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[notsonewbie]

derringers

derringers#1225

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ABOUT ME

Meryl Stryfe, at your service!

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(Unless it's about something Vash did)

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[livlaughlove]

i wasn't sure if that was too much. your place or mine? or somewhere else?

whatever you're comfortable with.

[notsonewbie]

Mine, is fine. As long as you're comfortable with that.

... Do you like tea? Do you want me to make some?

text > action

[livlaughlove]

you don't need to go out of your way. but if you'd like to, i won't let it go to waste.

[With her permission, he makes his way over. Maybe stops by the market before he hits up the castle.

When he knocks on the door, it's with a great nervousness and a small bouquet of lilies of the valley.]

[notsonewbie]

[By the time Livio arrives, Meryl has made some tea and gotten it set up in a small nook in her section of the castle. All that's left for her to do is wait by the door, which she all too eagerly answers the moment she hears the knock.

It's a little surprising to see the flowers. Part of her wonders if it's a good thing. Part of her wonders if it's a pre-emptive apology. But she's getting ahead of herself, isn't she.]

Livio - [She tries not to get too excited, even if she still can't help but smile at the sight of him.] Come in.

[livlaughlove]

[Joke's on Meryl. The shopkeeper told him these were a good apology for a friend or a lover. They'll just have to see which it ends up being.

Regardless of what he has to say now, Livio finds himself shrinking in Meryl's presence. All he can think about is how much he upset her, how much she deserves better than to even deal with him being around. But... she wants him to come in, so he does. His voice is even more sheepish and quiet than usual.]

Howdy.

[notsonewbie]

[The demure tone is noted and compartmentalized. Already, she can pull at the details and make a guess at how this is going to end. She'll just have to make her peace with that.]

It's just a bit of a walk. Hang on.

[She leads him down a hall, into a completely separate wing. It's sparsely decorated right now, save for various pinboards of notes and the occasional open, abandoned notebook or book. Some of these should probably be brought back to the library. Whoopsies!]

[livlaughlove]

[Observant as he is, Livio does his best to respect Meryl's privacy and not let his eyes wander. Though he can't help but wonder if that earring is hanging up somewhere, or hidden away. His own is back home, partially hidden at the foot of one of his vases.]

[notsonewbie]

[That missing detail is also filed away in the back of her mind. If he isn't wearing the earring, then he likely isn't interested in making anything work, right? She's pretty sure that's a logical jump to make.

(Hers, for the record, is nestled within its box and tucked gingerly away by her bedside table. Because of course it is).

She takes him to a small table, across between a workbench and a dining table. Her current notebook has been shoved far to the side, leaving plenty of room for the two of them to sit. Their tea is already waiting for them, having had plenty of time to steep. She takes the bag out of hers, then nods for Livio to do the same.

(No, she didn't bring out Knives' tea. That's for them to share on their own time.)] ]

It's probably still hot.

[livlaughlove]

[Livio takes a seat -- so goddamn carefully. Meryl would either be amused or exasperated to learn he's already broken another chair.

The irony of her serving him tea isn't lost on him, either. He offers the flowers over before picking up the mug with both hands, letting it warm them before he takes a sip.]

It isn't... bitter. [Yet it's still overwhelmingly earthy.] What is it?

[notsonewbie]

[The flowers are finally accepted. She probably should have thought to grab a vase on her way up but... Whatever. She'll deal with it later. For now she pulls the lilies close, cradling them to her chest and inhaling faintly.]

They're pretty. [Right, did he ask something?] It's called lavender. It's supposed to be soothing. Figured it might, uh. Help the both of us.

[livlaughlove]

I like it. Thank you.

[Guess he's becoming a tea guy, now.

For a time, he can't bring himself to look at Meryl. But she deserves the courtesy of mere acknowledgement before he should let himself say anything at all.

It's... probably at least a minute, or close to it, before he can do so. And he still has that pathetic, miserable expression on his face when he does.]

I know I hurt you... bad. 'n if you don't wanna forgive me for that, I get it. But in the case ya do, 'n you still wanna try... [Of course she doesn't. Why would she? If anything, she's dodged a bullet.] Y'deserve me offerin' commitment. And, well... I am. Offerin'.

1/2

[notsonewbie]

[The longer he draws it out, the more and more confident she becomes in her assumption that it won't end in her favor. She tries to force her shoulder to remain steady, for her expression to many icy and unaffected. It's hard, however, when he looks at her like that. And it doesn't take long before her lower lip starts to jut out, and her eyes start to burn.]

Livio, it's -

2/2

[notsonewbie]

[And then she stops. She has to replay the words in her head, again and again. There has to be a mistake. She has to have misunderstood, she -]

You're offering - what exactly?

[livlaughlove]

Commitment. Partnership.

I --

[He shouldn't have even bothered with this. It's clearly just digging his claws into an already raw wound and reopening it, when he should have given her an even break without any more heartache.]

... I'm sorry. I'm bein' awfully selfish.

[notsonewbie]

You... want to be with me.

[She thought the tears were gone but nope! Here they are, bubbling up again. It's like she drank from that damn fountain again with how much she's been blubbering lately.]

After I've been such a jerk to you? Yelling at you when I didn't get my way and...

[She sets the flowers down in favor of wiping at her eyes.]

[livlaughlove]

[Now she's trying to cry? Way to go, Livio!]

Wh--

Y'ain't been any more of a jerk than me. 'n anyway, you were hurt.

[He doesn't even have the right to try to offer her comfort, as much as he desperately wants to.]

Please, I wasn't tryin' to upset you...

[notsonewbie]

I'm not upset! [She sniffles, immediately contradicting her point. Way to go.] I just... I'm really sorry for the way I acted.

[Is it too much to reach over and lay a hand over his.]

Are you really sure? It isn't because I made you feel guilty? Or like you had to?

[livlaughlove]

Please don't apologize to me...

[It isn't too much. Livio doesn't entirely understand why Meryl would want anything to do with him at this point, but he doesn't fight it. At this point, his gaze falls, settling on their hands rather than her face.]

It's... like I said. I'm bein' selfish. I couldn't stand the thought of not gettin' to be with you.

[notsonewbie]

You act like I don't feel the same way.

[She promised not to hit him anymore, but she didn't say anything about pinching him. Even if it's hard with all this brisket.]

Of course I want to be with you, Livio.

[livlaughlove]

[Despite the somber mood, that sure gets a squeak out of him.]

You -- y'do? Even after all that nonsense?

I mean... my nonsense. You made sense.

[notsonewbie]

Talk down about yourself one more time, Livio.

[Yes, she's very stern sounding. Only briefly, though, because she melts just as quickly.]

But, yeah. I do. Really.

[livlaughlove]

[He wasn't actually trying to that time! He just didn't want her to think he was dismissing her feelings...]

Yes, ma'am. I mean -- no, ma'am. [OUGH. Anyway,

He turns his hand over, offering it to her properly.]

Seriously...? [Oh, man. All of a sudden he's overwhelmed with happiness at the possibility, but still upset something terrible... Here come the tears.]

[notsonewbie]

[Getting used to just how much this guy feels is going to be an undertaking, Meryl can already tell. She gets up without complaint, though, quickly stepping between his legs so that she can reach out and hold his face.]

Seriously, Livio. [She thumbs at those tear-streaked cheeks.] Promise, even.

[livlaughlove]

[Meryl if you think you're overwhelmed, try BEING him for five seconds --

Oh. Livio flushes warmly as he realizes this is exactly how it was when they first kissed, except now he's crying and he can see all of her beautiful face.]

Promise, huh...? [His free hand raises to touch ever so lightly over top of hers. Just as tentatively, he whispers.] Partner.

[notsonewbie]

[Something about that blush, in the middle of all the tears, is so uniquely Livio. It squeezes her heart in all those warm, sappy, and gooey ways. She tilts her head forward to brush over his forehead, gentle and sweet as every other motion she's offered.]

Partner. [Her smile twitches upward.] Or girlfriend, if you're feeling so bold.