[ It would probably be a little cooler if he wasn't saying it with his head tipped back to accidentally use her chest as a pillow with a partially shaved face. But life doesn't always make you cool, does it?
He holds the pose exactly long enough to realise that a) he must look daft and b) he's going Brimful of Asha on her bosom he snaps his head forward again. Damnit, it's not been his week. ]
[She offers only a little bit of a visible reaction to that, but it's a lot for her--an arched eyebrow while their eyes are still meeting. She stays silent as he whips his head back down, and indeed resumes shaving him without any immediate comment, content to let him stew in his embarrassment for a little bit.
And then she twists the knife.]
Ah, I see. You need the affections of a good woman to motivate you to come back alive. Another truly inconvenient bit of human brain chemistry.
[No laughter in her voice, of course, but she lets out an unusually expressive sigh to hammer home that she's teasing.]
[ The rising discomfort is practically audible, a kettle coming to boil as he attempts not to fidget and tries to formulate a decent response. Then she hits him with that prodding and he just blurts out- ]
I forgot you had those.
[ He doesn’t deserve this. He’s a good boy, can’t anyone just pat him on the head and say ‘you’re doing your best’ for once? He’s probably the only human in the world that could make this mistake. The beard and the cream can’t save him now, he’s red to the tips of his ears. ]
[Counterpoint: He 100% deserves this, but he may have gotten himself off the hook with that line. For now. At the very least, he's gotten a laugh out of her, surprise surprise!]
Heh. If I could believe that from anyone, it'd be you, Rex.
[And she has calmed down, it would seem, going back to that more delicate touch as she finishes up his cheeks, now moving on to chin and neck. (So it's probably a good thing her mood's lightening, all things considered.)]
[ He lets out a long sigh of relief when he hears her laughter. He actually joins in, after her comment. His laughter is grim and harsh, but genuine nevertheless- it's just how it sounds coming from him, but is that so surprising by now? He's just kind of weird.
He tentatively raises his head just a shade to give her better access to his neck, but careful not to make the same mistake of essentially resting on her chest. He chooses not to risk speaking at all at this stage, his eyes sliding closed as the next song begins to play.
There's an obvious relaxation sinking into him as the blade glides over his skin- it feels good, not only the touch of it but the moment altogether. It's just... nice, to have someone to trust. ]
[This moment is a rare thing for both of them--quiet, peaceful; shared laughter, a good song wafting through the air. Her smile lingers as she brings the razor down his neck, slow and careful, but also just unhurried, letting this last.
It is nice. It's nice to know there are humans out there she can put her faith in--and just plain like.]
[ The long, pleased 'mmmm' of agreement Rex gives when she offers to help him again is borderline sensual- utterly relaxed, his arms losing all tension and normally hunched shoulders settling into a more natural posture. He's not quite far enough into his usual 4-5 day sleep cycle to actually allow himself to sleep, but every now and then he can just let himself be. It's rare. Everything could go horribly wrong at any second, his recent ambush being proof of that.
But with her there, he can at least give himself a little slack. ]
I'd... really like that.
[ And after a moment he adds- ]
Though... I'd also like to spend time together that isn't favours.
[ Their lives don't lend themselves well to that sort of thing- when you're off the grid one way or the other, there's always something to do. But they're both capable people. They can work something out. ]
[Indeed, Helena's instinctual response is a negative one. But nuts to that. They can work something out.]
I'd like that. I . . . don't have much on my plate at the moment, actually. I could stay for a bit.
[She's really striking out in a brave new direction here. She's usually strict with her time, not one for spontaneously changing plans like this, not one for lingering anywhere when she doesn't have to, but right now she doesn't want to leave.
Besides, she trusts Rex to pick a good safe hiding place. The odds of her pursuers coming looking for her here is low, she wagers.]
[ She's right- he's carefully selected his hideout with the fastidiousness to be expected from him. Despite his recent... setback in regards to forward planning, he's pretty reliable when it comes to safehouses. Usually. He suspects the chances of Freeman intruding again is minimal. Freeman caught up to him because Rex was doing the chasing and Freeman is just better at hunting.
But if they just stay in this nice, cosy little world of their own no one is going to come looking for them. Not for a while. Housekeeping at most. Just the pair of them without interruptions... Just until he's back to full strength, maybe.
The palm of left hand gently rests on her forearm and he nods. ]
[ Rex was already interested when the games came up. Whilst he rarely has the chance to indulge (scratch that, he rarely chooses to spend time on them when he could be studying or training) he does enjoy them. Especially the sorts she mentioned that match his mindset.
He only has a small patch of stubble left but can’t wait for even that. He turns to look at Helena with a natural, if small smile and a twinkle in his eye. ]
Singing.
[ Don’t say these things to him and not expect him to be instantly eager. ]
[ It's not a conscious thing, but he flutters his eyelashes at that and his hands brought together as much as they're able. Her adorable blush only has him more determined to hear her sing. ]
[She sighs, finishing up those last little bits of stubble before setting the razor down and (somewhat theatrically) rubbing the bridge of her nose.]
I knew I shouldn't've said anything.
[But look, he's doing this on his own recognizance. And at least he isn't (she's pretty sure) the type to tease her about it.
And so she turns off the speaker so that she can launch into something--well, something fittingly grim.]
Remember everything I told you Keep it in your heart like a stone And when the winds have blown things 'round and back again what was once your pain will be your home
All around the table, white-haired men have gathered spilling their sons' blood like table wine Remember everything I told you Everything in its own time
[Her voice was programmed for pleasantness--it's maybe a little soft for the material--but she's got no reason to be embarrassed. Even though she totally still is.]
[ If we're talking theatre, Rex has her beat the way he closes his eyes and absolutely soaks up her singing. There's one thing better for Rex than a new version of a song he's heard before and that's a song he's never heard at all. This is like both at once, a single performance just for him. It's heaven! The dark topic doesn't bother him- is that so surprising, considering it's him?
His eyes open only so that he can, very gently and ready to stop if she expresses the slightest distaste, stand up to drape his arms around her shoulders and give a soft squeeze. It's a little more forward and openly affectionate than usual, but it's all a little overwhelming, everything together. Being cared for so diligently, the intimacy of the blade on skin that was more trust he showed others, the teasing and now the singing... ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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He holds the pose exactly long enough to realise that a) he must look daft and b) he's going Brimful of Asha on her bosom he snaps his head forward again. Damnit, it's not been his week. ]
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And then she twists the knife.]
Ah, I see. You need the affections of a good woman to motivate you to come back alive. Another truly inconvenient bit of human brain chemistry.
[No laughter in her voice, of course, but she lets out an unusually expressive sigh to hammer home that she's teasing.]
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I forgot you had those.
[ He doesn’t deserve this. He’s a good boy, can’t anyone just pat him on the head and say ‘you’re doing your best’ for once? He’s probably the only human in the world that could make this mistake. The beard and the cream can’t save him now, he’s red to the tips of his ears. ]
...sorry.
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Heh. If I could believe that from anyone, it'd be you, Rex.
[And she has calmed down, it would seem, going back to that more delicate touch as she finishes up his cheeks, now moving on to chin and neck. (So it's probably a good thing her mood's lightening, all things considered.)]
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He tentatively raises his head just a shade to give her better access to his neck, but careful not to make the same mistake of essentially resting on her chest. He chooses not to risk speaking at all at this stage, his eyes sliding closed as the next song begins to play.
There's an obvious relaxation sinking into him as the blade glides over his skin- it feels good, not only the touch of it but the moment altogether. It's just... nice, to have someone to trust. ]
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It is nice. It's nice to know there are humans out there she can put her faith in--and just plain like.]
I could help you next time, you know.
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But with her there, he can at least give himself a little slack. ]
I'd... really like that.
[ And after a moment he adds- ]
Though... I'd also like to spend time together that isn't favours.
[ Their lives don't lend themselves well to that sort of thing- when you're off the grid one way or the other, there's always something to do. But they're both capable people. They can work something out. ]
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I'd like that. I . . . don't have much on my plate at the moment, actually. I could stay for a bit.
[She's really striking out in a brave new direction here. She's usually strict with her time, not one for spontaneously changing plans like this, not one for lingering anywhere when she doesn't have to, but right now she doesn't want to leave.
Besides, she trusts Rex to pick a good safe hiding place. The odds of her pursuers coming looking for her here is low, she wagers.]
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But if they just stay in this nice, cosy little world of their own no one is going to come looking for them. Not for a while. Housekeeping at most. Just the pair of them without interruptions... Just until he's back to full strength, maybe.
The palm of left hand gently rests on her forearm and he nods. ]
Do you... have any hobbies?
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[Usually solitaire versions out of necessity. But even then, the patterns, the variations captivate her.
There's a pause before she tacks on one more item, said as if she were admitting it under mild duress.]
Singing.
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He only has a small patch of stubble left but can’t wait for even that. He turns to look at Helena with a natural, if small smile and a twinkle in his eye. ]
Singing.
[ Don’t say these things to him and not expect him to be instantly eager. ]
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It's--it's certainly not something I'd ever inflict on anyone else!
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[ It's not a conscious thing, but he flutters his eyelashes at that and his hands brought together as much as they're able. Her adorable blush only has him more determined to hear her sing. ]
And really wanted to hear?
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I knew I shouldn't've said anything.
[But look, he's doing this on his own recognizance. And at least he isn't (she's pretty sure) the type to tease her about it.
And so she turns off the speaker so that she can launch into something--well, something fittingly grim.]
Remember everything I told you
Keep it in your heart like a stone
And when the winds have blown things 'round and back again
what was once your pain will be your home
All around the table, white-haired men have gathered
spilling their sons' blood like table wine
Remember everything I told you
Everything in its own time
[Her voice was programmed for pleasantness--it's maybe a little soft for the material--but she's got no reason to be embarrassed. Even though she totally still is.]
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His eyes open only so that he can, very gently and ready to stop if she expresses the slightest distaste, stand up to drape his arms around her shoulders and give a soft squeeze. It's a little more forward and openly affectionate than usual, but it's all a little overwhelming, everything together. Being cared for so diligently, the intimacy of the blade on skin that was more trust he showed others, the teasing and now the singing... ]
Thank you. So much.