milliways_bar | (no subject)

Entry tags:

lethe,
santino

(no subject)

[OOM: Artist's block]

Santino opened the door to the bar, this time without the pleasant automobile awaiting him at the curb visible behind him. Dressed somewhat in his usual thoroughfare- black suede pants, polished black shoes. Crisp collard shirt, top two buttons undone. For once, sans his iconic leather jacket or any of it's deritives. Hair slightly longer than usual, though much shorter than it previously had been. A slightly different style, tonight.

Santino ordered himself a red wine and several glasses, somehow managing to balance these on the journey to his selected table. Out in the open, highly visible and with more than one empty chair welcome to be filled.

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It doesn't take too long for the chair closest to him to be occupied.

Lethe sits neatly, hands folded and legs swinging slightly. She might not be on top of him this time, but she's certainly close enough that she can feel him next to her.

A slight, tiny smile and she peers at him out of the corner of her eye.

Arm around her shoulders.

"How are you faring?"

"A little bit better, I think." She tilts her head thoughtfully, laying it against his shoulder.

"Thank you," her cheeks flush brightly, nose scrunching on one side. "I d-did not mean to fall asleep on you."

"It's quite alright." He smiled. "I think it's the first time that's happened to me."

"Really?" a bright, chiming laugh and she rubs absently at a cheek.

"One would imagine that many pretty ladies would like to sleep with you," she blinks up at him innocently and, really, that slightly impish gleam in her eyes must be imagined.

If Santino hadn't his insane amounts of composure, he might have lost himself there.

Instead, he merely laughed good-naturedly. "Perhaps. I may not be quite so lucky."

"Well, that is awfully silly."

She chews her lower lip thoughtfully and taps a set of fingers along her chin.

"You certainly take very good care of me," another grateful smile, eyes dimming slightly. "Though you really do not have to."

"Yes, I do." He flashed her a smile. "You're my friend. My comrade." Though 'friend' wasn't the best term for their relationship.

"Thank you," she murmurs again - soft, crooked smile crossing her face. "For wanting to."

"I will take care of you, should you need it." Her shoulders shrug, eyes honest. "I do not know if I will be very good at it - but I will try."

"One cannot look after others if they cannot look after themselves." He smoothed her curls and put a kiss to her temple. "But thank you for offering."

"I will have you know that I have been taking care of myself for much longer than you have been alive," her nose wrinkles slightly, arms crossing over her chest.

The words are still light, unoffended - a simple, if oddly unfitting fact.

"I just have never been in love before," her eyes drop. "It is different that way."

Harder and yet still somehoe more wonderful than anything else.

He smiled sadly, cusped the back of her head in one hand and ran his thumb along her cheek in an act of affection. "I'm sorry for your pains, Lethe. All I can tell you is that is shall some day get better."

She smiles again - soft and slow - cheek pressing lightly toward the touch. Safe there.

"Hope," the murmurs. "I would like to think that there is always hope. Because without it things are so much darker."

"Mmm, yes." Santino replied, one arm slipping under her knees and the other to support her back as he drew her into his lap and an arms-around-the-waist hug.

A small, startled laugh and she is safely deposited in his arms, fingers pressing into one flushed cheek.

"I try to be braver than they think I am – than I think I am – but Salvatore that is not terribly brave to begin with."

"And as soon as I can manage to say that I will be alright - I know that I do not want to because I fit there," slender arms wrap around him, cheek pressed against his chest. "I was happy there, at home with him."

"You are far braver than you can imagine, Lethe." He assured her, hugging back.

His heart beat much faster than it should, though she might not have had such experience with hearts as Santino.

Lethe just listens - eyes closed and fingers tracing soft, idle patterns where they rest.

"Mmm ... perhaps."

Her own beats slow - lethargic and easy - always simple things.

"And far more beautiful." Santino replied, a kiss to the top of her head, seeing as it was the only part he could reach.

She tilts her head up - eyebrow arced and nose wrinkled skeptically.

"Why do people think that I look so special?" she huffs, pouting slightly. "I do not understand."

Santino smiled deviously and placed a finger upon the top of her head.

"One head of perfect hair," Counting as the finger made it's way down, tracing her facial features. "Two beautiful eyes of intense colour, one delicate nose," now moving sideways a little to seek her cheekbones. "Two well-formed cheeks, one cute chin and two full lips."

"All together, beautiful."

The blush brightens, fades in and follows his fingers - nose scrunching further and teeth worrying at her lower lip.

"I - it - it is n-nothing special," the words come out tripping and stumbling over one another - eyes wide and fingers quickly coming up to hover over her mouth. "Everyone has eyes and a mouth and -"

In a soothing tone, "You have these features in a quality that's rare and beautiful, is my point."

"Oh, I - thank you," she presses a soft kiss to his cheek before she blinks - slow and thoughtful.

"Does that make me a liar?"

The question is innocent, confused.

"No." Wheels turning in his mind at incredible speeds. "Did someone call you a liar?"

She blinks, eyes unfocused, caught up somewhere in the past.

"Easier," she whispers. "Easier to lie when you look like me."

"But I do not lie," another slow blink and she looks down at her hands. "At least I do not think so."