daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

That's the thing - it didn't feel like a special occasion at all. All I recall feeling about it was that it was nothing, like I didn't want to wear it. All black for me...that'd be too dull, wouldn't it? Not even a drop of color to change things.

[you can't reap souls if you don't look cute. why even bother in that case.]

I think you'd still look exquisite, in a suit cut in all black.

[He looks at her, and it's easy to assume he may be piecing this mental image together.]

Your hair being the only vibrant swath of color, elegant and bright against the black hues. You may call it dull, but I think you'd still draw the attention of an entire room if you entered it. You'd certainly draw mine.

[Is he biased? Of course not. It is scientific fact that Grell is beautiful and fashionable and no one can fight him on this.]

Why do I have the distinct feeling you're dressing me up with your eyes?

[black, though. she'll file this information away for future reference, for her own reasons that she will not begin to disclose.]

[The most playful of shrugs. He can't deny it.]

Better than the opposite, at least?

Not that I mind either when it comes from you.

[at least she got her confirmation.]

It's a much milder memory than some of the ones I've gotten, and for that I suppose I should be grateful.

[She should know better than to say things like that? She's going to make his mind wander Places and they still have to talk about the rest of her memories and watch a movie!!!

At any rate, his grin widens and he makes a very non-committal kind of noise in the back of his throat, but he just lets the conversation continue to flow in the proper, non-distracted direction.]

Those certainly are a blessing, whenever they happen. Did you remember anything else?

[look all she's going to say is that they have the entire day to themselves and that she's not going to make him leave at any point, and maybe her eyebrow is raising a little at that grin, but if he's so intent on keeping this on the proper path, so be it.]

A few more things. One of them was that man monologuing about why he was so in love with the idea of the living dead, and one of them was so entirely mundane it consisted of nothing of me getting caught in the rain while I was headed somewhere, and I was rather annoyed at it for how I'd forgotten an umbrella.

[How intent he is remains up in the air. But he focuses his attentions on what she has to say, regardless.]

That man seems to be in your memories fairly often. An unfortunately prominent figure; do tell, why would someone be in love with the idea of the living dead?

[He can comment on the rain part next.]

[she pauses, thinking on it again, and eventually shrugs.]

He saw beauty in them, those which he called his Bizarre Dolls. That they could not speak was only a benefit, for they could not tell lies. That they had no soul was no problem. They felt neither pain nor fear, and attacked humans out of some instinct, and he said that such made them the best animal weapon there was.

Twisted, isn't the very concept such? Perhaps the reason he figures so prominently is because I intended to strike him down for all this.

[That is... both very dramatic and yes, very twisted. Not at all what Ardyn was expecting, and it shows on his face.]

It is. Both morbid and twisted, playing with life and death in such a manner. As if they were meant to be tools and little else. I wonder what his goal was, in the end?

Chaos, maybe. One thing is certain - he was quite insane.

[she shrugs, but he's right - it had made her sick in a deep way, angry to hear him talk about it. life and death must have been so important to her, more than they are now, and that explains how she felt.]

I also remember fighting him, just a little. So I think it's a fair assumption to say I wasn't going to let that stand.

[It's funny, how he still feels lingering concern for the other her in that past life. How easily he frowns at the idea of her fighting this strange, insane man, even if the possibility of this repeating itself ever again is slim to none.]

I know you don't know how this fight ended, but... [A beat.] Well, I can only hope that you were successful.

[A chuckle, despite everything.]

You say it's mundane in comparison, but I think I'd prefer the memory of the odd peacefulness of getting caught in the rain.

I wouldn't have lost without giving him a run for his money, I feel confident in saying that.

[she'd been angry enough for it, anyway. even if he had cut her chest open.]

At least the rain didn't have me angry. I was more annoyed that it happened again and that I would need to let my hair dry out. Silly, isn't it? Such things are clearly universal complaints.

[that and her hair's long, it takes time.]

That concludes the memories I had to share with you, however.

I don't mind wet hair as much as I mind wet clothing. There is nothing as frustrating -- or as cold -- as having to deal with a damp shirt for the rest of the day, because you've no change of clothes.

[But. He does rather like the dramatic imagery of being caught in the rain. It's picture perfect for a display of anger, or sorrow, or an impulsive, desperate confession of love. Like something out of a movie.

Speaking of.]

That wasn't too harrowing. [Their little sharing session of memories.] Maybe the film will make up for it.

Will it, when we both know the twists and turns?

[but she's already smiling, settling into a more comfortable position for movie watching by his side.]

If I get scared, don't laugh.

[and with that, she has the remote and is hitting play.]

If you know the twists and turns, then why should you be scared?

[Not that he expects a genuine answer, because he knows any truly frightening movie never loses its edge, even with multiple viewings. But it's spoken jokingly, and honestly, who says it isn't a reason to bring her closer? Because that's what Ardyn chooses to do, settling in close on the couch, and extending an arm to wrap around her waist to bring her in, near enough for their bodies to be pressed up against each other.

After an entire month of barely spending as much time together as they're used to, this is honestly what he's been looking forward to the most. Of just being near, of being able to feel her warmth and the take in the scent of her hair. Of being able to feel peaceful again, even if a tale of murder and fright plays on the television screen before them.

He'll pay attention to the TV in a moment. (Maybe.) For now, he practically nuzzles the crook of her neck.]

But I'm here to keep the fear at bay in the form of distraction, if need be.

[absence truly does make the heart fonder, she thinks. it feels perfectly right just to have him this close, to catch up for all the time they sacrificed. the film may be one with scares and tension, but it's just that - a film. not their reality, and not enough to pull her away from Ardyn. being able to just soak up his presence is why she had been so intent on the day being only the two of them - it means Grell can keep him all to herself for a little while.

at his offer, she chuckles, hardly looking at the movie.]

Maybe I won't be scared at all. You're distracting enough as is.

[The movie really will get absolutely minimal attention at this rate. His attention is on her, figuratively drinking in everything about her presence, and she's only encouraging it further with admissions like that.

He smiles, a little lopsided, and rests his chin on her shoulder.]

Not too much of a distraction, I hope? I'd hate to pull all your attentions away from the screen.

[No, he probably wouldn't. That's evident in his tone.]

Would you? Even though it would mean you had all my attentions on you instead?

[by now she's not looking at the screen, she's looking at Ardyn, and she'd have to rewind if she really actually cared about the movie.

some things are more important though?]

I get the feeling you'd be entirely too pleased to have me completely distracted.

[A lot of things are more important than the movie. And in this moment and many to come, hardly anything is as ever as important as Grell.

His focus is absolutely on her alone, and his arm draws her in even closer, if such a thing is possible.]

I won't even attempt to fool you by saying otherwise. I admit to it, fully and freely.

[He laughs lightly, heard in clarity due to his proximity.]

As for my attentions, you have all of them. How will you utilize it?

[she grins, and has the presence of mind to turn the film off before pushing the remote away and kissing him for a long moment. simply being in his presence is wonderful, and she's happy and content for it, but there's also getting to kiss him like this, with no distractions. when she pulls back, it's only far enough that she can press her forehead to his, speaking soft.]

Missed you.

[seeing him so briefly over the weeks didn't exactly diminish that.]

[It's good that she's at least cognizant to turn off the movie for now, because Ardyn certainly wouldn't have done anything about it. Especially after she kisses him like that, affectionate and lingering, and god, how he had missed it. The two of them, kept to each other, with nothing to interrupt them.

When she breaks the kiss and their foreheads touch, the smile on his face is fond and his eyes never leave hers -- despite his growing inclination to simply do away with words and kiss her again. For now, at least, he has more patience than that.]

And I missed you.

[His free hand moves up to gently cup her cheek.]

You kept your promise. The one about coming back to me in one piece.

Of course. Even when I set off on my own...I made a promise to run away if it was too much. A promise to not be a fool, really.

[she'd surrounded herself with the others, worked on staying safe, and come out with nothing more than some exhaustion and some bruises from the last fight. she'd been far more sensible than the first day, and it had its effect. almost without thinking, she leans into his touch.]

Because I have you to come back to.

Grell...

[There are moments when Ardyn is nigh overwhelmed with how fortunate he feels, being able to share these intimate moments with her. That someone as bright and beautiful as Grell Sutcliffe would declare that it was him that she thought about returning to when all was said and done; that she is dating him and loves him, that this might be some fantasy that he wakes up from someday.

But it isn't and she's here, real before him, looking at him like that and saying such things. God, how did he end up so lucky?]

Have I ever told you how much I love you?

You told me I made you a fool in love.

[in her eyes, she's the lucky one. to have somehow stumbled into the arms of someone who never asks her to tone herself down, someone who says things that are perfectly romantic and she'd thought maybe didn't come up in real life. they found each other, and he's too good for her in a way she doesn't express - why question such things too hard?

she has other people to come back to, friends and those who might be family and a purpose, but she wanted to come back to this most of all. she loves him, and she knows it for certain.]

Is that still so?

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