There is a trick that many know and fewer might tell, about just how easy one can pass unnoticed if one does not look as others might expect.
Some tricks are the sort she knows well, including this one. And so it is that when she walks through the door tonight, Blodwen is not dressed in white, as others would expect her to be.
The blue-gray jumper she wears matches her eyes very well, oh yes, and goes with the dark fabric of the slacks she's chosen. Quietly, she slips through the bar, moving around the edges and through crowds of strangers, and out the lake door.
"For never was a story of more woe," he says, smiling crookedly. "It... changed me, of course, but... things happen. I may have luck on my side, if such a thing exists, and right now I'm fairly certain it does."
A moment of silence passes before Nick can even gather his thoughts, and is distracted by the distant sound of leaves rustling in the wind.
He searches the now-dark silhouettes for any sign of an animal but it's too dark and too far for him to see and when he turns back to Blodwen he meets her eyes with his own, giving her hand another squeeze.
"I'm saying I want you to stop holding back," he says, very, very quietly. "I feel like you still don't trust me and it's killing me because I love you so much and --"
He's almost whispering.
"You do believe me when I say I love you, don't you?"
"Oh goodness yes, cariad, I believe you mean what you say, indeed I do-- but what it is that you want from me I cannot fathom! Holding back, is it? And that I do not trust you, you say?"
Nick flinches and responds quickly, voice cracking just a little: "That's -- it's not about that! You don't ever have to tell me anything you don't want to! Damn it, I'm not that foolish to keep pushing you --"
He pauses to take a deep breath.
"I just... a little hint that you might feel the same way would be nice, is all," he says, and his voice is back to a (rather pathetic) whisper once more.
"I think she's okay," Nick says, unable to hide his grin as he throws a glance over his shoulder. "She has Nero to watch her, and even though he's just a pup he's very protective."
Also he's sure Kick would be the first to attack, not Nero.
Some tricks are the sort she knows well, including this one. And so it is that when she walks through the door tonight, Blodwen is not dressed in white, as others would expect her to be.
The blue-gray jumper she wears matches her eyes very well, oh yes, and goes with the dark fabric of the slacks she's chosen. Quietly, she slips through the bar, moving around the edges and through crowds of strangers, and out the lake door.
There she pauses, looking thoughtful.
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"For never was a story of more woe," he says, smiling crookedly. "It... changed me, of course, but... things happen. I may have luck on my side, if such a thing exists, and right now I'm fairly certain it does."
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"Trust to that if you will, dear; never have I found it of use."
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It does not take long for him to seek out her hand, though, and he takes it very gently.
"Blodwen, I --"
He isn't sure what he's going to say and it's painfully obvious, and from far away there are a pair of eyes watching them.
"We both have complicated pasts, and -- you've helped me move on, whether you know it or not, and... well, I'm willing to help you do the same."
If you let me, his eyes are saying, and he's trying as hard as he can to not squeeze her hand but he just can't seem to help it.
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"And what exactly is it that you had in mind, to help me so?"
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"I'm not saying you need help, but --"
It's frustrating, it's been frustrating since the start, and the strain in Nick's voice is very, very obvious.
"Why are we dancing in circles like this?"
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Blodwen looks up at him, watchful and wary.
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He searches the now-dark silhouettes for any sign of an animal but it's too dark and too far for him to see and when he turns back to Blodwen he meets her eyes with his own, giving her hand another squeeze.
"I'm saying I want you to stop holding back," he says, very, very quietly. "I feel like you still don't trust me and it's killing me because I love you so much and --"
He's almost whispering.
"You do believe me when I say I love you, don't you?"
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"Oh goodness yes, cariad, I believe you mean what you say, indeed I do-- but what it is that you want from me I cannot fathom! Holding back, is it? And that I do not trust you, you say?"
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He pauses to take a deep breath.
"I just... a little hint that you might feel the same way would be nice, is all," he says, and his voice is back to a (rather pathetic) whisper once more.
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"... and have you never asked yourself, cariad, why it is that I come back here, to where I am in danger, if not to see you?"
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"I guess I didn't," he says after a few seconds, trying to swallow the heart-sized lump in his throat.
And at that moment he can think of nothing else to do but kiss her, and so he does, muttering "I'm sorry" against her lips in the process.
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When the kiss breaks, Blodwen glances down and to the side.
"I cannot see Kick," she says. "Not safe at all, for her to wander alone here."
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Also he's sure Kick would be the first to attack, not Nero.
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Very softly, but without any uncertainty in the light musical voice.
"So quickly things can happen here, you see. I know, believe you me; that I know very well. Best you should find her, I think."
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