Hannah & Jeremiah; Jester's Court
His expression softened at her words, undeniable fondness in his eyes as he looked down at her, at her offer. He knew some things, what she was, and the story, but perhaps not everything she knew. He didn't know her worries, didn't know what the new job might mean for her, had no idea of any of those things, but he knew that he loved the way that she looked at him. When he was with her, an after felt possible, maybe in a way she'd already helped him to write an after, without really meaning too, and she had taken his confession and tucked it away safely.
"We're starting here," he told her, suddenly feeling more serious than he'd been before.
Once upon a time he hadn't said the words. Once upon a time he'd not been brave enough to say them, and right now maybe it was the way she was looking at him or maybe it as the shades and their kingdom or maybe it was this persona as a Prince who might need to rescue a Princess, or who might be rescued by one and maybe it didn't matter which.
"Hannah, I love you. I don't know if I was supposed to fall in love with you - the whole thing is very Pretty Woman - but I want you to dream things up, and I want to write them down, but more than that, I want you. I want to help you figure out who you are, to dream up all the best parts, and to hold space for all the other parts - the ones that aren't the parts you want to show to the world."
But even a Prince's bravery had limits, and his mouth felt a little dry as he finished, nerves suddenly prickling up, and the fear that maybe he would ruin everything. "It's alright if you don't want that too," he added, softer. "But," a hand reached up to touch her tilted cheek. "If you might... maybe."