xp_logs | Doug and Marie-Ange, Asgard

Marie-Ange returns Doug's Rockies jersey to him and explains more of why she's so moody and depressed, even after finding him.

As the weather grew colder, sleeping out in the rough got more and more difficult. They had managed to find inns and meadhalls here and there - sometimes through skalds Doug knew - or who knew of Aron Hugaldrson, and sometimes through the dwarves - who all seemed to know Jamie. But this night, they were nowhere near any small villages, so camping it was.

Even so, at least she had someone to share a bedroll with, which helped. Rubbing her eyes tiredly, Marie-Ange yanked an extra blanket from her saddlebag. It -had- to be nearly November, and body heat only helped so much at night. As she pulled out the thick wool, she caught sight of the white bundle she had folded tightly and stuffed at the very bottom of the bag. She had almost forgotten.

Tucking that bundle under her arm with the blanket, she returned to where Doug was unpacking his own saddlebag, pulling out what seemed to be heavier clothing and nuzzled at his neck gently.

Doug smiled as Marie-Ange's nose brushed softly against his neck. "Hello, love," he said as he looked over his shoulder at her. "How're you feeling?"

"Chilly. Hungry. Both are easily remedied." Pulling the shirt out from under her arm, she blushed a little and held it out. "I.. almost forgot I had this. I borrowed it before the game, remember?"

Doug shook out his Rockies jersey, smiling brightly as he recognized it and realized the significance. "You kept hold of this all this time just so you could give it back to me?" He leaned in and kissed Marie-Ange softly. "I love you so much."

A slight shudder passed through Marie-Ange's back and she buried her face in Doug's chest. "Had to fight for it... " she whispered, words muffled and nearly inaudible. "She wanted me to destroy it and it was not mine and I said no."

Doug wrapped his arms around Marie-Ange and slowly stroked her back. From what she had said, Sif sounded a lot like Asgard's version of a boot camp drill sergeant. "But it's okay, love," he said. "You didn't, and I'm right here with you."

"I almost did. I almost ... I almost believed her." The cold felt sharper against her eyes as she started to cry. Again she hadn't trusted Doug's faith in her, and again she hadn't believed in him, and if she told him, she wasn't sure he would understand.

Doug pulled Marie-Ange closer, to the point where she was practically inside his outer greatcoat-style fur. He stroked her hair gently and made soothing noises. "You were all alone," he whispered. "And the important part is that when it came down to it, you didn't give in to her."

"No, I had just assumed the worst." Marie-Ange said, voice nearly breaking with every word. "I should have believed in you, I should have trusted you, and all I could think of was getting home so I could give you the shirt back, no matter what had happened."

Doug continued stroking Marie-Ange's hair, bending down to kiss her forehead. "You'd been away from me for two months, and had no idea what was happening with me. I'd say that'd probably give most people a crisis of faith. It's okay."

In a small voice, almost too quiet to be heard, Marie-Ange whispered. "No. no, it is not. I thought the -worst-, Doug. All I could think of is that you were home and Marie had come back. I should have known better, I should have trusted you. You spent two months .. you.. you sang for me, and all I could do was get angry and try to hit things." Completely burying her face in his chest, and clutching at his arms, she shuddered out a sob. "I hit things. People. And the only reason I learned was because Sif made me mad, and some of that was at you."

"Em? I...to be honest, she never crossed my mind since I've been here, but..." Doug blinked as he realized that Marie-Ange meant she had worried about him being in Westchester with Em while Angie was in Asgard. "Oh, baby, it's all right. I think Sif makes everyone mad."

"Not at all? Not even once?" The question was muffled, but still understandable. And probably just a bit unfair, all things considered. "No. No, that's not fair to ask. Sif was wrong, I was wrong, and I do not know why you are so quick to forgive, but I am not going to complain." Raising her eyes to look at Doug, Marie-Ange smiled and rested her head on his shoulder.