|
The sun sets, the moon rises, and two kindred go from corpse-like to awake in an apartment in Philadelphia. Phaedra takes a moment to assess her surroundings: not at home, not at Finley's, wearing one of Cian's shirts. Ah, yes. This is alright.
"G'morning, sunshine."
Look, there's no way that Cian rising through layers of dirt and concrete and floorboards as he wakes isn't a little offputting. Even for other Kindred. Which is part of the reason why he'd chosen the living room as his sleeping place.
The other part being Phaedra's comfort, of course.
And oh look, they match in their loose shirts, though Cian has pulled a pair of pants on over whatever underwear he's got on, at least. He's shaking dirt out of his hair as Phaedra appears, and gives her a soft smile.
"Good morning. How did you sleep?"
She moves to the edge of the bed, sitting and reaching out to brush some of the dirt off his shoulder. "No unexpectedly weird dreams or anything." There's a little gesture for him to lean in closer--perhaps she wants to help get all the dirt off his hair?
"Good." He leans in, frowning thoughtfully, his mind clearly elsewhere.
"Do you often have strange dreams while you sleep?"
"Sometimes." She dusts at his hair and shirt for a moment, before leaning in to place a gentle kiss on his cheek. "Not when I'm with you, though."
And she casually stands and gathers her clothes, heading to the bathroom to change out of his boxers and shirt.
"I - ah -" Cian blinks and pulls away in surprise at the kiss. He opens his mouth again to say something, but then just kinda...sits there with his mouth open.
Because really, what is there to say to that?
So he walks back into the living room instead, still only half dressed.
He has a good couple minutes to figure out what even, before she comes out in her dress, his shirt and boxers folded in her hands.
"With a little notice, you're welcome to sleep here whenever you like," is what he chooses to say. He's absently straightening a stack of books, maybe as an excuse not to look at her.
"I'll remember that. Where do you want these?" Holding up the clothes helpfully.
"On the bed is fine. Or the couch. Would you like some tea, or are you hungry...?" Cian looks at her, now that the conversation has turned to practical matters.
"I could eat. Why, you going to rustle up a couple cats?" There's a hint of tease behind the words. She disappears long enough to put the clothes back in the bedroom and make the bed, before popping back into the living room.
"I could, if you'd like." Cian smirks back. "Or we could try our luck hunting together."
"Mmm. Sounds like a lot of work. Right now, I just sort of want to...hang out. If that's okay?"
Cian's smile is warm as he nods. "Perfectly acceptable. How's your brain now, after a good day's sleep? I hope you're not feeling as frazzled by your work."
"A lot better. I mean, I could have done that at home, alone, I guess, but." She glances at him, offering a smile of her own, only slightly crooked. "This was nice. This is nice."
"It is," he agrees. "I have to say...I didn't expect to enjoy another Kindred's company, in the way I enjoy yours."
She doesn't respond immediately. It takes a moment.
"That sounds horrible, continuing to live without the hope of anyone who you can relax with and trust."
"One gets used to it. I've grown accustomed to being alone. Ours can be a lonely existence." Cian shrugs, and carefully sits down on the couch.
"...it doesn't have to be, though." She walks over to stand right in front of him. "It must have been horrible, the past fifteen years, expecting that the whole of your eternity would be a lonely thing."
"It certainly hasn't been pleasant, no." Cian lets out a soft, bitter laugh. "But you understand why I tend to keep people at a distance."
"I do understand." She nods quietly, and moves to sit on the other end of the couch, watching him. No blinking.
Cian can only hold her unblinking gaze for a moment before he looks away with a bitter sort of smile.
"Say whatever you're thinking, I'm sure it's accurate."
"You deserve better than that in your existence. I'm glad I can help." This comes out softly, a little sheepish.
"You've helped immensely. I'm glad you've become comfortable with me, enough to sleep over. And...do things like kiss me on the cheek." Cian gives her a glance, and then looks toward his bookcases.
"Um. I don't know if I should have done that, huh. But I wanted to and so I did." Her posture gives the sense that were she Blushed, she'd be blushing.
"I don't know that there's much point in thinking about 'should' and 'shouldn't' here. You wanted to, and you did, and I didn't mind. I would not have initiated, but that doesn't have much to do with what I want and don't want, myself."
"Talk to me a little, Cian. About what you want. Please?" She does that vaguely catlike head-tilt at him.
Cian is silent for a few moments, as he considers his words. "I want to know what level of touch you're comfortable with, both in public and in more private settings. I suppose I should have asked to begin with."
"In public, not very much. Here, at home, with you? Mmmmaybe a bit more? If...if you'd held me last night, after I flopped in beside you, I might have liked that, but I was scared to ask, because it means admitting there's something here."
"Ah." More silence. "I..." He trails off again, and opens an arm to her, resting it on the back of the couch. Because actions speak louder than words, or something.
And she doesn't hesitate more than a couple of seconds before scooting over and slipping in under his arm.
"Is there 'something here' enough to warrant discussing the other sorts of relationships in our lives?" Cian's arm is light, when it drapes around her shoulders, his hand sliding back to run down the back of her arm.
She rests her cheek against his chest. "Maybe. Probably. Better to have things out in the open, right?"
"Probably, yes. The...arrangement I've secured with the mortal is...complicated. I'm not sure where it's heading, emotionally, but it's worth mentioning." He stares straight ahead as he strokes Phaedra's arm. "I think you know him - Simon Dubois?"
Phaedra opens her mouth to say something, then kinda stops, ending up with just "uh!" coming out of her mouth.
It takes her a moment to sort of reset. "I know him. He is not a good person and does not have your best interests in mind."
"What makes you say that?" Cian sounds curious, like he truly wants her opinion. "It's a mutually beneficial arrangement, as it currently stands."
"He is very much self-centered, very focused on what is good for him. If you stop being useful to him, somehow, the arrangement is bound to change or end. It's...I'm not saying don't do things with him, but...just be aware that he's not...his focus is tight and his secrets are dark."
"Ah. I had gathered as much," Cian agrees with a small nod of understanding. "His selfishness and secrets are very much worth the meal he makes. We went to school together, funnily enough. Not that we interacted there at all."
"...oh wow, you're his age? Like, okay, that makes sense, but I never really thought of that. That's so weird." She laughs a little. "Though you wouldn't look bad going grey. It'd be harder for me to feel this comfortable, I think, maybe, if you had."
"I'm three years his elder, actually." Cian huffs in amusement. "My family goes grey late in life, I might not have gone grey even if I'd been aging all this time. But regardless - he and I...see each other on occasion."
"I think I have two relationships I should mention: Finley and I have done some kissing things, and when I sleep over at zher place, we end up cuddled together overday like a pair of overgrown kittens. And Rena and I have kissed, and then fought, and now we're not fighting and we might kiss again at some point maybe."
Cian nods, and wraps his fingers around Phaedra's arm, pulling her a little closer. "I'm glad you and Finley have each other, you two are wonderful. I don't know Rena, I hope the fighting doesn't continue."
"...Rena's beautiful, but abrasive. She's Ordo, like Guy and Fin, but stands out among them. She's bold and loud and shameless. She's pretty amazing." And Phaedra is gushing.
Cian smiles. "She sounds it. I'm glad you've found your people. Even in a city as...kind as this one, I think it's important."
She grins, and curls in a little bit closer. "You're my people too, alright? You count."
"I had suspected, but it's always nice to hear." Cian gives her a little smirk, and gives her arm a gentle squeeze.
|