((Outtake from ACN when Brand and Aria were trapped in the Temple of the Winds))
::Brand and Aria spend about a half hour in uncomfortable silence. Finally Aria drags over a few trinkets for Brand to identify. He does so, sarcastically saying poison was candy and the like. Finally Aria finds a love potion ::
Aria>What's this? It smells like crap.....
Brand>::bitterly:: Something I should have given to you long ago.........
Aria>::mistaking this as meaning the vial is poison:: Ah, so something else
I should file away to give to you. ::turns away and misses the look of utter
shock on Brand's face. Over her shoulder, frustrated:: I wonder who will die
first between us.
Brand>I think it will be me. You are crueler than I thought.
Aria>::arcs an eyebrow:: And just when I thought we were getting along......
Brand>::sighs and returns to searching::
Aria>::weighing vial in one hand, saddened. To Brand, without turning:: Why
is it that you hate me so much Brand.
Brand>Because you are a pandering, manipulative bitch.
Aria>::glares:: And you're Betty Crocker.
Brand>Don't pretend you aren't deliberately manipulating with anything that
crosses your path! Don't you think it sickens me to see you flirting shamelessly
with some ectoplasmic asshole, for the sheer pleasure of screwing with his head!
Don't you think it doesn't kill me to think how you have played my sons and
grandsons against themselves and me! You.....you.....::too mad to think of a
suitable insult::....you home wrecker!
Aria>::incredulous:: You are just as bad as me! You are the one who drove
Richard away, with the way you treat him and me! When I trumped him, he was
heartbroken, because of what you said! And you were the one wouldn't let go
of me at any cost! And as for screwing with people, I have nothing, *nothing*,
on you, the master at deception and Prince of Lies ::bows ironically at him::
I bet you are sleeping with my mother, just to get back at me.
Brand>::smugly:: Why, did she tell you?
Aria>::shocked, she didn't know. Turns away, her face in her hands::
Brand>::frowns. Crosses to her and puts his hands on her shoulders:: I'm
sorry. That was cruel.
Aria>I hate you.
Brand>I'm sorry.
Aria>::turns around and slaps him:: The hell you are! I can't believe you,
you incestuous bastard!
Brand>Well, if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black...........
Aria>FUCK YOU!
Brand>Aria.....::Aria takes a swing at his face. He ducks and back away::
Aria, stop it.
Aria>I should wipe the goddamn floor with you. I can't believe you......
Brand>Its not true alright? Calm down.
Aria>::about to cry:: I hate you! You are worse than I ever could be!
Brand>::snorts:: You are sleeping with my grandson and had a child, the child
*I* raised, by my son. Don't be so quick to call yourself a saint and me a sinner!
Aria>*I* didn't raise it! I am not her, I never was!
Brand>Strange, you look the same to me.
Aria>I wish I never walked your stupid ellipse! I wish none of it ever happened!
Ok! I wish we were never together! Happy? ::meaning it as an apology, albeit
an angry and sardonic one::
Brand>::takes it as an insult and turns away:: I can't believe you, you cold
bitch.
Aria>::mockingly, waggles the potion at Brand's back:: Oh, that hurts. Perhaps,
I should drink this and just end it all?
Brand>::looks at vial with horror and pain:: Why do you do this to me Aria?
Aria>::stalks forward, pushing the potion under his nose:: Because you are
an insufferable bastard, and you started it! C'mon, it's candy Brand! Drink
it!
Brand>::raggedly:: I wouldn't need it Aria.
Aria>Neither would I!
Brand>::steps forward and kisses her. After a long moment, releases her::
Aria>::calmer, but surprised:: What was that for? ::Brand looks at her with
sheer incredulity. Aria, slowly comprehending:: What is in that vial? ::Brand,
one step ahead, realizes what she thought it was and turns away. Slowly, Aria
realizes:: It was a love potion wasn't it.
Brand>::on his knees in a corner, his head against the wall:: I hate you,
Aria.
Aria>No. You don't.
Brand>::almost crying with fury and pain:: I hate you.
Aria>::touches Brand's hair and he jumps:: I will tell you the honest truth,
Brand. ::bitterly:: Consider yourself blessed. Yes, there was something between
us, even before the whole mess with the ellipse and after it ended. But now,
now I am...., 'a born again,' you might say. All my memories are a haze, especially
and including my emotions::
Brand>::interrupts:: I get the picture Aria!
Aria>No you don't! Shut the fuck up and listen to me! And some of those memories
are stronger that others. All my memories of you are stronger than all the others.
::falls silent for a long time:: Now, do you get the picture?
Brand>::can't speak, just nods::
Aria>Good. So shut up. And don't call me a bitch anymore.
Brand>::says something, but it gets stuck in his throat and sounds like a
cough::
Aria>What?
Brand>::laughs and cries at once:: Bitch.
Aria>::bursts into tears. The two stand thus for a longer while, and sitting
together longer in silence. After a long time, Aria sniffles and raises her
head from Brand's shoulders:: Why?
Brand>::coughs, and shakes himself from his thoughts:: Huh?
Aria>Why am I a bitch?
Brand>::thinks for a long moment:: Because you are exactly like me. You are
cold, cruel, manipulative, and nothing will stop you from getting what you want.
But you are also more loving, more loyal, and more gentle than any other. Because
I understand you.
Aria>::silent for a long moment. Smiles:: Its elementary, Dear Watson. ::harking
back to a private joke, both they and their doubles shared. When Brand said
something complicated, after his monolog, Aria would say this. With their doubles,
this usually came after an explanation of why he loved her.::
Brand>::laughs shakily:: I thought you lost all your memories.
Aria>::smiles and stands. Regards Brand for a moment. He gives her a small
smile and she frowns:: I have to go back to Richard.
Brand>:sighs and leans back against the wall:: Well, I can always hope, can't
I?
Aria>Before, I would have said no. Goodbye, Brand. ::walks out of the temple
and Hans herself away, back to Richard. Brand spends the rest of the night alone
with his thoughts::
Brand>I think we both paid the price again Aria................
Fini
Copyright Me 1999