Valentine's Day }{ Open post

[asap]

WHO || Characters in the log [open or closed]
WHAT || VALENTINE'S DAY
WHERE || ALL AROUND THE CASTLE
WHEN || 2/14
HOW || DO WHAT YOU WANT

It's Valentine's Day! All around people are happily snuggling up with their loved one or drowning their feelings in booze and/or ice cream. Give out cards or chocolate or commiserate with other single people! Whoo Valentine's Day!

Comments

[bluffcheck]

And what sort of things have you been hiding from, lass?

[uncurse]

We're not talking about me.

[bluffcheck]

Oh, come now... I have a bit to go to catch up to you with the drink. Give up a little now and I'll be sure to spill all my secrets later.

[Diplomacy 29. C'mon Emma. C'moooooon.]

[uncurse]

[ she sighs, relenting. ]

I'm not hiding. I just ... don't have anybody. [ she shrugs, glancing down as she notes it. ] Never really have. This is kind of my tradition for today.

[bluffcheck]

Seems like a fine enough tradition. You mean to say you've never celebrated with someone you cared for, though?

[uncurse]

[ the light leaves her expression. for a moment, her eyes search the space around thoster instead of focusing on him, and eventually they just go out of focus altogether and her gaze drops to her lap. it's hard to find the right words to dismiss it, because it's not a memory that she wants to reflect on, but it's impossible to ignore once it's been summoned.

neal.

she'd cared for him, of course she had. that's what had allowed him to screw her over so thoroughly. maybe if she'd cared less, she could have kept that kid. her son. the one she couldn't remember, the one that was on the other side of the veil and she was never, ever going to get to meet. she briefly works her jaw before muttering. ]

Never with someone who cared for me. [ she doesn't want to lie to thoster. her life hasn't been sunshine and rainbows by any degree, and maybe it'll help him understand why she's so damn reproachful of the advances that have been made on her. ]

[bluffcheck]

But with someone who didn't. At least not as they should. [He is sensing that motive, girl. He is sensing it with all 18 the dice gave him. So even if she's telling the truth, he is also reading between the lines and has a small idea of what is going on. Emma had been hurt in her past, had likely been betrayed and perhaps that was why she kept her heart so guarded. He will just run with that assumption.]

Whoever hurt you? He's a bastard. And I know that's little comfort now, but for all I've seen of you, you're quite a woman.

[uncurse]

You don't ... You don't have to do the peptalk thing. [ she holds up a pacifying hand, shaking her head. it's not that she doesn't appreciate the remarks - she does, it's kind - but she doesn't particularly believe what he's saying, either. it's not that she doesn't agree - neal was a right bastard. the worst kind. but, he wasn't exactly some exception. she's dated plenty of guys in her lifetime and every single one of them either had some ... secret to hide, or fit that 'bastard' label pretty easy even without their skeletons or secret wives to consider. ] It was a long time ago.

[bluffcheck]

Just because it happened in the past doesn't mean the wound doesn't feel fresh from time to time. [Speaking from a lot of experience okay.] But I meant every word and would tell you on your brightest day, not just when storm clouds have rolled in.

[uncurse]

I - Look, it's not that I'm not grateful. You're ... sweet. You just - You really don't have to say that. [ emma is incapable of taking compliments. take them back. she shakes her head. ] This isn't a dig for pity - in fact, I'd prefer you didn't. I do better on my own.

[bluffcheck]

[Nat 20 wisdom, he just knows your soul, girl.]

If no one's allowed to get close then they can't hurt you, aye? Not just lovers, but anyone who's supposed to have your back, supposed to stick it out. Friends, family- you've been alone a long time, haven't you, lass? Relying on no one but yourself and feeling like you're luckier for it?

[He sighs and looks into his glass of wine, as if not certain what to say next. But fear not, he's just pausing dramatically because he's a bard and a showboat even when he's being serious.]

Did y'ever stop to wonder if I wasn't saying those things because I had to, or out of any pity, but simply because they're true and I thought you deserved to hear them said aloud? I've been a liar and a cheat, a downright scoundrel in my day, but this place made me want to be a better man, an honest man. I wouldn't lie to you, Emma. And I wouldn't tell you something just to try to make you feel better. I'd only say it because it was worth saying.

[uncurse]

[ WELL GODDAMN.

unfortunately, the more accurately someone hits her issues on the head, the less she's going to talk about it. her surprise and the brief vulnerability that follows are apparent on her face. she covers her bewildered gratitude up with a half-hearted roll of her eyes, glancing to the side and away from him. she pours herself more wine.

fine. he's welcome to say them. but emma has too little experience with positive remarks to really know how to respond to them in a way that isn't diminishing or self-deprecating, so she chooses to remain silent rather than acknowledge. ]

[bluffcheck]

[Her expression says enough for him, and all that insight into her doesn't just disappear when she stops talking. That doesn't mean he at all plans on shutting up, but he will change the subject.]

I haven't stopped to watch much of this. [He gestures to the television.] Care to teach me about it so I don't sound so much like a fool?

[uncurse]

Oh, it's just - Some guy with emotional issues won't leave his parents' house. [ she shrugs it off, offering thoster the remote. ] We don't have to.

[bluffcheck]

No, no! It's good for me to learn more about this place. As much of a charmer as I know I am, I'm not blind. I know I stick out. And sometimes the mission calls for a bit less... bravado.

[uncurse]

... Please tell me you're not planning to watch this movie for applicable, real-world advice on how to handle women.

[bluffcheck]

I was more thinking as a disguise for a mission, but now that you mention it... [He's half serious. Maybe.]

[uncurse]

I'm not sure Matthew McConaughey is an effective disguise to get anywhere.

[bluffcheck]

Not sure about that. [He clears his throat and shifts towards Emma before launching into his best impersonation of what's just happened on the screen (bluff 24). It's not much different than playing a character he's made up for a mission, after all.]

[uncurse]

[ omfg is he really - she cringes with all kinds of secondhand embarrassment as he actually starts going. wow thoster wow. ] That really wasn't necessary. [ she's still actually cringing a little - though he has a point, it was fairly convincing. ]

[bluffcheck]

Most things aren't necessary, lass. [He drops back into his normal voice and gestures.] Doesn't make it less fun.