cointosser | AEF - IC INBOX.

[Alice remains quiet while he works through the rest of it, keeping her eyes closed and pressing her lips together tightly so that she doesn't end up a mess all over again. There's a part of her that wants to say more, wants to reassure him, but the words would be hollow and they both know it. She's said what she feels needs to be said, and all she can do now is pray that will be enough for him to make peace with it somehow.

He kisses her cheek, and she hums softly in response. He's trying. God bless him, he's trying. That's all she can really ask of him now.

When he mentions the tea, she pulls back just enough to give him something of a confused look. It takes a few moment to recognize that he's trying to break the tension with a joke, and surely he can see the gears in her brain operate until she suddenly lights up with realization. She laughs.]

No, your tea wasn't a tragedy at all. It was perfect.

[Alice reaches over and gently brushes some hair out of his eyes.]

You're perfect.

[She may be feeling a bit overly sentimental, given everything.]

[It is a rare moment that Jaskier's smile in return could possibly look bashful, but -- look, he's only human. It's not so much her laugh, the beautiful sound it is, as much as the realization that he's turned the conversation round on him for a free compliment.

How selfish. Not that he cares much if his tea is terrible or his words are... inadequate.

His heart squeezes tight. It's not fair that those words, which were definitely about his tea abilities, not anything else, squeezes tears out of his eyes. He hiccups around a breath, reaching up and wiping them quickly with loud clearing of his throat.

He's seen so many dead. But non were his own. Not yet --]

Stop, stop. I'm blushing! If you tell anyone, I'll positively wither on the spot. [He pulls her close, giving a hug, a squeeze. He knows she saw, but they can pretend neither quite realized it.] Thank you for telling me, Alice. I mean it, that I'd rather know. I'd love to know everything about you, of course. [He lets her go, brushing through his hair where she'd touched it before. So softly, even.] You're absolutely fascinating. And perfect, I may add. In all the ways that matter.

[Alice saw, but she won't admit it. Instead, she buries her face in his shoulder when he pulls her in and lets herself laugh a little more. It all feels too nice not to, especially after this morning's discovery and conversation. They can pretend for now. That's easier.]

I promise your secret is safe with me.

[She wipes at her face once more after he releases her, cleaning up the last of the wetness on her face.]

You're going to make me blush, too, if you keep that up.

[She already is, a bit.

After a moment, she stands.]

I can share things that aren't terribly upsetting, if you'd like? We can get some fresh air, and I'll tell you about some of the adventures I've been on before arriving here. I think you'll like some of them.

[He is a bard, after all. He'll probably eat most of her stories right up. With a smile, she extends her hand.]

I think it will do us both some good. Shall we?

Ah, but that was my goal all along. And I'm afraid your skin tone matches blushing much better than my own.

[He's gotten... perhaps not used to it is the correct phrase, so much as come to terms with it. And like all things Jaskier doesn't particularly adore, he makes small quips about it -- about himself -- without really thinking about it.

He takes her hand the moment it's offered, warm, human skin fitting so wonderfully against his own. Now that he has not been fighting Aeternae instincts, he seeks out heat far more often than he used to -- which has led to a few nights where he's clung to her, or pressed his face deep against her skin.]

As I said, perfect. With perfect ideas. [His smile was teasing, his tail flicking with excitement. She did know exactly how to get to him. And he... wanted to give her a long chance to tell him all about herself. Hopefully in a way that would separate her from her grief, if only for the time the walk may take.] I would love that. From what I understand, they have been quite the adventures.

I believe it suits yours just fine.

[Alice, unlike Jaskier, has few if any reservations about the Aeternae changes. She still finds him plenty handsome, and has grown to count on the physical affection that his heat-seeking behavior brings. She realizes, perhaps belatedly, how much she simply likes being touched--not necessarily in a sexual way, but just in general.

(Although... there's been a lot of that sort of touching, too.)

He gets to his feet, and she slides her arm around one of his.]

They have been. And we have all day to share them.

[She cannot think of a better way to spend the day.]

AEF - IC INBOX.

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wrapping here!