💧 inbox

[scholiast]

INBOX
text / audio / video / action
Hi, Lucretia speaking. I'm busy at the moment, but if you'd like to leave a message, I'll get back to you ASAP.
art credit code credit

Comments

[spellslots]

[It's something about the gesture that does it; something in Taako's chest shudders loose and before he can do anything about it, a quiet sob escapes and he's crying as Lucretia rubs his back.

He's not sure if it's because of this painful tension between them, because of the reminder of Glamorsprings or how much he misses being able to hug Lup, or maybe it's just a combination of the three and whatever else is going on, but he can't seem to stop himself, which means he knows he has to to ride it out.]

[scholiast]

(Oh, no. When he starts to cry in her arms, Lucretia doesn't say anything, doesn't offer words of comfort. For starters, she wouldn't know what to say; and she can tell that this- whatever it is- is fragile, tenuous. Seems like he needs it, though.

So she just holds him, keeps rubbing her hand on his back, nice and easy. It's almost too much in the face of everything that has been going on between them lately, but having him here with her feels like home, always will and she's missed that dreadfully.)

[spellslots]

[Most of the time, when Taako starts crying, his aim is to stop it as quickly as possible, to get it under control, but right now he decides to just let it happen. It takes him a few minutes to wear it himself out, but finally the crying stops and he's left sniffling against Lucretia's shoulder, quickly casting prestidigitation to erase all evidence of the tears.]

Shit, sorry, I wasn't-- uh, that wasn't the plan here.

[He didn't turn up just to cry on her.]

[scholiast]

It's okay.

(She means it, too. She's glad she could be here to give him some modicum of comfort despite it all. Lucretia sniffs, and stops rubbing his back so she can wipe her eyes. The pair of them, honestly. If Lup were here she'd be poking fun, shaking her head in mock-exasperation. Magnus might have made a stupid joke about it being time to kiss and make up and Lucretia can see that scenario in her mind's eye with crystal clarity, can see the both of them reeling back with over-exaggerated disgust before bursting into laughter.

But it isn't like that. It's just the two of them alone in her room, trying their hardest to hold onto the remains of what their relationship used to be.)

[spellslots]

[Taako scoots back a little, not out of reach but just enough to give them both a little space to collect themselves. Now that he's not like, actively crying, he can reach out to brush a stray tear from her cheek.]

I know this isn't... I get that this shit isn't easy for you either but I' doing the best I can, Luce.

[scholiast]

(She blinks when he does and flashes a quick, empty smile, one of those I'm fine smiles, even though she isn't.)

I know. I appreciate it.

[spellslots]

[It's a familiar smile, both from seeing it on her face too often and knowing how often he wears it himself.]

Can I crash here tonight?

[Like they've been out partying and he's too lazy to get himself home.]

[scholiast]

Uh huh.

(She glances down at her hands, then plucks her phone from where it had got lost in the duvet and sets it on the bedside table, moving as if to get up. This is a bit painful in its awkwardness but she just isn't sure of where she stands right now, so she's just going to delegate herself to the couch and get it over with.)

[spellslots]

Wh-- Lucretia.

[His tone is quiet but exasperated, some of his confusion seeping in because he can't believe she's thinking that he asked to stay at her place just to kick her out of her own damn bed.]

[scholiast]

I don't know! (She hunches her shoulders defensively but stays where she is, looking across at the voidfish tank, where Junior is asleep, pressed into the corner against the glass.)

I don't know what I can and can't do, I don't know how familiar I'm supposed to be– this is confusing, and I don't know what to do, okay? (She doesn't sound angry about this, just unsure, embarrassed.) I've never had to deal with anything like this before and every time I default to overly careful I just end up annoying you!

[spellslots]

Hey. [Taako reaches out for Lucretia again, gently curling his fingers around her wrist.] I'm here cause I didn't know what the fuck to say anymore and I don't-- but I didn't wanna leave it at that. Can we just... do this, like we used to? [He hesitates for a second, then:] No hetero.

[bad joke]

[scholiast]

(so bad.

Lucretia glances across at him when he takes her wrist, then snorts with unexpected laughter, and the goof softens her uncertainty. Like we used to. Like the cycles when Lup died early on and left all of them behind and bleaker for it (and Taako especially), like the times Lucretia was wracked with nightmares, like the times they stayed up talking and talking for hours at a time about everything, about nothing, and then collapsed where ever they were sitting when they couldn't go on any longer.)

Okay. (She turns back, pulling the covers down so she can scoot into bed on what she commonly thinks of as her side even though the entire bed is hers.)

[spellslots]

[Once she's sure he's staying, Taako releases her wrist and settles back against the mattress, giving her time to get comfortable.]

You're the little spoon, just FYI.

[scholiast]

Taako I am one hundred and twenty-eight years old.

(But she still gets comfortable, pulling one of the flatter pillows out from underneath the covers for her head and settling in.)

[spellslots]

And yet I've still got at least a century on ya, so you better respect your elders.

[Even after weeks of awkwardness, it's simple for Taako to wind an arm around Lucretia's waist and get comfortable against her back, resting his forehead against her shoulderblade.

He missed her.]

[scholiast]

(Lucretia yawns, and automatically drops a hand over his forearm, tracing a little design over the back of his wrist.)

Yep, yep. Maybe tomorrow.

[spellslots]

For sure, bubbale, we'll work on it tomorrow.

[Between the arguing and the crying, Taako is tired enough that he doesn't think he'll have any issue meditating tonight, so he closes his eyes with a quiet hum.]

Goodnight, Lucretia.