buy yourself another day

[impetuous]

Who: Gwaine and you
What: Random encounters
When: Saturday morning
Where: Near the gallery in town


[ Wearing modern clothing for once (sweatpants and a T-shirt that aren't his), Gwaine bounces a small, pink ball against the wall. Whenever it strikes something—wall, ground or his hand—lights arc inside it. A curious little toy, but Gwaine barely looks at it. He sits on the middle step, eyes unfocused. To any observer, his mind appears to be elsewhere. He has managed to recover a semblance of healthy coloring, but the bags under his eyes mark how fitful his sleep remains. He finds it difficult to concentrate on even simple tasks. Thus he misses his next catch and the ball bounces against the door behind him. It rolls away from him. ]

Comments

[impetuous]

I have my moments.

[ He takes it and bounces it twice against the floor. He lifts it to examine the dancing lights inside. ]

If it wasn't a friend's, I'd probably have cut it open already to see how it works.

[scinlae]

They are too infrequent.

[ She tilts her head, watching them also. ]

It is powered by lightning, if I remember correctly.

[impetuous]

I had it explained the same way. [ He glances up at the clear skies. ] Hard to believe anyone could harness lightning. And this is all without magic.

[scinlae]

Hmm. [ She... does not care. WHATEVER WHATEVER. She is trying to figure out why she hasn't walked off yet. ]

[impetuous]

[ In a fit of adolescent need to impress, he rolls the ball over his knuckles without dropping it. Shifting, he rolls the ball up his arm where he bumps it. It falls in his open hand. ]

[scinlae]

What are you doing? [ If she is impressed she certainly does her damnedest not to show it, but it leaks through in the corners of her eyes and a twitch of her mouth. ]

[impetuous]

Playing. It's something us common folk do to pass the time.

[scinlae]

Needlessly flashy. [ She knows what playing is jerk! ]

[impetuous]

Thank you. I try.

[scinlae]

[ EYE.ROLL. ] Of course.

[impetuous]

[ He performs a half-bow. ]

Only the best for the lady.

[scinlae]

[ She fiddles with her sleeves mindlessly, resisting the smile threatening to break upon her lips. ]

The best? [ Thoughtful pause. ] Yes, I suppose so.

[impetuous]

That didn't sound very convinced.

[scinlae]

Perhaps because you have not impressed me.

[impetuous]

[ He considers that for a moment. ]

No, that can't be it.

[scinlae]

It is. [ Smirkty smirk smirk. ]

[impetuous]

Admitting it is not very kind. [ He's quick to put on an act of being hurt. ]

[scinlae]

You expected kindness from me? [ She is teasing him, of course. ]

[impetuous]

Yes. And grace and charity and a lovely conversation. I'm an optimist.

[scinlae]

You expected too much of this mad witch. [ And she finds it rather amusing. ]

[impetuous]

[ He frowns at her. ]

I'm not in the habit of listening to others malign a lady. Not even the lady in question herself.

[scinlae]

I am not so gone that I cannot recognize some truths, Gwaine.

[impetuous]

Do you really believe that is all you are?

[scinlae]

I do not believe it, I know it. [ She turns her gaze from him. This is all his fault, were it not for him she would have continued to live unaware. He gives her stability to some degree. ]

Do you know what madness feels like? It is an itch you cannot satisfy. On your good days you are far too aware of it, on the others you simply do not care. It dictates your view on the world, shifting it from day to day. Moment to moment.

[impetuous]

But you're not lost to it. [ Unlike her, he doesn't remove his gaze from her. ] It doesn't dictate everything yet.