first_summers | Riverview >> Inbox

[ She closes her eyes at the way he touches her hair, not as a way of flinching at the sensation, but rather to savor it as best she could. As much as her heart might be singing at the moment from having any of this at all, there's still a small piece of her that's terrified of losing it again. Losing him again. ]

I do better when you have my back.

[ When she opens her eyes again, there's nothing but sincerity and genuine affection in her gaze. She's not going to hide the way she feels from him, but she's not going to rush him into things either. It's amazing enough that he's still sitting there with her at all, she doesn't need to push her luck. ]

[There was a very strong urge to say something along the lines of having her on her back, but with herculean effort, he managed to keep that to himself. For now. But it made him chuckle, shaking his head at her.]

We'll have to see. I think... I think I should go for now. Work on figuring out what'd impress a Slayer for a first date.

[ The very idea of it leaves her smiling, her entire being brighter for the hope that he's given her. That they have the chance to try this again at all... Even if it doesn't work out, if their paths take them different places, at least they'll have tried. ]

Good luck with that.

[ He'll have to work to impress her, but she believes in him. ]

[He looks up at her, confusion still there on his face, but there's something almost shy, almost hopeful in that smile he gives her.]

You'll have to get up for me to go, love. Unless you plan on having me take you along.

Tempting.

[ And it really is. She knows it's better for him to go, for them to take this as a slower pace while they figure things out, but that doesn't mean she entirely likes it. Or that she's ready for him to leave.

No, she'll be good. It's what she does, right? But first she leans in, gently pressing a kiss to his forehead, and then she begins the process of setting him free by leaving her very comfortable perch on his lap. ]

[He makes a small noise in protest, his body quite happy to keep her where she was, hands sliding down along her legs as she moves, but he doesn't make her stay. He does have to keep his coat in front of himself when he stands, but maybe she won't notice.]

Right. Well... Keep the bottle. Consider it a, ah, housewarming gift. I'll give you a call when I figure something out, yeah?

[ Oh she notices, but she doesn't say anything. The old her would have, and it likely would have been pretty awful, and she doesn't want to risk giving him any sort of wrong impression. He's used to that side of her and it's better to do everything she can to put distance between those parts of herself, as much as possible anyway. ]

I'll be looking forward to it.

[ Tucking her robe around herself, she picks up the bottle in question and takes a sip straight from it -- she even manages not to make a face. ]

Thanks for the gift.

[A small, hopefully unheard sigh leaves him, and he shakes himself to rid his mind of the thoughts running through it.]

Right. Well... ah.

Bye.

[A wave from the hand not rammed in his pocket keeping his coat half closed, then he starts to back up towards the door, already trying to think of places a girl like her would want to go.]

[ It hurts to see him go. There's a part of her that frantically wonders what if I never see him again? what if this is all a dream? and her breath catches in her throat. She has to stop herself from following him, stopping him and keeping him here with her forever. Her grip on the bottle tightens and she holds it to her chest like one might an old stuffed animal, trying to find comfort in clinging to something that isn't him. ]

Spike?

[ Her voice is small, betraying that thread of fear and uncertainty in her if he listened, and her smile's mostly faded. ]

Don't take too long.

[He finally figures out what it is he's hearing in her voice, and for a moment, it stuns him. Hope. She has hope in regards to him, and he's not sure what to do with that. Not just yet. But he finds himself nodding, a hand behind him to open the door as he takes a last look at her. Something familiar in all of this chaos. Something that he seemed to want. Someone who wanted him back, against all the odds.]

I won't.

Good.

[ Again there's the urge to move closer, grab handfuls of his shirt and pull him back to her. But her feet stay firmly where they are and she keeps control of those urges; the time for losing control will come later. Until then-- Her expression turns playful and she makes a motion with her hands like a teacher waving away a small child. ]

Now shoo, I need to get my beauty sleep.

Not that you need it.

[He winked, but he slipped out the open door and closed it behind him. He leaned back against it for a moment, taking a breath and letting it out slowly, then moved to head out of her place properly. He had a date to think about, and some... needs to see to.]

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