[ 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. ]
[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. ]
[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.]
[ 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. ]
[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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[ 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. ]
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Right. Well... Keep the bottle. Consider it a, ah, housewarming gift. I'll give you a call when I figure something out, yeah?
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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.
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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.]
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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.
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I won't.
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[ 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.
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[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.]