𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭

[recluserose]

➢ "All you have is your fire." ⏮⏭

Comments

[recluserose]

You're welcome.

[His offer to return the favor makes her smile.]

Only if you wish to. And if you're comfortable enough.

[Maybe it could have gone unsaid, but for two people who have had their boundaries disrupted, the consent was a good thing to depend on and an indicator of where they now stand compared to before.]

[vecna]

No, I'll want to. We share a few things in common, at least where... prisons are concerned. Teachers, too.

[He shrugs a shoulder.]

But we can wait on that. First... [Here, he actually reaches out and gently, gently taps her forehead.]

You need to rest your mind. I might have done the heavy lifting, but yours is the one that went through the wringer.

[recluserose]

Oh... You're right.

[Blinking, Amelia automatically touches her forehead right after Henry.]

I don't think there should be any aftereffects. There wasn't any the first time.

[vecna]

[His eyebrow arches.]

I meant emotionally, mostly.

[Surely she's not up for yet one more memory-dive so quickly.]

[recluserose]

Oh, right.

[She takes a step back, readying to go to bed.]

That's enough emotion for you to witness from me.

[Henry's been around Amelia long enough to know that even though her default state of expression is neutral and deadpan audacity, there has been more to her in the things she does and says.]

[vecna]

[Oh yes. He's learning that more and more the longer they've been living together. Like the curtain being drawn back inches at a time.]

Of course. Can't strip away all of your mystery just yet.

[recluserose]

[Amelia scoffs, but not in a derisive way, and crosses her arms at him.]

I have to keep up some pretense of mystery so you can't be bored. I won't allow it.

[She manages a joke too. It's gotten easier these days.]

[vecna]

[Progress in all the tiny ways.]

Bored? With someone like you. Never.

[Ah, but he stands, all faint politeness and humor.]

I should get ready for bed, I think. It has gotten later than either of us intended.