The Bed of Actaeon

[Rosemary McIntyre]

Rosemary wanted to listen to him, she did. He was probably right--she shouldn't have had to face this in the first place. But she couldn't help feeling responsible for it all. She was the connection that had drawn so much evil into the world.

His hand on her shoulder, though, did serve to steady her, offering more comfort than she felt she had any right to ask of him. A little nudge in the back of her mind told her to stop wallowing in self-pity, and she lifted her head as he turned away. Dwelling on it wouldn't change things. If he was going to keep moving, so would she.

She was already opening her mouth to say she didn't need anything else, that she was alright, when he tacked on "I'd very much like you to sleep and feel safe. Whatever I can do." She glanced back at the bed when he did, then back at him, clearly bewildered. Was he offering to stay? A brief impulse almost made her say yes, that she'd feel better if she weren't alone. But she still felt that was too much. She'd forced her will on him enough already. Still, though, the smile that rose to her lips was genuine, albeit a bit tired.

"I think I've asked quite enough of you already, Sebastian. Just...be safe, please?"

[Sebastian Arcturis]

Rosemary was taking a lot of responsibility and she seemed determined to do all of it herself. Including saving herself and everyone. But snake bite or not, Sebastian had chosen to stay involved. He was responsible for himself. He wanted to be more responsible for rosemary only he wasn't sure if that was overstepping the thin connection they had.

She deserved more comfort than she thought she did. Maybe from him, maybe from someone else but he was here and he would try.

Sebastian kndw the drugs had been more at play last night than anything else, but he did sleep better with someone next to him. Not just in the same bed with a pile of blankets between them but actually next to someone. And yet...it wasn't something he sought out often. So really he was asking for himself in a way. Her hesitation and smile and language of asked quite enough of you already suggested the opposite of what she said.

He looked at her another moment with slight concern before sorting a few things out. "You haven't, Rosemary. You know how to contact me," he said. He was tempted to say he would see her tonight. Because he very much intended to see her tonight. Only he was certain she would insist otherwise if he said it again. So instead, with a nod, he left.

[Rosemary McIntyre]

Rosemary wasn't entirely sure how to explain the way something in her chest lurched when he told her she hadn't asked too much. She wasn't sure how to process much of anything in what had happened today. Once the door had closed behind Sebastian, she let herself fall back onto the bed with a sigh and ran her hands over her face. Couldn't anything at all be simple? And was she the one making it over-complicated?

Answers weren't forthcoming, but Gwen was, returning with clean bedding. This time Rosemary made her excuses and got out of her way, headed for the gardens to hopefully still her mind instead. The servant looked relieved.

[End Thread]