darkinferno | [ic inbox]

[It's all she has. The heiress has never been good at expressing her emotions, unable to process this spiral of depression, frustration, and helplessness, that she has little recourse other than to shut down. The teachings of her father well up inside her, even if she isn't totally aware of it.

Speak only when spoken to. Keep your head down. Smile, or you're going to upset your guests.

Her lips curl upward in the most unsure of ways as she takes the glass from her friend. She swirls it, shakily, mostly because that's what she's seen people do in the movies, before taking a sip. The liquor burns, and she has to recoil slightly to clear her throat. Still, her tiny painted smile never falters.]

...Thank you.

[He watches her drink, but Dante shakes his head, turning to lean back against the back of the couch. He doesn't look at her directly, but he will give her a glance out of the corner of his eye.]

You know, you don't have to pretend it's all right.

If you want to sit here nice and pretty and pretend you're some porcelain doll with no feelings, I won't stop you. But...

[A shrug.]

You're safe here.

I...

[She grips her glass, looking down at it.]

Do I... really look like that?

A little bit.

It might not be what you're going for, but... [He gestures her way.] Back ramrod straight, feet together, hands in your lap, that whole smile-while-the-world-is-coming-down-around-you thing...

[He's guilty of it too, though he tends more toward sullenness and sarcasm no matter what's going on around him.]

I know people like us aren't supposed to have emotions, but that's a choice you get to make for yourself.

God, I'm such a fucking robot...

[She takes another drink, handling this one a bit better.]

This is what happens when I let myself get close to someone...

It's not your fault, Vera. Our parents... that's what they're looking for, robots. If you're not a robot, you get sent away.

[There's nothing he can say to that second part, though. After all, it's the same for him. He expects that Ari's going to leave him at some point too--he's almost certain of it. And yet...]

It's hard to resist when they're right there, perfect.

[It's quiet, and he's not looking at Vera when he says it. But how could either of them have resisted?]

It just... felt so good to be loved. I didn't want to think about anything else.

[It was foolish to think it would last forever, but she had hoped it would be longer than it was. To be wrapped up in the arms of your beloved, only to have them gone when you open your eyes, it totally crushed the tiny bit of spirit she was just starting to get back.]

I know. You go so long thinking that you'll never find it, so you have to grab hold of it while you've got the chance.

[A long drink of bourbon.]

You think there'll ever be a day when we don't wind up alone in the end?

I don't think I can answer that question right now.

[But she will squirm up against Dante's side, resting her head on his shoulder.]

Yeah. Me either.

[He'll wrap an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

Just hang out here, Vera. They'll get drunk together and while it won't help... it might numb the pain for a bit.]

[And close she'll move, until her whole body is nestled up against him. As upset as she is right now, she can't help but feel a bit better with him beside her.]

At least I have you...

Yeah, you do.

[Beat.]

Even up to giving you an heir, if that's what you need.

Yeah, I can always rely on...

[Wait. She grips his shoulder, looking up at him.]

What was that?

[He's trying not to let his expression crack.]

You said you might need me to, right? Give you an heir someday.

When on Earth would I ever say that?

[She sits up a bit, moving her head off his shoulder to look him in the eye.]

[Oh, all right, fine. He'll take pity on her. Finally Dante lets the smile cross his face, nudging her with his shoulder.]

It was the morning after the party, you've probably forgotten. You were pretty hung over.

You were worried about how your father would react to his daughter liking women and decided you'd need to have an heir somehow...

That... sounds like something I would worry about.

[She squirms a little, suddenly uncomfortable that she would voice that concern out loud, and actually ask a question like that.]

Next time I'm drinking, just gag me, okay?

A couple problems there.

[Dante transfers his glass to the hand that's around Vera's shoulders so that he can tick them off on his fingers.]

One, if someone gagged you, you wouldn't be able to drink any more.

Two, that's pretty kinky. I don't think that sort of thing is acceptable in polite company, even if you were into guys.

[Did you really expect him not to take the opportunity to make the joke, did you]

God, you are just the worst.

[And she'll give him a jab to the ribs for his trouble. Not enough to hurt him, of course, but enough that she hopes he'll think about what a lame joke that was. Still, it doesn't keep the smile from creeping up her face.]

But... I guess that would be one way to make sure we'd never be alone.

[There's a small laugh from Dante as she jabs him in the ribs. He knows/i> it was a stupid joke. But it was worth it to see the little smile that comes to her face, to know that even for a second he was able to push away the waves of heartbreak and sadness.]

What would be, you being into guys? I don't think that's something you can just decide to change.

What? No. That's not something I'd want to change even if I could.

[Her arms wrap around his waist, pulling herself tight against his side. The feeling is different, but the warmth is there. That's good enough for now.]

Besides, I'm pretty sure what we're doing right now confirms that I'm gay.

[It's not a full-on laugh that escapes him, but a chuckle as he lowers his chin to rest on her head.]

What, cuddling with a friend? That doesn't confirm anything, cuddling is nice no matter who it's with.

[A shrug.] Though even if you weren't, I still wouldn't let things go any further than this. Rebounding can be nice, but only if you're aware that's what you're doing.

Edited (why can i not html today) 2017-07-06 20:16 (UTC)

[Dante's laugh draws a small chuckle from her as well.]

No, Dante, you know me. If I was into guys, there's no way I could do this without being a flustered mess.

[Instead of nuzzling into his neck with her arms tight around him.]

[Okay, yeah, he's laughing outright at that.]

You've got a point. Hang on.

[He's going to take another drink, then leans forward to put his glass on the table. Hopefully Vera's ready for anything, because he's going to reach over with the arm not wrapped around her and slip his arm under her legs so that he can lift her up bodily swinging his legs up onto the couch and settling her into his lap so that he can, finally, sprawl back and rest his head against the arm of the couch. It should hopefully put the both of them in a more comfortable position, and allows him to wrap both his arms around her in return.]

There. Is that any better for you?

[Vera lets out a squeal as she's unexpectedly scooped up and shifted around before landing in her best friend's lap. She would be upset about what just happened, but she actually is more comfortable now.]

Warn me next time, you jerk.

[She turns over, laying on her stomach and resting her head on Dante's chest. Part of her leans against the back of the couch to not put all of her weight on him while sort of straddling his leg to keep her balance. This is pretty close to the way Victoria would hold her when they went to sleep, though it felt very different.]

God, I think I never fully realized how much bigger you are than me.

[Had he even seen her without heels before today? She always knew she was short, but she feels absolutely tiny against his broad chest.]

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