as we pass through arrangements of shadows

[shreds]

Comments

[cowman]

He was your mark?

( And she testified against him? He could only imagine. )

What kind of painting?

[tornadoinheels]

It was a Raphael. And it was very expensive.

[Her cut would have been quite good, if she had recovered it.]

[cowman]

( "I denied it for a long time," Neal hedges, taking a sip from his coffee and helping himself to an offered plate. )

And when did your adversarial relationship turn into this partnership?

[tornadoinheels]

Well, we started working together with Peter, and then on a personal side project with Neal. One thing led to another, and ... well, he is very charming. Loathe as I am to stoke his ego.

[She loves you, Neal.]

[cowman]

( "She'll do it once or twice in a month," he jibes. )

You two are a beautiful example. You greatly remind me of another couple I know.

( Well, before things took a turn. They were couple goals for as long as he could remember. But one of them was locked to Purgatory and the other had a destiny of her own. )

[tornadoinheels]

Oh?

[She smiles at that.]

I hope they're very happy. Or they were?

[It's hard to say when your friend is very, very old.]

[cowman]

They were. Deliriously. But, as things do, they did fall apart. They were engaged for some time.

( But some things don't last forever. )

[tornadoinheels]

That's a shame.

[Sara can sympathize, having her fair share of failed relationships.]

Unfortunately it doesn't always work out.

[cowman]

It does not. But, it does not take away from how special a bond can be. They will always be in each other's lives.

( Just not married.

Much like Marcel, much like Wynonna. )

You know, history never captured how much of a romantic I am at heart. History got my sharp-shooting. My dentistry. Sort of my wife.

[tornadoinheels]

I don't think historians value romanticism as much as they should when it comes to things not art.

[But clearly it should be valued.]

I'm still Rebekah appreciates it regardless.

[cowman]

Rebekah does appreciate my romantic side, and where I come from.

( She accepts him, darkness and all. )

How do you reconcile Neal here's past?

[tornadoinheels]

[She glances over at Neal, before shrugging.]

I got to know him. When he's just a name on a piece of paper, it's easy to make assumptions. It's much harder when you're confronted by the person themself.

[She smiles.]

And it helped that most of his crimes were victimless ones. He wasn't scamming little old ladies out of their life's savings.

[cowman]

( "And, she was no longer a witness for the prosecution," Neal jokes. )

This life, it does not come easy to most. It does take time to settle, to become your real reality. But, I have been asked to offer you a solution, should the two of you not be able to reconcile everything you've been caught in.

[tornadoinheels]

[Sara raises an eyebrow back at Neal like "See? This is what I mean," before turning back to Doc.]

What kind of solution?

[cowman]

If you would rather this were all a bad dream, or less, we have the means to make that happen. But, the difference between Rebekah and I and her family, is we would give you the decision.

( Do you want to remember or do you want to forget. )

[tornadoinheels]

[She looks over at Neal, unsure how he feels about it, but Sara being who she is, isn't about to give up information or answers.]

I'd rather know, even if I'm still not sure I understand it. I would rather have the time.

[cowman]

( "Me too," he says, taking Sara's hand in his. )

Very well. We shall begin our days anew. Today. Not our memories of today. But, you have your resources should you need them. We will answer anything.

[tornadoinheels]

We'll figure it out.

[But for now, they'll just continue to enjoy their breakfast and hopefully things will get (somewhat) easier from here.]