poly_chromatic | [accidental video] mere mortals watched them fly

Entry tags:

angel sanctuary - raphael

[accidental video] mere mortals watched them fly

[Have a look at Raphael's tiny, mostly unnecessary kitchen. It's in a slight amount of disarray, with various groceries haphazardly lining what little space exists, and liquid dripping out of the base of a blender, down the countertop and to the floor.]

[Interestingly enough there are no dirty dishes.]

[Raphael's back is to the camera as he first glances at, then leans out the window, grumbling at the view. Or views. He doesn't wave back at the bathers, slamming the window shut.]

The one time I'm really not in the mood for hot springs.

[and as he grabs a sponge, he notices the device]

Oh, fantastic.

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But what else is there?

[there's more nonchalance in his voice than he quite means to have, and he clears his throat, glancing away to stare at the water.]

I'm serious.

Self-satisfaction. Self-sufficiency. Self-respect.

[Self-sufficiency, there it is again. It was the ultimate in her worldview, the most beautiful and most powerful trait anyone could possess. She misses it in herself. She misses her self. She had suffered so much to keep her rationality, her mind, she'd given up everything else... it wasn't worth it. She isn't happy.]

What's any of that without someone else to measure it up against?

[devil's advocate, maybe. sour grapes, maybe. he hasn't felt self-respect, really felt it, in... well, far longer than he'd care to admit. he finishes off the drink as he waits, unable to resist a little-too-blithe--]

This is the longest I've engaged in straight conversation with a woman in years, you know. I'm out of my element.

[She laughs for him, a low and exhausted sound.]

Sorry. [Carla rarely apologizes in earnest, and now isn't one of those times, dry sarcasm.] I'll just offer to go down on you next time.

[Spare him the trauma. She wonders just what it is that makes him so determined to treat the women around him as inconsequential. Maybe it's to protect himself, though maybe she wouldn't suspect that at all if she hadn't eaten that little memory of his.

She tips her head back to take in the last of the fruity drink. Whatever the answer, the questioning is a welcome distraction from her own miserable thoughts. She understands why Chase does it to her.]

[the fact that he doesn't even blink at the words probably betrays him. badly. the uneven grin only cements it.]

Careful, I might hold you to it. I'll return the favor.

[now's the time for a couple more throwaway bits of flattery that he figures she'll laugh off, but he can't seem to manage. he'd tried to think it was at least partially having to talk through the device that was to blame, but it wasn't that. something about her just left him chilled. a rare feat.]

[The glass gets set back down between her knees quickly. Years old nerve damage hasn't made her the most coordinated, and she doesn't trust herself not to drop it.]

Thanks for the drink.

[And maybe when she said that she was too demanding for him, she meant that she was far too aware of his bullshit to let him wear that security blanket into a bed with her. He'd be out of his element. She's alright with that though. Sex was meaningless, entirely throwaway. He's a little more interesting than that.]

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