popcornxgif | Complicated homecoming...

Doesn't have to be without talking, just don't make any comments you're not okay with me following up on, alright? It's not easy keeping my thoughts clean when you start making suggestive comments like that.

*So not easy that he didn't actually manage it, but she doesn't need to know that as long as he kept all the dirty thoughts to himself, right?*

Right.

[Except she doesn't know what else to talk about now as she pokes at what's left of her pancakes.]

*He's not exactly sure what to say, either, so he'll just finish getting his coffee. At this point, he's really just relieved she didn't lock up at the admission that he has to work at keeping his side of things from leaning too risque...*

[One might want to argue that point give how she isn't talking or eating now. Mostly she's just pushing the cut up bits of her food around the plate.]

*He sighs as he sits down and runs his hand through his hair.*

Look, I'm sorry if you were hoping my interest in you was completely innocent. But you know that if that was my main focus here, I'd have moved on by now...right?

[She snorts. Her expectations for innocent interest are pretty low here. To the point that they're practically non-existent.]

I stopped expecting that a very long time ago.

Then why do you seem so bothered now that it's come up that I have to work at not commenting when you say things like...that?

I'm not bothered by that exactly. [More she doesn't know what to do with that information.]

Well, you definitely don't seem comfortable with it...

I don't have to be comfortable with everything.

I know. And I want to avoid things you aren't alright with, but...

*Just sort of...staring at his coffee.*

It's not like that's something I can just turn off. Even if I changed to a neuter form, it wouldn't affect how I think.

[She just sighs and shakes her head before dropping it into her hands. And breakfast had been going so well. And he's just misinterpreting what had her freeze entirely and stop drifting into awkward territory please]

You don't have to walk on eggshells with me.

Really? Even though it seems like every time I toe the line, you close off entirely? If I'd responded to your comment like I wanted to, like you were practically inviting me to, can you really say you wouldn't have just told me to back off?

[The quiet that follows is telling in itself. She's not entirely sure she wouldn't have shut him down hard if he had replied in kind. This was turning out fantastically.]

No I can't.

And that's the problem.

*His tail has drooped behind him, and even his wings are sagging.*

I don't mind you making off color jokes, that kind of banter can be fun. But it's not really banter if I can't respond in the same vein. At that point, it just ends up teasing me and making it hard to tell where I can go without bothering you.

That's why I'm being so cautious. I can't judge your limits by what you stop short of, since you're more comfortable saying these kinds of things than hearing them.

[She feels bad enough that she can't just let it be. And his body language just makes her feel worse than she already did. Shoulders slumped she leans forward onto her elbows. Fingers rubbing her temples as her headache worsens.]

Alastor can we not, my head hurts.

...Right.

*He chews his lip for a moment, then puts his coffee down untouched.*

Maybe I should...just head home so you can rest.

Drink your coffee.

[It's only like half a command promise. Though she's still rubbing at her temples and doesn't look up while speaking.]

You don't have to go, I just...I'm too fuzzy for that conversation to really get the right amount of attention.

*That seems to relax him a bit, at least. The promise that she isn't avoiding the conversation, just isn't thinking straight enough for it. He does drink some of his coffee, which also helps him feel more comfortable.*

Guess I shouldn't be surprised. Caffeine can only do so much. Why don't you just finish sleeping that hangover off? Dante can do without his maid for one morning, if there's anything you want taken care of.

[Doesn't mean she won't try to avoid the conversation when she is sober. But she's not there enough to even really think of that at present.]

You don't have to clean my apartment. That isn't your responsibility. But I might go nap, it sounds like a really good idea.

I'm at least going to clean up from breakfast, since I'm the one who got all that stuff out. But it sounds like there's not much reason for me to stay here until you wake up...um. Unless you want the company, but I doubt that really matters if you're just going to be asleep...

Thanks. [She isn't going to argue that point. If he wants to clean up from breakfast he can do that.]

Check on me when you finish?

Alright. I'll try to be quiet, in case you're already asleep.

[She nods a moment and then gets up to disappear into her bedroom again and lay down.

She's still awake when he comes to check on her, not from any amount of noise made, so much as she can't quite drift off like she thought she might. And truth be told the ceiling is incredibly dull to stare at.]

*It takes him a little while, and as promised, he's watching his step. He doesn't move completely silently, but his footsteps are quiet as he comes in to check on her.*

You alright? I thought you'd at least be starting to doze by now.

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