Re: Quicklog, Patrick's cabin: Patrick G/Newt P
Did you miss it? When you were here? [Newt thought a moment.] What did you learn about her? You needn't answer, if you don't want to. [He smiled in the face of the wink, taking it a little better now and without so much thought perhaps. He was more serious about the trees, however.] They've seen rather a lot, I imagine. What's a life tree? [Pickett, feeling particularly bold, gave Patrick a chirrup.] You did at that. [At least the younger man had no real reaction to the touch, so Newt was able to pretend it'd never happened.] That's not what I meant.
[It clicked into place.] Oh, that's a sword, is it? [With an echo of Patrick's earlier cheekiness, Newt repeated the man's sentiment.] I should like to see your sword. [Only he was much drier in delivery.—As for Patrick being too trusting, well, yes, Newt could see that. But, he himself often fell into a similar trap. He'd not been stabbed, however. It'd been tried, but, he'd no scar. Not like this.] I see. You never did say the cost. Of the magic. Is it great? [Patrick had used the stones to get them here.—Newt said nothing as Patrick and Pickett commiserated, but he did smile, openly and warmly.
Sue didn't quite get the same reaction. Newt'd found the entire conversation with the man utterly maddening. Most of his agitation had worn off, to be replaced with curiosity that failed to be as innocent as it ought.] I know. I was. I don't know, darling. As I said, my feelings, such as they are, are ambivalent enough that—combined with the fact that he'd rather wanted nothing to do with my monogamy until perhaps he worried about you—or whatever you represented to him—[A qualifier meant to ensure Patrick didn't feel exposed.]—well, I'm not such a glutton for punishment that I'd go back. He says he's willing to try. Try. Where I might've endured slip ups before, I don't want to now. [Newt didn't know if this was making any sense.] You are a good brother. [Said in response to the pool-building and punching, and Newt was entirely earnest, if somewhat, and only slightly, sad. Patrick slouched. And, again, at least he didn't say anything about Newt's count of the times he'd had sex.] Oh, er,—well, it's hard to say he's like that all the time. Part of it, I think, was he felt he was getting one over on Adrian, which was thrilling for him. [Newt waved off the potion that was still levitating by him. And the man himself bent forward, before taking up his discarded wand. He brushed by the other man and close, he smelled like soap and cloves and earth. He'd come purposefully close to Patrick, but he only stood and smiled. He twirled his wand absently. And because it was only fair, he asked:] Do you really find sex 'just all right'?