justashotaway | (no subject)

Laura? I meant to give it to you myself, but my work has picked up-- I had it sent to your room. Let me know when you've received it.

[It's a tiny box with two pastries inside, wrapped in cheesecloth.]

[A delay, gaining in curiousness at every moment, until she gives up and returns to her room in search of it. Easy enough to find, easy to open up. She responds before she bites into one.]

What are they?

[She has guesses, of course--she can smell the orange in them--but she wants a name to match to them.]

Galettes d'Orange Douce. I bribed one of the cooks to make them. One of my previous masters was fond of them. [He never got to eat one, but he always wondered what they tasted like.] Considering your infatuation with oranges, I figured... and you can give one to your friend, if you like.

[This is the normal way to treat someone after you walk in on them self-harming, right?]

[This is a fair amount to consider: that he had this treat made for her, that it is meant to be shared with Matthias, that it cost him something (if not necessarily money). There is a pause, and then--]

Did you receive one?

Well- yes. I'm not that altruistic. And just gifting you one would be- [inappropriate.] Yes, I received two myself.

All right.

[That is a comfort--she will not have to consider giving hers up, when she dearly wants to try it.]

Thank you. [And, after another pause, one which is spent wondering if acknowledging the other piece of what he said might cause her more difficulties in the long run:] I think Matthias will like it.

I hope so. He is- your age? I realize I've been envisioning him so with no proof.

Yes. [...Hm.] I think.

[He seems, she realizes, younger than she feels.]

Hm. Good. I'm glad you've a friend besides a stuffy old clerk.

...I do. [It feels dangerous to admit as much, like allowing someone a free shot at her torso, but Mhavos does not fight. That is one of the clearest fact about him. And that's what ends up compelling her to offer something further. (That, and the supposition that, if he approves of her having one friend outside of him, he will likely feel more strongly about multiple.)] I have three.