My debt to you, Belovèd, is one I cannot pay in any coin of any realm on any reckoning day.

[jaeresteade]

[Thursday morning]
[April 22th (day 326)]
[Verite’s apartment over the salon]

I’ve spent nearly every night for the past week at the ‘Boy, except for Friday, when it was so busy at the Whitechapel that it was all I could do to stagger in at half past three to curl up next to Ri until noon, and Monday, when I came in worse for most of a bottle of port

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[verite_belrose]

I wake up to soft touches and a voice I soon identify as Jarmyn's. ...up now, Sweetheart? I mumble something about time and I open one eye. He's sitting on the bed and I can smell coffee and food close by. I open my other eye and rub both to help me wake up as I smile up at him. See the tray and sit up, I don't care about the sheet so I let it fall down about my waist. "You didn't have to do this, " I start. "Never mind. Thank you."

I reach for the milk and add some to the coffee, only then seeing the single cup. "Already had your coffee?" I tease. I know he doesn't eat anything in the mornings, but we've shared coffee before.

[jaeresteade]

She starts making small noises and opens her eyes slowly, and there’s no other word for it but cute. She sits up, looking sleepy still but not mad, and reaches for the coffee. Smart girl. Of course I didn’t have to do this. I could be an ungrateful bastard and let her keep me without doing anything for her in return. But no need to say anything but “you’re welcome” as I start undoing my bootlaces.

She asks me have I already had my coffee, and I turn my head to grin at her. “I’m up and talking, aren’t I? Not trying to throttle anyone.” I get my boots and socks off and slide over on the bed to sit beside her. “Did you sleep all right?”

[verite_belrose]

Says I'm welcome an' then starts undoin' his bootlaces. Gives me a grin at my teasing, ’m up and talking, aren’t I? Not trying to throttle anyone. I grin back and raise my cup to him. He takes boots and socks off and slides over closer to me, Did you sleep all right? He asks And I shrug. "Okay I guess." I say once I've had my first sip of coffee. It's the not the Miskatonic's but it's better than we got at the Carnival. Better than mine too. I don't have much skill with coffee. I look over at him. "You goin' to come back tonight?"

[jaeresteade]

I shouldn’t have stayed away so many nights, I can tell from the way she shrugs and answers me. And then asking me about tonight. Yeah, this is going to take more than breakfast to make up. I lean up against the headboard next to her and put an arm around her shoulders so I can pull her against me in kind of a hug as I kiss her hair. “Eat your eggs before they get hard.” I reach over and get the plate for her and trade it with her for the coffee mug. Feel like drinking the rest of it, but I’m not going to. ”Do you want me to come back tonight?“ I ask her, not looking at her. Try to say it in a teasing way, so I can see if she minds or not by her answer.