fandomhigh | All Across the Island, Sunday Morning through Afternoon

All Across the Island, Sunday Morning through Afternoon

The time for a final strike had finally arrived. The prisoners of detention had been freed, powers and abilities had been returned, and all that remained was Umbridge, and her still-faithful Loyalists.

It was time to pick a side, and bring Umbridge's reign to an end.

[The OCD is up, have at it! If you would like to add your own OCD below in any of the threads, or link posts of your own in appropriate spots, feel free to do so. A post for celebratory aftermath will go up a little later, and then Fandom Island will be back to normal!]

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Bruce was silent a little longer than he would have preferred as he decided how much to actually say. He decided she probably deserved the majority of the truth. Also, that she couldn't do much with that information if she lashed out in an understandable way.

"I've stayed true to my ideals," Bruce said. "Which means I've been with the Resistance since I've been on the island. The past year, I've been under deep cover so I could get to a point where I could pull off something like capturing the library."

And it worked! He probably wouldn't get any credit for that.

"The past year?" Somehow, Juliet managed to both whisper that and shriek it. "That's -- so the whole time we've been together, you were planning this?"

She wasn't sad yet. Sad would come later. Right now she was angry and betrayed.

"Not this specifically," Bruce said. "But something like it. The specifics fell into place recently when I heard about the prison break."

"Of course, that distinction's not the important point here."

"Really, really not," Juliet hissed. "I can't believe you. You could have gotten killed. You could have gotten lots of other people killed. And you didn't even think to mention any of it to me."

"All of us were willing to risk our lives to take down a mad tyrant like Umbridge," Bruce said. Although he did have one dead person on his conscience. He would never forgive himself for not stepping in before Ender took a step too far. But he'd still do what needed to be done.

"But no, I didn't give much thought to telling you about it. I couldn't take the chance that you'd pass any information along."

That probably wasn't the kind of explanation she wanted to hear, but if he was being truthful for once....

"It's treason! I would have had to," Juliet said. She studied his face as she spoke, waiting for him to say he was joking, to show some sign this wasn't really happening.

It didn't happen.

"I don't even know what I say, now," she said. "It's not like I have a ring I could throw in your face."

"If you need to make a gesture, I'd suggest slapping me," Bruce said. "But I want you to know that the only thing I did wrong was making you part of my deception."

Edited 2012-07-30 01:30 (UTC)

Slapping! Slapping was an excellent idea. Juliet brought a hand up and delivered what she intended to be a stinging assault on Bruce's cheek.

"Did you even like me?" she asked. "Or respect me? At all?"

"Quite a bit, actually," Bruce said, rubbing his cheek. It didn't really hurt, but he figured a small lie there would at least make her feel better in the midst of all this truth. "But my mission was always more important."

"Oh. Good." Well, that saved Bruce a second slap. "Well ... I think you were wrong, and stupid to take the risk, and I'm mad you didn't trust me, but it looks like you got what you wanted, so ... congratulations?"

Juliet had no idea what you said at a time like this. It wasn't exactly the kind of problem she'd run into before.

"Not yet, I haven't," Bruce said. "But we're close."

"I am sorry I brought you into this. But at this point, the only thing I can do for you is suggest that you go back to the dorms, keep your head down, and be ready for change, one way or the other."

"Probably a good idea," Juliet admitted, and reached to touch his arm. "Call me when you know ... anything. Okay?"

She didn't trust Bruce; she wasn't even sure she liked him right then. But he certainly knew more than she did right then.

"I will. I promise," Bruce said. "Do you want an escort out of the library so you don't draw any funny looks?"

"My disguise got me through fine earlier," she sniffed. (Sunglasses and a scarf are not a disguise, Juliet.) "But -- that would be very nice, yes."

She didn't think she needed it, but she was never going to turn down this kind of offer of help.

Bruce finally stood up and started to lead her toward the door. "Just be safe. Everything else will get figured out later."

Edited 2012-07-30 02:25 (UTC)

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All Across the Island, Sunday Morning through Afternoon

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