brooks, lorelai.

Although features softened with her initial request, tension was quick to take over: teeth grinding, brows brought together. How suspicion had drifted towards himself, he wasn’t sure, but the how’s and why’s didn’t matter now. Fingers found themselves wrapped around the younger’s upper arm, Ed closing the space between them for a moment.  ❛  Get inside.  ❜  The male ordered, voice colder than before. 

          He would be lying if he said torturous memories didn’t return with her accusation, but his features did nothing to imply such a realisation. Tongue grazing lower lip and hand rubbed the area affected by Lorelai’s excessive poking.  ❛  I ain’t got a clue what you’re talking ‘bout.  ❜  The words are cliché and he’s painfully aware of that fact. Though they initiate his attempt to walk away, moving towards the front door: only emphasising on his reluctance to speak with the younger.  ❛  Did ya need something, Brooks?  ❜ 

@lorvlais !!

          The past couple of days, he’d laid low. Even as he acted his ordinary self, he avoided any sense of provocation – staying inside for the vast majority of the week. Though, of course, he & Lorelai Brooks were bound to cross paths. Stepping out of his vehicle, he pauses to see the doctor’s car parked not far behind.  ❛  Are you stalking me now, doc?  ❜ 

❝ i’m really SCARED sometimes. ❞  the honesty of her confession, more importantly, how easily it slipped appears shocking and lips remain parted in awe afterwards. she doesn’t want to be alone and she’s terrified, of putting that burden on other people by making a mistake. it’s a part she’d never admit out loud, one that eats her up as much as she lets it. her eyes wander up, sticking to the level of her boss’ collarbones.  ❝ it doesn’t, doesn’t matter how well i do in school. i feel like i can’t connect —- with a lot of people. and i don’t want to disappoint. but i feel like i have to, one day. do you think that, with the job . . have you ever considered having a family? if it can be combined with the job. not that i’m planning it. never really THOUGHT about it. but theoretically.  ❞

she listens & eyes widen as she does. lips press together, forming a thin line as a petite girl swallows, quiet nods given as the older confesses. it wasn’t the job that appeared scary, more so the failure —- a desperate fear, one inherited by solitude passed on by her parents. she’s on her tippy-toes as up & down movements fill silence.  ❝ thanks. thank you for TELLING me, i mean.❞ for a quick moment, liza builds eye-contact. one that vanishes rather quickly, and forest tones inspect the ground in front of white keds. do you still think about that? feel sorry and all that. some people, people say some feelings never vanish. ❞

          His pain threshold wasn’t one to be considered low, though of course – the younger’s words were put into consideration. Maybe not externally, though. No, his most prominent emotion wasn’t worry – it was the bemusement directed towards Lorelai Brooks.  ❛  Ya holdin’ a grudge, doc ? Can’t be good for ya. Think I already see a’couple wrinkles settin’ in.  ❜

carefully observing the older, the petite redhead stood in silence. ashamed of talking about what she was passionate about, afraid of the outer world — two feelings that often build a home for liza. no matter how simple the older doctor’s confession was, it seemed to HELP, at least a bit. the younger presented a nod & a smile that faded, boundaries not quite willing enough to offer a handshake. instead, she focused on the second part of the conversation. ❝ y-you don’t have to, to tell. it’s just —- i wanted to know if . . yes, kind of. ❞

         Much like Ed himself, Lori chose the path of provokation. And due to actions made on his own, it was difficult to protest or accuse the other of being childish. He settled for leaning back against paper-like fabric, gaze switching between Lorelai and the, quite frankly, average looking nurse.  ❛  Leave my life in somebody else’s hands ? That’s a tough one, Brooks. But, I think I might jus’ survive … No thanks to you, but – survive, nonetheless.  ❜

a smirk draws itself onto delicate features; because for a moment, she feels like she has the upper hand. which is not a lot, all things considered---- he must still be in pain, though, and that’s a thought that never leaves her mind, but he’s so maddening he might as well deserve it.

❛ Well, they are the elderly. You could clap your hands too loud and BAM — heart attack! Has that ever happened? Like, in the hospital? ————– Have you like bumped into their bed and they just flatline? ❜

❝ i know that. ❞ the younger begins, gaze lowered as slim arms are crossed in front of the petite woman’s chest. ❝  people tell me i’m too young. and they say really mean things —- p-probably still do. and i guess i just believe them. that i’m not good enough. doesn’t matter! ❞ her honesty slips and eyes look up, insecurity reflecting in green tones. ❝ but i still want to do what i do. have you EVER —- sorry. inappropriate. ❞

         Her actions only further his amusement and there is no fighting the chuckle that follows. Cuts & bruises weren’t an issue for the older, nor had they ever been. And the severity of those he’d been caused now weren’t worth the lingering tension between the pair.  ❛ Got no faith in me, do we ? C’mon, brooks. LIGHTEN UP !  Is ’a scratch. ❜

she pinches the bridge of her nose and asks whoever’s listening to give her the strength and patience to deal with eduardo sutton. even though lorelai wouldn’t trust his life in anyone’s hands but her own, she considers the possibility of officially switching his medical care to another physician---- after all, tis’ but a scratch.

❝ OH MY GOD. Someone might die thinking of me. Like, some geriatric patient will spend his last perverted moments looking at me and think ‘damn, she’s fine!’ and then kick the bucket. —– What does it say about me that I can’t decide if that’s the dream? Specifically morally. ❞

dark brows raise; bemusement striking aged features, and laughter erupted from the older. of course he’d expected a reaction. wasn’t everything that left eduardo sutton’s mouth in lorelai’s presence a ploy for just that ? but one in the direction of GENUINE belief hadn’t been it. 

    ❛   you really do think i’m an IDIOT, don’t ya ?   ❜

her back straightens, brows knit together and lips part when he laughs. god, of course he did. unable to resist the temptation, lorelai’s back of her hand smacks his shoulder ; it’s barely harmful, and it’s something she’ll regret later.

liza lets out a short-lived, melodic chuckle, genuine —- a rare thing since the young redhead has difficulties connecting with those around her. she doesn’t quite understand the term, but the older’s humor is appreciated among a serious topic. ‘’ no, not for . . THAT. ‘’, she repeats with a nod, like a child shyly re-stating the facts to gain sympathy. ‘’ yeah. that was, it was a good explanation. finding a solution to things we don’t quite understand yet is a fascinating thing. and there’s no better thing than constantly trying to, to learn. i don’t, i don’t know. i guess i knew back in elementary school. i like logical thinking and, and the evolution of science. but i’m not so good with people. ‘’

‘’ it’s just difficult sometimes, i dunno. i worry ‘bout bugging people a lot even when i know i shouldn’. ‘’ she paused before looking up at the elder with a smile in place of the frown, ‘’ — thanks for listenin’, it means a lot. ‘’