𝚒𝚗𝚋𝚘𝚡 — 𝚜𝚘𝚖𝚗𝚒𝚊.

[sacral]

EVEN WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS

Comments

[sacral]

They'll shift.

[hallowedly]

What do you want, really? It will come to that. It always comes to that.

[sacral]

Would you ever allow it?

[hallowedly]

When have I been so uncivil not to honour stakes?

[sacral]

It was never that your sensibilities were concealed.

I want answers.

[hallowedly]

( A heartbeat's pulse of hesitation. )

...answers. ( And plural. )

[sacral]

Because it wasn't triumph or celebration. Even the shape of acknowledgement turned wrong.

[hallowedly]

What's done was done.

[sacral]

What was done has been undone.

[hallowedly]

( In crescendo, fear wells. Floods. Brims, then threatens burst, calamitously. A strange, animal and irrational perversion.

At first arresting, then tantalizing, the shape of it comfortingly close. )


Well, if at first you don't succeed.

[sacral]

Isn't that your reason for another bet?

[hallowedly]

It's to pass the time.

[sacral]

Do you accept, then?

[hallowedly]

How exciting. My junior's first bet.

Of course I must accept, to support him.

[sacral]

Name it. What you want.

[hallowedly]

Should I say 'a date'?

[sacral]

Within a year?

[hallowedly]

...how earnest.

Subaru-kun, your family circumstances being what they were, I won't hold this against you. But the truth is, you never learned how to treat a woman.

In fact, romance is entirely dead, and you should always lead with your most practical consideration. Whether it's your wage, your career, your advancement prospects or other personal services you can provide. That's what gets a modern heart going.

[sacral]

Your advice is appreciated.

[hallowedly]

...you've grown up so — ( F r u s t r a t i n g. )

Agreeable. So much so that I'll give you a hand and let you do a small service for me.

[sacral]

[ His grandmother chides him about dating less. ]

Go ahead.

[hallowedly]

As it happens, right now, Subaru-kun's wards surpass mine.

[sacral]

They're stable. [ A better expectation, magic pulsed low. ] Where do you want them drawn?

[hallowedly]

My resting quarters. Is that workable?

[sacral]

Yes, it is. Though the tools for efficacy are hard to come by.