impure_tale | 28 - [Locked to West in the hopes he can see it]

Oh come now, cherub. On a purely physical level, need you even really ask that question? [He blinks at him.] Perhaps it was the biting.

[Frowning, West looks down] That isn't funny. [Okay, it sort of is, but he's not really in the mood for it.] I bit him because I was angry.

Perhaps there's a part of that which he likes. [He shrugs.] I'm not about to encourage you to go chasing after a man that you loathe, my sparrow, but it does put some modicum of power in your corner, doesn't it?

[He smiles slowly.] It does, that. [Oh no, Marquis. Don't plant ideas in his crazy head.]

But that's enough of that. [Quick to change the subject when he senses supervillain type tendencies] You have had a long and terrible ordeal and are in need of some rest and relaxation, are you not?

Perhaps. [He takes a sip] The wine certainly helps with the relaxation.

Then let us see to the rest. [He starts to lean close and stops to push his hair out of his face. He hated not wearing a wig.]

[West leans closer, then stops and snickers a little as the Marquis brushes his hair back] I like the new look.

I find it troublesome. [He pouts at him.] I'm thinking I might look into having it cut like yours. It will get in the way less even if there's less for you to hold onto.

One of us needs to have hair. Besides [He reaches out and runs a hand through the Marquis's hair] you just need to take care of it is all.

[He turns his nose up in protest] I was taking care of it.

Not if you're hiding it underneath a wig all the time. Must get a serious case of hat hair.

I know not what you mean, sparrow. [sidelong glance] But if you want me to keep it as it is, I shall.

It just means... un-stylish, is all. [He shrugs] Do what you'd like with it. It's your hair, after all.

And if I say that I like, now and again, doing something solely for your pleasure, what trouble is there in that?

Oh. [He blushes, juuuust a little] There's no trouble in that at all.

[Quickly aware of what he sounds like, and he frowns.]

I sound like a damned idiot.

What? [West blinks, then shakes his head] No you don't. Don't be silly.

An old man putting on coquettish airs is silly, my pet.

You're hardly old.

You're sweet for saying so. You're clearly a bad influence on me, you know. [He says this somewhat playfully] Once upon a time I cared little for things like age, or expectations based upon certain ages. What is decent or indecent. [He glances at him when a thought occurs to him suddenly.] Do you suppose we'll age at all while we're on this ship?

I am? I could say the same for you. [He smiles, then... it wavers a little as he thinks about the Marquis's question] I don't know. Wardens can go home to their time, as though nothing's passed so... I don't suppose we would.

It's an unusual question to suddenly raise, I know. It's just -- [He holds up his hand and pulls back his sleeve to reveal his wrist -- from which a bone had been protruding at one point in time thanks to one Charlie Prince] We do not appear to scar, do we? So why should we age? At least -- in an earthly prison we might have the satisfaction of growing old and escaping in some sense.

[He glances down at the Marquis's wrist, touching it gingerly, the pulls back at those last words] ...do you want to escape?

Much as I long for some greater liberty -- to travel, to dine as I like, to attend theatre, seek my pleasures --[The Marquis looks at him a little sadly.] Where would I go to, my sparrow?

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