[ She tips her head in until their foreheads touch, closing her eyes. If she had left earlier - if she had left Nevarra entirely - or if neither of them had ever had to be caged in the first place. Matthias has always been kind and gentle, but he's held onto those qualities despite what he survived, not because of it. They could have been something else, if the world had held that same kindness.
But it didn't then, and it doesn't now. ]
You - you will take care of Biter. [ Her throat hurts. ] And after, perhaps - or if you change your mind -
[He keeps her hand gripped in his. With his other hand he touches her cheek. Her hair has fallen forward a little. It feels smooth where it brushes against him. He won't feel that again, not for ages. Maybe not ever.]
Yeah. I will. I'll take care of her. You can write to me, if you like--you don't have to--but I'll be here. And I'll find you, when I can. I will. We'll find each other again. We managed it once.
[And then, quickly, in case he doesn't get to say it again--] I love you.
[ Letters are difficult - less because she won't want to write to him, more because of the trouble getting parchment and ensuring it survives a journey back to Kirkwall. But she will try. She's certain of that much.
She's capable, if with some disquiet, to talk about these plans. But when he tells her he loves her, Laura pulls her hand from his and flings her arms around him, squeezing tight.
I changed my mind, she wants to say. I will stay. ]
I love you. [ Her face is buried in his neck, the scent of him strong and true as a few strands of his hair brush against her cheek. This is where she wants to be, always - but sometime tonight, they'll walk sleepily down a worn stone staircase into a place she can't bring herself to stay any longer. Her mind isn't changed; it's only mourning. ] That will always be true.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-07-26 04:09 pm (UTC)[ She tips her head in until their foreheads touch, closing her eyes. If she had left earlier - if she had left Nevarra entirely - or if neither of them had ever had to be caged in the first place. Matthias has always been kind and gentle, but he's held onto those qualities despite what he survived, not because of it. They could have been something else, if the world had held that same kindness.
But it didn't then, and it doesn't now. ]
You - you will take care of Biter. [ Her throat hurts. ] And after, perhaps - or if you change your mind -
no subject
Date: 2022-07-27 12:22 am (UTC)[He keeps her hand gripped in his. With his other hand he touches her cheek. Her hair has fallen forward a little. It feels smooth where it brushes against him. He won't feel that again, not for ages. Maybe not ever.]
Yeah. I will. I'll take care of her. You can write to me, if you like--you don't have to--but I'll be here. And I'll find you, when I can. I will. We'll find each other again. We managed it once.
[And then, quickly, in case he doesn't get to say it again--] I love you.
no subject
Date: 2022-07-28 07:32 pm (UTC)[ Letters are difficult - less because she won't want to write to him, more because of the trouble getting parchment and ensuring it survives a journey back to Kirkwall. But she will try. She's certain of that much.
She's capable, if with some disquiet, to talk about these plans. But when he tells her he loves her, Laura pulls her hand from his and flings her arms around him, squeezing tight.
I changed my mind, she wants to say. I will stay. ]
I love you. [ Her face is buried in his neck, the scent of him strong and true as a few strands of his hair brush against her cheek. This is where she wants to be, always - but sometime tonight, they'll walk sleepily down a worn stone staircase into a place she can't bring herself to stay any longer. Her mind isn't changed; it's only mourning. ] That will always be true.