mylegacy | ic inbox / drift fleet

So do you.

[Focus, Caesar.]

I want to see it on you. And I want to see your work, too. Can we do that?

Mmhmm! That's perfect, it's just down here a little way like I said.

[She gives his arm a tug, just for emphasis.]

But tell me about your jobs! What jobs did you get, is it okay that you're taking time off for this?

[Oh, well. If she's going to tug him, obviously he's going to follow, making sure to keep his pace slow enough that she doesn't get left behind.]

The one doesn't start until tomorrow night, the other I already did today. I'm a . . . they called it a bouncer? I stay at the door, make sure no one gets in who shouldn't. The other one, there's a fighting ring. That's the one I already did today.

[. . . He does not look like he lost a fight today.]

Oh, I know those! I met the one at this club, I'm supposed to know who he is so I can point people out if they get rowdy.

[But delayed though it might be, the mention of the fighting ring does get a reaction, and it's a reaction that comes in the form of slowing down just enough to reach up and touch his face for the sake of fussing over him a little.]

Caesar, you were fighting?

Hmm?

[He slows down with her automatically, blinking down at her in surprise. Is she . . . worried?]

. . . I was. But I won. I always win.

...I know you do.

[She does. And she turns a soft smile on him to punctuate it, her thoughts blessedly free of any notions to the contrary. He does, it's as matter-of-fact as anything else; the sun is warm, the grass is green, Caesar always wins in a fight. But still.]

But I wouldn't be your best girl if I didn't still worry a little anyway, would I?

Mmm. No, you wouldn't. You worry about me when I forget to, isn't that right?

[It makes him feel strangely secure. Even when he's reckless, she'll be there to pull him in, won't she.]

I won't get hurt. I don't need the money or the fight that badly.

All right. You've said it, so I know it's a promise.

[And let her just get up on her very tips of her tiptoes — come here, you, it's her turn to have a kiss for you.]

Which is good, because I'd be sad if you hurt your face and then I couldn't kiss you.

[Oh no, she's so little. He keeps being reminded about how little she is and he's never ready for it.]

I don't want you to be sad . . . but you're going to spoil me with all these kisses.

[Which is not to say he is not thrilled about this one. He'd rather linger with it, with her, than make any forward progress, really.]

Oh? Well, spoil me back, then, and we'll be spoiled together.

[THEY ARE IN PUBLIC THIS IS DISGUSTING]

Sometime when we're all not working, we have to go out and have fun together, okay? Maybe for a whole day, or at least a big part of one.

[Welcome to the lifestyle, Suzie. One can only assume that it's Caesar's fault, since he's the common denominator here.]

A whole day. Maybe more than one day. I want to spoil you . . .

[He might have been about to say something else, but he got distracted kissing her. Again. What was he going to - oh.]

Where do you want us to take you? Everywhere?

To the park! And then shopping, and then out to dinner, and then dancing, and then...

[She gives him a little push, as much to keep them moving as to buy herself a moment.]

...mmmmmaybe a real room somewhere? Not the fleet. No six-headed sculptures of anything.

[He makes a big show of stumbling over his own feet when she pushes him. Which is just as well, because he does end up a little surprised, although he manages to hide it quickly.]

You don't like the six-headed sculptures? They like you . . .

It's too many eyes! I can't believe you really keep that in the same place you sleep...

[CAESAR.]

I have to. It was a gift.

[He bumps her with his shoulder, all the same.]

So you're saying I shouldn't bring it along? When we all go out.

Well, you can bring it along if you want, but then that's your date for the whole day.

[She laughs, flashing him a sly look.]

Six heads and no feet doesn't make a very good dancer!

Hmm, that's very true. I can't argue with that.

All statues will be left behind. And we'll get a real room, and check it for statues, too.

Much better.

[...]

That'll be okay, won't it? If we...all do that? Together? We'll all have fun, no matter what?

. . . Dolcezza, if you worry too much, I'll have to kiss you until you forget, and then we'll never get where we're going.

[It's an obvious tease; he nudges her with his shoulder again and leans down to kiss her, on the forehead this time, quick and sweet.]

We'll have fun. It'll be perfect, since it's all of us. Don't you think so?

...You're right, I do think so. No matter what, so long as it's all of us, we'll figure it out.

[And it genuinely does seem to pacify her, the reassurance and the kiss both, but as that settles in she flashes him a look that's positively radiant with mischief, and leans her head against his arm as the diamond-emblazoned sign begins to come into sight on the horizon.]

Ah, you did it agaaaaaaaaaaain...

I did--

[It takes him a minute, focused as he is on that look on her face. What game are you playing, missy.]

What did I do, Suzie Q?

Ti ha parlato di me con il vostro cuooooooooore.

[Look at this delighted girl, so playful in affect and yet so serious in content.]

I heard it, I heard it! Ah, I'm so happy...

Oh.

[How does he keep doing that without meaning to do it? Why are his arms full so he can't pull her close when she's making that face? The world is full of mysteries.]

I'm never going to figure out what it is, am I.

Maybe you will. Whether you do or not, it's nothing to be ashamed of; when you're so happy or excited, you're not paying close attention to something like that.

[She bumps her head against his arm, affectionate.]

You make me happy too, mia luce del sole.

[His arms are still full. He really hates that. He doesn't want to ruin her dress, but he also thinks that, frankly, it's criminal that he can't pick her up in his arms right now and just hold her, bury his face in her shoulder and breathe in the smell of her. It's much harder to look her in the eye when she's being sweet like this, rather than do something about it, when he can feel his face going a little hot.]

[With some effort, he ducks his head and looks away, muttering under his breath.]

La stella del nord . . . È difficile distogliere lo sguardo da lei.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject