[for Henshaw] but if you try sometimes

[piqued]

He was here for a Completely Unrelated Reason, but he's forgotten it now.

It's not something he doesn't Understand, really. He's got a Sense of why there are pages upon pages of writing on this desk, why there are familiar Names scattered through them and where the Impulse to craft a more perfect world comes from, although he himself had never been able to take pen to page about it.

But he's got his own Stories. He's got a whole Universe in his mind where Isaac and Urania have lived Happily Ever After in their very own Castle in the stars, where Victor and Zoë have their own beautiful Children, where his Father and Mother are Very Much in Love.

That doesn't make this tale involving himself and Zoë any more Sensible. That's why he's here puzzling over the pages rather than Whatever he came here to do, barely paying attention to the door.

Comments

[rumourhasit]

"Okay- okay, I understand, I'll be more-- let go of me!"

[piqued]

The snort is slight as he pulls her arm a little farther up along her back. She's much lovelier when she's flustered like this. "You'll be more what, Miss Henshaw?"

[rumourhasit]

She gasps in actual pain, then grits her teeth. "Discreet. I'll be more discreet, now, please?"

[piqued]

"There's a good girl." Not that he's letting go. Just pressing a delicate kiss to the edge of her eyebrow. "Don't let me find them ever again."

[rumourhasit]

Her breath hitches again, but this time it's in more than fear and disbelief than pain. "I- I won't? ... Chives?"

[piqued]

He doesn't Understand the sound. Is already letting go of her wrist and leaning back to fix the buttons of his cuffs. "Yes, Miss?"

[rumourhasit]

She winces as her arm returns to her side, looking up at him warily. "You- kissed me."

[piqued]

"...not really." Not on the lips. Surely that meant it didn't count for much of Anything at all.

[rumourhasit]

"But... a little." It was still a kiss. On her face.

[piqued]

The sigh is absent, a bit Frustrated, as he finishes fixing his cuffs and moves to neaten his tie. "And is that quite a problem?"

[rumourhasit]

"Just... not a lot of... no one does that to me." She waits a beat, then shakes her head. "Never mind," she mutters, turning away to start shuffling her papers together.

[piqued]

There's half a heartbeat before he lets himself actually Pause.

"...so write about that."

Something that had Actually Happened.

[rumourhasit]

"-- It's... not really interesting." Her fingers curl a little tighter around the edges of the paper. "Um, you know. 'He kissed my forehead. I sort of stood there. He walked out of the room.' Not really... quality material."

[piqued]

There's a moment of Considering. His head cants absently to a much deeper angle than Normal People ever reach.

"...then make it better. This... is an acceptable lie."

[rumourhasit]

She frowns, lets out a sarcastic bark of a laugh, doesn't turn around. "I don't write about myself."

A beat. "I can't come up with a good reason for someone wanting to... with..." And then she trails off.

[piqued]

"Not even to shut you up?"

Because he could see that being an Engaging Purpose.

[rumourhasit]

"-Excuse me?" That startles a laugh out of her. "I... I don't think I'd want to do anything with someone who just wanted me to shut up."

[piqued]

The lift of his shoulder is slight.

"You're... much lovelier when you're silet, Miss."

[rumourhasit]

Her lips tremble. Her words are defiant. "Well, I suppose it's a pity for you that I don't exist to cater to what you find lovely, Declán Chives."

[piqued]

Sex isn't actually removed from Violence in his life. It's not clear when he reaches out to catch her chin and jerk her face upward toward his whether it's to hurt her or bring her lips closer. "What good are you, then?"

[rumourhasit]

Her fingers close tight around his wrist, try to force him away. "I'm not, I know-- stop."

[piqued]

Having his hand jerked away doesn't change their Proximity. "You know you're not?"

[rumourhasit]

"I know I'm not good for anything," she repeats, her jaw set and her eyes blank. "Thank you for reminding me."

[piqued]

"...you are quite pretty when you're realistic." Whatever that means to her.

[rumourhasit]

"... but that hardly ever happens, so I'm of no use. I know." She wraps her arms around herself, glancing away.