capeandcowl | (no subject)

Entry tags:

† desire | n/a

(no subject)

If fog rolls in on cat feet, and the world ends in fire, then what poetry can be used to describe this?

Hello, City.

Did you miss me?

Before some of you announce that you don't know me, please be aware that redundancy bores me. You'd hate to do that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He was loosening his tie, unbuttoning a suspiciously bland shirt. Home from City Hall. A slight jerk of his shoulders, when Desire speaks.]

A warning is often customary, you know.

That's a terrible shirt.

[There's a brief movement]

My speaking to you should always be warning enough.

It really is, isn't it? [He says, re-buttoning it. Modesty is fleeting.] Even new opportunities offer restrictions. Perhaps none of us are truly free.

[A smirk.]

You've been gone for some time. Forgive me if the immediate habit has faded somewhat.

A new position is hardly a reason to wear ugly shirts.

[A smoke.]

Excuses.

Would you prefer I got rid of it? Believe me, I'd enjoy the lavender shades more.

[He watches, smiling and tense. The smoke is alluring, but he makes no movement. Yet.]

And you were never fond of excuses. That often resulted in something punishing.

Do what you want.

[There's a flash of a smile]

See how lenient I'm being?

[A swallow.]

That implies a lot of dominance, Desire.

Of course it does.

This is exactly what I'm talking about! [He snaps, briefly, a throw of a hand -- a raise in his tone.] That is --

[He stops. Exhales.]

[Desire's eyes flicker and stay on Eddie]

[He pinches the bridge of his nose.]

Desire.

[And, at last, meets its eyes.]

You want all, or nothing. Constantly.

Are you just figuring this out? On your own?

[The condescending tone is almost a warning.]

I've known. All right? [He's quieter. Intense.] Do you put them to this standard?

[Sharper, cutting]

I thought you were smarter than them.

I am. [Harder, rawer:] I am. And you know damn well I'm more prideful, too. Hence my concern.

Hence your delight.

Don't bring her into this. She's not here.

[Pause. Because he knows the implication. Pause, because he knows what Delirium was once called.]

You're right, she isn't.

[Eddie looks away, breaking eye contact. Guilty.]

What.

[He knows, it's useless to lie. He knows Desire already knows, knows what Norman had unhinged in him. He hisses an exhale through clenched teeth, staring at the floor. At his feet.]

I've slipped.

[A confession.]

Did you think you could hide there from me?

[It's a dangerous kind of coy]

No. [It's true, and his expression betrays that.] I didn't. That's why -- in part -- we needed to have this conversation. We needed that -- that transparency.

[A pause.]

Are you angry?

[A flick of ash]

I suppose I'm more disappointed.

But you're only human.

Does that excuse me from punishment?

[He's only half-joking.]

Now, now, Eddie.

Don't act so contrite.

[A hand is brushing just against his cheek]

[His gasp is silent, just a quick intake of breath. The feeling of a warm glow floods his cheek, golden and swirling and inviting. He swallows, hard. It's barely a touch, and it drowns him.]

I'm trying out new things. I thought you'd enjoy my display of remorse.

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