Aspel Cassul: When in doubt, Aspel! (weaponry) wrote in emillion, @ 2014-05-31 23:44:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, !log, arielle chiaro, aspel cassul |
I'm hooked on you, I need a fix, I can't take it, Just one more hit, I promise I can deal with it...
Who: Aspel Cassul & Arielle Chiaro
What: A birthday gift.
Where: The Armory/Aspel's apartment.
When: Today! (May 31st)
Rating: PG?
Status: Complete!
Ari had sent a message, and before Aspel could even think about not responding to it, about ignoring the contact from the other woman, her hands had already begun typing away at her communicator. Only about halfway through writing had she realized precisely what she was doing, and had… Stopped before her thumb could press the ‘send’ button. A few moments of consideration had been given to the device, looking over the message from the bard, and then at the word she’d also already typed, but not sent yet as two sides battled inside her own head. The smith’s own message said ‘Certainly.’, and she wanted to see Ari… Desperately. Badly. It was like a slow forming itch underneath her skin every time she thought about the bard. Had she ever felt this way towards a person before…? That was… Complicated. Memories of faces - Jead, Li, Jareth, Mag….. Drake - , and places she’d been before filtered through briefly before something gave way in her mind - ‘Just this once, it will be fine. You will be better, do better, next time.’ - and her thumb shifted, reluctantly pressing ‘send’. It wouldn’t take long before Aspel trundled down the stairs, feeling weighed upon by her decisions, and the weakness that had now so clearly become present in her life. When had this happened? How had she allowed it to get this bad? Could this be her last…. dose…? She had quit cigarettes again but… Was quitting a person like quitting a habit? Regardless, it would not be long before her thoughts were interrupted by someone at the door which the smith instinctively moved to answer without another thought, because for right now, all she felt was the relief of a fix. The door opened to a smiling and rather plainly-dressed bard carrying two bags and an instrument case. In truth, her day was mad -- Saturdays always were, when a show was playing -- but she had managed to carve out the time. Honestly, she would have liked to have taken more, but… Perhaps it was better this way. Simple. Unassuming. Aspel was still tired, and Ari still felt a bit like an intruder, but she’d wanted to do something (the fruits of her unexpected shopping spree not so long ago sat in one of the two bags; although she had not started early due to a variety of rather distracting events, she had made up for it in one go, it seemed) and so here she was. “Hello, darling.” She might have liked to lean in for a kiss, but chose the path of less resistance, brushing her lips instead very lightly over the other woman’s cheek. Sometimes she wondered if she was being too delicate about matters, but it was what it was. “You will notice,” she said, “that I did not fulfill my threat of last year and throw you a lavish party. But I did want to wish you a happy birthday.” Aspel shifted forward, one arm moving to wrap around Ari in a loose, short hug - a lean in, a slight pull towards herself, and then a…. pat against the other woman’s back - before shifting back, the feel of lips brushing over her cheek not lost, but also not something she wished to comment on either. “Good afternoon.” A slightly strained, somewhat forced smile, and muted laugh - one caught in her throat - was given to the comment regarding parties. Though, there was some genuine amusement there too. “Likely best for us all.” A beat. “I am surprised to see you.” A glance was cast back towards the nearest clock. “Do you not have other priorities with the show?” Though the words regarding her birthday would also not be lost. Was that what this was about? Honestly, it made her feel that much more miserable right now. “I wouldn’t miss it,” Ari said simply. “I already feel bad enough about last year. I’ve call in an hour, truthfully, but I wanted to stop by as I’m unlikely to see you until tomorrow.” And someone ought to wish you a happy birthday even if you’re set on hiding within your apartment like a hermit. Not that she’d comment on it, but sometimes she suspected that she might be Aspel’s only contact with the outside world that wasn’t necessitated by work. Well, be that as it may… “And to prove how sincerely sorry I am -- about last year, which is to say, not entirely -- I thought I’d reprise my impromptu gift.” She lifted one of the bags to eye level, white paper and smelling teasingly sweet. “The bag’s a bit thicker this time,” she commented, “so I won’t be getting this all over my hands today.” But it had felt a joke of sorts, and the exact same vendor had been hawking the exact same honey buns on the exact same corner, and really, how could Ari resist? “Ah.” Was all Aspel could really manage in response, feeling her speech severely failing in this moment between the two of them. “There is nothing to feel bad for.” It was a sort of placation, but one that was at least partially meant in some way. Though, with the smell of what Ari had brought wafting through the air, combined with the presentation of the bag, Aspel shifted, seemingly unsure for a moment before wetting her lips, and giving a nod of her head. “Ah, well, it was not needed, but thank you.” A beat would fall before a hand would rise up hesitantly to take the bag. “Birthdays are so rarely about need,” Ari waved off, handing the bag over. The other, smaller bag she kept for the moment, simultaneously weightless and far too heavy. Aspel had yet to invite her in. Were they really going to do this over the threshold? The thought to abscong with the small, glossy silver bag and the box contained within was suddenly almost overwhelming. No, she told herself. She’d bought the gift, hadn’t she -- and it didn’t really need to mean more than just… a pretty thing -- and anyway it wouldn’t suit her at all, nor Aud, nor anyone else she could gift it to. She doubted Thomas would simply… take it back for full price. Especially not without asking questions. “I… did get you an actual present,” she said, trying not to sound hesitant. If you don’t need the honey buns, you definitely don’t need this, but what can I do now? “You seem to be busy -- perhaps I can just leave it with you and let you get back to your… affairs.” Whatever those might happen to be. “Fair.” Another placation to the other woman, one Aspel couldn’t help but simply allow. Though, the sudden, slow admission of the present purchase caused a sort of surprised confusion to be emotionally stumbled into which briefly displayed across her face. “I am not.” The words came out with a slight hint of confusion clinging around the edges. Though, the realization of what she’d done - speaking without thinking - before the potential repercussions could settle in struck hard inside of her. Faram, she had slipped again, hadn’t she? Damn all. “Did you not need to be running off to rehearsal?” A sincere curiosity in the question arose. “I did say my call is in an hour,” Ari answered. “I have a little time, but it rather seems as though you might not, considering I am still standing in the street.” No accusation was present in her tone -- it was a simple statement of fact. Probably easier to hand over the bag and run, really. So she held it out the small bag and said, “Happy birthday. I saw these and thought of you, so I thought you should have them.” Nothing else really needed to be said. Simple enough: she’d thought of Aspel, the way her eyes warmed sometimes when the other woman looked at her, and -- and that was all. Even if that warmth seemed elusive lately. “Ah,” A beat. “I misunderstood.” Another pause would follow as Aspel shifted, the debate raged in her own head for but a moment, before she stepped back gesturing for Ari to come in if she so wished. Though… Then she was presented with a bag, and for a brief second Aspel found she could only blink at it as it was held towards her. Honestly, this smith felt frozen in place, and in some sense, time. “Oh.” Finally came a soft word, projected enough to be heard, but still seemingly barely there at all. “Thank you.” It was the only polite way to respond, even if the smith felt stuck, and unsure of what to do with herself at all. Another few seconds would pass before a hand slowly, almost hesitantly raised to carefully take the bag from the other woman. What on earth could Ari have…. Eyes slowly roamed over the bag, sticking on it as it was retrieved and lowered to rest in front of her. Silence once more permeated, but it seemed more out of uncertainty than discomfort or dislike. “Did you... Wish for me to open it now?” Finally, Aspel’s eyes dragged up from the bag to look over at Ari once more with the question hanging in the air. That was the question, wasn’t it? Ari was a bit worried about the response now that she’d come down off the temporary excitement that had caused her to select and purchase the gift. Still, in some ways she supposed she deserved it, considering her own reaction when presented with the protective ring she still wore on a chain around her neck… She stepped into the interior of the shop while she thought all this, wondering what she should say. Casual seemed the best way, considering how beastly uncomfortable she had become. “If you like,” she said. “Much as the honey buns are meant to be enjoyed at your leisure, the gift, too, is for… whenever you’d like it.” The door was pushed absently closed behind the bard, though Aspel had to wonder if perhaps by doing this if she’d made the biggest mistake of all. A beat fell, and a glance was cast towards the storage room which lead upstairs. “I…” Another pause. “Do have coffee, if you would like some.” Though Ari’s slowness with words seemed… quite queer as well. Was this a situation where it was better to wait, to pretend like nothing was happening here at all or was it… A hand gestured towards the back room and the stairs as if for Ari to lead the way. “Half the point in giving a gift is waiting for someone to open it, no?” What the hell Aspel was doing? Well, she hadn’t a clue. Ari certainly hoped she hasn't guilted her way into the invitation, though Aspel seemed more scattered than anything. It was entirely possible she'd simply forgotten to very possibility of along Ari in at all. All things considered, maybe it wasn't bad if the smith was a bit distracted. "I rarely turn down coffee," she said, taking the gesture at face value and heading for the stairs. "It will be a nice pause before the wardrobe people get their hands on me." The apartment, she was pleased to note, no longer smelled of smoke. "Go ahead and open it," she said after a moment. Better now -- if it was a disaster, she could always find a way to excuse herself while Aspel was in the kitchen. “Mm.” Came a low reply as she waited for Ari to ascend the steps before her. As always, the trek wasn’t long, and even with the two bags, it was easy to close the doors behind them without much thought. Though, the bard’s sudden urging upon - what felt like - the very second that they entered the apartment - to open the gift was a bit surprising all of its own. Had Ari treated the trunk the same way before? Honestly, Aspel couldn’t really recall, but… With a brief nod, she began to follow through on the request. Shifting, the smith would make her way to the middle of the living room, placing the bag with the honey buns down on the living room table before beginning to maneuver the smaller bag up and retrieving the contents from inside of it. A…. Smaller… box. Brows furrowed as Aspel looked over it, hands shifting to turn it from one side to another for a brief moment before carefully beginning to unwrap that as well. Before long, it was clear what was likely inside it - the box was about the right shape and size for… - but Aspel tried not to think about what exact item it could be aside from the general type of contents. It could be nothing. A pin, a trinket, a charm. Those were all small, simple, and cheap enough for the right price. Yet, somehow, she still couldn’t be entirely sure, and her heart felt like it was clogging her throat. A glance was cast back at the chair behind her before Aspel shifted, sitting down before finishing with opening the box. Faram. Her lips fell slightly agape, and she hadn’t a clue it had happened at all. One blink. Two. Three. Swallowing, her jaw shifted to close her mouth before she wetted her lips. “They are quite beautiful.” There was a definite measured quality to the response, even if she felt nothing but panic inside. What was this. Why was this. How was. Where did. When. Why. “Thank you.” Aspel’s eyes hadn’t removed from the box the entire time, but quickly, she snapped it shut, and somewhat abruptly stood. An unsure smile flashed at Ari before she spoke, forcing cheer into her voice. “Coffee, no?” The discomfort was nearly palpable, and it was exactly the sort of thing she’d feared, once she’d gotten over the initial impulse of the buy. Act. “They seemed like they might suit,” she said, her tone light, airy, nonchalant, as if to say, nothing of consequence is happening here. “If you’d rather something else, I’m sure you can find something you like better and exchange them.” Breezy, simple, unconcerned. As if she hadn’t practically lit up upon finding the earrings and imagining Aspel wearing them. (Further proof that in the end even the simplest moments between them were fraught with complexity these days.) “Anyway,” she said, waving her hand, indicating she was past this (ignoring things as if they didn’t exist was a sort of specialty), “coffee would be lovely.” A frown instantly tugged at her lips with Ari’s… Brush off of sorts. If you don’t like them, get something else was really all that was heard. Had she not said they were beautiful? Though, something in the statement struck a bit deeper, a bit harder than Aspel really would have liked. Was she trying to do that to herself? Her posturing to move towards the kitchen stopped dead, frozen in place as brows knit together, the frown still on her face. “That is something I did not say.” This statement was firm, a bit put off, and finally eyes rose to lock on Ari. Even if the bard seemed past it, clearly Aspel was not. The vehemence was unexpected, but Ari only shrugged, trying to keep her expression and tone friendly. “I didn’t say you did, it’s simply that sometimes, it’s nice to have an option. That’s all. If you like them, then there is no problem, and you’re welcome.” Maybe if she just ignored the panic attempting to rise, Aspel might end up doing the same. A brief pause was given, something inside of her wanted to lash out, to make this easy, to fight back, to… Push away… But none of it made a lick of sense. It was all completely irrational, and… Absurd at best. Even in her… Current state… Aspel did still have a shred of logic, even if Dullahan with his earthy, metallic voice continued to scrape away at her psyche in the back of the smith’s head. “Mm.” Was the best answer she had, and after another few seconds of hesitance, Aspel shifted forward, and moved into the kitchen to begin coffee prep. “Did you have plans for your birthday?” The question came out unbidden, and the smith immediately regretted it. Why was she asking for the future, when she could barely handle the present. Ari remained in the living room, not following to the kitchen this time. She felt, somehow, that she had diffused… something. Of all reactions possible to the gift, she hadn’t really expected the flash of anger. But she heard the question, posed from the other room, and answered. “You’re not the first to ask about it, you know. Usually I’d have made plans by now, but the show…” is a convenient excuse. “In any case, as closing night coincides with the eve of my birthday, I thought I’d just combine two pleasant events in one. I’ve been meaning to send notes to anyone who might wish to join in, but its been slipping my mind. So much to do, so little time, and all that. I’m open to suggestion, however.” “Ah.” A slight nod was given to the commentary regarding the show even if Ari may not be able to see her as Aspel moved about the kitchen preparing the coffee, and water for another cup of tea. Though, the continued talking was allowed to wash over her until the bard probed for suggestions of sorts. “I…” And Aspel’s words immediately died in her throat as the only thing that came to mind was ‘have nothing to offer other than a night here alone.’ which would likely be the most troublesome thing for them both. “Fear I am quite lacking in suggestions.” Another pause. “I would normally recommend the Duckling, but…” Aspel’s voice trailed off, a hand gesturing in the air as if the conclusion as to why the suggestion was not made was obvious. “Perhaps for celebratory measures, you would be best sticking with your plans, no?” “I am certain it will be back and better than ever soon,” Ari said. “I’ve passed by the construction site recently; it’s looking like it will be finished any day. I can’t wait to try the new menu.” A lighthearted approach, perhaps. But it was what she did best. “I think I’ll remain in the Theatre District this time. Plenty of places are operational, and it will be a shorter trek home for… whoever ends up with the enviable task of carrying my drunken self back to my flat.” Ordinarily, she might assume Aspel would be the one but… Things had been odd recently. It seemed better not to assume anything. “I do hope you’ll be joining me,” she said trying not to sound too hopeful. Aspel was… not particularly social of late. A slight nod was given to Ari’s words, a low murmur of agreement as the coffee was finished up, along with Aspel’s water, and both were piled onto a tray. With all appropriate other items then loaded the tray was carried back into the living room, and set down easily upon the coffee table in front of the bard. “Mm.” Came the low noise of agreement to the wisdom Ari housed in staying in her home district of sorts. “That would likely be best.” Not a single thought was given to how much of Ari’s company she would be partaking in - though a worry for who would see the bard home crept up - until the other woman inquired what her plans exactly had been. “Ah.” A beat as Aspel shifted, fetching her now fairly cool cup of tea. “I suspect I could, yes.” Lifting the cup, a sip was taken. This particular type of tea cool wasn’t all that great, but… She did rather hate wasting such things when it was her own folly that allowed them to cool in the first place. “Good,” Ari said, and meant it. She thought some time out might do Aspel some good (it had certainly done wonders for the bard’s own ability to present a cheerful, functional facade). “I will work through the weekend with something to look forward to, then.” She applied herself to her coffee, thinking that in retrospect, this hadn’t gone quite as terribly as it might have. Even if she was careful not to eye the box that had been set aside and to curb any desire which might crop up to explain its contents. For now, it seemed best to let some things between them remain unsaid. |