[open]

[bachjones]

 "The salty sea sighs
the wind leaves its edges of salt
Everyone - unwittingly - says
goodbye
to the promise of the Summer-"

Bach stopped stringing his guitar. The ocean had been calling, it was clear that there was a story waiting, but right now his mind couldn't catch up with his fingers. The guitar already knew, while he was struggling to get the pieces together. 

"Fuck." He punched the sand next to him before getting up from his beach chair for a stretch. Corry was sweet, but he couldn't have sex with his half-sister wasn't possible in his book. And he had kind of looked forward to sex, the last time had been too long. Maybe he should find Essie ..

"Where the fuck did I come up with unwittingly anyway? That's not a story-word .." 

Comments

[risesandthefalls]

"I think I can stand the two of you for a little while longer," he says, blowing across the surface of his tea.

[louise_abasi]

"You're the best host I ever met", she responds dryly.

"tea would be nice, yes."

[risesandthefalls]

Duly chastened, Rhodry puts down his own cup to pour her tea.

"I'm not entirely used to company."

[louise_abasi]

"We- we don't, honestly I can leave, Rhodri."

She shows him a sheepish grin. "My social skills are a bit rusty after two months of lock up and magical delusions."

[risesandthefalls]

He leans passed her to set her tea on the bench and takes the opportunity to graze his hand over her hip.

[louise_abasi]

She meets his eyes. "I still owe you a reward for what you did for me at the hospital."

[risesandthefalls]

"You don't owe me anything," he says, though his hand stays where it is. "It was a once in a lifetime act of altruism."

[louise_abasi]

"So how should I view this?" She gestures at his hand. "Hospitality?"

[risesandthefalls]

He moves, holding both hands up in something like surrender. Tilting his head so his hair tumbles into his eyes.

"I didn't think. I don't seem to, where you're concerned."

[louise_abasi]

"Oh."

Louise wasn't sure if that was a good thing. "How should I view that? As a compliment or a complaint?"

[risesandthefalls]

"It's an observation," he says, flashing a grin. "I don't have a lot of forethought here, Lou."

[louise_abasi]

She redirects his hand to Osha, slumped against her chair. "She asks less questions."

[risesandthefalls]

He leans back against the edge of the counter, catching his weight with his hands.

"You want the truth? Really?"

On 22 September 2014 19:57, louise_abasi - DW Comment < dw_null@dreamwidth.org> wrote:

[louise_abasi]

"About what, me?" She lifts her chin in challenge. "Tell me."

[risesandthefalls]

That truth is easier than all the others. Rhodri's done this enough times to fake a shy smile though, this time, he almost means it. The smile, that is. He definitely means every word that comes out of his mouth next.

"I...think about you. A lot." He rolls one shoulder in a shrug. "I'm powerless in the face of it."

[louise_abasi]

Louise didn't have a lot of experiences with such declarations, and she didn't expect any of them to come with fanfare and flowers but this ..

She moves her chair back and gets up. "You sound like you're suffering through it and I'm sorry. I will leave. Osha, let's go."

[risesandthefalls]

He huffs out a laugh.

"Was it something I said?"

[louise_abasi]

"I - I don't know. Maybe I just want something cute and cookie-cutter instead of feeling bad about being on someone's mind."

She winds Osha's leash around her lower arm. "It feels like you barely allow me around, Rhodri, but why do you invite me over if you feel like that? What is wrong with me to make it such an issue? Thank you for the tea."

[risesandthefalls]

"I never said you had to feel bad,sweetheart. Jesus." He reaches out, curling his fingers loosely around her free arm. "I'm out of practice with this, okay? I...I haven't...done this. I don't do this." He frowns slightly. "Don't go."

[louise_abasi]

"I just want something sweet and gentle and easy for once."

She looks up at him. "I think I had my share of those with secrets and the disability of sharing. I don't want to make you uncomfortable, I think you're a good man. I just don't want to be uncomfortable either."

[risesandthefalls]

"I am...none of those things, sweetheart. Really, I'm not. But I have also never done anything like what I did for you in that hospital. And that's got to mean something. It has to."

He shrugs. "No more lies. I promise." He lets out a shaky breath. "Shit. I don't think I've ever said that before."

[louise_abasi]

"You're not a good man?"

Her heart is in her throat and Louise's pretty sure that such exciting things should only happen during puberty or the early twenties, but hasn't she always been doing things differently?

"Tell me again that you're not married or have anything else and maybe we can ..move to other things than talking." She meets his eyes. "If you can find it in you."

[risesandthefalls]

"I haven't always been," he admits. "But I also swear to you that, while I was once married, I'm not anymore. That my daughter is my living. And then I will never, ever hurt you." He smiles. "And I'll always answer direct questions truthfully. So if you don't want to know, don't ask."

[louise_abasi]

"Don't make promises, please."

She takes his hand. "Show me around. Take care of me."

[risesandthefalls]

Threading his fingers through hers, he draws her in closer against his side.

"So this is the studio. Art. Jewellery. What I do with my time." He flashes a smile. "There's a couple of rooms upstairs - bed, bath. That sort of thing."