"You don't." There's wanting, wanting, and wanting. They're...caught somewhere in between the second and third. More than an urge, less than a need. A low burning thing full of embers and potential that Athos, at least, seems reluctant to stir.
Seeing as normally he's the more sane of them? It's probably best to follow his gut and not. Maybe another time but- she makes no move to leave his lap. While nothing more may come to pass this is...the closeness helps to quiet her ghosts. And while it feels a little lie abandonment when he looks away, a little like lying when he won't give a straight answer she can't truly begrudge him the confusion.
No.
Scratch that.
She can. She has ever been nothing but forthright with him in her own strange way. That he would dodge something so direct as this for the sake of...what? Pride? Propriety? Her feelings? Yes or no. That's what she needs now more than the closeness. Ambiguity in consent is problematic on so many levels and she's never stood for it in the past. She'll not stand for it now.
"Oliver." She'd promised to never, but here she is, one hand curling in his hair to tug his face back so they're eye to eye again. "Yes or no. No is fine. I'll get up, order dinner, and we'll watch something terrible on the network. But you need to be clear. My whole existence is vague insinuation and nuanced, nebulous orders, inferred affection and multiple layers of meaning I had to put up with from Monet. I do not need that here with you."
bittersweet
Seeing as normally he's the more sane of them? It's probably best to follow his gut and not. Maybe another time but- she makes no move to leave his lap. While nothing more may come to pass this is...the closeness helps to quiet her ghosts. And while it feels a little lie abandonment when he looks away, a little like lying when he won't give a straight answer she can't truly begrudge him the confusion.
No.
Scratch that.
She can. She has ever been nothing but forthright with him in her own strange way. That he would dodge something so direct as this for the sake of...what? Pride? Propriety? Her feelings? Yes or no. That's what she needs now more than the closeness. Ambiguity in consent is problematic on so many levels and she's never stood for it in the past. She'll not stand for it now.
"Oliver." She'd promised to never, but here she is, one hand curling in his hair to tug his face back so they're eye to eye again. "Yes or no. No is fine. I'll get up, order dinner, and we'll watch something terrible on the network. But you need to be clear. My whole existence is vague insinuation and nuanced, nebulous orders, inferred affection and multiple layers of meaning I had to put up with from Monet. I do not need that here with you."