daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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?

That hasn't changed. A fool I remain.

[And though he looks at her with the same fondness as before, there is a flickering of something wry in his gaze, easily read given their closeness to each other.]

But should you doubt it, how would you have me prove it to you?

Oh, I believe you're not the sort of man to say such words lightly.

[playacting and joking is one thing, easily deduced and discovered. but it would be hard to lie, this close and with the sincerity that he's had ever since he first said the words to her. she was trusting him on this, no matter if it was a big leap or not - and so he could trust her.]

But should I doubt? It's simple. Be constant and true to me, hold me close and say again that you need me at your side. Think you can manage?

I think I can manage that.

[He says it as if it were not something he was already inclined to do. As if he didn't already need her by his side, in the same way he needs air to breathe.]

Shall I declare it now? I think I will. [Though he looks amused, nothing he says is insincere.] I need you by my side, for as long as you will have me. You make me happy, and continue to do tenfold when you are near.

[that's sudden, and as much as she was prepared for sweet words given the direction of this conversation, Grell still finds herself affected by his decision - which is good, she thinks, that she still finds her heart fluttering by a smile and his proximity. she's blushing, but still smiling.]

If there was even a shadow of a doubt, you've thoroughly chased it away.

[so simple. and something she was so charmed by all the same. he has no idea, she thinks, of how much effect he has on her. how difficult it sometimes is to be eloquent and say things in words that can also be communicated through a touch, a look, a kiss.]

I'm glad I make you happy, for I'm yours for as long as you like.

So forever then?

[He chuckles, saying those words with such simplicity. But right now they feel so easy; she says for as long as he likes, and he cannot fathom a moment in time in which he would not want her presence near.

He leans in to kiss her, lightly this time, and pulling back to comment again.]

Or maybe that's too presumptuous of me.

[it doesn't help her heart to hear something like that slip out of his mouth, and so she has to deflect with a joke. run back into safer territory.]

Not presumptuous, but...you'd get bored of me eventually.

[airy and light and this close he can see how much still the nature of such a statement affects her. she had the upper ground for a moment! why!]

[Is there safer territory, now that the conversation has taken this detour? That's the real question.]

Bored of you? I may be a man of many talents, but even I cannot achieve the impossible.

[That's a no. He doesn't believe that he would ever be bored of her. He'd be a true fool, indeed, if that were the case, someone absolutely dead inside.]

You're blushing again. Did I say something to embarrass you?

Embarrass me-oh, you know exactly why I'm blushing!

[there's really no safer territory, and she tries to rearrange her expression to seem more serious - it's hard when he's so close.]

I'm not embarrassed. You're just-

[impossible, she wants to say. but she can't bring herself to.]

[Oh, he knows he has her at a disadvantage. And if he were a person who took less pleasure in seeing her blush, especially this close where she cannot hope to hide it as easily, he would relent. But Ardyn is certainly not that person, and instead he places both of his hands on each side of her waist, leaning in a little so that she cannot hide her face. This is how a predator corners its prey, probably. He's just a very amorous predator at the moment.]

I have absolutely no idea, actually. [That's a lie.] And I'm just what?

[he can't just say terribly sweet things and expect her to walk away fine. he's just too pleased with himself. she could say a hundred things, and they all die in her throat, not good enough for this situation where she's cornered, but pleasantly so. for as much as it flusters and winds her up, it would be a lie to say she dislikes him coming in and stealing her words away and forcing her to think more impulsively.

it also helps that she knows exactly how to reverse the situation, if she wants to.]

You're just going to have to take responsibility.

[so close that she can't hide her face means it's effortless to close that last tiny bit of distance and kiss him again, cutting off any smart reply he wants to make.]

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