(closed RP for Henry Winter and Stephen Maturin)

[estebanmd]

Stephen had rather wanted to talk with Henry Winter at length, if for no other reason than to cement his hopeful deduction that Henry's recent wedding had well and truly laid to rest the remnants of old animosity concerning the woman who was now Mrs. Winter. Unfortunately, there had simply been no time for conversation. Stephen had brought little

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[h_m_winter]

Henry considered this, and very nearly snorted. No, there had been no argument or pleading, though the persuasion had been, in a sense (even if it had only been because I want you to). "Interminable waiting for an answer?" he echoed. "Interminable, no; waiting, yes. She asked for time to consider, so I went to America with Dax and Dr. Silvey--I'm not sure if you've met her--in search of the magical lieopleurodon. It wasn't until I came home that she said yes." That had been one of the most anxious times of his entire life, even distracted as he had been by random bat-attacks and Dax's driving

[estebanmd]

For one, it explained Stephen's absolute incredulity and surprise at Henry's matrimonial coup. Diana could show touching proof of loyalty, in her own way, but she was more hunter than prey, and would not allow herself to be caught, or to stay caught for long when it did suit her to settle down a while.

On a different note altogether, Stephen found it promising that Henry should, in his diffident way, be so forthcoming in conversation as this -- and concerning such a subject, concerning this subject in particular. The wedding invitation in itself could have meant any number of things, from the most blatant to more subtle gradations of communication. It could have been the baldest territoriality, the logical extension of Henry's remark to Stephen once: Camilla was spoken for, he'd said, cold and taut, and what was a marriage but the underscoring of that claim? Thus the invitation meant little to Stephen by way of settling old scores, particularly since it had been extended by Henry rather than Camilla. It could have been a

[h_m_winter]

For Henry's part, everything was not so much forgiven as erased. All accounts balanced, all debts cancelled. He really had liked Stephen, before everything, and though that couldn't be the same, at least they could be friendly--as friendly as Henry ever was, anyway.

"It really is," he said. "Those who appear harmless can often do more damage than those who don't." It was one of the huge differences between Camilla and Susan, really--Camilla was able to inspire all sorts of strange confidences from people; inspire them to tell far more than they would probably like. She was beguiling, whereas Susan had all the subtlety of a brick. Also like a brick, she was much better at smashing than anything else.

He shook his head, looking at Xipe Totec again. "Roses," he said. "I grew roses, before. I think I'd like a garden again." A pause, and he laughed quietly. "Susan said she'd help me, if I'd let her. I think that would not end well, personally."

[estebanmd]

"It would not end well for the poor roses, sure," agreed Stephen wryly.

The gleam of a scythe in his mind's eye gave him a momentary chill, dampening his amusement.

"Would you like a hand with that lump of heathen nonsense, or shall I leave you to it?"

[h_m_winter]

"I really don't understand how the grass doesn't die under her feet," he said, eying the barren beds. "And...hmm. If you'll help me get it out of the barrow, I think I can handle it."

[estebanmd]

Though shorter and slighter of build than Henry, Stephen nonetheless could be of some use in wrangling the unwieldy Xipe Totec. He supported the thing's shoulders while Henry did the heavy lifting, and between them they deposited the statue atop the chosen mound without damage to Xipe Totec or to themselves. Stephen stepped back to survey the effect.

"May your roses thrive," he said solemnly.

If the rosebushes grew enough, when the time came, their growth might occlude that hideous statue.