daemonized | RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

[He isn't sure what he was to expect, but when the door swings away to reveal her form properly, he cannot help his eyes from sweeping Grell, head to toe. He's surprised -- but there's nothing on his face that betrays disgust or shame. He furrows his brow, knowing that this is a serious issue (for the same thing had happened to him) but the truth of the matter is...

Wow. Just wow. Did she think this was less attractive? He feels the laughable sensation of his heart skipping a beat, because Ardyn is definitely of the opposite opinion.

(Don't stare too much, he tells himself.)]

They've done to you what they did to me. But you needn't look so ashamed, Grell. I think it...

[Careful about how he words this, some little whisper in the back of his mind tells him. Careful, careful.]

I... ah. It's... nice.

[So eloquent. (So distracted.)]

...You're staring.

[she can tell. and she isn't sure why, but he is, and she doesn't mind it. him looking is better than him recoiling.]

You really think it's nice? Not...less beautiful?

[He's called out, and accurately at that. But all he does is set his jaw, trying to not be so obvious about it; though honestly, he didn't think he was really being obvious at all. She's learned to read him all too easily.]

It's not less beautiful at all. [This comes without any hesitation.] I didn't know it was possible, but I think I may actually be even more attracted to you now than I was before.

[And that's plainly the truth of the matter, as impossible as it might be to imagine that his threshold of Being Attracted to Grell could raise any higher.]

So please don't let that be a concern of yours. Instead, worry yourself with how your body feels. Nothing strange, I hope? No pain, no discomfort?

None. Just...the effortless change. The mental discomfort, the way I'm unused to this.

[though her arms aren't less protective, she does look at him, searching for the truth of his attraction soaring higher in the face of this change. curious indeed. she hadn't known that gaining musclecwould affect him so.]

[Is it so surprising? He thinks that it does not detract from her beauty, or her “cuteness”, as she would put it, but instead adds a sense of strength and able-bodiedness that only accentuates these merits of hers further. He can’t help it — it’s distractingly more attractive, though perhaps his nigh-bewilderment is mostly due to how he hadn’t expected it at all.]

Then perhaps you should see it as a blessing. Find the optimism in the situation, much like you urged me to do when I was met with my own changes.

[He steps forward, leaning in to add a bit of levity to this. Not because he wanted to stand closer or anything, no.]

Besides, now you too can left heavy objects, much like myself.

I suppose that is a benefit, if I can now lift you.

[she says it, and finally unfolds her arms to put her hands on his hips.]

Could try it out, see how far I could carry you, listen to you tell me thst this doesn't change me in a bad way. That wouldn't be too unbearable.

[He grins down at her, eager to allow themselves both to enjoy the inanity of the suggestion, if only to calm her mind about these changes. And so he gestures with both arms, as if to invite the idea upon him.]

You could try. Maybe you're even stronger than me now, who's to say? Your power over me would be complete, indeed.

[Not that he expects to be picked up, only to be embraced by her in the attempt.]

[her arms wrap around him, and she can pull him a few inches off the ground before she has to set him down, though she doesn't pull away.]

I can't say I can overpower you completely, yet. You still might be stronger that me, even with these new changes.

[Ah, those few inches are impressive in their own right, but he just laughs. When his feet touch the ground again, he just decides to wrap his arms around her and pull her close -- taking advantage of the situation.]

Then I still have somewhat of the advantage yet. Who knows how mad with control you'd be if you could overpower me. The things you could do.

You could never give it up entirely. Not as long as you are yourself. There are still things I'm weak to - you being one.

[close like this, she can almost forget where she is, her distress at the changes softening.]

If you approve, I might be able to live like this. Though I'm not happy with it.

And why aren't you?

[A hand slides up to her forearm, where there's more muscle and strength there than before.]

Your new state makes you more brilliant than before, far more striking. Who knew that perfection itself could be improved upon? And yet here I stand, gazing upon proof of such.

[always weak to his compliments, always more inclined to show off if he was staring. it makes her frown less, if not restored to smiles.]

They did as much to me as they did to you, us both knowing we were fighters. It feels almost like a mirror of that day.

[minus the extra hour and so much teasing.]

The difference is where a man can show himself off, a woman is inclined to keep all this to herself. To take less pride in it.

[And the gesture he makes here is utterly dismissive.]

Kept all to herself for whose benefit? Certainly not her own.

[Easier said than done, perhaps, for a man like Ardyn. Someone who could not care less for the opinion of others, or at least does not skew his inclinations to meet their expectations.

Still, she knows this about him, so it should come as little surprise. But he smile he offers her after this is fond.]

Be indignant that Retrospec would change you, but do not be ashamed of it. [A bit more mischievously, something that should definitely remind her of the last time this happened:] But... if you do wish to call off of work today and stay home, I'll not fault you for it. I could do the same and have you all to myself then.

[oh, she knows that expression. last time she had told him no, made him go to work and wait, and the temptation to do the same again is strong. but equally so is the wish to hear him keep saying sweet things, mending over the break in her self image that way. in some ways, it is remarkably simple to deal with her.]

Would you? Would you stay with me and comfort me through these changes? I wouldn't simply be an excuse for you to take a day away?

[she can be persuaded, but she was considering staying home to sulk anyway.]

[Perhaps it's only remarkably easy because flattering her is his default. Though it's not so much flattery as it is the truth, spoken how he sees it. Just as beautiful as before, changes or not.]

Of course I would.

[Does that sound like she's actually considering it this time around? That would be a departure from the last time, but he'll certainly not complain.]

What kind of fool would I be, to allow anything else on this planet to be more important than my beautiful fiancé?

A sensible one, when there's prior obligations in the way.

[still, she hasn't moved away yet to try and continue getting ready.]

Perhaps with you I could begin to see the truth of such beauty.

[Who has any need for sensibility when you're a fool in love? It definitely has a tendency to go flying out the window where she is concerned, and he's not going to make an attempt to change that any time soon. Or ever.]

Obligations be damned is what I say to that.

[There's his answer; he can afford to call off of work today, since he didn't get the opportunity to do it last time.]

If you'll allow me to show you, then I'm sure I can open your eyes to it. Stay home with me today; it's early yet, and we can take this opportunity to laze in bed for a little longer.

["Laze", okay.]

But I'm already out of bed. You'd have to bring me back there.

[picking at his words, because she can feel her resistance crumbling the way it was last time, and they'd resisted, and she never calls out unless the need to do so can't be helped. in that sense, she's very dutiful. sometimes, Ardyn is the compelling reason to do so. and this change wasn't as simple as her eyes, her hair. this was far more, and she'll need help getting over it. of some sort, at least.]

[If that isn't a challenge that flirts with being an invitation, then he doesn't know what else to describe it as. But he'll choose to take it as he pleases, leaning forward to place a kiss teasingly on the side of her neck. It's fond, and the curl of his smile against her skin is easily felt.

Then he pulls away, stepping back, but his hands are lightly gripping hers, urging her to follow.]

That can be done. Believe me, my love, the bed is where you'd much rather want to be.

[if she wasn't as prone to doing similar things, she could hate how effective that is, how a smile on her neck and the words my love from his lips could convince her of so many things. like that going to work would be terrible, a painful and unnecessary test of her self control. Ardyn could ruin her responsibility, just like that, and she'd find herself thanking him for it.

she lets herself be led by her hands, following him each step of the way.]

I suppose it's the best place for us to become acquainted with...all of the changes.

[if they had this much of an effect on him, they couldn't be the worst thing in the world.]

[Yes, this is promising. This means that he will have to email his students their assignments later, but it's nothing that can't be done quickly and easily. Catching up on planning is not so difficult when he's already a thoroughly prepared man, so one day gone amiss will not do any harm.

Then to the bed it is, eventually feeling the side of the mattress against the back of his legs as they reach it. At this point, he believes he's safe sounding just a tad bit eager.]

I can promise you a thorough examination, if you'd like.

That I would. Actually, I insist, for otherwise I'll not be able to clear my doubts when you speak of beauty.

[the smile on her face is small, but beginning to bloom. she hears that in his voice, and she wonders if later he'll laugh, knowing this time that he won. she knew he was staring earlier - this should have been foreseen.]

[Maybe he will laugh about it later. He'll grin and tease her about how she couldn't seem to resist the temptation this time, and perhaps he should make this a habit in the future. About how he'd gladly convince her of her beauty, especially if this was the route required for it.

But for now, teasing is the last thing on his mind. He draws her close, falling back on the mattress so that they both land on their sides, facing each other. The bed hasn't even been made yet, it's still that early.]

You insist. [He laughs, and red-violet strands of hair fall into his eyes.] Then let me oblige you, again and again.

RECOLLE IC CONTACT.

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