Mrs. Blund [Tag: Katherine]

[Dorian F. Blund]

Dorian held the feminine hand between his palms, feeling the slender fingers against his skin. Something rough and cold came to interrupt the motion, and he frowned with evident aversion. As if those rings, already a symbol of falsehoods and abandon of identity, weren’t abhorrent enough (not to mention, ugly as sin), She had somehow found a way to make them even worse, to the point Dorian could barely tolerate the sight.

She’d only taken it off for a moment, barely a few minutes; yet, the next day, when she’d woken up, Katherine was overcome with an uncomfortable feeling, and was soon to find the cheap trinket glued to her finger. How much more dramatic could She get? The young woman had been mad at first, of course, but had finally resolved herself to her fate, deeming it not as bad as it could have been. And realistically, it would probably end up coming off eventually as she showered, or simply with her sweat; but unlike her, he refused to be thankful that the punishment had not gone further; every new move, every new decision his ex-mother-in-law made was another reason for him to find her nothing else but repulsive. The message remained clear: Mrs Baker held absolute control over the most minimal things, and she wanted everybody to know it. Maybe he should reconsider his theory that she wasn’t watching the cameras anymore or at all time; she clearly was, she simply… had a strange way to choose what warranted a reaction from her.

The man sighed, not too loud so not to wake up his companion. The feeling of her hand in his was soothing in a way, yet he still felt himself filled with rage, and… worry. Tomorrow, they would be separated. They both held onto the belief that marriage was the only way to keep someone safe in this hellhole, and that by claiming each other as they’d been ordered to, they would be kept out of danger; but who was to say if this was an absolute truth? What would happen to him after today; more importantly, to her? If she was forced into another game, would he know? Would he ever hear about it? He wanted to believe they would wake up in the same room as one another the next day, but he knew from Geoff and Hannah that it was but an unlikely desire. They would be separated, for sure. And he hated the very thought of it.

He looked upon her sleeping face one more time; perhaps, one last time. Remembering the days when all he cared about was being able to keep his suit, the only remaining symbol of his real self, of the outside world he belonged to; yet now, that goal achieved, he found that he didn’t care. She seemed peaceful, here; she was safe with him, they both knew that. But he wouldn’t be able to protect her for long. And yet… yet, he still wanted to swear upon it. For once, he would care and look for the woman he cherished, his wife, before it was too late. He wanted to believe they’d done everything they could, and that he would see her again, safe and sound. He couldn’t lose her too. Not her. Not Kath.

Before he could think twice, his body lowered itself towards her; a single, gentle kiss left on her forehead.

“I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe, Kath… I promise.”

[Katherine Sallow]

Katherine was tired. Tired of everything in this horrid place and to make things even worse, her ring was now glued onto her finger. She had only taken it off briefly while talking to Geoff and Hannah but it seems even then her captor was not happy with such a bold move and made it fairly obvious with this dramatic move. “Well it's better than being electrocuted I guess so I'll take it." Katherine said looking at her ring. It would come off eventually so she didn’t worry much.



For the first time in a while, Katherine was able to sleep peacefully. It was finally a rest she well deserved and she knew that the only reason she had let herself sleep was because she was with Dorian. She felt safe with him and knew that he would do his best to protect her. Katherine was slowly waking up when she felt something press again her forehead followed by “I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe, Kath… I promise.” She opened her eyes and saw Dorian moving away after what might have been a kiss on her forehead. She smiled and then noticed how he was holding her hand, this brought comfort to her knowing he was hopefully now comfortable with her. Katherine slowly sat up, having to take her hand out of his just so she could get up only to sit next him and take his hand into hers one more.



She knew that they would be separated soon and she hated it. “I wish we could stay together but I know that’s not possible.” Katherine said just looking at their hands. She knew it would probably be the same for the other couples and it had happened to Geoff and Hannah. What if something happened to Dorian and she wouldn’t know for a long time, she would have to hold a little pocket of hope for his safety as well as hers. She looked up at him and smiled softly knowing what she was going to say next would probably hurt him just a little. “If something happens to me...Please don’t do anything reckless. I need you to stay alive and fight. Fight for yourself, for me, for the others and those who have fallen.” Katherine used her other hand and placed it on his cheek. She looked into his eyes knowing this could be the last time they ever saw one another “Promise me, you’ll keep yourself and those you love safe. I’ll try my best to keep myself safe too, don’t you worry.” She was scared, for all she knew she would be thrown into another event and possibly die but she wasn’t not at this very point in time. Katherine was safe, with Dorian, her husband and the man she cares deeply for.

[Dorian F. Blund]

When she first moved, Dorian she was simply be stirring in her sleep; his touch must have tinkled her somehow. Then her eyes opened, and he felt a wave of warmth spread through his cheeks. Oh. That wasn’t supposed to happen.
“I’m sorry.” He spoke before she could say anything. “I did not mean to wake you.”

… that was probably worse, wasn’t it? Standing over someone and touching them while they were asleep, hoping they wouldn’t wake up and notice you? Yeah, he wasn’t gaining any points there.

He was searching for something to say that could possibly salvage this, when she took his hand in hers once more; when she looked into his eyes, he could see nothing but love and acceptance in her gaze, more than he ever deserved, and that was enough to silence him.

“I wish we could stay together but I know that’s not possible.” She echoed his own thoughts, making him both happier and more miserable. He wished neither of them had to feel this way, yet it was comforting to know he was not the only one to resent the future to come.

When they locked eyes again, he had a feeling she would say something he wouldn’t like; and indeed, there she was, making him swear to move on without her if need be. He knew it was something both of them needed to keep in mind, that no matter how much they wished to, they might not be able to make good on their desires to be there for the other forever, and that they needed to be ready to accept that and keep on without the other. He knew it was true, it was the same thing he’d told Sawyer only a few days ago, yet… he hated the very thought of it, least of all applied to Katherine. They’d gone through so much together, lost together, struggled through games together… survived together. Mrs. Baker couldn’t simply take that away…

Except she could. He was cruelly aware of that.

She caressed his cheek, and Dorian broke eye contact, choosing to look at their joined hands instead. “I know. I’ll… do everything I can, to protect myself and the others, and… if we don’t see each other ever again, then… I want you to keep going. Not for me, but for yourself. You’re so strong, Kath, and worth so much, and I don’t want you to ever let Her or anyone convince you otherwise.”

He knew how she struggled with self-deprecation, how she failed to see herself as the strong-willed smart young woman she was. She had her flaws, of course, as did everyone else; she could be naïve, and too close for comfort, but was that not part of her charm?

When he looked at Katherine, he could tell he was scared, as was he; scared to be separated, scared not to see each other again, scared to die or lose the other. There was so little time left.
He couldn’t waste it.

He glanced at her hands, still holding his. Her forehead, he’d pecked only moments ago. Her lips. He remembered what they felt like.

Maybe.

Maybe…

…

Dorian moved closer, just to recoil seconds later. He couldn’t. Everything was far too confusing. How was he supposed to make sense of anything, in a place where feelings were never taken into account?

“… I’m sorry. This could be the last time we see each other, but, I still…” he hesitated over his words for a few seconds, before giving up, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry I can’t be the man you need… and show you affection the way you want, even now.”

[Katherine Sallow]

As Katherine caressed his cheek, she noticed how Dorian had move his eyes down to look at their hands. It pained her to know their time together was coming to end. “I know. I’ll… do everything I can, to protect myself and the others, and… if we don’t see each other ever again, then… I want you to keep going. Not for me, but for yourself. You’re so strong, Kath, and worth so much, and I don’t want you to ever let Her or anyone convince you otherwise.” Katherine shook her head, feeling tears pricking her eyes, she slowly took her hand off his cheek and quickly wiped them away. So many times Katherine had felt she was worth nothing, the freezer was the best example. Pleading for life of two close friends, being shown as an idiot when she realized that it was not Cassim who wrote the letter. She gave Dorian a weak smile before looking down at their hands once more "I will try not to and thank you Dorian. That means a lot to hear."

For a while Katherine just stared at their hands,enjoying the quiet before looking up at Dorian and for a moment she could tell Dorian was thinking about something but before she could ask, she noticed how he moved in closer. Katherine wouldn't lie she was a little confused but he recoiled back and that when it hit her. His words only confirmed her thoughts “I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry I can’t be the man you need… and show you affection the way you want, even now.” Katherine smiled and shook her head "You're still coming out of your shell and this place is rather confusing on how we should feel about all of this."Katherine bit her lip and then sighed "I just hope you can forgive me for being so forward." With that Katherine leaned in and quickly kissed his lips. Just as Dorian said, this could be the last time they ever see each other and Katherine just wanted to feel his lips one more time before they were separated.

[Dorian F. Blund]

His impertinence was met not with rejection or repulsion, but with more acceptance and kindness. Katherine was too good to him sometimes, he decided. Shouldn’t she be a bit more troubled by this?

"You're still coming out of your shell and this place is rather confusing on how we should feel about all of this." Well, he couldn’t agree more. She probably didn’t even realize quite how right she was. In the grand scheme of things, she hadn’t known him at his colder, more shielded form for long. Maybe that was why she liked him so much. She had a wrong vision of him, one that had been created here, in this place, and that did not exist in the outside world. He flinched at the thought: what if it was all just a fraud? What if they were only ever allowed to get along because they were here? Were all the connections he’d made here a lie that would crumble the moment he set foot outside?

Katherine silenced all of his doubts with her words and any objections with her kiss. Their lips met before Dorian could grasp the meaning of what she had said, and so he simply stood still, his eyes opened in shock as she pecked him, her touch gone as quickly as it’d come, making him doubt it’d ever been there at all.

It felt… different, from their wedding kiss. Shorter, but more comfortable. She hadn’t done it out of fear, or the desire to soothe the will of a tyrannical dictator. It was something she wanted, and something she could tell he’d struggled with, and so, it made it so much more meaningful. Dorian raised a hand to his lips, but found no fingers to touch them, and so lowered it between his legs once more with flustered shakiness.

“… I think I can.” He replied at last, a shy smile finding his lips. He couldn’t shake the very real confusion he felt about everything, most of all about himself and his self-doubt, but the last thing he wanted was for her to think he was mad at her for being more driven and brave than him.

God, he hoped Mrs. Baker wasn’t watching. Without thinking twice, Dorian moved forward, and trapped the young woman in what could very well be their last embrace, hating the thought of letting go. Tomorrow, they would go their separate ways, but for now, they were still together, and he wanted to feel it through her warmth for whatever time they still had.