[He also is in one of the outfits from the clothing store! Stylish! Very Gunsmoke! And Hansa peers over her shoulder, frowning when he sees what is inside.]
I don’t have a lot of hope in that, with the gun range being next door. [ ... she looks back at the window again, squinting at the guns on display there ] Still, no one knows what these places are going to be until they show up. No one has asay in it...
Who's to say there aren't more somewhere else? I mean, look at what Vezda tried to do with the scalpels a few weeks ago by trying to toss them all into space, and then what Kano managed to do...
[The forest is as lush as ever. A permanently gorgeous forest, filled with wildlife, sunbeams cascading through the leaves. Hansa leads her in there, before turning back to her, reaching for her other hand.]
[He stares at her for a moment - maybe she can tell that his hands are trembling a little. Even though he's smiling fondly, it seems he's a bit nervous.]
...Alex. I just wanted to do this, because with everything that is going on...I don't know when the next time might be to do it. And I wanted to hear your answer now.
[A little sigh.]
I have two things to say. And I want you to listen to them both, okay?
[A pause. A squeeze to her hands. Here it is. The moment of truth. He draws up her hands, and kisses the back of each one sweetly.]
First of all, Alex......I'm really, sincerely, deeply in love with you.
[ the shaking in his hands is enough that she's ... worried? not overly, because he seems.. okay despite that? she just follows him, and lets him say what he has to say.
which is a lot apparently. she goes very, very red and makes a sort of aborted noise in the back of her throat.
but there's nothing about it that sounds... scared, or appalled or anything like that. just surprised. that it's being said so openly and bluntly, rule 10 in play or not. she shifts her hands a little in his grasp so she can just... touch him. even if it's just the brush of her fingers against his cheek, because she doesn't want to untangle their hands completely.
just something, some sort of response while she's trying to find her voice. ]
[He says, with a little laugh, as she goes red. The touch of her hand is soft as he leans into it, his voice ever so fond.]
I have been for a while. You really are...someone special. You're beautiful, and talented, and lovely, and its like...you're a sunbeam. Every time I see you, its like nothing else matters.
[He nods to himself.]
I'm no poet, you know, so putting all of this into words is a little tough, but...I mean it. I do. I love you, Alex Benedetto.
[ she doesn't even know how to react to it, really. compliments and nice words are one thing to hear, but hearing them with a weight and sincerity behind them is...
something very different. weighing them, listening and not doing something stupid out of embarrassment is something else as well. it's a instinct, but one she squashes down, because this is important. it's not like she doesn't have an answer of her own.
she shifts her hands in his grasp, so she can hold his face in her hands, and very similarly to sunday, she leans up just enough to kiss him. but properly, this time. nothing on the cheek, or the forehead, just a proper kiss. short, but soft and sweet. ]
You-- [ the amount of heart attacks this man has given her this week alone, she swears. she presses her forehead against his shoulder and just laughs once, soft and a little dazed. and so, so fond. ]
I love you too. [ there's a lot of other things she wants to say, but that's the most important. simple and powerful as it is. ]
I said to someone the other week... we don't know how much time we have here. What's going to happen, or how things will change. She told me to take my own advice as well.
[And that is a kiss. A real, bonafide kiss. His cheeks dusting pink, he lets out a light laugh as she moves to rest against him. She loves him. She...loves him.]
[His arms move to embrace her and pull her close.]
Haha. Goodness. I mean, you're right, absolutely. Though I should be telling you that you beat me to it.
[He moves his hand up to cup under her jaw, the look in his eye bright and shining as he tilts her head up and leans in for a kiss of his own. She's soft.]
[She's perfect.]
[When he draws back, he's all smiles, though there's again, a nervousness in the tremble of his hand on her back.]
...And now, I want to tell you the second thing. I have a...sort of offer, for you.
[ the awkwardness, especially coming from hansa -- with all that attitude and light-heartedness that he usually has, being seemingly unflappable, is... so very endearing. the nerves, everything. in a way, it helps hammer home just how very real this is. why be nervous if it was something that didn't matter to him?
she leans into the kiss, and like always she just feels... safe. like she's safe, and things might actually be okay. it's difficult to put into words, clearly and concisely, in a way that fully explains just how this feels. and how much he's actually done for her, even when they were just two people the realm threw together for no reason other than it could. ]
[ she feels... happy. and that feels like such a rare thing, but it's so, so precious. ]
... An offer?
[ one of her hands tucks his hair behind his ear, more just for something to do. so she doesn't have to move away. ]
[So here it is. He has to let out a low exhale, gather his thoughts, and try not to be distracted by her hand tucking his hair behind an ear.]
I think you are aware that I'm...fond of Emet-Selch. We spent ten years in that place, with a child who we raised, and I would be lying to say that he doesn't bring me comfort. But returning here and seeing you...I knew that I didn't want to turn my back on you.
[She was too important like that. He wouldn't be so cruel to just throw her away, when his feelings were so real. even if ten years had passed.]
I found out that Archer, who I think of as a very good friend, also had feelings for Emet-Selch, and vice-versa. And earlier today, the man himself sat Archer and I down. And I provided them an ultimatum. I told them that there was no way I would abandon you, no matter my feelings over those ten years. You were someone I have cared about for a long time and I want to keep safe. I, of course, expected that they'd just let that be, but...
[And a pause.]
They accepted that completely. They wanted me, but they were more than happy to have you too. I know Archer is more than fond of you. And...of course, it all comes down to you. Nobody expects you to have the same relationship with either of them that I have with you. You could even ignore them or treat them as friends, if you wanted. But the fact is, we truly want you to be happy. I want you to be happy.
[And a nod. Its a lot to ask at once, but...its important. They're all important to him. Especially Alex.]
I just wanted to know if you would be happy with...us all being together, with you.
[ wow of all the things to follow up a heartfelt confession and a kiss with, hansa. she looks a little surprised for a moment-- proper wide eyed, and blinking. ]
...
[ and then she tilts her head. ]
... I already figured that whatever happened, if you did feel the same way, I'd be sharing you to some extent with Emet-Selch. [ you can't erase ten years, not from a person's life or experiences, even if you can remove them physically. there are things that will be shared in that time that she can't begin to understand or feel. and those things have shaped and changed relationships in ways no one could really have seen coming.
especially after this weekend, and how badly almost losing him had hurt hansa. that knowledge, that weight had settled on her then and... well. she'd felt relieved that emet-selch hadn't been removed, due to what it would do it hansa. twenty-four hours might not be enough to full come to terms with that and see where she is with the idea, but... it was already there. that part does not surprise her. ]
Chiron, well... [ the horse, as always, is a surprise. ] I already knew about his feelings for Emet-Selch. That part... doesn't surprise me. [ the surprise is more... all three of them? all four of them? that's the part that is a lot to wrap her head around. but there's the insistence that... she doesn't have to push to form relatonships that don't work for her, or do anything that she doesn't want to do...
[He's pleased, of course, that the offer isn't rejected outright, but he hardly wants to make her feel like she's pushed into this with no way out. It's all up to her. Whatever she says, goes. In the end, if she decided to cut it all down, and leave, he'd just follow.]
[He leans into that hand, his own sliding gently around to the back of her neck.]
[ she nods, the hand at the back of her neck like an anchor. like always. her mind wants to rush at high speed -- what happens if it doesn't work? what happens if it isn't okay? but then there's that contact and it steadies her again. slows her down.
like always really. when isn't she relying on him, in ways she didn't even realise?
...
"I'm really, sincerely, deeply in love with you."
... ]
No pressure.
[ maybe a little, but ... less than she would have thought. her thumb keeps brushing against hansa's cheek, just as soothing for her as it seems to be for him. ]
... I saw what this weekend could've done to you. I don't want that to happen again.
So... [ it's a sincere request. one that clearly meant a lot to hansa, from the nerves he had and the weight when he asked her. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Hm. Maybe they're not real? One can hope...
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she tips her head back a little to look at him. ]
I don’t have a lot of hope in that, with the gun range being next door. [ ... she looks back at the window again, squinting at the guns on display there ] Still, no one knows what these places are going to be until they show up. No one has asay in it...
[ ...
And then she tips her head back again. ]
What if we took all the bullets and hid them?
no subject
[Hmmm.]
Who's to say there aren't more somewhere else? I mean, look at what Vezda tried to do with the scalpels a few weeks ago by trying to toss them all into space, and then what Kano managed to do...
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... right.
So we just have to hope nothing happens or that they avoid the obvious option. [ she looks... less delighted but it’s fine ]
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[And he just...pauses, looking over at Alex. There's a thoughtful look on his face, before he just nods, glancing around.]
Hey. Speaking of...Alex, can we find a place to talk? A more private place to sit. I need to tell you something.
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[ she properly looks away from the gun shop at that, looking thoughtful as she considers other locations that would be quieter than here ]
Sure. I don’t mind. [ ... ] The only quiet place I can think of is... around the graveyard, maybe? If that’s not a bit weird?
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[Mmmm.]
Not...the best setting for what I have to say. Maybe back in the forest or the bridge...
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Okay then, either or.
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[And he reaches down to take her hand so that he can lead her there, smiling all the while.]
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[ she lets her hand be taken, and gives his a gentle squeeze, before letting herself be led back to the main town and to the forest. ]
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[He stares at her for a moment - maybe she can tell that his hands are trembling a little. Even though he's smiling fondly, it seems he's a bit nervous.]
...Alex. I just wanted to do this, because with everything that is going on...I don't know when the next time might be to do it. And I wanted to hear your answer now.
[A little sigh.]
I have two things to say. And I want you to listen to them both, okay?
[A pause. A squeeze to her hands. Here it is. The moment of truth. He draws up her hands, and kisses the back of each one sweetly.]
First of all, Alex......I'm really, sincerely, deeply in love with you.
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which is a lot apparently. she goes very, very red and makes a sort of aborted noise in the back of her throat.
but there's nothing about it that sounds... scared, or appalled or anything like that. just surprised. that it's being said so openly and bluntly, rule 10 in play or not. she shifts her hands a little in his grasp so she can just... touch him. even if it's just the brush of her fingers against his cheek, because she doesn't want to untangle their hands completely.
just something, some sort of response while she's trying to find her voice. ]
no subject
[He says, with a little laugh, as she goes red. The touch of her hand is soft as he leans into it, his voice ever so fond.]
I have been for a while. You really are...someone special. You're beautiful, and talented, and lovely, and its like...you're a sunbeam. Every time I see you, its like nothing else matters.
[He nods to himself.]
I'm no poet, you know, so putting all of this into words is a little tough, but...I mean it. I do. I love you, Alex Benedetto.
no subject
something very different. weighing them, listening and not doing something stupid out of embarrassment is something else as well. it's a instinct, but one she squashes down, because this is important. it's not like she doesn't have an answer of her own.
she shifts her hands in his grasp, so she can hold his face in her hands, and very similarly to sunday, she leans up just enough to kiss him. but properly, this time. nothing on the cheek, or the forehead, just a proper kiss. short, but soft and sweet. ]
You-- [ the amount of heart attacks this man has given her this week alone, she swears. she presses her forehead against his shoulder and just laughs once, soft and a little dazed. and so, so fond. ]
I love you too. [ there's a lot of other things she wants to say, but that's the most important. simple and powerful as it is. ]
I said to someone the other week... we don't know how much time we have here. What's going to happen, or how things will change. She told me to take my own advice as well.
You beat me to it.
no subject
[And that is a kiss. A real, bonafide kiss. His cheeks dusting pink, he lets out a light laugh as she moves to rest against him. She loves him. She...loves him.]
[His arms move to embrace her and pull her close.]
Haha. Goodness. I mean, you're right, absolutely. Though I should be telling you that you beat me to it.
[He moves his hand up to cup under her jaw, the look in his eye bright and shining as he tilts her head up and leans in for a kiss of his own. She's soft.]
[She's perfect.]
[When he draws back, he's all smiles, though there's again, a nervousness in the tremble of his hand on her back.]
...And now, I want to tell you the second thing. I have a...sort of offer, for you.
no subject
she leans into the kiss, and like always she just feels... safe. like she's safe, and things might actually be okay. it's difficult to put into words, clearly and concisely, in a way that fully explains just how this feels. and how much he's actually done for her, even when they were just two people the realm threw together for no reason other than it could. ]
[ she feels... happy. and that feels like such a rare thing, but it's so, so precious. ]
... An offer?
[ one of her hands tucks his hair behind his ear, more just for something to do. so she doesn't have to move away. ]
no subject
[So here it is. He has to let out a low exhale, gather his thoughts, and try not to be distracted by her hand tucking his hair behind an ear.]
I think you are aware that I'm...fond of Emet-Selch. We spent ten years in that place, with a child who we raised, and I would be lying to say that he doesn't bring me comfort. But returning here and seeing you...I knew that I didn't want to turn my back on you.
[She was too important like that. He wouldn't be so cruel to just throw her away, when his feelings were so real. even if ten years had passed.]
I found out that Archer, who I think of as a very good friend, also had feelings for Emet-Selch, and vice-versa. And earlier today, the man himself sat Archer and I down. And I provided them an ultimatum. I told them that there was no way I would abandon you, no matter my feelings over those ten years. You were someone I have cared about for a long time and I want to keep safe. I, of course, expected that they'd just let that be, but...
[And a pause.]
They accepted that completely. They wanted me, but they were more than happy to have you too. I know Archer is more than fond of you. And...of course, it all comes down to you. Nobody expects you to have the same relationship with either of them that I have with you. You could even ignore them or treat them as friends, if you wanted. But the fact is, we truly want you to be happy. I want you to be happy.
[And a nod. Its a lot to ask at once, but...its important. They're all important to him. Especially Alex.]
I just wanted to know if you would be happy with...us all being together, with you.
no subject
...
[ and then she tilts her head. ]
... I already figured that whatever happened, if you did feel the same way, I'd be sharing you to some extent with Emet-Selch. [ you can't erase ten years, not from a person's life or experiences, even if you can remove them physically. there are things that will be shared in that time that she can't begin to understand or feel. and those things have shaped and changed relationships in ways no one could really have seen coming.
especially after this weekend, and how badly almost losing him had hurt hansa. that knowledge, that weight had settled on her then and... well. she'd felt relieved that emet-selch hadn't been removed, due to what it would do it hansa. twenty-four hours might not be enough to full come to terms with that and see where she is with the idea, but... it was already there. that part does not surprise her. ]
Chiron, well... [ the horse, as always, is a surprise. ] I already knew about his feelings for Emet-Selch. That part... doesn't surprise me. [ the surprise is more... all three of them? all four of them? that's the part that is a lot to wrap her head around. but there's the insistence that... she doesn't have to push to form relatonships that don't work for her, or do anything that she doesn't want to do...
that's something, at least. ]
...
[ she strokes her thumb across hansa's cheek. ]
I want to talk to them first. Please.
no subject
[He's pleased, of course, that the offer isn't rejected outright, but he hardly wants to make her feel like she's pushed into this with no way out. It's all up to her. Whatever she says, goes. In the end, if she decided to cut it all down, and leave, he'd just follow.]
[He leans into that hand, his own sliding gently around to the back of her neck.]
Its your decision, in the end.
no subject
like always really. when isn't she relying on him, in ways she didn't even realise?
...
"I'm really, sincerely, deeply in love with you."
... ]
No pressure.
[ maybe a little, but ... less than she would have thought. her thumb keeps brushing against hansa's cheek, just as soothing for her as it seems to be for him. ]
... I saw what this weekend could've done to you. I don't want that to happen again.
So... [ it's a sincere request. one that clearly meant a lot to hansa, from the nerves he had and the weight when he asked her. ]
I'll take this seriously.