[jennah] you had a bad day

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

There are days when a person just wishes to do nothing at all. Willing laziness. But what about days where you just couldn't seem to summate the ability to do anything? When there was only one task you could repeat, over and over and over, trying to derive something out of it? When you went to school and could focus on your studies, but as soon as you got home that melted away and somehow you just couldn't find the power to do anything else, not even something you wanted to do. Iskander wanted to go out for a run, but yet, right now, all he could do was build Jerusalem. Lego's adorned the room of the sultan, and the legos had taken from into a Jerusalem. He normally wasn't like this. But he needed some time to lick his wounds and move on. It wasn't the easiest thing to do right now. She had, after all, attacked him!

Attacked him. And then what? He didn't recall. She'd hit pressure points before he could react. He didn't know that he had briefly come to and called his dog off her - all he remembered was waking up halfway across the park with a dislocated shoulder from his dog pulling on it, trying to take him home. He'd popped his shoulder back in and walked home. That had been the end of that until a neighbour came by, presenting him with his cell phone and a feather, which he found in the park. His cell phone worked. Great. But the feather...

That was Jennah's. Her favorite one. It was now on his nightstand, just past the walls of Jerusalem. It was her favorite one. Had she dropped it, or had she left it there? Either way, she had up and left; gone somewhere to do something and hadn't come back yet, though when she did, they apparently needed to talk. According to the voicemail. Iskander hadn't responded to it. He didn't know what to say. He didn't like leaving silent voice mails. So Saladin stayed silent, he didn't say a word. They'd talk when she got back. But he didn't know what was left to say, she'd made it quite clear she didn't give a damn about him anymore, in word and solidifying it in action. What more need be said? If that was what she wanted, fine. Surely he could take that. Surely he could, but he was having a hard time coping with losing his kingdom...that technically hadn't been his for nine hundred years. Didn't help it had gone downhill, either. And so here he was, licking his wounds in the most bizarre of ways, locked in his own little world for a time.

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Meanwhile, Islander's mother was concerned for her son. He'd gone into a shell of himself and she hadn't seen Jennah around; of course she knew what it meant, but any attempt to talk to Iskander has thus far failed. She supposed she ought to give him time to come around, but she was deeply worried. The woman pondered these things in the shower while she shampooed her hair, then as she got out and fixed it, and as she put on her pink bathrobe and slippers, before stepping out. She could hear Lump walking around downstairs, probably having a drink from her water bowl. Everything was in order, though she wished Iskander were reading the works over some philosopher over sitting and playing with Legos. She didn't know such a day would come, but here it was.

Her dark brown eyes scanned over her room, before noting a blind was drawn up, instead of down. At this time of night, they ought to be - a light on inside meant it was easy to see in, and here she was in her bathrobe! Thankfully, the window was masked mainly by a tree. Then she saw it. Motion. She frowned and walked over to the window, grabbing her hairdryer as she went. If it was one of Thomas' goons, she may as well try to put up a fight, right? She walked over and got a better view of the figure perched in the tree. She blinked once, twice, then smiled and shook her head, opening the window. "I'd advise you try knocking next time, Jennah. But come on in. The dog is downstairs, I'll put her out, and you know where his room is."

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words| 773
tagged| Jannah / Tina
notes| Wrong room, Jennah. XD

[Jennah Raine Advani]

She had done some pretty crazy things. Jennah wasn't the most mentally stable person in the bunch, she was just better at hiding it. Strong emotions made her act in ways one out see as...unrational. Or insane. Halloween was an example. She felt so much love and lust...well...you know what happened then. When she lost her baby, she was filled with so much grief and guilt, she punished herself by not eating and indirectly punished Iskander for not being able to afford the cab (which wasn't her intention. She didn't mean to hurt him, then. She just did.). When he confronted her about her problems, she was embarrassed and angry...and Jennah attacked him. She had attacked and physically harmed the boy she loved very much.

And she had run away too. Not that she had the option of staying. Lump was ready to murder Jennah, but Iskander saved his undeserving girlfriend and called off his dog. And then she fled. But not before she left him a clue. Her clue to him that she was coming back. She'd left him her favorite hair feather. Surely he'd understand the clue. Surely he'd realize she was just being...the emotional psycho she kept hidden. She'd called him while she was gone. He...never called back and now that she was home and on her way to see him, Jennah began to wonder if he did realize she didn't mean what she had done. Or if he cared to realize it. Maybe he had enough and didn't want her back. She definitely would not blame him. Her behavior had been unacceptable. Sure, she needed a vacation (which, she received, thank you Echo) but that did not give her an excuse to treat her boyfriend like this. If she was in his shoes, she would leave...
Who was she kidding? If Iskander was the crazy one, Jennah would still be at his side.

But if he wanted to leave, she wouldn't be surprised. Hurt, but not very surprised.

But Iskander had never responded. So their "talk" was still on.

His favorite snack was popcorn. Jennah knew he liked the salty things. So, as her peace offering, she spent all afternoon popping popcorn for him and unloading it in her backpack. Now her backpack was literally filled to the top with popcorn. If you think that was an emotional move, just look at what she's doing now.

Filled with her determination to get him back and beg for forgiveness, Jennah climbed the tallest tree in his yard, which just so happened to be placed near a window. His window. Or so she thought.

She had done a lot of thinking while she was away. Yes, she partied and enjoyed Chinese New Year, but before bed, her thoughts always went back to Iskander. She thought of the things she would say...the things he'd say...their expressions. None of it was particularly cheerful, but Jennah knew this wasn't going to be an Oprah-stlye reunion filled with happy faces, hugs and free stuff. This was going to be hard. There were probably going to be tears. Jennah had fucked up. She fucked up really bad. This wasn't simply an "i'm sorry" and move on issue. She had hurt him literally and emotionally. She had to prove to him that she was better now.

...She had popcorn, though, so this wouldn't totally suck.

Jennah was, actually, feeling better. One could tell by looking at her. She was back to her natural weight, color returned to her face. She looked alive rather than in the grave with her daughter. And though Jasmine's death still hurt, this was a new year. A new day. A new chance. She loved her baby, but she couldn't stay lost in her memories with the unborn child. It was time for Jennah to move on with Iskander. Of course, before they could move anywhere...they had to be together again.

Jennah grabbed onto the branch and pulled herself higher into the tree, facing the window. She crouched on the branch like a wild cat on the hunt. She looked at the window and then around it, trying to figure out a way in. She didn't notice a woman in a pink bathrobe until she was there at the window. When Jennah's dark eyes met Miss Azizi's, she screamed slightly in surprise and leaned away upon reaction, making her tip off of the branch. Luckily, Jennah caught the branch and held on tight. She dangled from the branch as Miss Azizi spoke to her.

"I'd advise you try knocking next time, Jennah."

Jennah blushed and grinned sheepishly. She honestly didn't think she'd be allowed in, to be honest.

"But come on in. The dog is downstairs, I'll put her out, and you know where his room is."

Jennah nodded and swung her body before finally getting enough momentum. She let go and landed in Miss Azizi's room. Still embarrassed she muttered to Iskander's mom, "Thanks Miss Azizi...it's good to see you again."

Jennah then left Iskander's room, walking carefully just in case Lump decided to charge and attack before Miss Azizi could get to the dog. Mental note: next time...be positive on which room you're trying ti climb too. Jennah shifted the penguin backpack of popcorn on her shoulders and headed to her boyfriend's room. She hesitated slightly before she knocked. After she knocked, she sort of regretted knocking...so she carefully opened the door and went inside.

It was like stepping into the world of a creative 8-year-old boy. Lego Jerusalem had taken over Iskander's room. Jennah's jaw dropped slightly at the sight. "Wow..." Was all she could manage.

She looked down at the city at her feet and noticed the palace. She knelt by it and looked inside, seeing a Sultan standing by himself in his own safe place. She frowned. She knew who that little lego monarch represented. She hung her head for a moment before she found a female lego with dark hair. She looked at it in her hand for a moment before placing it inside the palace with the lego sultan.

WORD COUNT: 1028
LISTENING TO: Romance Is - LIGHTS
COMMENTS: outfit and forgive me if this was error ridden and made no sense. i'm tired[/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Iskander didn't like being so mopey all the time, but yet all he had the capacity to do right now was just that. It was stupid, he knew that - in fact, give him a few more days of this and the lego would be gone (though he'd certainly take some pictures of his creation) and he'd be back to normal, almost as though Jennah had never existed. Well, not, not that extreme. He wanted her back, just like he wanted Jerusalem back. The latter was a completely impossible hope, but the former still had a chance, when she came back to "talk" - that was, if she hadn't already made up her mind, or was still killing herself.

That was probably the worst part of t from him. She just stopped eating, she was punishing herself over something she had no control over, that was what it was, and yet she punished herself physically for it. It was extreme; and she consistently denied it. It was only after a roommate alerted him did he have any trustable proof (Tamara and he rumour mill did not count) and even them she insisted she was fine for quite some time. Why would she do that to herself? She was a warrior - but then again, she had met her last death by suicide. Should he be all that surprised? But did her past life even matter in that regard. Starving oneself was bad; track record didn't matter. At that time, he'd rather she be mad at him them starving herself. He still did. But, he reasoned, as he recreated a Jerusalem cathedral, it seemed anything about him didn't matter anymore, so why should she matter to him? No idea. But she did. And, as much as right now he wanted to be loathe to admit it, she likely always would.

No matter how much she might be on his mind, he did not just expect her to come. When Iskander's door first opened, he expected his mother to come in and ask him if he had work that day, or didn't have have someone to go have fun with, or anything to read, of if he wanted to go see a movie, trying to snap him out of it. So he didn't respond, he didn't look up, just put more lego-brick detail into the church. Then, a single word. Wow. Not much of a word. It was the voice behind it that caught his attention, and in a second Iskander was looking up at his doorway, and the figure therein.

Well, think of the devil, there was Jennah, gawking into his room. What was she doing here? He hadn't heard a knock on the door, or the doorbell. But somehow she'd gotten into the house. Silent, he watched her look down, take a single lego lady and place it in the palace. He knew why. He was in there, in his own way. So...she just walked in here and placed her piece in the palace? A scowl crossed Iskander's face, but it was gone in the blink of an eye. Instead, he just watched her for a moment more. She looked healthy. She looked...okay. Was she eating well? Maybe. Probably; how else was she looking okay again? Then again, his room wasn't the mostly brightly lit, who knew?

"Jennah." He said by ways of greeting. He looked around, but there weren't many places for her to sit. He gestured to his desk, where there was a seat, or his bed, but he wondered if she'd go for option three, the bit of space Jerusalem had yet to expand into, right beside him. "Your feather." He added, pointing to his nightstand, which King Richard's (or Vaughn's) men had seemingly besieged.

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words| 679
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| Azula <3

[Jennah Raine Advani]

For a while, she had considered suicide. She considered hanging herself or, in reference to her past, jumping to her death. Suicidal thoughts plagued her every time she through of her daughter. Old habits were hard to break. Her pain was easy to escape last time. Her husband was already dead and her soldiers jumped with her. There was nothing to lose. This time, though...this time things were a tad trickier. Jennah had plenty to lose and many to hurt if she committed suicide...specifically Iskander. He was the last person she wanted to hurt. He'd hurt enough, hadn't he?

That's why she starved herself. She punished herself at first for not protecting her daughter but it eventually changed to her punishing herself for not being strong enough to get over Jasmine. Eventually, her punishment became her way of life and Jennah didn't know how to break the habit. She just kept starving and it was taking it's toll on her greatly. She was irritable, tired and very sickly. However, her anorexia did one thing she did not intend for it to. It hurt Iskander. She probably should have seen it coming, but she didn't. She didn't even stop to think about her actions and how they affected him. She was doing exactly what she had tried to avoid. She was hurting him. She was the reason he was mopey. She was the trigger for this whole lego Jerusalem thing. She hit him. She ran away. She broke his heart. How dare she even come back?

She saw his expression when she put the lego lady in beside the sultan in the palace. She saw that scowl, an expression she had never had directed at her before. She frowned and looked away from him, missing the moment when the scowl left. She scowl stayed in her mind. She had no right to be doing this. Jennah reached into the palace with a very quiet, "Sorry" and took out the female piece, placing her far away from the Jerusalem Iskander had built all on his own. She looked at her piece, standing outside of Jerusalem's walls, looking in. ...That stupid piece deserved it.

"Jennah."

She heard him say her name. So cold. So...emotionless. That hurt a bit and he wasn't even trying to be spiteful. Jennah just...wasn't used to hearing him say her name...not lovingly. She could return the favor, but...she chose not to. Instead, she spoke softly to him, "Hello, Iskander." She wanted to say 'I'm back', but, for some reason she felt he would rather she left.

She looked to his desk when he gestured to it. Then her eyes slid to his bed. There were places for her to sit at both the bed and desk, but Jennah noticed one other spot. The one beside him. She looked to her long lost hair feather when he pointed to it, "Your feather."

"Thanks." She said, carefully stepping around Jerusalem and the lego civilians and retrieved her hair feather. She tilted her head, her long black hair falling over her shoulder as she tied the feather back into the right side of her hair and ran her fingers through it a bit, fixing up the feather and her hair. She looked at the wall moment and sighed, trying to find her words before she turned and looked at him, a slight frown on her lips. For once, she did not know the right thing to say to him. She didn't have any words.

Still, she forced herself walk to him. She carefully sat down beside him in the space that hadn't been taken over my little plastic blocks. She looked at the lonely sultan in the palace. She felt stupid now for putting the female piece in with him. Perhaps he'd much rather be alone. Jennah bit her lip for a moment and looked over at him. "Iskander..." She said, her big brown eyes looking up at him. What should she say? Where to start?

She sighed and looked away, her eyes falling to her penguin back pack. She grabbed it, opened it and put it in front of Iskander, a bit of popcorn falling out of the bag. "I...I made this for you," She said, "Since...I know you like popcorn. A lot."

She tucked her dark hair behind her ears looking down at her folded hands in her lap. "I-....I'm so sorry, Iskander. I-...I don't know what came over me...I was embarrassed that you found out...I was hurting...and I suppose I was angry and confused as to why you were not hurting as much as I was. And-...and I know that doesn't make what I did right..but I-..." She lost her words again. She didn't know what to say. 'I'm sorry' really didn't cut it.

She looked at her lap again, biting her lip. "I just-...I'm just...so sorry, Iskander. I love you...but...if you don't want me back...I don't blame you. I just wanted you to know how sorry I was...and that I love you. And I miss you. I thought of you everyday while I was with Echo." She got quiet, feeling that her words were doing nothing. She quietly added, "And I'm better now...I won't break your heart like that again...That is...If I still have your heart."
Because at this point she wasn't sure. With all she needed to say said, she stood. "I-...I'll let you think about it. Call me if you want to talk again...and if you don't call...well...I'll understand." She carefully kissed his cheek and turned to leave. She did not expect a phone call in return.

WORD COUNT: 959
LISTENING TO: kiss it better - he is we
COMMENTS: i sleepy. MATH NOW [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

It seemed the time for meeting had come, and it had come on Iskander's home turf. Just as he let the crusaders on his soil, not theirs, so too would he meet Jennah at the walls of Jerusalem. She saw his scowl and vacated her piece, well beyond the walls again. That's right. Jerusalem was his. It was his to keep. Or share as he saw fit, but which would the sultan dethroned choose? Would he let this girl in? Or had he been hurt to the point where the damage was just not going to be repaired? That was the question, wasn't it?

Jennah, it seemed, thought it was beyond repair, or she would not have removed her piece. But that simple action made Iskander think it wasn't. If she kept the piece there, it was still up for debate. But here...she clearly knew that it was. And she respected his space. He was okay with it being there while they talked, inside the walls. But it made sense her piece would be outside at first. Just...just to work everything out, but how to start even that? How does one explain total irrationality? How does one explain emotional, temporary insanity, things flying out of control, past the hands of fate and into chance, then back again, back to here it hinged on what sense could be made of it all? That was unfair, but it was how it all worked out to be. And why were friendships never this hard? No, throw in a little word called love and suddenly everything was messed up, wasn't it? Suddenly everything was changed....for better or worse. When romance came, things got a different dynamic to them. He didn't mind it, it just made things hard sometimes. Like now. Hard and confusing and crazy. She wasn't the only one being nuts – did this look like the actions of a sane young man, building a lego Jerusalem? Of course not.

His words, though, were the same as they often were. Flat and emotionless. Maybe not so flat as Jennah was used to being directed at her, though. Her own greeting was so much softer, yet Iskander could find nothing to say to it, so he let everything fall quiet again until he decided to point out her feather. She'd want it back, whatever the outcome of this was. But there was no real conversation going on. A thanks here, a name there, a this, a that, not much. It was like they'd run out of things to say, that this was the point where it was "okay, see you". But not quite, as Jennah found her way over to the third open slot. The one beside him. Good. He wanted her here. Nearby. Iskander's brown eyes scanned over her. She seemed healthier, and he felt more sure that she was, now that she was seated beside him. In fact, the smallest of smiles game onto his face. It was small, and didn't last long. He still have to survive this "talk". The last time they'd had a talk he'd been attacked, after all.

But they weren't doing much talking. Nope. She looked up at him with those beautiful eyes, then sighed and looked away again. His own brown eyes were just confused. What was going on? Jennah gave him an offering of popcorn, and Iskander reached out and took a kernel, popping it into his mouth. He loved popcorn, and she knew it. But he took to almost show her he accepted her being here. The trouble was, the symbolism was altogether too deep and too easily lost on people. No, being blunt would save the day here, but her stumbled out apology was, well...just a justification. He knew what she was getting at, only, what was he to say? He remained quiet for a time, as she paused then went on again, seemingly resigned to the idea that he hated her. If he hated her, he'd have gone on with life by now. No, no, he loved her, and she loved him.

Iskander let her finished before he spoke. He knew he could get over her and be just fine. He could. Or could he? She kissed his cheek and for a moment everything seemed okay again, the lego Jerusalem not quite as essential to his being.

If he wanted to, he could never call her. If he wanted to, he could just move on and there would be no hard feelings. He could find a girl that wouldn't try to kill him. But that was unfair and very much not what he wanted to do. "Jennah." He repeated his initial greeting. "Jennah, wait. Wait." His words were not cold. They weren't overly welcoming right now, but they were by no means cold. "Jennah, why would I call you back if you're right here? I'm calling you right now. Come sit here." He didn't quite ask, he didn't quite demand. "Have some popcorn with me. We talk now, because you still have my heart, and I have decided you can keep it."

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words| 916
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| This post has HORRIBLE flow. It's so...choppy.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

She shouldn't have come. He thought he'd be more comfortable talking with her in a place that was his, but now Jennah felt she was invading. Especially with lego Jerusalem around. She felt she had interrupted an intimate memory he had from his past life. Coming back was a very bad idea on her part. This was his holy land. This was all his. She did not belong here. Maybe once upon a time, she had. But her love story was over. It ended in blood, tears and sickness.

How exactly did it get here? No one could have seen this coming. When they met, Jennah would have never guessed they would end up in his bedroom, both their hearts torn in two. They were just two teenagers trying to make use of the gym. He happened to see her working on her acrobats. Then they sparred. Just two friends. Nothing more...until she was trying to teach him a couple moves. He stole a kiss...and then they kissed again. That's when they became a couple. But even then, things were innocent. A couple kisses. Holding hands. Cuddling. Nothing big.

And then Halloween came. And apparently Iskander likes legs. Specifically Jennah's legs. He really liked those. He suggested it, but it was she who seduced him back to her room. They snuck up to her dorm together and made love. Okay, maybe not the most innocent thing. But really, that was natural for a couple. And then Jennah accidentally conceived.

A baby girl. Jasmine. Their baby girl. Even though she was never born, Jennah loved that child with all of her heart. And perhaps that was her downfall. She loved her baby too much. She planned too much for it. And the foundation was pulled out from beneath her when she lost Jasmine. Jennah felt like she was falling. There was reminders of her daughter everywhere. There was that pitiful look in people's eyes. And then there was Iskander. She knew he was blaming himself for her pain, which was untrue. It was not his fault. And every time she looked at him, she was reminded of what they did...and what they lost. The constant reminders were driving her mad. Her madness caused her to lash out and run like a coward. And now she was paying for it. Now, he was cold. Now, he didn't want her. Now...she couldn't blame him. She'd been awful to him and everyone else by lying about her eating disorder and her mood swings and...everything.

She had missed the faint smile. She was missing all positive signs from him. Maybe it's because they were so few, or maybe it was because she wasn't looking for them. But she missed his smile when she sat beside him and he saw how healthy she was. She only felt his coldness and saw his anger. It was hurting her, but she understood and tried to keep a stiff lip. The last thing he probably wanted was for her to cry and the last thing she wanted was to cry in front of him. She was too proud to cry again.

She saw the confusion in his eyes and she saw him eat the popcorn. She was a little happy he ate. At least he didn't think she'd poisoned him. That was a good sign. But...he didn't say anything. Jennah wanted him to say something. Feel something. Show something. Anything! She wanted to see that he still felt something towards her, even if it was extreme anger. Yet, he remained mute and it was driving her crazy. She'd accept yelling over the silence.

But it appeared he no longer felt. Jennah sighed. She had ruined it. She loved him so much, still...yet...he was not happy with her. So, she would show him that she still loved him, by letting him go if she wished. As Jennah stood and turned, she realized this would probably be one of the last times she saw him. But she would not cry. She could not. She didn't want his sympathy and him taking her back just so she would stop crying. If he wanted her back, he would have said so by n-

"Jennah. Jennah, wait. Wait."

And wait she did. She paused and looked over her shoulder slightly. "Yes?" She asked gently. Was he going to yell now? Was her heart going to be further broken?

No. It wasn't.

"Jennah, why would I call you back if you're right here? I'm calling you right now. Come sit here."

She turned around and looked at him for a moment before going back to his side. She knelt beside him again, her eyes on him as he spoke.

"Have some popcorn with me."

She took a bit and chewed on it slowly. She really was not hungry right now, but she wanted to show Iskander she was, indeed, eating again and wasn't lying when she said she was better. Now it was her turn to fall into silence as he spoke.

"We talk now, because you still have my heart, and I have decided you can keep it."

She stopped eating. She paused for a moment. Did he-....did he mean that? When Jennah realized he did a split second after, she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding on. Holding him close and holding him tight, Jennah's bottom lip quivered for a moment before she said the first thing that came to mind. "I missed you so much," She whimpered, "And I'm sorry for acting the way I did...b-but I'm back now. I'm okay. A-and I want to start again. I love you Iskander. I do. I never stopped loving you."

WORD COUNT: 964
LISTENING TO: all over you - the spill canvas
COMMENTS: ...tawwwwwwwwwwwlk ^_^ [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Iskander just wanted to feel better, and once he did, he'd be back to being Iskander and he'd have no problems facing the world. Unfortunately, Jennah walked in. Or fortunately. He didn't know. He wasn't sure what to make of her entry. She was back, she didn't hate him...or maybe she did. Maybe she was giving him a last piece of her mind before she left him. Maybe he ought to do that. Maybe this just wasn't worth it. It happened, you know. Teenage relationships did not weather the hard patches as well as mature ones, or were they mature? As children, reincarnates couldn't sort out their memories - did brain development still hinder the soul even into their teens, as their brains were still developing? They obviously got the picture at anywhere between nine and fourteen (for the most part) but did it effect the later years? Did past lives even matter - here he sat in Jerusalem, while the present unsettled him.

All the present unsettled Saladin. He'd have preferred to stay dead. Trouble was, he had to turn to the future, and that was quite simply that. There was nothing more to say on that, but plenty left unsaid when it came to the future between himself and Jennah. They had both said the bare bones now. They both understood what had been done and what was on the line. That didn't mean all was said. That didn't mean things were at all explained. It was time to talk, so he "called" her right then and there, called her back.

He watched her come back, navigating his little Jerusalem again, to kneel beside him. He watched her intently, expression decidedly neutral as their glances met and he offered her popcorn. She took some and ate it. He might not have been a Christian, far from it, but Saladin had never been unknowing to the religion. He'd say this was some sort of take on communion, and he internally scoffed at the relation he had just made. This was not communion. It might have been a chance at redemption for them both, but in no way was Saladin into communion. No, the popcorn was just a gesture, in the middle of symbolism and gestures and metaphors, when the most simple of dialog was taking place. He could have analyzed the situation to death, if he was thinking hard on it, but just now he was preoccupied.

He just wanted to know what she'd say now. His heart was hers. It was her say now. He wanted her to keep it. He decided she could...only, how would she react. Her intentions were clear, his were too, but the reaction to the words, he didn't even know what to expect. Would she cry or laugh or-

Iskander was taken aback a bit when she launched herself at him, but he didn't resist the tight hug that followed. A shiver ran up his spine as she started to speak, voice near his ear. He had been using his hands to support himself, so he didn't cling back right away. Instead, he just shut his eyes and a shiver ran through him, just a tiny one. "Jennah." He said again, when she finished, as though to make it all concrete. "You're here now. It's over. It's done. I love you." Did he really have to say that much more. "S'okay now. I love you too, and I know you love me. I know you do." Now he did. Now he knew. He knew all along, in a way, even when he pondered just having it be over - but every time, something told him to wait a little more. And this was why. He loved her, and she loved him. That was why. Eyes still closed, he shifted his weight and sat up, now able to hug her close. "Just promise me you'll stay okay. That's all I want. All I need." He could work around other issues, but not her trying to die. That one...he did not want to go there again, once was good enough.

Then, Saladin untangled himself and got up. He worked his way around to the piece she'd initially put in the palace then removed, and he placed it back in, beside the sultan, before returning back to her and hugging her once more. Iskander shifted again, to lean back on the nightstand behind him. He took a bit of the popcorn with one hand, one arm still around her, and ate it, then offered her the next piece.

words| 824
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| I'm sleep-deprived. This probably is a shitty post.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

High School relationships typically did not last. This was a cold fact, but a fact none the less. However...there were those few that worked out. There were those who met in high school and got married in the future. Currently, their future was written in the sand, ready to be blown away and forgotten at any moment. Jennah would rather see it carved into something perhaps more solid. When she was around Iskander, she felt something she had only felt once. She felt exactly what she felt with she was still Wang and her husband, Qing was around. Jennah loved Iskander more than she could even begin to say. She was too shy to admit it, but she wanted a future with him. And to have it all possibly end like this because of her foolishness and temporary insanity? She would never forgive herself for it. She would let him go if he wanted to. What could she honestly do, anyway? If he wanted to move on and see other girls, Jennah would understand and she would go with no hard feelings against anyone but herself.

He hadn't yet sent her away, but Jennah was preparing herself for the worst. She'd attacked him after all. You can't just expect things to be okay after an outburst like that. The road back to normalcy wasn't an easy one, but Jennah was willing to walk it with Iskander by her side. They just...had to take the first step. That was proving to be a tad more difficult than she thought it would be.

But when he said his heart belonged to her...her insecurities seemed to melt away. His heart belonged to her. Despite everything they had been through, he still loved her. And she loved him. Love. That was one thing that seemed to be capable of standing the test of time. That was one thing that had not died. And it would not die.

He didn't hug her back right away, but Jennah was fine with it. He wasn't pushing her away and he had to prevent himself from being tackled over somehow. Besides, as small as his shiver was, she felt it. She felt him shiver in her arms and she couldn't help but smile. He still shivered for her. By that shiver, she knew the affection was returned.

"Jennah."

His voice was deep and soft in her ear. She closed her dark eyes. She felt warm. She felt safe. She felt loved. Just by one word...just by saying her name, he had that effect on her.

"You're here now. It's over. It's done. I love you."

She smiled at what he said.

"S'okay now. I love you too, and I know you love me. I know you do."

"I never stopped," She said, tears of happiness welling up in her eyes. She kept her tears held back, though. This was not a moment for tears. "You have my heart, too, Iskander. You always will." That was definitely a fact. She had eyes for no one else in this world. Jennah only had eyes for a particular boy. A tall, strong tanned boy of Middle Eastern decent. He had to have brown eyes that lit up when ever he smiled or laughed. His eyes had to make her melt when the light hit them just right. He had to have shaggy, kind of messy black hair. Oh, and he had to have been a sultan at some point in his lives. That was crucial. Jennah liked Middle Eastern kings.

He shifted a bit and then Jennah felt his arms around her in return. She was silent for a moment, snuggled close to his chest, her ear over his heart, listening to it's deep thud. The sound of his heart was cut off by the sound of his voice, "Just promise me you'll stay okay. That's all I want. All I need."

That one request made her feel awful for everything she had done to him. Well, more awful, actually. She frowned slightly, keeping her eyes closed. She buried her face in his chest and replied, "I promise. I promise I will never hurt myself like that again." Breaking his heart was no good.

For a paranoid moment, when he left her arms, she thought her promise wasn't good enough. She was about to speak and try again, when she saw him reach over for the female lego piece that represented her. A smile slowly spread on her face as she watched him put her back in the palace next to the sultan. She beamed at Iskander for a moment when he came back to her and hugged her. She looked back at the lego people. They weren't quite right yet. She slipped out of Iskander's arms and leaned forward, adjusting the pieces so that they were holding hands. Then, Jennah leaned back into his arms, leaning into his chest. She smiled when his arms were around her once more. Comfortable silence once again took over as he took a bit of popcorn and shortly after offered her some. She accepted, chewing on it happily. Her eyes wandered around the room and the extreme detail that went into everything. Exceptional craftsmanship...

"This really is rather cool," She told him, a soft smile on her face. She tucked her hair behind her ear and looked up at him, "You didn't miss a thing. Everyone's here." She gave her boyfriend a soft kiss, "I'm impressed."

WORD COUNT: 916
LISTENING TO: time bomb - all time low
COMMENTS: poptarts [/font]

[Iskander Rafel Azizi]

Did love last forever? Ever critical Iskander had to wonder. He'd been an absent dad and husband in the past life. He loved his children and wife (unlike many sultan's, he only took one) and when he was around home he loved to be with them...but if love lasted forever, was wasn't he holding out on the promise that his wife would be reincarnated? Was a relationship with Jennah cheating, or was one life separate in this way from the next? Love could last a lifetime, but in very few cases - Bonnie and Clyde being the only exception he currently saw - did it seem to last more than one. "Soul mates" might literally be garbage when reincarnation was factored in. Now, don't get him wrong. Iskander loved Jennah. He just had to wonder. Concepts about mortality, God and love could all be turned on its head when adding what they believed happened in reincarnation. It made him wonder if a soul was just a soul and memories, personality and "being" were something else altogether, but then how was he here recalling what he did, then?

It was an impossible mess of questions that Iskander pondered over Jerusalem, until a seemingly impossible mess of a relationship stepped in the door and brought him back to the less theoretical situation that was between him and Jennah - also a reincarnate who had loved in the past. And, it seemed, loved in the present (and hopefully the future, but Allah himself only knew what what would hold). She held him close, and he felt her snuggle close against his chest as she spoke. This felt right. Be it only life to life, or be it eternal, or be it only for a next year, what mattered right now was that it felt right. Enjoying life was no sin.

Iskander smiled down at Jennah, silently willing her not to cry, however teary he eyes looked. He didn't want tears. Not now, not ever, preferably. So he remained silent. He didn't know what to say. Iskander would admit to himself that he had felt she stopped loving him - in fact, when she was angry just before she attacked him, she said something like that. Most of that incident was blurry, though, given she'd done quite the number on him. He stayed quiet, nibbling a little bit of popcorn. He couldn't help it, it was good. "Good. That's all I needed. A promise. I don't need anything more, even though popcorn is nice, I'll admit." Iskander said with a small smile, stroking her hair until she moved away.

He watched, with some amusement, as Jennah reached over and let the lego figures hold hands. The funny thing was that they wouldn't be doing that for long. Jerusalem would slowly be dismantled now that she was back within it's walls. With the present to hold on to, the past did not have to try to materialize anymore. It was fine as a memory. Sure, his whole kingdom had gone downhill, and sure, he obsessed over Jerusalem, but at the same time, he knew, in the back of his mind, he had to eventually go on. Going on did not mean forgetting - it just meant going on.

"It's not wholly accurate." Iskander admitted with a small chuckle. "The market square was never nearly so deserted, and I didnt' often stand outside my palace like that." He hadn't been very into the whole palace thing, to be honest. A simple home was good enough for him. Not that he hated luxury, it sure was nice to relax, but sometimes palaces just rang of overkill. "Besides, a palace pales in comparison to now."


-----------------
words| 684
tagged| Jennah / Tina
notes| Iskander's muse makes me mad.

[Jennah Raine Advani]

Did love last forever? That was a tough question. Both Jennah and Iskander were married in their past life. Iskander had kids with his wife back in the day. Jennah simply had Qi Lin. They were in the midsts of a revolution but...it wasn't like they never spoke of having children. However, that chance was ripped away from them when Qi Lin was beheaded. So, perhaps Iskander had a stronger connection with his past wife since he fathered her children. Still, Jennah couldn't really recall him speaking of her often. Did that mean he no longer loved her because Jennah took her place? As for Qi Lin, Jennah still loved him, but if he walked back into her life...would she fall for him again?

She saw love last through different lives. Bonnie and Clyde truly were the perfect example. They had their bumps in the road, but they still cared very deeply for each other. However, as Jennah thought about it...she couldn't say whether or not she would go back to Qi Lin if she found him...if he was even out there. She'd want him as a friend — probably her best friend — but her lover once again? His death had hurt her. It cut through her like a knife...but she moved on. When she avenged his death, she began to heal. Once she, herself, had died, she was at peace and the anger for his death had passed. Jennah found comfort in Iskander's arms. She liked being there. She loved him. She felt stronger for him than she did for Qi Lin. They had seen the toughest storms. The storms were passing now and he still loved her and she him. Perhaps Iskander was her Clyde, if you will. Perhaps he was the one that — if she were to come back again when she died in this life — she would search for. Perhaps...

But that was not something to think about now. Now was the time to just accept things the way they were be remain content in his arms for however long he was hers. She would not cry. This was not a time for tears. This was a happy time. A relief. A reunion, even. A re-admittence of love that was once though lost, thanks to her and her temper.

"Good. That's all I needed. A promise. I don't need anything more, even though popcorn is nice, I'll admit."

She smiled and leaned into his touch as he stroked her hair. "I figured," She teased with a grin, "That if I couldn't convince you with my words, I could bribe you with popcorn."

She took one of his hands and laced their fingers together while her free hand traced on his chest for a moment before she used said hand to eat popcorn. This was nice. It was like...like nothing ever happened. It was like how they used to be before the baby fiasco and her insanity and...everything. She was comfortable in the silence and safe in his arms. She closed her eyes for a moment, satisfied with the current situation. She looked up at Iskander again. She was going to say something but...words were unnecessary. Words would ruin this comfort. So, instead, she smiled at him. She just gave him a smile. That's all she had to do. Her dark brown eyes said the rest for her. She loved him and it showed.

"It's not wholly accurate." Iskander admitted with a small chuckle. "The market square was never nearly so deserted, and I didnt' often stand outside my palace like that."

She rolled her eyes slightly, grinning still. "Okay. That may be so. Still, it's very impressive and very cool. You should leave it up. You worked hard on it." It spiced up his room a bit, anyway.

"Besides, a palace pales in comparison to now."

She blushed slightly and looked away from him, hiding her face in his chest again so he wouldn't see her slightly pink cheeks. "You flatter me, Iskander" She said into his pectoral muscles, finally looking up at him again with a grin. He valued her a lot more than she was worth. A lot more. But she wasn't complaining. How could she complain at a time like this? The pieces of their seemingly ruined relationship were being glued back together.

WORD COUNT: 727
LISTENING TO: latika's theme - slumdog millionaire
COMMENTS: i did a lot of random rambling [/font]