L I G H T

          “I learned from the best.” Despite him being older, and infinitely less needy than her. “You’re genuinely the neediest person I’ve ever met in my whole entire life, including our one auntie.” She knows the one. The One.

          “Sully, too.” Because where Jules goes, Sully follows. Even if it’s the mile walk, or if the weather is truly awful, the drive. He smiles gratefully as the items are handed over, and he bends to begin sketching some things out. “Appreciate you letting me help,” Jules says, glancing over after a few minutes.

           “Good.” They begin to play, and Mary does end up winning once and losing once. The rain outside hasn’t let up, but Mary doesn’t seem to mind. She’s enjoying the company of Sorrel, and is easily getting on with her. It’s nice, to be able to get along with somebody so quickly –– especially with her own trust issues that she keeps on shoving down. “A rubber game, double or nothing?” She grins hopefully, because she wants to keep playing and wants to see Sorrel again.

          Jules takes a moment to rummage around in his bag, finally finding the ball he’s looking for. He passes it over with a smile, then pauses for a moment. “’m a photographer,” he starts, sort of gesturing to his camera bag, “and was wondering if I could take some of you and Sully?” Asking is always a double-edged sword for Jules –– on one hand, it’s important to get consent, but on the other once asked, the person hardly knows how to just be natural.

    “ Fuck. I didn’t think it through. Can we get a divorce?”

She laughed, leaning into his grip. No one alive was allowed to touch her like that, yet as with is many things, he was the only exception. He could wrap his hands around her throat and she would do nothing but adore him. He had earned that trust, completely. Everything he did, he did for her. 

    “ I hope you know I expect you to spoil me rotten, you gotta keep your wife happy-”

Alex watched him scrawl across her writs, knowing how stupid it was. Anything that could identify him or her body was a stupid idea. Although with his messy handwriting, it wasn’t likely. 

    “ Even? Not even close.” They weren’t by any means. Despite appearances, Grey had given her far too many chances. Each time she had walked out without a word, each time she had disappeared for days on end. The very last thing she was to him was fair. Again and again she would call wounded with no explanation, or rush out in a hurry without explanation. That was the nature of her work. And keeping him alive had been the best fucking mistake she ahd ever made.

       “ God knows what I’ve done to deserve you.”

         “Says permanent marker for a reason, don’t it?”

          He grinned, slipping an arm back around her waist once he had dropped the pen back into his pocket. Pulling her against him always felt so fucking good, warmth pressed to warmth, plastic and metal and fingers and flesh. He trusted her with all of him. He trusted her with the parts that still hurt, with trauma just beneath the skin, with a whole fucking future he doesn’t even know how to define.

          “Even enough.” As far as he was concerned, at least. He was sure he’d been just as shitty in a relationship as she was— between the silences, the stupid arguments, the vicious comments that bit deep. The days on end. The blood all over the floor.

          She’s right, she’s always right. Why does she get to keep being right after their divorce? Seems unfair. “We all have to start somewhere! We can’t all just have experience.”

          “You’re not pissing me off.” Not yet today, anyway. “You don’t get under my skin as much as you think you do, man.”

          Victor smiles happily, glad that Emil accepted the invitation. He doesn’t often invite people to come with him specifically, though he does make mention to friends and colleagues that it’s something that could be interesting for them to attend. “We could get dinner first, if you want to?” The man enjoys Emil’s company, and that’s something that has been consistent since they met, and Victor’s grateful for it.

          “Nothing specific.” It’s unfortunate, but it’s also the truth. There’s only so much he can do right now. “With the weather, the flowers are not in bloom, there is not enough pollen to go around.” He doesn’t exactly have the room for a greenhouse on his roof. “I could give them up, for the winter. Give them to somebody with the resources.”

          “Mhm.” It’s a small hum, but she’s excited about having a proper match against somebody. She doesn’t know him, has no real idea about how he plays, but she gets a sense that he’s bloody good at it. She leaves him to set up, returning a few minutes later with a tray of coffee and cakes, setting it on the table beside them. “There. Ready to lose pennies?”

          ( mattie ) –– that’s for me to know and you to wonder the rest of your life

          “I’ve got the girlfriend jackpot. All those other girlfriends in the world can’t compare.” Obviously, Eleanor loves all women and all women are the jackpot for somebody, but hey, she’s got to be biased toward her girlfriend.