[Thank you for helping him not to asphyxiate, dear heart. He clears his throat to better compose himself, shooting her a knowing smile despite her cool expression— even now, of course, Amelia is Amelia. He wouldn't have her any other way.]
I think, [he begins, that note of levity in his voice remaining,] someone more practiced at this sort of thing might be able to make some clever remark about how getting dressed at all might be overrated, but if I'm being perfectly honest with you, it sounds cold.
[He wrinkles his nose slightly, helping himself to more of his omelette.]
Maybe if I were a much younger man, I could have that sort of confidence, but I'm almost certain that kind of thing sounds better than it actually is.
[He says as though he's ancient. He's just barely 40.]
I would, however, like to invite you to enjoy my rooms at your leisure, if you've nowhere else to be today— the fireplace is excellent for reading in front of.
[She was just sipping her coffee as Gale gave his offer for the rest of the day. Her reply is to scoot closer to him and rest her head against his shoulder.]
A vacation from vacation with you then. I can't think of any better way to spend New Year's Day.
[Oh— he rather likes that, in fact, and some of that cheekiness ebbs away to reveal warm contentment, leaning back against the pillows as he eases his arm around her shoulders and takes his coffee cup in one hand again.]
I quite agree— and no one I would rather spend it with.
[He drops his chin to drop a chaste kiss against the top of her head before returning to his coffee, closing his eyes as he takes another long sip, followed by a satisfied exhale.]
[The question itself doesn't quite take him surprise, but the small note of hesitance he can hear in her voice, in that pause, does. He lets out a soft chuckle that rises from somewhere deep in his chest, opening his eyes once more to turn his gaze on her without turning his head, warm, boyish smile persisting.
He's sure he would look completely foolish to anyone else, with how much he's been smiling lately, but to be quite honest, he doesn't much care what anyone else thinks of him at the moment. He feels happier and more himself than he has in years, thanks to her.]
Dearest, you can stay as many nights as you wish, as far as I'm concerned. My door is always open to you, and what's mine is yours.
[Some men, he reckons, might be a touch hesitant about making such an open, standing offer, but he has always been one to pursue what he wants once he's certain of what, exactly, that is. Whatever may or may not happen when she stays does not matter nearly as much as her presence, her company. Even if they were to simply read their own books on the same sofa in companionable silence, he would be overjoyed.]
[Amelia is prone to second-guess her happiness in situations like this one. She had done it a lot in her prior relationship but there's something solid and reassuring about how Gale answers her with utmost certainty and unabashed generosity and it reminds her why this was one of the many reasons her heart eventually thawed around him.
She lets her cooled-down coffee cup sit on her lap as she continues to lay her head against Gale's. Her face turns to rest her forehead against his shoulder.]
Your confidence is astounding.
... And if you'd like, you can visit my room too. You haven't seen it yet after all.
My overall confidence may have taken a few hits the last few years, I'll admit, but there are some things I am undeniably sure of.
[He's certain he doesn't need to spell it out: this is absolutely one of them. He leans down just enough to nuzzle his nose and lips against her vibrant hair as she rests her forehead against him; just being close is enough to make him feel at ease, and not for the first time, it occurs to him just how very right this all feels, how well they fit together. The fact that they hail from different worlds entirely doesn't matter in the least.]
I would be very interested to see how my other half lives. One never invites themselves into a lady's bedroom, but given that you've extended the invitation yourself...
[He trails off, grinning as he sets his coffee cup aside, the tray carrying the meager remains of his breakfast floating off to put itself in the kitchen.]
[Amelia puts her coffee cup on her tray and lets it float away, following Gale's. She does have to move at some point but his lips against her hair make her go "Just one more minute."
But eventually, she pushes herself off of his shoulder and swings her legs over the bed, glancing around for her pants.]
At the rate we're going, we might have to make sure we keep spare clothes in each other's rooms.
[He sighs softly, reluctant to ease his arm away from her shoulders as she pulls away, but she'll see that he's still smiling from ear-to-ear when she does, his hand trailing down the length of her arm and his fingers gently curling against hers in that last moment before she pulls free. He leans forward against the mattress to watch her, propped up on one arm.]
I do like the sound of that.
[That would admittedly be something new for him, but a step he very much looks forward to. His voice is light and easy, playful as he watches her search for her pants with a mirthful gaze.]
Clothes, toothbrushes, other odds and ends— just practical, really. They're on the floor by the dresser, darling.
[But considering how far they've come, it's more than likely to happen. At his direction, she moves and sweeps up her jeans, wrapping them around her arms. God, it's been a long while for her since she's done any of this. Recklessly falling into another person's arms, waking up the next morning in a bed that isn't her own next to someone she didn't think she'd fall in deep enough with...
When she glances over at Gale, however, and the way he looks at her and remembers everything from last night... Amelia, for once, doesn't feel burdened. She feels incredibly light even after all the promises she's made for the new year with him.]
[Right. He doesn't want to rush things along further than she's ready for, but he has to admit, if there are more mornings like this in their future, there are certain things that seem to be a pleasant inevitability. Rather than worrying about when they reach certain steps or milestones, he intends to enjoy every moment of the journey at whatever pace works best for them— but there's no denying the future is promising.
He's partway through sitting back up and raking his fingers through his mussed hair when she asks him about the shower, and he freezes mid-motion, his face coloring suddenly despite all the playful flirting and doting he's already bestowed upon her this morning.
Did she just ask if he—
He clears his throat softly, giving her a sidelong glance that he hopes isn't too eager, just so that he might preserve some of his dignity.]
[Clearly, he's unable to say the right thing in this moment, so he finally tosses the covers back and gets to his feet. He does not want this to go anything close to the way the last time he'd inadvertently embarrassed her did.]
You could— take back taking it back. I was surprised, that's all.
[He moves to put his arms around her middle from behind, if she'll let him— just a reminder that he's a very cuddly and lovable wizard, in case she forgot.]
[His arms around her middle are surprising but not unwelcome. She takes another deep breath and glances up at Gale when he makes the admission that her offer is something very new for him. Maybe she shouldn't have reacted so harshly, knowing how impulsively she asked in the first place...
So she'll lean her back against him and reach up with one hand to pat the side of his face.]
Fine. The offer's back on the table. I did spring it on you suddenly, so that's on me.
[This is the struggle part of their relationship.]
Nothing has to happen, of course. I'd rather we take our time instead of rushing headfirst into whatever our fancies hit us with all the time.
[But it does say a lot that she's comfortable enough with him to want to share a moment as private and intimate as bathing.]
[He lets out a soft huff of affectionate laughter as she pats the side of his face, leaning down to lightly nuzzle against the line of her jaw, her neck, his beard gently scraping against her skin before he follows up with his lips.]
If it's back on the table, then I would love to join you.
[Nothing has to happen, just as he'd told her the night before, but the offer is one that invites an intimacy that's a bit different from what they'd shared the night before, a vulnerability that he recognizes does require a great deal of comfort for one to show.]
We could follow some fancies. [He makes an effort to sound playfully innocent as he fully hugs her from behind, the warmth of him against her back.] But only if you like. As ever, I am more than happy to follow along at your pace.
[He's been patient and no less adoring for it so far— a single night is hardly going to change that.]
[A pleasant shiver goes up her spine as he kisses her jawline and she feels her stiff mood soften once again. She finds that she could never be irate at Gale for too long, not when he willingly and freely showers her with affection like this.]
No promises on the fancies.
[She doesn't even sound as strict when saying that and she turns herself around so she can wrap one arm around Gale's shoulder; from this angle, he can see her smile again.]
[Her smile sends a surge of warmth through him; though it seems a rare sight for so many, it is one he finds himself looking forward to each and every day, as though it were the sun itself, and he acquiesces by leaning down to press a soft, heartfelt kiss against her lips, his arms still snugly around her waist. Brief though the kiss may be, he can taste just a hint of coffee on her lips, as he's sure she can taste on him, as well.]
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I think, [he begins, that note of levity in his voice remaining,] someone more practiced at this sort of thing might be able to make some clever remark about how getting dressed at all might be overrated, but if I'm being perfectly honest with you, it sounds cold.
[He wrinkles his nose slightly, helping himself to more of his omelette.]
Maybe if I were a much younger man, I could have that sort of confidence, but I'm almost certain that kind of thing sounds better than it actually is.
[He says as though he's ancient. He's just barely 40.]
I would, however, like to invite you to enjoy my rooms at your leisure, if you've nowhere else to be today— the fireplace is excellent for reading in front of.
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A vacation from vacation with you then. I can't think of any better way to spend New Year's Day.
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I quite agree— and no one I would rather spend it with.
[He drops his chin to drop a chaste kiss against the top of her head before returning to his coffee, closing his eyes as he takes another long sip, followed by a satisfied exhale.]
Perfection.
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... I wasn't initially going to ask but.
[Amelia pauses. But then she gathers enough courage because considering how deep they're both in now...!]
Would you like me to stay over another night?
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He's sure he would look completely foolish to anyone else, with how much he's been smiling lately, but to be quite honest, he doesn't much care what anyone else thinks of him at the moment. He feels happier and more himself than he has in years, thanks to her.]
Dearest, you can stay as many nights as you wish, as far as I'm concerned. My door is always open to you, and what's mine is yours.
[Some men, he reckons, might be a touch hesitant about making such an open, standing offer, but he has always been one to pursue what he wants once he's certain of what, exactly, that is. Whatever may or may not happen when she stays does not matter nearly as much as her presence, her company. Even if they were to simply read their own books on the same sofa in companionable silence, he would be overjoyed.]
I rather enjoy waking up next to you.
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She lets her cooled-down coffee cup sit on her lap as she continues to lay her head against Gale's. Her face turns to rest her forehead against his shoulder.]
Your confidence is astounding.
... And if you'd like, you can visit my room too. You haven't seen it yet after all.
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[He's certain he doesn't need to spell it out: this is absolutely one of them. He leans down just enough to nuzzle his nose and lips against her vibrant hair as she rests her forehead against him; just being close is enough to make him feel at ease, and not for the first time, it occurs to him just how very right this all feels, how well they fit together. The fact that they hail from different worlds entirely doesn't matter in the least.]
I would be very interested to see how my other half lives. One never invites themselves into a lady's bedroom, but given that you've extended the invitation yourself...
[He trails off, grinning as he sets his coffee cup aside, the tray carrying the meager remains of his breakfast floating off to put itself in the kitchen.]
I'd like that very much, in fact.
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[Amelia puts her coffee cup on her tray and lets it float away, following Gale's. She does have to move at some point but his lips against her hair make her go "Just one more minute."
But eventually, she pushes herself off of his shoulder and swings her legs over the bed, glancing around for her pants.]
At the rate we're going, we might have to make sure we keep spare clothes in each other's rooms.
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I do like the sound of that.
[That would admittedly be something new for him, but a step he very much looks forward to. His voice is light and easy, playful as he watches her search for her pants with a mirthful gaze.]
Clothes, toothbrushes, other odds and ends— just practical, really. They're on the floor by the dresser, darling.
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[But considering how far they've come, it's more than likely to happen. At his direction, she moves and sweeps up her jeans, wrapping them around her arms. God, it's been a long while for her since she's done any of this. Recklessly falling into another person's arms, waking up the next morning in a bed that isn't her own next to someone she didn't think she'd fall in deep enough with...
When she glances over at Gale, however, and the way he looks at her and remembers everything from last night... Amelia, for once, doesn't feel burdened. She feels incredibly light even after all the promises she's made for the new year with him.]
Are we showering or taking turns? Your choice.
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He's partway through sitting back up and raking his fingers through his mussed hair when she asks him about the shower, and he freezes mid-motion, his face coloring suddenly despite all the playful flirting and doting he's already bestowed upon her this morning.
Did she just ask if he—
He clears his throat softly, giving her a sidelong glance that he hopes isn't too eager, just so that he might preserve some of his dignity.]
Is that an invitation?
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Never mind. I take it back.
[The very gall of this man to make her feel embarrassed after their big step!]
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Wait, Amelia—
[Clearly, he's unable to say the right thing in this moment, so he finally tosses the covers back and gets to his feet. He does not want this to go anything close to the way the last time he'd inadvertently embarrassed her did.]
You could— take back taking it back. I was surprised, that's all.
[He moves to put his arms around her middle from behind, if she'll let him— just a reminder that he's a very cuddly and lovable wizard, in case she forgot.]
Nobody has ever offered me that before.
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So she'll lean her back against him and reach up with one hand to pat the side of his face.]
Fine. The offer's back on the table. I did spring it on you suddenly, so that's on me.
[This is the struggle part of their relationship.]
Nothing has to happen, of course. I'd rather we take our time instead of rushing headfirst into whatever our fancies hit us with all the time.
[But it does say a lot that she's comfortable enough with him to want to share a moment as private and intimate as bathing.]
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If it's back on the table, then I would love to join you.
[Nothing has to happen, just as he'd told her the night before, but the offer is one that invites an intimacy that's a bit different from what they'd shared the night before, a vulnerability that he recognizes does require a great deal of comfort for one to show.]
We could follow some fancies. [He makes an effort to sound playfully innocent as he fully hugs her from behind, the warmth of him against her back.] But only if you like. As ever, I am more than happy to follow along at your pace.
[He's been patient and no less adoring for it so far— a single night is hardly going to change that.]
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No promises on the fancies.
[She doesn't even sound as strict when saying that and she turns herself around so she can wrap one arm around Gale's shoulder; from this angle, he can see her smile again.]
But let's get cleaned up together then.
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Let's— as my lady wishes.