☤ eighty-seven

[as_damaged]

[ ACTION ]

[After nearly four years in the City, one becomes adept at ignoring all sorts of unpleasant circumstances. It's a point of pride that Cameron rarely cancels her plans due to curse interference; doing so always feels like letting the City win, and she can't abide that.

Today, apart from work, she has a few errands to run; lunch at a café, a quick stop by the bakery. She's doing her best to avoid the scattered bunches of mistletoe, but no one can miss all of them...]

Comments

[as_damaged]

[Their long history is as difficult to ignore as the spreading greenery. She's wondered every time this curse comes around how much the mistletoe is really to blame; she's fairly sure the curse wouldn't let her pull away, but probably can't blame it for the way her arm slips around his waist.

Her eyes have fluttered shut, but she opens them again as they part and rejoin. Her other hand finds his arm, fingers curling into the fabric more tightly than mistletoe can account for.

Breathless, and perhaps a bit guilty, she manages about half a smile in return.]

I guess I made coffee in vain.

[intheblanks]

[He laughs, gaze flicking across to where he'd managed to stand his mug.]

I've got a few more hours yet. Coffee's never in vain.

[And while his head is turned, his attention is caught a little longer than it should be by her fingers tucked into his shirtsleeve.]

[as_damaged]

[She should probably do something about that, shouldn't she? Slowly, she pulls back, letting go, though she doesn't apologize. That's one of the few upsides to most curses.]

I'm sure someone can cover, if you need.

[intheblanks]

[She probably had to. And his hands should reoccupy themselves with the coffee. Going around conjoined would be impractical, if not unpleasant.

Not mentioning it at all seems to be the way of things. He couldn't apologise.]

I'm fine. Couple of clinic cases I want to catch up with later.

[In the meantime.]

I can um. Head up to find House with you, if you want.

[She is still the only woman capable of reducing him to a stutter.]

[as_damaged]

[That will never not be flattering. She can never seem to differentiate between what might have been and what might be when he's smiling, no matter how clear-cut it might seem at other times. (And, truth be told, it rarely is, though she has her moments of believing she understands.)

She shakes her head slightly, reaching past him for the coffee.]

We might be better facing him one at a time, today.

[A group make-out session is actually not terribly appealing.]

[intheblanks]

[A nod, and he re-establishes the distance between them with a step. She does make a good point.]

In that case, can you let him know I'm reachable by text?

[as_damaged]

Of course.