What Lies Beneath the Sprawl?

[Gren Blidh]

There was little that needed to be said in the next few hours; in fact, no utterances were had between Rinnan and [member="Dahlia"] that fell outside the throes of passion. In his subconscious, as Weyland Wynn consorted easily and eagerly with Gemma Burton, Rinnan could not deny that he enjoyed it. It probably made his false identity seem more real. But throughout the feverish kisses and melding of bodies which started in the shower and spilled into Gemma's bedroom, desperately crash-landing on her ample bed, Rinnan could not shake the foreboding solitude that lingered like a familiar grim reaper in the back of his mind. Rinnan knew that this, too, would pass. Indeed these moments would all pass without a trace of having ever been lived, when he relinquished his memories to the Security Bureau. The companionship he found in Gemma's warm, naked contours, the comfort of the soft fabric of her bedsheets alive with body heat that contrasted so sharply with the battleship-grey apartment that incarcerated him back on Dosuun, were to be experienced once like a fine bottle of Corellian brandy, and never again. Nevermore even remembered.

The lights were out in Gemma's bedroom now, the only light from the night cityscape barely sneaking through the tighty-drawn window shades. Gemma was next to him, turned to her side, apparently sleeping. Rinnan felt like he had been awake for ages; it felt like an eternity had passed between now and their foray on the nightclub rooftop several hours earlier. He stood up and delicately slipped out of bed to continue his work. If she noticed, he could always make the excuse of a trip to the bathroom. Rinnan moved lithely out the door and past the bathroom where their strewn articles of clothing remained, and made his way to the front entrance of Gemma's apartment where his coat still hung. Inside the inner pocket, next to his concealed slugthrower pistol, Rinnan found what he was looking for - a small computer chip the size of a pin.

He saw that there was a holocomm in the kitchen. Rinnan crossed towards it and picked it up, ducking below the center island to pull it apart as fast as he could. Bugging holocommunicators was almost second-nature to him at this point, as most were made with the same interface and internal structure. He placed the chip where it needed to be and quickly replaced the holocomm back in its spot on the kitchen. From there, he found his way back to the bedroom and slipped between the covers again, watching to see if Gemma's shoulders were still delicatel rising and falling. He wondered if she had noticed him get up. He wanted to join her in sleep, but instead he laid with a hand on his bare chest, staring into the dark abyss of the ceiling. Rinnan wanted to reach out and touch her again, but thought better of it. Instead his mind drifted alone through the bleakness of space, and RInnan felt as if his body would follow and being floating away, too.

 

[Dahlia]

Though Dahlia’s eyes were closed, and her breathing was deep and calm like she was far away in a dream – her mind was awake with thoughts. She could feel the pleasant warmth of Weyland at her side and hear the sound of his breathing. Don’t get used this, she gave herself a silent warning. Had she been anywhere else, she likely would have already slipped off into the night. But this was her place, and she wasn’t about to kick Weyland out into the cold.

No, perhaps she would indulge in closeness – just for one night.

These thoughts kept her company while Weyland stirred and slipped out of bed. She didn’t look to see, but she could scarcely hear his footsteps against the lush carpet. Her dark eyes flickered open in the darkness. Maybe the two of them were quite alike, perhaps he was up gathering his things right at this moment – just as she was beginning to crave his company, too. Don’t be a fool, she chided herself.

As the quiet padding of footsteps returned, she let her eyes slip closed again. Much to her surprise, she felt Weyland’s form returning to bed. Clutching the bedsheets close, she turned a small glance over her shoulder at him. Rolling over, she moved closer to him. Her hand moved up and slid gently across his bare chest. Letting her arm settle and drape over him, she placed her lips near his shoulder.

“Is it morning?” She murmured softly, her eyes shifted to the sheer curtains.

The dim skyline was just visible, but it was still rather dark. Shifting slightly to look up at Weyland, she could see that he was in a pensive state. Dahlia moved closer, studying the strong line of his jaw in the dim light. Eyelashes fluttered against his cheek for a moment, and then her lips brushed against his ever slightly.

“What are you thinking about, hmm?” She asked, lingering close.

[member="Agent Rinnan"]

 

[Gren Blidh]

It soon became obvious that [member="Dahlia"] was awake and had heard him leave, as she suddenly shifted to face him. Rinnan hoped that his movement hadn't woken her; or worse, what if she had seen where he went? Rinnan let that little pang of fear subside as her warm cheek pressed against his shoulder, followed by her arm draping around him. Her bare skin was warm like the blankets that cocooned them.

"It's about four AM," Rinnan answered her and instinctively leaned closer. It seemed as though she didn't suspect anything. Rinnan could rest easy in that thought, but now with Gemma curling up at his side, that concern was admittedly growing further from his mind.

Rinnan didn't know how to answer her second question. He remained silent for a moment, looking up at the dark ceiling as the night moved placidly in Gemma's finely furnished apartment. He wanted to hold Gemma; so he did. His arm snaked underneath her lithe form and pulled her close to his bare chest so that she could rest on him. But this was only a fleeting satisfaction; a simulacrum of a romance between them. He wanted to hold her as Rinnan, not as Weyland Wynn.

"Is this a usual thing for you?" He decided to answer a question with a question. "When morning comes, should I gather my things and leave without saying goodbye, and then we can both repeat the same thing with other people tomorrow night?" His tone was more introspective than accusatory.

 

[Dahlia]

Dahlia had let out a soft groan upon learning the time, and buried her face against Weyland’s shoulder. Four AM. She was already craving caf and cigarettes. As his arm began to pull her close, she moved to rest her head on his bare chest. There in his embrace, she let her eyes close again for a moment. In the quiet that had found them, she could hear the beating of his heart.

It was a curious thing, this steady sound.

In all her time with her husband, she couldn’t recall having ever listened to his heart. At least, not until it had stopped… But Weyland’s heart was strong, and Dahlia was slightly surprised to find that she felt thankful for this fact. She was pulled from these musings by his question, and she felt a soft smile forming on the edges of her lips.

“It might be,” She answered, and then gave him a slight squeeze. “I won’t kick you out right away, don’t worry.” A chuckle escaped her, but soon felt back into silence for another moment or two. “This is just a game, isn’t it?” She was accustomed to this way of life. And Dahlia had experienced the other side of the coin. Her married life had been many things, but she could sum it all up in a word: boring. Dahlia lifted her head slightly to look at him, genuinely curious.

“Why, are you tired of playing?” Blue eyes studied him.

[member="Agent Rinnan"]

 

[Gren Blidh]

Now that Rinnan had his answer, he closed his eyes and kept [member="Dahlia"] wrapped close against his bare chest. If it was all a game to her, then he would be foolish to try and bring any of his own feelings into it, despite his desires. He had a mission to do. That was what he told himself as he relaxed in Gemma's comfortable quarters, surrounded by the sweet smell of her sheets and perfume. Don't hate the player, hate the game, the old adage went. Rinnan would do well to take that to heart.

"I didn't say that," He responded to her question with a slight upturn of his lips.

He must have dozed off again, because he felt that not merely ten minutes later the sun was tracing through the geometric openings of the blinds and into his eyes, causing him to squint. Gemma still seemed comfortably asleep. Rinnan wasn't sure what time it was, but now was as good a time to arise as any. He could have left if he'd wanted, but instead he threw on his undergarments and headed for the kitchen. Rinnan had to remember his programming. He was supposed to be Weyland now, and Weyland was hungry. He wasn't going to simply leave Gemma's flat without satisfying each and every one of his desires.

A quick rummage through Gemma's refridgerator netted him all the ingredients he needed. Soon he was mixing batter on Gemma's table top, and had poured two glasses of blue milk. More importantly, the sensors he'd placed in the communicator were still intact.