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

[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.

[scinlae]

Only because a fool blocks it from taking hold.

[impetuous]

You wouldn't be talking about me, would you?

[ Inappropriately light, perhaps, but it's the only way he knows to respond. Apart from a chair to the head at least. ]

[scinlae]

Perhaps I am.

[impetuous]

Morgana…

[ Hesitantly at first, Gwaine turns her hand over. Threading their fingers together, he lifts it it his mouth. He presses a kiss to her knuckles. Without letting go, he rubs her fingers, her palm. ]

[scinlae]

[ She watches torn between reacting or shrugging him off. It's dangerous. They cannot be sure who is watching. ]