[she glances up at him as he makes his way over, hearing his footsteps, and smiles at him! since i assume he is looking at her face, first, he'll see that her eyes are a little puffy and red, but there are no flowers she's coughed up and she doesn't look like, devastated, so that's something.
[she says, laughing a little as he wobbles over. she reaches for him to steady him. now that he's closer, he can see that she looks a little different, though it's hard to tell what, at first. but he's observant - he'll see that her neck is... bare? no collar. just a thin ring of discoloration where it was, once.]
[He takes her by the hand and starts to sit down near her, but that's when he finally notices. He absolutely freezes, bent over, and a shocked look dawns on his face. His eyes leap up to meet hers.
The crutch gets dropped against the chair behind him, and instead of sitting, he kneels down in front of her.]
[help - she makes sure he doesn't fall over or anything as he kneels, and then just gives him the most sincere, warm smile she's had since getting here.]
The stone that I got from the auction. [she says, voice wavering.] I tested it. And when it was used, it turned into a key.
[he hugs her and she - laughs! she laughs, like it's startled out of her, and hugs him back very tightly. it's okay!! she also has learned an affection!!!]
I - I don't even really know how to feel. [she murmurs, muffled against his shoulder.] Happy, I think. I'm happy.
[NOT THE UNSURE LAUGH. He gives her a biiiiig squeeze, but only for a moment so he doesn't hurt her (what the fck is he going to hurt with toothpick arms?), and then he holds her so he can rub her back gently.]
You should be. I'm so glad it's gone. You're free! You're free now, and you can stand on your own two feet without fear.
He--pauses, looks around AS IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THE VICINITY TO HELP HIM BESIDES BUTTERFLIES--and then he starts climbing to his feet, taking her hands.]
You celebrate with, um. With--well, at the Academy, they would celebrate with harder things, but anyway--good food and good drinks. It doesn't have to be alcohol. Jayce and I celebrated with coffee before.
[THIS IS TEASING. But also BE CAREFUL. Getting drunk got you into heterosexuality with a stiff Victorian waif. That's what getting drunk does, it makes you absolutely STUPID for a man. I don't know what to say about Viktor, though, because he wasn't drunk.
She could definitely outpace him, though, that's for sure. He smiles a bit.]
Let's have some coffee. I will even look the other way if you spike yours just a little.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
w6, SUNDAY
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[Or like minutes. It takes him a bit to make his way to this familiar biome.
But he arrives!]
I'm here...?
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she waves to him. come sit.]
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Throne... Are you alright?
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[she says, laughing a little as he wobbles over. she reaches for him to steady him. now that he's closer, he can see that she looks a little different, though it's hard to tell what, at first. but he's observant - he'll see that her neck is... bare? no collar. just a thin ring of discoloration where it was, once.]
I don't think I've ever been better, honestly.
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The crutch gets dropped against the chair behind him, and instead of sitting, he kneels down in front of her.]
Throne...!
[LOOKING AT HER NECK.]
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The stone that I got from the auction. [she says, voice wavering.] I tested it. And when it was used, it turned into a key.
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Slowly, his expression breaks out into relief and a lil bit of excitement.] You... got it off! Throne... [AAAAAAAAA. She did it herself, too!
GONNA HUG HER, SORRY, HE HAS LEARNED HOW TO BE AFFECTIONATE.]
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I - I don't even really know how to feel. [she murmurs, muffled against his shoulder.] Happy, I think. I'm happy.
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You should be. I'm so glad it's gone. You're free! You're free now, and you can stand on your own two feet without fear.
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It is one less thing to worry about. [warmly.] Whatever comes next, I'm prepared for.
[...]
Thank you.
[for being happy for her.]
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His arms loosen and he leans back, but keeps his hands on each of her upper arms. He offers her a small smile.]
You don't have to thank me. It looks good on you. [A pause.] Er. It looks good... off of you?
[HE MEANT THE FREEDOM LOOKS GOOD ON HER.]
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Yes - I understood what you meant. [you nerd] I'd like to celebrate, but I'm not sure how.
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He--pauses, looks around AS IF THERE IS ANYTHING IN THE VICINITY TO HELP HIM BESIDES BUTTERFLIES--and then he starts climbing to his feet, taking her hands.]
You celebrate with, um. With--well, at the Academy, they would celebrate with harder things, but anyway--good food and good drinks. It doesn't have to be alcohol. Jayce and I celebrated with coffee before.
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[she says thoughtfully, pulling herself up to stand with his help. she holds his hands, smiling a bit.]
But I also think that I could outpace you. [...] So perhaps coffee would be nice, with you.
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[THIS IS TEASING. But also BE CAREFUL. Getting drunk got you into heterosexuality with a stiff Victorian waif. That's what getting drunk does, it makes you absolutely STUPID for a man. I don't know what to say about Viktor, though, because he wasn't drunk.
She could definitely outpace him, though, that's for sure. He smiles a bit.]
Let's have some coffee. I will even look the other way if you spike yours just a little.