IC CONTACT.

[glassbox]

it's diamond lil.
leave a message, hon.

Comments

[glassbox]

[ there's a startled pause -- but it's hard to say if she's more taken off guard by him bringing that up or by the sheer, unavoidable truth of it.

when she gets her voice back, it's defensive: ]

He's got nothin' t'do with this.

[ioudas]

He does, there's no avoiding it. (despite how much he avoids Madison, the tiptoeing around him, the never mentioning Lillian and he takes so much pride in who he's with.)

Like I said, I'll handle it.

[glassbox]

[ there's another tense pause, and tension in her voice when she finally asks: ]

Why y'holdin' me at arms length? What're y'doin' that for?

[ioudas]

I don't want you dragged into whatever Madison's problem is with me.

[glassbox]

[ her words chase quick on his, almost immediate: ]

Y'think it ain't a little too late for that? I am Maddie's problem with you, Cross.

[ioudas]

And I'm not going to let him take it out on you. He had his chance, he made his choice and now he has to lie in the grave he dug himself.

[glassbox]

[ another tense silence on her end.

then, finally: ]

I don't wanna talk about this anymore.

[ioudas]

Well, now you know why I kept it a secret. (he does sound rather irate for once.)

[glassbox]

Why, 'cause you figured I'd get angry? Why d'we bother t'talk about anythin' then? Why talk at all instead a'just -- I don't know, havin' sex and cohabitin'!

[ioudas]

Is this really talking though?

[glassbox]

S'pose it ain't, since y'ain't actually told me anythin' worth anythin'.

[ioudas]

You've never asked.

[glassbox]

I'm askin' now.

[ioudas]

It's... not good, Lillian.

[glassbox]

If it was good, y'woulda told me already. A man ain't ever gonna keep somethin' from a woman that she actually wants to hear.

[ioudas]

I just don't know how to tell you, you know?

[glassbox]

In the simplest, straightest way, hon.

[ioudas]

Pretty sure your husband wants to see me dead.

[glassbox]

That ain't supposed t'be surprisin', is it? Considerin' you're sleepin' with his wife.

[ioudas]

(... that isn't the point that he wants to make.) Oh, I guess you're right. (really, he just wants to drop it.)

[glassbox]

[ but this is lil, and she's always petulant and stubborn and all the terrible things a woman can be. ]

What? That ain't it?

[ioudas]

Nope, you're right. (he even sounds chipper about it.) Seriously though, don't worry about it.

[glassbox]

You're bein' a real bastard, y'know that?

[ioudas]

Is this the fight you really want to have?

[glassbox]

What the hell is that s'posed t'mean, Cross?