|
Post by Rochester on Feb 21, 2009 8:46:25 GMT -5
*Rochester made quick order of securing the room, turning to Shadi that he might escort her up. She looked so tired. No wonder after all she'd been through. A bath and rest would help. Even if he couldn't share them. But it was too soon, the wounds too fresh. He tried to not let it show as they made their way up to the lush apartment.*
"Here we are." *He said decidedly upon entering. There would be plenty of room for both of them (and her friend should she prefer it).*
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 23, 2009 12:10:25 GMT -5
Shadi let Rochester lead her up the stairs, barely conscious of her surroundings. It was a hotel, but beyond that, who cared? It meant she didn't have to see anyone she didn't want to. And she didn't particularly want to see anyone.
Well, maybe Rochester. But she could hardly look at him.
She gazed around the suite instead.
"Nice," she said, trying to muster some enthusiasm. She blinked, trying to force herself into being less of a jerk. "I... thank you, Rochester."
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 23, 2009 13:08:35 GMT -5
"You know you're welcome." *Rochester assured her gently. It was true after all. It always was. No matter what happened. He couldn't bear the thought of not being around her right now. He stepped in further, opening a door to reveal a luxious marble bathroom.*
"Are you ready to bathe?" *He asked cautiously. He didn't want to spook her.*
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 23, 2009 13:15:35 GMT -5
Suddenly there was nothing she wanted more than to wash the scent, if not the memory, of the Vicomte de Valmont off of her.
"God, yes," she said, a trace of her old spirit peeking out from behind the clouds. Rochester shouldn't be tiptoeing around her, she thought vaguely. That was her job, now. Her duty. After the bath, maybe. "Don't worry about me, Rochester," she added, heading that way. "It's only guilt, and only right I should be feeling it."
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 23, 2009 14:30:20 GMT -5
*Rochester lowered his head in concession, stepping to the side so she could enter.*
"Doesn't mean that you need any extra from me right now, darling." *He whispered, his eyes flickering to her face for only a moment.*
"It would seem to be that you have enough burden to bear at the moment."
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 23, 2009 14:36:26 GMT -5
Shadi smiled tiredly, meeting his eyes for an instant.
"You're far too kind, Rochester," she said. "It's going to get you in trouble, one of these days. But I'll let it pass, as long as you agree to be as harsh as you wish, once I'm clean and rested and fed and entirely my shallow self again."
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 23, 2009 16:57:08 GMT -5
"I will endeavor to give it my very best, my darling." *Rochester's eyes wandered over her backside as she passed.*
"But as for getting me in trouble, I've never had a doubt."
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 23, 2009 17:11:01 GMT -5
Wearing trousers, of course, Shadi's backside was eminently viewable.
"There's a good boy," she said, but which of his comments she was referring to was unclear. "I won't be long."
She shut the door, leaning against it for a moment as if she needed its support now she was out of view. What was she doing? What was he? She'd left for his own good--and it had killed him. Only he wasn't dead, and she no longer knew what good meant.
Only that she wasn't the person to decide it.
She ran the bath, as hot as she could stand it, and had to ease into it slowly. The bathroom was opulent and a far cry from the jug and basin in the tent. She didn't deserve the comfort of it, which was why the water was hot enough nearly to scald. Her skin turned red, and to avoid thought she scrubbed at it with the fine scented soap she found. It brought her back a little to herself, and she entertained thoughts of murder, of both Nadir and Valmont. The question that stalled her was which first.
When the water cooled to a tolerable temperature, she got out, and rubbed at herself with a luxuriant towel she didn't deserve because it just wouldn't feel harsh, whatever she did. She didn't have any extra clothes, though, and she couldn't bear to put on the remains of what Valmont had left her. She kicked at them fitfully, and finally decided to use the hotel-provided robe and see about getting new things. An idea that proved that she was not quite thinking straight, though it was no less characteristic of her for all that.
She opened the door, the white terrycloth robe too large and cinched hard about her waist, though the front gaped a bit and the sleeves fell over her hands so that she was obliged to push them up repeatedly.
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 23, 2009 17:20:07 GMT -5
*As the door shut, Rochester found himself resting heavily on the door's frame, letting out a sigh. It was too much. To fast. But it was her and that was all that mattered. He swallowed, forcing himself up to ring the front desk. When the man appeared at the door, he gave him a series of rushed orders, then saw to making some order of his room. He had no illusions that he'd share it, but he wanted it to be comfortable enough for conversation. When he heard her out of the tub trudging around, he wandered nearer the door, that he could be there when she exited without being overbearing. He just peeked at her with a gentle smile.*
"Better?" *He asked softly, a hint of genuine concern sneaking through his attempt to keep things easy-going.*
"I've called up for some food. And..." *He glanced down at her towel.* "A new dress for you." *He was just glad she wasn't in those trousers. Not that he minded the garment on principle, but seeing as to why she'd been wearing them...he'd rather her not. She looked more like her old self like this, and that suited him just fine.*
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 23, 2009 17:45:44 GMT -5
Rochester was right there when she left the bathroom, which she might have predicted. Soft-spoken and concerned as if she hadn't put him through the wringer. Hell, part of her thought. Maybe she hadn't, and she'd just looked so pitiful and used, lying there on Valmont's bed and half-drunk out of her mind, that he'd felt somehow guilty.
"Both... would be good," she said, brushing back a wet tangle of hair. Not that it was long enough to really tangle; it fell in lazy waves around her temples and her ears, which only meant she couldn't pin it back usefully. "Thanks. I feel cleaner, at any rate."
Well. Physically, anyway.
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 24, 2009 7:55:43 GMT -5
"Well that's a start." *Rochester offered, trying desperately not to think of why she was dirty in the first place. Had all of this been his fault? Did he make her leave? Should he sought her out, not letting it get to...this point. But now that she'd bathed and the food wasn't here yet, he found himself in the oddest predicament of not knowing what to do. It was a foreign feeling and he didn't like it one bit.*
"Would you like to retire?" *He asked softly, trying to keep his emotions at bay.* "I could let you know when the food arrives. If you like."
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 24, 2009 10:30:07 GMT -5
Shadi stood for a moment, as if she hadn't heard him. She'd held herself together for so long, thinking he was happy, only to learn he wasn't--now to learn he was alive, but unhappy. She wasn't used to being at a loss like this. She didn't like it, but she didn't know how to act with him. But she thought she should take her cue from him, for now, because he was the one she had to make things up to. If possible.
She nodded. "Yes," she said. "I think that would be good." She watched him searchingly for a moment before dropping her eyes. "Which... which one's mine?" she asked, glancing at the bedroom doors.
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 24, 2009 11:24:47 GMT -5
*Something was strange between them, a rift he couldn't quite bridge at the moment, but it didn't stop him from standing at its edge and seeking her longingly on the other side.*
"Oh," *Rochester was drawn from his thought for a moment, glancing back at the doors.*
"Whichever you prefer. I'm not certain that there's that much difference." *He offered gently. Why couldn't she be in his arms, his face buried against her neck and everything as it was? Oh, right.*
|
|
|
Post by Shadi on Feb 24, 2009 12:21:43 GMT -5
How must he see her, now? she wondered. Tamas had been one thing. A mistake, naturally, but a stranger, a misguided notion. Her leaving had been a misguided notion on a much larger scale. And Valmont... he'd seen her, entwined in the bastard's sheets, used and sweaty and with him gloating just behind. That was different. She hugged the robe to her and looked at the doors. If there was a nicer room, she wanted it for him. But she didn't want to make a show of it, so she chose the one on the left, turning in the doorway.
"Don't let me sleep too long," she said, smiling slightly. "Can't have food getting cold. And thanks. Again. For everything."
Maybe she'd be able to think better, when she was rested.
|
|
|
Post by Rochester on Feb 25, 2009 7:44:01 GMT -5
*Rochester managed a small smile as he nodded.*
"Of course, darling." *He whispered, shutting the door to grant her some privacy. He tried sitting, but then stood and paced a while. Finally the food arrived and he too it hastily, paying the man and setting the tray on the table in the common room. He fussed with it for a while, trying to set the contents in a more aesthetic manner. Not that he understood why. Then he made his way back to her door and knocked softly.*
"Shadi?" *He called. He would have liked nothing more than to serve her in bed, but he had promised her autonomy in this room and he was damn well going to respect that. At least until she invited his company.*
|
|