(no subject)

[shelley_winters]

Shelley shivers, chilly now she is out of the warm shower, and hurries dressing. Tucking the ends of a pair of loose pants into her shoes stops them tripping her. The shirt, however, she gives up on, and wraps the sash from her dress around her waist a few times to turn it into a kind of tunic. Rolling the sleeves up exposes the faded pink line running down her left forearm, and she eyes it for a moment. But it's either that or have them flopping over her hands constantly.

She stares into the mirror for a few minutes as she combs her hair out, almost glaring at her reflection before she notices the mark on one side of her neck, and drops the brush. One fingertip brushes it lightly, before dragging the neckline of the shirt to one side, revealing one or two others. Oh. She closes her eyes as her cheeks redden. Not good.

No. It's fine, they'll fade. Deliberately she ties the shirtstrings as tight as possible to hide all but one, then brushes her hair forward instead of putting it up. Fine.

The girl lips her lips nervously, then heads out of the bathroom. She can get through a few hours.

Comments

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

The morning sunlight drifted through the window as Ishamael sat calmly with his eyes closed and hands clasped in his lap. Lunch sat steaming on the table in front of him as he spoke calmly.

"Good afternoon, Lady Shelley."

He could hear her wandering in, her footsteps markedly distinct from Vashti's.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley veers pointedly away from him as she passes, making for the table. Ordinarily she might have refused, but leaving sounds very appealing right now.

Even if she still can't quite imagine it - actually not being here, with him not there.

Odd.

She sits down in silence.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Opening his eyes, Ishamael watched her closely. A polite inquiry as he unwrapped his silverware, the menial task seeming to consume most of his attention.

"Did you sleep well, my lady?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley's glare could possibly burn through solid metal, which makes it fortunate that it is directed at the tabletop.

"Just fine," she grates out, after slightly too long a pause.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A polite, genial response as Ishamael sipped the wine. Because it was in his best interest to let her return for a time does not mean that he had to like it. He wanted her here with him, because he loved her.

"I thought so."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley doesn't trust herself to respond.

Bastard!

Instead she picks up her cutlery, turning them over in her hands. She eyes the wine with a slight frown. They only just got up.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A long sip of the wine. A slight frown as he swirled it, and spoke more to it than to Shelley.

"It is only an average vintage, but it is a wine meant for lunch."

[shelley_winters]

"Technically this is breakfast," she points out shortly, not touching her glass.

She replaces her knife and fork on the table and picks up a piece of bread.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael tilted his head, and commented rather wearily.

"It is nearly noon, my lady."

[shelley_winters]

"Nearly," she echoes, finally looking up.

"Also, breakfast is the first meal of the day. Which this is, for us."

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael smiled and sipped the wine. She could be so petulant at times, no matter.

"Then, I will have wine with my breakfast."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley rolls her eyes eloquently, and pushes her glass a strategic few millimetres away. She, it goes without saying, will not.

She turns the piece of bread over in her hand, but doesn't take a bite.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A calm statement of fact with a direct look from him. He knew what her problem was, but it was always enlightening to hear her perspective on it.

"Something is the matter, my lady."

[shelley_winters]

"Something always is, thank you very much for that," she replies icily.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael smiled demurely and glanced down eating his breakfast. There was a joy in being the center of her universe--kissing her certainly was a bonus--a joy that he did not plan on ever relinquishing.

[shelley_winters]

Shelley glares at the top of his head for a moment, before looking back away.

"It wasn't a compliment," she remarks angrily, at the smile.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A light chuckle from Ishamael as he qualified to his breakfast.

"Then explain to me what is the matter this time."

[shelley_winters]

"It's a cumulation of many things, all of which you know about," she retorts, folding her arms.

Her breakfast remains ignored.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A wry, knowing smile.

"Yes, I do."

[shelley_winters]

"So, why ask?" she says sharply, glaring through strands of unbound hair.

She misses her glasses.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A calm explanation as he studied her with a curious look.

"Because it is important to hear it from you on the rare chance that I am mistaken."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley just rolls her eyes, and looks down at her hands coldly.

Chances are, if he can think of it, it's wrong with her.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

A quiet, if slightly sullen comment to her as he poked at his food. She was hardly going to be pleasant with the thought of going back looming in her mind. No matter, he had no intention of sending her back again after this.

"Since it does not look like you are intent on eating your breakfast, shall I simply send you back?"

[shelley_winters]

Shelley swallows, looking up.
Quoth the universe, 'O RLY?'
"Yes, please."

She needs to get away. She'll figure out how to go about life once she's there.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Ishamael nodded calmly, and gestured calmly towards her.

"First, let us discuss procedure."

A small sip of his wine.

"Because of the extended length of time, I will not be able to appropriately judge the time, I will wait for what I judge a week's time, and then leave a note in your room detailing the precise time for the Gateway."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley chews on her lower lip, and nods silently.

She hates this part, where the terms of freedom are dictated.

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

Raising a finger, Ishamael cautioned her with narrowed eyes.

"I would be very careful about spending time in places like Antar or the like because you do not want time to slip and you to miss the rendezvous. It would be highly unfortunate if I had to come fetch you myself, it would sour my mood for several days."

[shelley_winters]

Her body tenses slightly, eyes staying down as she nods, but doesn't reply.

Really, what is there to say?

[always-a-liar.livejournal.com]

With a small sigh, Ishamael took a deep breath and a portal spun into existence. It was little matter to also put a small shield on her mind as well.

"There you go. Remember, look for that letter in your room. Do not be late."

[shelley_winters]

Shelley slips off her seat eagerly, and heads for the portal, though not without a brief, sidelong glance at him.

One hand goes halfway to her neck before she turns abruptly away and ducks through into Milliways.