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[tornadoed]

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[tornadoed]

[ more hidden, but not all that hidden. she's noticed his presence -- maybe she's just more attuned to it than she'd like to admit, or maybe he's not quite as hidden as he'd like.

either way, when dorothy leaves the house, she's aware of lucas' presence, but her attention is focused on toto and she has to bite her lip hard in order to keep from making a sound when he spots her, tail wagging, when she goes down on one knee and opens her arms to the dog. ]

[scarecrowed]

[ Lucas watches as her entire being seems to light up to greet Toto. He can't even find it in himself to be jealous of the dog, not when he seems to make Dorothy so happy. The corners of his mouth lift as he observes them. No doubt Toto would protect her so she'd be twice as safe with the both of them guarding her. ]

[tornadoed]

[ dorothy isn't sure she needs that much guarding, or that she wants it -- lucas should have other things to do with his time, better things. it's a weight on her shoulders, both warm and protective and heavy and oppressive all at once. she doesn't want it, but she doesn't want to cast it aside, either.

but those thoughts have no place in her reunion with toto and while toto licks her face, dorothy wraps her arms around him and mouths i've missed you into his fur.

eventually, she stands. grabs her device and types one-handedly, the other still on toto's head: ] thank you

[scarecrowed]

[ Perhaps she doesn't need his guarding, perhaps it's not necessary and she can defend herself but if she's just as impulsive here as she in Oz, she needs him - or someone - nearby to make her question what she's doing isn't rash enough to could get herself killed. That was his role back home. It's his here until she tells him to stop.

Lucas nods a you're welcome to her, then turns to leave because there's nothing much more left to say now he's given her dog back. ]

[tornadoed]

Where do you think you're going?

[ the question slips out before she's managed to think it through. ]

[scarecrowed]

[ That immediately makes him turn around, blink incredulously at her for a moment before moving to stand very close to her, enough to press his finger against her mouth in a shushing motion.

Why do you keep trying to get yourself killed? He says with his eyes. ]

[tornadoed]

[ oh.

oh.

she fucked up, didn't she? dorothy swallows, her eyes a little wide. the words had just slipped out, instinct more than anything -- but she doesn't get to go off that anymore. not here. ]

[scarecrowed]

[ Lucas is tense as he waits for something to jump out at them, regretting not bringing his sword with him, but not wanting to ruin her reunion with Toto with its presence...

But nothing comes. They got lucky this time. Eventually Lucas takes his finger away from her lips and types. ]

who i am today wants you alive. please try to remember that.

[tornadoed]

[ dorothy barely lets herself breathe until lucas drops his hand. then she's reaching for her device, too, heart beating wildly in her chest.

he'll know better than she does if it's safe or not. toto presses his nose against her thigh, as though sensing her fear. ]

yeah

[ she fucked up. she can acknowledge that. she can acknowledge the very real fear she's seen in his expression, too. ]

i'm sorry

[scarecrowed]

[ Lucas shakes his head at her, like she doesn't need apologize, she just needs to do better. And because it's force of habit, he ends up raising his hand again to cup her cheek in a comforting gesture...

Well, he does so for a second until he remembers he can't act that way around her anymore. Not my Dorothy, he reminds himself, letting his hand fall back to his side. And he turns to leave, again. ]

[tornadoed]

[ dorothy doesn't know how to react to the gesture. for a moment, she doesn't - and then he's already dropped his hand and turned to leave.

she doesn't speak, this time. she does, however, reach out to grab his wrist. to stop him. ]

thank you
for bringing toto

[ maybe for more. she presses her lips together, and for a moment she's not sure if her heart is beating so wildly because she's still scared or for anothe reason. ]

[scarecrowed]

[ That's the second time she's stopped him. She's starting to give the impression of wanting him to stay. He just stares into her face for a moment, trying to work out what she's thinking. He spends a lot of time doing that around her since she hides a lot of her feelings. ]

he's yours.

[ I am too, he thinks, even if she doesn't want him. A part of him will always belong to her, the part Glinda can't control. ]

is there anything else you need?

[tornadoed]

[ she's not sure she wants him to stay, but letting him leave without anything more seems - too little. not enough. but she can't think of anything else.

so after a moment, she lets her hand drop away and shakes her head. ]

[scarecrowed]

[ Lucas isn't sure what he's hoping for, but frankly he's gotten more out of his exchange than he thought he would, so he can't be disappointed. Once she releases him, he gives her a nod in return, then finally makes his way home, leaving her on the porch with Toto. ]