On the Outside (Closed)

[Legion]

As she answered his question, turning to look at him, he'd give a confused frown. Still not quite believing that this Patrick, even if it really was him could have a soul. If he was amoral then wouldn't that mean that he didn't? If he could do all of those bad things, wouldn't that mean that this Patrick had no soul either? That when they did what ever it was that created him, that they gave him a soul in her? But then she continued on, saying that there was proof of the man having a soul when he surrendered his own freedom to protect them. People that he didn't even remember loving, let alone caring about. Patrick had sacrificed himself for them? Legion muttered quietly, "I don't remember loving them, I don't even remember the child."

Legion would watch her walk to the bed, curiously waiting to see what she was doing. Head tilting curiously as she reached into that bag. Legions' eyes would narrow in concern as she took out two knives, worried that she was going to hurt herself again. He didn't want her to suffer again. Though he was even more surprised when she turned to offer those knives to him. With that he felt a weird shift in his emotions. The ones that were coming from her, he felt them, closing off? What was this about? This was truly starting to alarm him as he looked around nervously, listening to her say that he vowed to kill anyone involved. She offered those knives to him, telling him that he had apparently made a vow. One that the demon inside would demand be paid. Though he wasn't entirely sure that he believed her. Not that she was lying, but perhaps didn't know the whole truth?

She told him that it was alright, as he stood their, with the knives. Bidding him to kill her, but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to kill his angel. The one who gave him his soul. The one that made everything okay. The one who took his darkness from him. Arguing, weakly, "Patrick made that vow, not me."

He really didn't want to take part in any of this...

[Azura]

She shook her head, knowing that he would argue, but yet having been hopeful that he would have found a part of himself that did not care for her, a part that would allow him to do this thing which he needed to do. Whimpering softly, she would pull her hands back, holding the set of knives to her chest as she slowly lifted her head to look upon him once more. "Legion..." Barely able to issue his name past her lips as she choked back a soft little sob and took a few steps toward him.

"It will only lead to your suffering. You are Patrick, and his vows are your own. It matters not who you were when you made it, only that you had already started to become what you are now. The demon will not care." She slowly approached him, her head tilting back so that she could look up into his eyes as tears continued to swim within her own. She didn't know how to get him to understand, that if he didn't do this, he would suffer...they both would suffer.

Slowly, she would shift to lower one of the knives down onto the dresser near where they stood, taking the other and freeing it from the sheath which housed it. Dropping the cover to the floor, she held the handle of the knife, her hand still trembling, as she did this, yet that same determination that she always had when she set her mind to something showing in her eyes. "I know that you love me, but you must carry out your vow. It is my blood, the bitch from the gym that the demon will crave, along with the others. You cannot have me as a distraction when he finally demands payment upon them. It will only lead to you being hurt worse."

Once more she would step forward, her hand raising the knife and dragging the tip of it along the side of her neck, cutting into her flesh and allowing a rather thick stream of her blood to spill forth. She knew that him, the demon, had to be hungry. They had died, they had lost a lot of blood, and it had yet to feed on a normal person's blood, a normal person's suffering. It was what she was hopeful for, trying to pry the demon free a bit, to relax him, and to ease him into what he had to do.

"I love you Legion, regardless if it was forced or not. You are my demon, my heart and my soul." Her free hand moving down his arm, pulling him closer to her, tracing her fingers along his flesh, a weak smile given as she would tilt her head, exposing that still bleeding wound to him, urging him with her emotions and with the position of her body, to drink. "Please..." A soft whisper given as she would slip her hand down his arm to his own hand, taking it softly and then forcing the handle of the knife into his open palm before closing his fingers tightly about it, holding them with her own. "Do not make me suffer any longer in this pain of failure. Allow me to save you, just this once." Tears spilling freely, and her voice a soft little hushed whisper as she trembled, now pressed against him....waiting.

[Legion]

Legion issued his own little whimper as she lifted her head, barely getting his name out, lightly sobbing and moving towards him. Looking down at her, his own pain and sadness in his eyes, only with her that he could feel this way. And now he had to sacrifice what little remained of his humanity? It was too much. Especially since he had to follow through with vows that he didn't even remember making, vows from a person that apparently he was. One who hadn't known the truth at the time. It was cruel really. She spoke of how it was the demon that apparently demanded the blood. Though Legion had to ask, "The demon? You mean me? Legion? And I am Patrick? I barely remember anything about his life."

Legion watched her place a knife on the dresser and unsheathe the other one, holding it in her hand. Watching her hand tremble he also saw that resolve in her eyes, something that normally would have been quite attractive, in any other situation but this one. A frown plastered across his face as he listened to her tell him that he had to fulfill his vow. While he didn't understand why he had to keep his vows he knew that he did. And unfortunately, he knew that she spoke the truth. He did love her, but if the demon called for blood all at the same time, it would be quite devastating. Legion would nod hesitantly.

He would shiver as he watched her cut herself along the neck with the knife. Shivering at the need that he felt. From the scent and sight of her blood, above all others. Legion couldn't deny that it was what he wanted, perhaps not the killing, but he did want her blood. Feeling those impulses and urges and yet, for the moment, as she approached him, he resisted. Although her words did bring a smile to his face. Left hand lacing in her hair behind her head pulling her into him as he drank her blood. Moaning softly as it rolled down his throat, that heavenly sweet taste filling his mouth as he drank. Feeling the knife forced into this right hand he still took it reluctantly, pulling away as she begged him to let her save him. Frowning as he saw those tears, felt her trembling against him. Somberly saying to her, "I love you Azura. Regardless of whether it was forced or not, I could have loved you anyways. You are my angel. You give me my heart and soul. Thank you, for everything..."

With that Legion would kiss her, quite passionately. Not a hint of emotions held back. Pouring everything into this kiss. Love, affection, passion, desire, need, fear, uncertainty, doubt. He didn't know why but everything that she had alluded to, that he had felt from her at this point scared him. There was an unknown after this action and Legion was very afraid that it wouldn't include her. And so he deepened the kiss, just so that she'd know just how he felt about her. How much he loved her, how much more that love was then for anyone else, then it could be for anyone else. Deepening the kiss once more, he'd pour the last of his emotions in, completely electrifying the kiss, wanting to show her that he couldn't feel this way for anyone else.

And then at the peak of that kiss...

...Legion plunged the knife up and under her ribs...

[Azura]

She sighed, tilting her head as a soft smile came upon her lips, her free hand tracing along his jaw as she shook her head. "You are so much more than just a demon my love. One day you will see that." She nodded. Yes, Legion was a demon,but when he was with her, he was more, and that was why she chose to refer to the demon as a separate being in this moment.

As he laces his fingers through her hair, pulling her into him, she could not help but gasp at the feel of his mouth upon her neck. Slowly, her eyes would fall shut, a whispered moan released upon hearing his own against her flesh, feeling his tongue as it lapped at her blood, drank it down. Shivering as she felt his pleasure increasing upon finally feeding that desire within him.

Yet then he pulled back, and as she opened her eyes to look at him, she could not help but smile. His words brought such happiness to her, and though she opened her mouth to say as much, she was silenced by his lips as they pressed to her own. Once more she would moan, her head tilting as she returned his kiss with just as much passion and emotion as it was given to her. Feeling every bit of what he felt for her, feeling the electricity starting to surge between them as the kiss was deepened more still.

One small hand would curl within the front of his shirt, gripping him as tightly as she possibly could as she slid her tongue along his own, trembling in both fear and pleasure...knowing he was holding something back, and almost certain she knew what was to come. She was fearful of death, no matter how many times she was put through it, this time no different. If anything, this time put more fear into her, because of who it was that would be killing her.

Then the kiss reached its most intense, emotional peak, and a surge of pure pleasure and love would wash through her, so strong that it caused her to gasp once more. Yet no sooner had she done this, than that blade would be thrust into her, piercing her flesh and sliding beneath her ribs. A single cry of pain issued as she broke away from that kiss, to look up at him, tears streaking down her face.

A struggled breath as she coughed, blood rolling past her lips and down her chin and yet a weak little smile coming to her lips. Slowly, her hand would move from his chest, touching where he had stabbed her, on him...only to draw back a hand free of blood. "I...I love you.." Barely able to get out the words before her body would collapse, breath becoming more labored, more weakened...her eyes struggling to stay open and the life slowly starting to fade from within her.

[Legion]

Legion gave a slight shake of his head at her words. More then the demon? He didn't understand that. He couldn't seem himself ever being more then just the demon, except when he was with her. Then he was free. Other then that he was pretty much resigned to is impulses, his urges. He couldn't ever seem himself being anything more. But if she believed in him, then well, perhaps. But once again, why was she asking him to do this? It didn't make much sense to him. Well, that and he hated it.

Upon pulling back from drinking down her blood he'd smile at her smile. Thinking there to be nothing more beautiful in the world. The blood having sort of a calming effect. One that was not enough to make this okay to him, but make him calm enough to allow him to do this. Pausing for a moment to take it all in before, pressing his lips to hers and kissing her.

Feeling her hand grip on his shirt, pulling her closer to him as he felt her tongue along his own, he moaned in pleasure, though he did feel that trembling and fear. His fear of what he was about to do increasing as well. Along with her fear of what was about to happen, it was terrible for him, knowing what he was about to do. Feeling that surge of pleasure and love flow through him and her he felt that gasp on his lips, just before he plunged the knife in her and removing it, letting it clatter to the ground.

As she pulled away in shock a single tear of blood would flow down from an eye. In utter horror and guilt of what he had done he saw the tears run down her face. Pain swelling in his chest at the feel of each one of her coughs, watching the blood flow out of her mouth. Unable to smile like she was at him. Only able to give her a look of absolute guilt and remorse. Watching her hand press on his chest where he had stabbed her. It was only then did he realize that he was not harmed. Only her. And that hurt him so much more. Tears of blood running down his face freely as she struggled to get those words out, unable to say anything in return.

As she collapsed so would he, unable to stand from the guilt of it all. Holding her in his arms, guiding her down as he fell to his knees. Cradling her in his arms, stroking her hair softly, hushing her as he did so. Feeling her labored breathing, trying desperately to comfort her, hold back the tears for her. To be strong for her as she faded away. And when she finally did, his back collapsed against the wall, still cradling her in his arms, sobbing freely now that she was gone. The guilt and weight of what he had done more then he could bear...

[Azura]

Azura wanted so badly to take away that guilt and pain she saw in his eyes as he looked down at her, but she couldn't...not this time. As her body collapsed, she felt his arms go about her, drawing her to him as he too fell to the ground below. Now, pressed against him, his fingers brushing her hair back and those soft sounds coming forth to try and sooth her, she would start to relax.

Her fear of death slipping away, as she forced her eyes open once more. Looking at him, with hazel eyes that slowly began to lose their color, she would reach up with a shaky, cold hand and try to brush away the tears that ran down his face. "S..Shh..." She gasped, wincing in pain and struggling to draw in another breath, though this time unable to do so. As a result, her hand, with fingertips now stained in blood, would fall away and fall limply to her side. Blood soaking through her white gown, staining it red as she slowly bled out and a bit more running down her chin....her eyes would slowly fall closed once more and with a final shuddered exhale, the last breath she held would leave her body...Her entire form now limp within his arms as the light took her, leaving him alone with just her body and the memory of what he had done.

[Legion]

Watching her fade away was the most painful thing he had ever done. To hold her in his arms. Stroke her hair and try and comfort her, soothe her. Feeling her slip away, while he was perfectly fine, the most painful thing knowing that he had done this himself. Blood tears running down his face he'd make eye contact with her as her hazel eyes began to lose their color. Feeling her cold hand come up to try and brush his tears away. He could hear her try and shush him, hearing her pain in trying to do so. Trying so hard to be strong for her, but it was so hard. Watching her struggle for another breath, but unable to do so, her hand collapsing.

Looking down at her he say the blood soaking through that white gown. His tear filled eyes once more turning to hers watching the last signs of life, slowly fade away. Her eyes closing, hearing that one last shuddered exhale. Feeling her body finally go limp in his arms. Light surrounding her, taking her to where she belonged, where he'd never be able to follow. Unsure if he'd ever see her again, this time being so very different.

Craddling her body close he'd begin to weep more fully. Grieving her loss. Grieving what he had done, feeling truly and fully guilt for it. The pain of the guilt and loss overwhelming. Even though he held onto her body, it was probably worse. Crying over the entire act. I didn't take long for him just to want the pain to stop. He just wanted to be done with this life, and this guilt...

[Azura]

It usually took Azura a couple hours to wake from any death, unless of course the death had been particularly violent, in which case her body needed more time to heal. Yet this night, two hours came and went, and nothing happened. She did not stir, she did not gasp for breath, she did not even gain back any of her color.

Though she was dead, she simply looked to be sleeping. Blood staining her gown and her pale, delicate flesh, she remained within his arms for as long as he would choose to hold her. Her hair looking all the more bright against such pale, cold skin. Her blood seemingly a darker shade now as well as it began to dry upon her.

Three hours, then four...and still nothing. Yet the fact that she did not start to go rigid like a normal human was a good sign, if just barely. I fact, it would not be until the sun started to rise over the horizon, that she would finally begin to stir. At first, it was subtle, simply color starting to return to her cheeks, a single twitch of her fingers...her foot...just something to show that life was trying to work it's way back through her.

Then, as suddenly as ever, she would gasp, her chest rising as she struggled to draw in breath for the first time in almost an entire night. A soft whimper, her throat raw and hoarse, given as she would struggle get her eyes open. Her small body too weak to try and move just yet, though as the memories of what had happened started to flood into her mind, a single word would leave her lips in a desperate, scared little whimper..."Le..Legion?" Searching for him, terrified he would not be there, and unsure what she would do if he was not.

[Legion]

Legion would hold his angel the whole night. Wracked with guilt and pain he was unable to move. Unable to do anything but sit there and hold his angel's body. Unsure if this time she wouldn't be coming back to him because he had killed her. Guilt at the idea rising up and crushing his heart. Not sure if he could bear to live if she wasn't coming back. Looking down at her stroking her hair softly. Noticing the peaceful look on her face, unable to bear it, that there was no life in those eyes.

Two hours went by and Legion watched her body like a hawk. A pit in his chest. Not daring to blink. Just hold her in his arms as he waited for her to come back to life. Hoping her to. If he thought the prayers of a demon would help he would have prayed. Prayed for her to come back to life. The guilt of having killed her absolutely unbearable. Stroking her hair softly he would will her back to life, but hours passed and nothing happened. No movement, no gasps of breath. After four hours it was nearly unbearable. Legion would begin to sob softly again, "Please my angel. Please come back. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

But no matter how many times he repeated the words, in whatever order nothing seemed to help. That was until the sun began to rise. Feeling slight movements, seeing the color returning to her face, Legion couldn't help but feel his heart racing. Seeing signs of life returning to her slowly. Coming one at a time before that gasp for air came. Then those struggles for breath. While the guilt Legion felt was massive, he couldn't help but feel relief. Though guilt took over once again when he heard that scared little whimper, calling out for him. Searching for him in a terrified manner. But he was there, holding her in his arms.

Guilt overwhelming in his voice he'd reply, "I'm here Azura. I'm here."

And it wouldn't take long for him to begin begging for forgiveness, "I'm so sorry Azura. Please forgive me."

Bloody tears still smeared across his face...

[Azura]

Somewhere, wherever she had been, she had heard his pleas for her to wake, heard his sobs as he wished her back into existence. She wasn't sure how, but she knew she had. Now, with life starting to once more fill her body, she started to feel the first flickers of his emotions coming back online, no longer able to, or wanting to block her's from him, or keep him out, she would let them wash over her. It was almost soothing really, to feel his emotions, to feel his arms around her as he held her against him.

She knew then that he had held her the entire time, and as her eyes struggled to open, she saw the first fragments of light filtering through the curtains of the room. That alone telling her how long she had been gone. Yet no sooner had she started to wake, than a stabbing pain of guilt would come over her. Though it didn't take her long to realize it was not her own, but his. This realization only increasing as he began to beg for her forgiveness, holding her against him and pleading with her to forgive him for what he had done.

Softly, she would reach up, her eyes finally managing to open enough that she could look at him, see those bloody tears staining his face...the backs of her fingers brushing against his cheek and her thumb trying to wipe away what tears remained fresh upon his face. "This is not your's to feel." A faint, white light starting to surround her hand as she moved it from his cheek and pressed it over his heart. A light shushing sound once more given to him.

"It is alright Legion. Th..This is my burden to bare...you can give it back now." Cooing the words to him in a hoarse little whisper as she began to take away the guilt he felt, the pain and the sadness. Those were not his to harbor, not his burden in life. He was feeling it for her, and though she enjoyed the moments of peace, she would not have him carry such a load for her.

As the light increased about her hand, she would start to feel those familiar emotions return to her, but more importantly, she would feel his own emotions settling down. Calming. "You do not have to ask my forgiveness. You had it before you ever acted." A little nod before she would use what little strength she had to turn her head and nuzzle weakly into his chest. A soft sigh given as her hand fell away from his heart, too weak to remain in place....all that guilt and pain back where it belonged, inside of her.

[Legion]

He held her in his arms, her limp corpse, blood having finished flowing hours ago. Covered in her blood he begged her back to life. It had been far longer then it should have. While Legion had never been alive to actually time how long they stayed dead every time they died, but he had a general idea of how long it took, and it was not this. The guilt was unbearable, holding the corpse of the being he loved more then he could ever possibly love anyone else. Wondering what kind of monster he was. That he could do such a thing. It didn't matter that she asked him to, told him to. The guilt was still there, crushing him slowly. Though as he held her here this was all very familiar.

A flash of a woman torn up lying at his feet. Another sob was let out as he had another flash to something he wasn't sure of, though the woman was still in it And he still stood in front of her. All though the ground was a lot closer then it was when he stood, in fact his body was smaller then he ever remembered it being. Sobbing and still cradling Azura he felt nothing but guilt over the flash. It had to be his assuming he killed the woman, and the man that was a few feet away. But that wasn't quite correct as the next flash came of him holding the woman's hand. Then a brief scene. Of the woman looking at him, struggling to breath, to smile at him, to say something, that he couldn't hear. Guilt telling him that he was to blame, although he didn't really know what was going on in that scene. But at the moment that seemed unimportant Azura lay right in front of him, lifelessly in his arms.

Guilt wracking through him again he begged Azura to live again, as she started to stir. That heart of his racing in excitement, worry, fear, all rolled into one. Still frowning as her hand reached up to brush the tears off his face. Listening to her words, that the guilt was not his to feel, knowing what she meant instantly. Knowing that because there was no guilt in him, ever. Save for this one instance he could do anything of a diabolical nature and not feel a single shred of remorse.

Feeling her hand pressed to his chest he felt his guilt and sadness slowly slipping away as she said it was her burden. While he didn't like feeling it, before she took it away he felt the peace that she had. That was something the was grateful for at least, although he detested having to kill her for it. Watching her hand light up as she took those feeling from him, his breathing began to return to normal. Slowing up. Less ragged, not filled with despair. Finally able to smile weakly as she told him he was forgiven. That she had given him that before he had even acted. Feeling her nuzzling weakly into his chest, still weak he'd smile again, wrapping his arms around her more firmly, holding her close to him. Doing his best to keep her guilt and pain down.

His mind starting to wander back toward those flashes he had. He knew that it had been him. But it had been surreal. As if he should know that woman, and that man. And why had he been smaller? Let's not forget that Legion still was wrestling with the concept of not being born at the time of his memories picking up fully. But struggling with the idea that he was this, Patrick O'Connor as well. Not really thinking he would ask, "Azura, do you remember your birth?"

[Azura]

She breathed a sigh of relief whenever she felt his emotions start to even out once more. It had been nice to feel such peace, but she knew that it was not for her...she knew that somebody out of the two had to feel such heavy weights of guilt and despair and so it might as well be her. Her hand remaining upon his chest for a moment longer until she could not hold it there any more, allowing it to fall away to her side, as she closed her eyes and turned her head enough to bury her face into his chest, dragging in deep breaths of his scent and sighing softly.

Yet just as she started to relax, to feel more and more like her usual self, she would hear him speak up, her head pulling back just enough so that she could look up at him, slightly confused as to what he was asking her. "Do you mean my actual birth, or my birth into what I am now?" She wasn't sure, and where she remembered one, she did not remember the other. No, it had been far too long for her to ever remember anything about her childhood prior to being brought to The Facility. "I mean, I do not remember my parents if that is what you are asking. I think perhaps I used to, when I was younger, but those days have long since passed. Now, I know nothing other than the life I have had at The Facility."

She nodded rather solemnly, her eyes looking up into his for a moment before they would again close and a soft sigh would rush past her lips, her hand moving to rest upon her tummy as her mind drifted to thoughts of the night, of everything that had happened, and everything that still lay ahead for them.

[Legion]

Holding her closely to him he'd smile as she buried her face into his chest. Feeling her hand fall away, though as she took on his darker emotions he'd feel himself relaxing more and more. Feeling her do the same he'd let himself get lost in thought over those flashes he'd seen in his mind. Puzzled, not entirely aware of the idea that he could have been smaller. That he could have been a child, if only because the memories he had of his previous life involved him being relatively the same size. Relaxing so much so that the wasn't quite aware that he had actually vocalized that thought until Azura answered the question.

Her question in response to his brought a thought to his head. What did he mean exactly? Certainly not if she had been a child that she'd remember the actual process. But then she answered one part of something that he had been wondering about. She didn't remember her life before the Facility, though to be fair Legion hadn't completely considered that option either. His eyes looking down into hers as he smiled at her, pondering what exactly it was that he had meant.

A long pause in thought before he asked, "Were you born in the facility like I was?"

Still having a little trouble believing the concept of being created, rather then born. Don't get him wrong, he was an intelligent being, but lacking the facts, he had to come up with terms and definitions based on his experiences. And with that lack of memories of this previous life he was supposed to have, considering himself and his development as the same as other humans, was somewhat difficult in it's own right. Pausing again before giving a thoughtful little frown, "Do you remember being smaller?"

Not quite wanting to say child for whatever reason...

[Azura]

"You mean being a child?" She laid back slightly, her eyes once more looking up into his own as she furrowed her brow slightly. She was still "coming back online" so to speak, so she h had to kind of verify what he was asking her before she actually answered. Yet, once she had spoken the words she sort of understood that was indeed what he had meant. "Yes, I remember being a child. I dream about it often when I choose to sleep."

She shrugged, her hand coming up and weakly brushing through her hair as she closed her eyes and allowed her mind and body to rest a bit more. She was tired, but the idea of sleep still made her cringe...not that she ever shared that bit of information with anyone, seeing as how it was personal, and Azura had a big thing about keeping certain things as just that.....personal. "My earliest memories are of being with Father though. I do not remember my childhood before The Facility, nor do I know of what my real parents were like or if I had any siblings. I only know of my sibling through Father, and of my life since coming to them." She nodded, allowing her hand to fall away and lay upon her stomach, fingers lacing with the other as she let out a soft little sigh.

[Legion]

"Yeah," Legion said. Ah, that's what it was called again, "Being a child". Since Legion didn't remember any of that, he was still having trouble putting two and two together. He understood that Patrick, as a human must of had a childhood, but without many memories telling him what his life was like the idea of being somebody else was all still very surreal to him. Though he nodded in thought as she said she remembered being a child. Noting that she dreamed of it when she chose to sleep. Something that Legion knew he could do to, though he chose not to. Sleep was a weakness that humans had, one that he chose not to partake in, not judging Azura, in fact, right now, and only with her, the idea of sleep didn't seem too terrible. In fact, it was something that he would enjoy, though he knew this was the case only because she calmed him, the demon, allowing him to be a normal person.

Legion's features would soften, watching her shrug and cringe, not entirely sure what that was about but he had some good ideas of what it might be. But he wasn't going to press her, or even ask her about it. She didn't want to talk about it, that much was evident. So out of respect for her, he wouldn't. Just listen to what she had to say about this "Father". Legion thought about what she said, about only remembering her childhood at the facility and he had to wonder, was her first memory like his? Being "born"? Legion had to ask though, albeit he did so very hesitantly, trying to be sensitive about what she did and didn't want to talk about, "Was your "first" memory, like mine? Of being born as Azura? Like I was as Legion?"

He looked at her silently in thought for a moment, wanting to tell her of his memory flash, but still not sure what to make of it himself. He still didn't know exactly who the dead people were. The idea of parents rather foreign to him. That and he didn't hear anything in the dream, know anything about what was happening, it was just like seeing a soundless video clip. So slowly Legion would say, "I saw something when I was holding your body.... I saw a man, cut up. And I was small. Holding some woman's hand. She was cut up too. Struggling to breath. I was holding her hand and she said something to me, though I heard no sound, anywhere. I thought about it as I was holding you and I felt guilty. Did I kill them? Whoever they were?"

The thought of who they were not lost on them, but he didn't know what to think of the flash, so he was hesitant to pull meaning from it...