prince of men face? [open]

[fitzroyal]

 Henry hasn't been out and about for a while, but he's descended tonight, early in the evening. He looks fairly normal - with things going better with Anita, the color of his eyes is almost back to human hazel, just a touch darker than they should be, and he could pass for a rather anemic human being. He seems relaxed, if a little bit thoughtful,

Comments

After the habitual three, it might be exaggerating a little >.>

[only_paul]

Paul isn't going to be happy to see you, Henry. After all this time, he thought you were gone. He thought perhaps the Master Vampire had left the Mansion. He was starting to have some sort of hope for himself.

And now. Now.

He's staring at the vampire's back, eyes on fire, and feeling desperate for a stake, which, for once, he left in his room.

Still has the garlic in his pockets, though, for what uselessness it has.

[only_paul]

".... why would a human --"

But he has the answer to his own question. Even vampire, he would have had Helen.

And Paul is a bit stunned.

He never really thought of Anita Blake a human.

"-- she's a thrall."

Back to square one.

[fitzroyal]

Henry laughs, a bit sharply and brittle, but it's still a laugh. "I'd like to see her face if you told her that. She wouldn't like it, I can tell you." The corner of his mouth flickers a little, almost in an affectionate smile. But not quite.

And he saw that brief stunned face, and can, furthermore, sense it. And tilts his head, slightly. "You understand more than you're letting yourself."

[only_paul]

Paul looks tired. "Do you truly think it's possible to stop loving someone, even after they are turned?"

[fitzroyal]

Henry says, equally softly, "Don't you think it's possible to love someone after they are, for themselves?"

He looks at Paul, and makes another effort. "Not all vampires are like your experience with them. I do my best. I'm ashamed of myself, but I know what happened that night in a way you don't, and there was little I could have done. Perhaps Helen was lucky. She didn't die."

[only_paul]

Paul doesn't respond to the first question - he's afraid of what he might say. It hurts too much.

He'll just listen, and might find himself a chair to collapse into, because his legs are like cotton.

"She might have sooner died," he says quietly.

[fitzroyal]

He sighs, rubs his forehead. "I hoped," he says, finally, "That after I killed her, she would come back human. A reset. And when I heard nothing..." He grimaces, shakes his head, and gives Paul a direct look.

"I'm truly sorry for your loss."

[only_paul]

Paul stares, blinks, stares again.

.... "You really mean that, don't you?"

We blame Ryku for his semi-willingness to listen.

[fitzroyal]

Henry seems slightly startled that that...actually got through. And looks at Paul, frowning for a moment. "Yes, I do. I wouldn't wish the loss of a loved one on anyone." Except perhaps a very few people. But not Paul.

He doesn't say that he's felt it often enough to know how awful it can be, but the thought is there, behind his eyes, which while still dark manage to be somewhat human, emotion there underneath. The memory of Christina, Ginny, Vicky, and sometimes, he fears, Anita.

[only_paul]

Paul nods, just once, his face is serious and thoughtful.

He has questions. He can't exactly formulate them now, hence his silence.

[fitzroyal]

Henry lets it go, going through the Lord's Prayer in his head again, because it helps settle him. He steps back, finally, away from both the fire and Paul. But he can sense that there is more waiting to be said, and holds still, wondering if it will come. Ready to leave if it doesn't.

[only_paul]

After a bit, Paul says, slowly, "-- there is something I should show you."

His voice is quiet.

He's taking a gamble, but maybe this ... maybe this will allow him to let go.

[fitzroyal]

Henry tenses, slightly, but it may not be entirely visible. He's wary, yes, and certainly doesn't trust Paul half as far as he could throw him. Nonetheless...he inclines his head. "Very well. What's that?"

[only_paul]

"A document," Paul replies. "It will be ready tomorrow night."

[fitzroyal]

Henry tilts his head slightly, but he nods, barely visible. It's still acquiescence. "Here?" He says, voice still quiet. He doesn't like to raise it more than he has to, and he's getting his frustration back under his control in leaps and bounds now. Perhaps...

Perhaps not. He won't get too optimistic.

[only_paul]

"Here," Paul replies, and he doesn't exactly waste any words, because the more he speaks, the more he could slip, it seems.

"At the same hour."

Yay timeskip?