Something that said he wouldn’t leave her because of what had just happened.

[Titus Vere]

Titus was glad Skye decided to have... whatever that was with Persephone here. If they were alone, Titus wasn't entirely sure he would have been able to react appropriately. But Persephone had made it clear how to deal with it. Quietly, calmly. Titus tucked away Persephone's mannerisms in his mind and made a note to draw on them again if Skye had a similar episode.

When Skye looked back at him, he could see her waiting for him to react, most likely badly. But, though Titus felt awkward about what had just transpired, he was also curious to see this play out. "I'll be here." He assured her, speaking the total truth. Titus wouldn't be sending her away anytime soon, not so long as she still puzzled him. "Go lie down."

[Skye Thompson]

Skye sighed with relief. She had found what she was looking for, and though she still found it impossible to truly believe, it was a great comfort to hear Titus speak the words. Once again, he seemed to know exactly what she needed to hear. This talent was one of many other things that reminded her of Adrian. Most things in the Top seemed to reminds her of her brother, perhaps because her mind connected both to happiness.

Her fear fading, Skye found herself feeling extremely tired all of the sudden. Now eager for rest, she followed Persephone to the guest room. Just like to guest room in Titus’ apartment, the bed was like lying on a cloud. Despite her earlier doubts, Skye was asleep within five minutes.