and far too many stars have fell on me

[domina_mira]

After a memorable night in the bar with her sister and Abberline, Elizabeth doesn't quite make it all the way back to her apartment. Pinpoint in hand, she detours to the swimming pool in the building and sits at the edge, carefully unhooking her stockings and rolling them off to dip her toes into the heated water

Comments

[acoldgreensky]

Oh, dear. This isn't good. Time to make a few other phone calls and then prepare for the upcoming hissy fits from all around.

B|

[domina_mira]

It's about twenty past ten when Elizabeth feels something resembling human again, with the assistance of water, coffee and aspirin (and Claire, who provided the first three after happening on her downstairs).

She's given the girls their marching orders for the day (she wishes somewhat it had happened on a school day, which strikes her as an odd passing thought) and retreated to her chaise-longue with the landline and tucked herself up. This time, it's not so difficult to dial, and she waits while it rings.

[acoldgreensky]

After a moment, someone picks up! WHO COULD IT BE?

"Scaevola here." Oh, well, that answers that, doesn't it? Behind his voice, there's the sound of paper being shifted around and coffee perking.

[domina_mira]

"Did you get my message?" Little to no preamble, yes. Her voice is softer than usual, because talking loud hurts her poor, aching head. "I don't remember exactly what I said, and I know I dropped the phone in the pool..."

At this point she realizes the lack of preamble. "It's Elizabeth. Obviously. Hello."

[acoldgreensky]

"Yes, I did. How are you? I thought about phoning, but I used a little of my common sense and thought that you might rather sleep than talk." He's a good sort of man and will lower his voice to match.

[domina_mira]

Elizabeth wishes she'd used common sense before the tequila shots. Or the whiskey. Or the vodka...

"My head is killing me and my back isn't much better." Sigh. There wasn't nearly enough sleep for her liking, and her toes look pickled.

[acoldgreensky]

"Would you rather I gently tease you or offer to help?" Looks like he's already gone for Door No. 1 -- teasing.

Common sense is rarely all that common.

[domina_mira]

"Can you tease me and rub my back at the same time?" Elizabeth asks, half plaintive, and snaps her fingers to point down until Hamlet gets the message and sits rather than harasses her. He's an obedient dog, to a point. "Mn. I don't know if Threnody is speaking to me."

[acoldgreensky]

"I am a man of many talents, yes. Can you stomach breakfast? I could bring you something." ...while he learns exactly what damage has been done. This all should have been so simple, but nothing ever is. Le Sigh.

[domina_mira]

"I can. I'd be grateful, even. I feel less disgusting, aside from the splitting headache, but I haven't eaten." And, despite herself, she'd really like his company.

Exhale. Simplicity would've been nice, yes. She'd known talking to Threnody was going to go badly. She's still kicking herself for doing it drunk. Not exactly her finest hour.

[acoldgreensky]

"Then I'll pick something up at the bakery and be over in a few minutes. They've started to make these little apricot pastries that are unfairly good." And so, given enough time, there will be a slightly worried older gentleman at Elizabeth's door with a box of pastries -- enough for her and whoever is staying with her.

[domina_mira]

With everyone home again and the reshuffling going on in the wake of their return, Elizabeth's managed to get the apartment to herself -- by the time he gets there, in fact, even Hamlet is off being walked by someone else.

And for her part, the lady of the house (so to speak) has tidied herself up some. Her hair's still damp and she's only half in the warm white robe she's pulling on when she opens the door, looking about as one would expect. "Morning," she murmurs, kissing the corner of his mouth and closing the door firmly behind them. "Give me a few minutes, I'm going to put actual clothes on."

[acoldgreensky]

"Morning." It's a little known fact that Scaevola very much approves of beautiful women, especially when they're in robes. Ahem. "If you must change, I suppose I can bear it."

[domina_mira]

"Yes, you can." She directs him towards her sofa and vanishes down to her bedroom.

If she were entirely honest and up front, she would've admitted she just needed another few minutes to herself. God forbid, though. It won't be too difficult to deduce, presumably, when it turns out she's just tidied her hair and switched the fluffy toweling robe for something smoother. She might've done something about the dark circles about her eyes, too, but that's between her and her concealer.

Everyone has days they'd just rather be comfortable.

[acoldgreensky]

He will not be sofa'd, good lady. Instead Scaevola will sort out pastries from the box and onto a plate. Maybe he was even smart enough to pick up a little fresh fruit along the way.

"They did have the apricot danishes and some sort of strawberry-thing as well."

[domina_mira]

That would be awfully clever of him. "Did they?" Elizabeth wasn't particularly hungry, but she's changing her mind, even if she is only half-listening. "Do you want coffee?"

It's possible she's already had enough to power a small country.