#!valera

Sir Pentious He showed the first letter from Alastor to Valera, wanting a second opinion before he even thought to respond to it. Was it written with honest intent, or was Alastor mocking him further? She might have insight he didn't consider.

Valera "If you aren't ready and it still hurts you, you don't need to tell me! I'm sure I can judge this letter at surface value and come to a conclusion."

Sir Pentious "AH.......... HMMMM............" He does that He Is Looking Away movement...

Valera "Do you want me to read it and share my opinion as an outsider?" She is Looking....

Sir Pentious He nods... and hands it over to her. 

Valera Val will read the letter.... Consider her conversations with Alastor (via Vaggie).... "I think he's being genuine. Remember, this isn't the same man as the Alastor here. He sounds lonely."

Sir Pentious His eyes widen a little. As the Resident Lonely Man, Pentious scoffs.  "THAT ISS PERPOSSTEROUSSSSS. HE HASSS SO MANY TOYSSSS TO KEEP HIM OCCUPIED."

Valera "Oh, and did your work keep YOU from being lonely?"

Sir Pentious "THAT ISS DIFFERENT!!! HE LITERALLY LIVESSS FOR ENTERTAINMENT!!!!"

Valera "And you lived for your work, no? It consumed every waking moment of your time, didn't it?"

Sir Pentious "IT'SSS DIFFERENT!!!"

Valera "How is it different? Explain it to me."

Sir Pentious He IS LOOKING AWAY. Digging his claws into his sleeves in irritation. He can't. He can't explain the difference, except that he's stubborn and doesn't want to believe it. "ALASSSTOR ISS MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE ALONE, AS LONG AS HISSSS SUBJECTSSSS SSSUFFER FOR HISSS AMUSEMENT." Just like you, Penny!

Valera "Okay, that's the Alastor WE know here. Now what about THAT one. The one that submit this letter, something you know the Alastor here would never do?"

Sir Pentious He turns his head a bit more, rubbing where he pinched himself through his suit. "... I DONT KNOW. HE SAID HE WOULD GET MORE AMUSEMENT OUT OF WATCHING PAINT DRY THAN BE MY RIVAL. SSSSOUNDSS THE SSSAME TO ME."

Valera She snorts. "Sounds like he doesn't know how to deal with his emotions without lashing out and insulting others. Much like someone ELSE I know."

Sir Pentious His eyes widen again, and he turns back to her, hood opening wide. "NO! WE ARE NOT THE SSSSAME!"

Valera "The same? No. But you have similar struggles. You're a lot more willing to work with me than he'd ever be. I think if I tried to talk to him he'd deflect until he was blue in the face." She is STARING at this lil shit. What, you gonna deflect, Pentious? You gonna pull an Alastor?

Sir Pentious He's looking like he might Blow Up actually. He is flexing his claws as his brain feels like a Deep Fryer in 104 degree weather.

Valera What a BABY. But fine, she knows when to back down. A genial shrug, a spread of the hands in casual dismissal. "But of course, I've never met the man. That's just the impression I get from reading the letter. I have no further stake in this. Discard my opinion if you wish, you know him better than I do."

Sir Pentious HE IS SUCH A BABY. He SINKS into his coil to HUFF. "YOUR OPINION SSOUNDSS RATHER POINTED! ALASSSTOR ISS ALASSSTOR. HE BREATHESSS IN MY FAILURESSS FOR HISSS OWN AMUSEMENT. WHAT ELSSSE COULD THISSS BE BUT ANOTHER PLOY!!! I DON'T KNOW. I CANNOT TRUSSSSSSST HIM."

Valera Pointed? What, like the LOOK she's giving him? ".... I don't know why you asked for my opinion if you were never going to even consider a perspective other than your own. But alright, you're welcome to operate under that belief."

Sir Pentious .... He feels a frustration bubbling inside, and he has to ball his hands so he doesn't jam his talons into his tail. "CLEARLY!! I SSHOULDN'T HAVE ASSSSSKED. I WASSSSS A FOOL, YOU ARE RIGHT." Pentious, calm down man. Nobody's attacking you except you.

Valera She looks at bit hurt, but snaps her mouth closed before she can say anything. You know what? Fine. She's not even going to respond! She's just going to materialize herself a damn cup of tea and let him be a jerk to the BACK OF HER HEAD.

Sir Pentious He notices that look of hurt, and he feels suddenly like all of the juices inside of his body were suddenly replaced by bile. His eyes look insane and he feels those extreme invasive thoughts to punish himself. No, no, that's just instability talking. You unstable loser. Pentious quickly unravels himself so he can slither off to a corner and stew in his own brain.

Valera Val... Is going to take a bit. Finish her tea. Calm herself the FUCK down. And then the hard part is deciding if she wants to try talking to Pentious now or if she should let him have his Moment and talk about it later. On one hand, he tends to work himself into knots if she leaves him to the mercy of his own brain. On the other, is she really equipped to help? ... Maybe not. But she's going to go over there anyway and just sit Near Him.

Sir Pentious During her tea drinking, Pentious has his hands placed against the wall, flat--something he learned in order to keep his claws away from his body. He was always quick to attack himself if he could--digging his talons into his tail, deep as he could, to distract him from the anguish of his mind. He hated himself for hurting her, even just a touch. He used to love finding ways under the skin of others, to watch them writhe--and but hurting Valera? The thought of doing that intentionally made him feel like he should have hot tar poured over him. His claws tap against the wall, and he presses them harder against the surface. No. Oh, but teeth. Teeth were available. His arms were near.

And then he could feel her presence behind him. And he felt wretched all over again. Afraid to look at her--his hood fell down. What to say? He had given her the letter for her advice, and he'd made her feel so low. What a terrible excuse for a gentleman. He knew he should apologize, but he couldn't speak. He was still certain that if he opened his mouth, he'd say something awful.

Valera Well, it didn't look like HE was going to start the conversation. Not that he wanted to, most likely. The position he was in was... Somehow distressing to look at. Best to try and distract him. But she sucks at that, so. Uh. Hope being direct works!

"... Dearest. I'm not angry at you, and I don't hate you. What you said was hurtful, but I know you were lashing out from frustration and regret it immediately. So! I forgive you! Simple as that."

A shift, and she moves closer and to his right, leaning against the wall a few feet away from him. "Remember what I said during our second meeting? You're trying. Imperfect attempts count for everything. I see that, I understand that, I love you. It's okay to mess up, I'm not going to leave you."

Sir Pentious He's trying to take deep breaths--in and out, but they're getting quicker.  His gaze darts from left to right, up and down, like he's trying to focus anywhere but one place for too long--oh. His eyes are watering. What a pitiful state for a man of standing!!! Pentious grits his teeth, though they chatter from the way he's starting to shiver. He was trying so hard not to cry, it was tearing his insides to shreds. She reassures him that she won't leave him and that she still loves him, and that is enough to break him down like this? His mind is aflame with awful words for himself. But. He believes her. Of course he does. He couldn't believe in Alastor, but he could believe her. He looks like he's trying to pry his hands away from the wall, but. Hmm. It's like he can't. Oh, what a pitiful state for a man to be in!!! A man of standing!!!!

Valera Well, Pentious is a fool. He had the chance to walk away but now here comes Valera to gently press herself against his side. To wrap her arms around his waist and pull him closer to herself. A reminder that she's here. She's solid and real and Very Much Not Leaving.

"It's okay, honey. You can let yourself lean on me, I wont think less of you for having feelings. I want you to be open with me, for better or worse. I want all of you in my life, not what you think is acceptably up to standard. You're the love of my life and I want to be here with you."

A hand slides up to pull one of his own from the wall. So she can press a kiss to his knuckles. Mwah.

Sir Pentious He resists at first--when his hands come off the wall, he's afraid of where they'll go. One goes to his face, to cover his eyes, and the other to his mouth, to muffle his voice. She can reassure him so well, but he still resists. God, look at him... He really was such a mess. A choked sob which splutters out from between his fingers, and he shudders, crumpling on himself, though still against her embrace. Which leads him to fold himself against her, his body trembling as he sobbed. It's voiceless, for the most part, and he's trying to catch his breath, though it's nearly impossible with how shallow they were. He wants to say sorry, but he can't do anything and it frustrates him more. So... Pentious wraps his tail around hers. It's the only thing he can think to do while he's Preoccupied like this.

Valera It breaks her hearts, seeing him crumble like this. How long have these feelings built up to have enough weight to crush him so quickly? She squeezes him as tightly against herself as she dares, chest tightening with a vague, directionless anger at the world for whatever its done to leave her lover with these scars. No more. Bracing herself, she lifts him off the ground entirely, tail twisting around his as much to hold it up as to return his affection. And she carries him. The couch wont do, not this time. He needs bed, and covers, and pillows. Dim lights, and enough room for her to carefully, carefully, like he's glass, place him down and curl herself around him so it's just the two of them alone, the world is out that door and nowhere near them.

Sir Pentious The 1800s sucked, that's the gist of it. And Alastor sucked. And everyone who derived joy from watching him fail over and over and over sucked. Though he wouldn't word it like that. He clung to her, still struggling to breathe--but once they were hidden away in the darkness of the bedroom, it felt like he could allow himself to let go. His sobs finally had voice to them, and he could take in air. His hands moved from his eyes, only so he could hug onto his beloved tightly. Oh, Oh pitiful state. At this point, even he wasn't sure what had brought him to this!! It must have been so many things building. Oh, agony. Oh pitiful state. He can breathe, though, and he finally squeaks out an "I'm Sorry, My Dear", muffled against her neck.

Valera A pitiful life has been had by this incredibly sad singular pasta noodle. It showed in every fiber of his being at the best of times, and now with every sob shaking his body Valera could feel herself coming closer and closer to A Very Important Decision. But it could wait. For now, she just. Holds him close. Strokes his hood. Presses gentle kisses to his head. Let it out, Pentious. You've finally got someone willing to stay with you through your messiest times. "I forgive you, my love. Hold me as close as you need, let me be here for you."

Sir Pentious It's some time before he's able to breathe normally, and his crying has quieted down. It feels like the storm has ended, and he can think once more. Not in danger, no one was attacking, not even himself. Just warmth and safety from his lover. He should like... to stay here a little longer. Before their picnic.

Valera Oh? Have his feelings settled? Good! But she's established such a good rhythm, it'd be a shame to stop now. It's a moment of calm, just laying with him and doing repetitive, soothing gestures. Relaxing for both of them, really. Something to bask in. .... She WILL tilt his head back, just once. So she can look him in the eyes and give him her best smile. See? No hurt. No anger.

Sir Pentious It feels very nice, after that wreck he was in. His insides don't feel like vomit anymore, and he's just basking in her comfortable smell. Until she tilts his head back, and his eyes meet theirs. He swallows hard, and nods just a touch. She's okay. He's okay. He still feels shame, but it's okay.

Valera No, no. None of that now, Pentious. She gives him a scandalous little peck to the corner of his mouth, and runs her hand down the back of his hood. "Do you want to stay here a while? I think we could use a minute to relax before we go anywhere."

Sir Pentious A hand comes up... And he begins to run his talons carefully over her head fins. Pets for pets. "Yess, I should like to stay like thiss a while longer." He's whispering...

Valera Ah... She leans into his touch, eyes sliding closed as she breathes a pleased little sigh. That's the stuff. "We'll stay here as long as you want, love. But if you keep petting me like that I may melt on you."

Sir Pentious He snickers, smiling. There's the nice smile, with wide curious eyes. "Oh? Will you?" He will keep petting her, from base to tip, careful to keep it gentle.

Valera Oh, what a fool to tempt fate. She leans MORE into his claws, bumping against him like a cat demanding headscritches as her face relaxes into an almost sleepy looking, blissed out little grin. Here come the purrs.

Sir Pentious OH! the purrs!! He grins, and offers many scritches. Valera... Cute. "You are adorable."

Valera She'd protest, but she's too busy rolling on top of him to start rubbing her face against his chest. Purrpurrpurrrrrrrr yes keep scritching, she's gonna worm.

Sir Pentious HE GASPS, holy shit she wasn't kidding. He removes his hand... Tentatively....

Valera Her head shoots up and she Looks at his hand like it just betrayed her... And then she just lays it back down on his chest and keeps purring. Softer.

Sir Pentious He smiles.... HMMM... "WHO WAS IT THAT WAS GIVING YOU TROUBLE, VALERA?"

Valera "Mmm...? Oh, Erethis... He's an ambassador for one of the newer species. He likes to schedule meetings when I'm on break and then show up to bang on my door and try to tell me off for not showing up, fucker that he is."

Sir Pentious "MMM. I SSEEEE." He grins so wide, it's up to his eyes. "SSEND ME TO HIM IN YOUR SSSTEAD, ONE OF THESE DAYSSS. I INSSSISSST."

Valera She cracks an eye open, peering up at Pentious just to see if he's as serious as he sounds. Goodness, look at that grin. "Aw honey, are you offering to kill my enemies for me? You're so sweet."

Sir Pentious "OF COURSSE, MY DEAR. I WOULD KILL FOR YOU." his tongue flicks, and he nuzzles against her. "NO MATTER THE COSSSST, AND THISSSS ISSS PRICELESS."