( it comforts her, the thought of that. him sneaking up to her rooftop at the quieter hours of the night, never quite lingering til the sunlight, fully aware that then the petals would have something far warmer to nurture them. she's always seen those glimpses, noted them, tucked them back in the further places of her mind to reel forward whenever another threat surfaced. whenever he closed himself off from her.
it always seemed to be a matter of time.
and still his humor continues; light, exactly what one would consider 'dad jokes'. she'd never lack the heart to make such a comment. her grin burns bright, white of her teeth nearly gleaming. )
Yeah? And then what, name him Jiminy?
I would definitely have one of the most... deranged fairy tales.
Only if he starts singing Disney. [It doesn't smart when the topic comes up, apart from when he's blindsided by it, but he still has a bad habit of trying to skirt expertly around any conversation starter that involves children and children's anything. So he latches on to fairy tales and happy endings.]
Long as you find your happily ever after. [Because while that's not where they're headed, he's pretty confident that at least one of them gets an after with a bit of happy sprinkled on top. That's alright. They can share it, with him dropping in and out of her life like this.]
You'll take care of yourself, won't you? [Happily ever after starts sounding like a goodbye, even though he's not getting physically restless just yet. She knows he can't stay. Won't let himself stay. The difference doesn't matter to him even though it might to anyone else.]
( one way or another their conversations always seem to spiral back down to the heavy truth that's waiting in the pit of her sternum, staring her in the eye every time he looks back at her. he has to go. and he will, he always will, but it's too difficult to consider the fact that these little pieces of stolen time, stolen nights with him would come to an end. his question is met with silence, a saddened glaze of hues and that line between her brows she can never hide when she's upset. )
I will. ( decisive, a promise, but there's an inhale drawn like there's something else waiting, stalling at the bed of her tongue. ) Frank? ( fretting mind tangles itself around a sigh as eyes close for a brief moment; still, she can see the neon, hear the sirens in the distance, but there's a difference when he's here. when she has him close.
she doesn't want to push, doesn't want to ask for too much, doesn't know what too much is anymore between them. all she knows is that she wants to steal him a little longer; to be selfish. ) Look, I know that by morning, it all just... starts all over again. You'll be gone. I'll be here. And I understand—why you need to. ( a huff of a breath, )
I guess I just want that naivety. Even just for tonight, that neither of us have somewhere to be. To know you're safe.
[He perks up when she calls his name, like an old dog still cognizant of its owner even when the world has started to fade around him. He wishes that there was more for her - that they could part ways without that tinge of sadness in her voice, that he could promise her unrealistic expectations of their future - but that isn't the New York City they live in. His work isn't finished yet. And neither is hers.
He drops his gaze and doesn't reply straightaway, tilting his head back and breathing out a sigh to the starless sky.] Heh. [A small, defeated smile that aches his cheek to pull before he ducks his head again.
It's just him - mostly all Frank and very little Karen - that doesn't want to go down this road. Not right now. Not again. Maybe not ever. But she's right in that he doesn't have to go tonight. There's nothing waiting for him back home but a rifle to clean and a job to do. Those would be waiting for him in the morning. So he musters up the courage to not let her down tonight. No cop-outs about a dog to walk and feed or some research to do. No excuses. No lies.]
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it always seemed to be a matter of time.
and still his humor continues; light, exactly what one would consider 'dad jokes'. she'd never lack the heart to make such a comment. her grin burns bright, white of her teeth nearly gleaming. )
Yeah? And then what, name him Jiminy?
I would definitely have one of the most... deranged fairy tales.
no subject
Long as you find your happily ever after. [Because while that's not where they're headed, he's pretty confident that at least one of them gets an after with a bit of happy sprinkled on top. That's alright. They can share it, with him dropping in and out of her life like this.]
You'll take care of yourself, won't you? [Happily ever after starts sounding like a goodbye, even though he's not getting physically restless just yet. She knows he can't stay. Won't let himself stay. The difference doesn't matter to him even though it might to anyone else.]
no subject
I will. ( decisive, a promise, but there's an inhale drawn like there's something else waiting, stalling at the bed of her tongue. ) Frank? ( fretting mind tangles itself around a sigh as eyes close for a brief moment; still, she can see the neon, hear the sirens in the distance, but there's a difference when he's here. when she has him close.
she doesn't want to push, doesn't want to ask for too much, doesn't know what too much is anymore between them. all she knows is that she wants to steal him a little longer; to be selfish. ) Look, I know that by morning, it all just... starts all over again. You'll be gone. I'll be here. And I understand—why you need to. ( a huff of a breath, )
I guess I just want that naivety. Even just for tonight, that neither of us have somewhere to be. To know you're safe.
no subject
He drops his gaze and doesn't reply straightaway, tilting his head back and breathing out a sigh to the starless sky.] Heh. [A small, defeated smile that aches his cheek to pull before he ducks his head again.
It's just him - mostly all Frank and very little Karen - that doesn't want to go down this road. Not right now. Not again. Maybe not ever. But she's right in that he doesn't have to go tonight. There's nothing waiting for him back home but a rifle to clean and a job to do. Those would be waiting for him in the morning. So he musters up the courage to not let her down tonight. No cop-outs about a dog to walk and feed or some research to do. No excuses. No lies.]
Your couch free?