you magnificent fuck up (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
apostatised) wrote2008-06-26 08:53 pm
apostatised) wrote2008-06-26 08:53 pm
Entry tags:
[log] it's too dark to see the landmarks [2/2]
[20:12] * CandiceM stares at him for a second.
[20:12] CandiceM: "If you fathered a child with someone other than your wife, would she be entitled to something similar?" She's not trying to sound judgmental, she just wants to figure this out.
[20:13] Martel: "I'd deserve it and she'd be entitled. Whether or not she could kill me is another story."
[20:14] CandiceM: "Fair enough," though she's pretty sure poison would make it easier. They say that's women's weapon, though, maybe he'd anticipate it. "What if she had no choice, in the conception?" That's...a...question. Yeah. Eesh.
[20:16] Martel: "That's not unfaithfulness. That's my failure to protect her." There is a silence. "He'd take a lot longer to die."
[20:16] * Martel is suddenly a lot more interested in his wine.
[20:17] CandiceM: "Fair enough," she says, again, watching his expression. "I'm sorry, was that too prying?"
[20:18] Martel: "It's complicated in a way I don't wish to discuss."
[20:19] * CandiceM keeps watching. "Ah. It's a concern of women, you know; I think the statistics where I'm from are, oh...one in three? I imagine it's more like half for other time periods." Like his, is the implication. "Or more. It's underreported, too."
[20:23] Martel: "That it's a concern 'of women' is likely part of the difficulty." He's dry, but ... sincerely thinking about it, analyzing from as many angles as he can even as he'd rather shy away from it immediately.
[20:24] CandiceM: "Probably! It's, um...hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes as it is, that makes it more difficult. Like I've no idea what it's like to be physically intimidating. For example."
[20:27] * Martel goes to say something, and then just sort of...makes a helpless 'mea culpa' kind of hand gesture. "Yes." He had more points to make. He doesn't presently feel he's speaking from a particularly strong position.
[20:28] CandiceM: "Maybe this is a conversation to have with less wine? Particularly since I plan on having more."
[20:29] Martel: "Another time. Yes." He smiles, wryly, and without a lot of humor.
[20:31] CandiceM: "I've been told I can be too serious. I think I just did that again."
[20:32] Martel: "I suggest drinking more wine." He seems to have lost his taste for it, at least for the moment. That won't last.
[20:33] CandiceM: "That I can do." First, she rises to attend to the jukebox. 'Hallelujah' suits the mood, somber and sincere Jeff Buckley. She goes to take a seat on the sofa, this time, glass in hand.
[20:34] * Martel turns slightly to face her better, but he doesn't move otherwise. The song meets with approval, anyway.
[20:35] * CandiceM tilts her head up. "When you were a boy, what did you think you'd be right now? Who, I mean?"
[20:37] Martel: "When I was a boy." He thinks about this for a while. "A Knight, for one thing. Perhaps Lord Preceptor." Always ambitious. Even then. Especially then.
[20:38] CandiceM: "And not relating to your career...?"
[20:40] Martel: "I was the only son and extremely proud." He's still extremely proud. "A family of my own wasn't at the time considered 'optional'."
[20:42] CandiceM: "I see." She's reminiscing, as she has done a few times since returning to the Nexus.
[20:44] Martel: "So had I done what I expected to, I'd have married Petrana, had many little white-haired babies and perpetuated the Pandion reputation for God and Queen."
[20:46] CandiceM: "And been happy?" It seems important to ask.
[20:46] Martel: "I don't know." ...well.
[20:46] * CandiceM rolls her head around to regard him.
[20:47] * Martel isn't sure he wants to think about how happy he /could've/ been. So his will to drink is back, woo. "Mm?"
[20:48] * CandiceM shakes her head, and streeetches, catlike. It's not good for her to pry too much.
[20:50] * Martel watches that, eyes half open, and then tilts his head back as is his weird habit.
[20:51] * CandiceM glances at him, a little self-conscious about that sprawl of hers for a second. "Long day." She's sore, or something.
[20:52] Martel: "The offer if you need something is still there." Trivia: this Martel does ungentle massage just as well as his younger alternate, but is a whole lot less forthcoming about the talent.
[20:53] * CandiceM lifts her head. "Like?" She has NO IDEA, tbh, but ...seriously, with as hard as she works, she needs to take better care of herself.
[20:55] * Martel chuckles. "What could you need? Muscle tension eased, something warmer to drink..."
[20:57] CandiceM: "...the first wouldn't hurt, if you've got a trick," she admits, "I can be kind of rough on myself. Although at least I'm not sleeping outside lately." 'Lately.' Woman.
[20:58] Martel: "'Lately'. Candice, find a /bed/." LIKE HIS--ow, cut that out. He's putting his glass down, though, and rolling his sleeves up. "Where are you tense?" And do you mind having great big Martel-hands all over you?
[20:59] CandiceM: "When I have the opportunity, I do, Lord knows, but it's a little difficult when what I'm chasing is out in the woods and the locals aren't too hospitable." She indicates her shoulders, neck, upper back. It's...not /just/ there, but that's what she'll limit it to, for. Reasons.
[21:01] * Martel tsks quietly (it sounds absurd coming from him, fyi) and sits down by her. He starts with her back, works his way up. ...it has nothing to do with the likelihood of continuing further down if distracted. Really.
[21:02] * CandiceM makes a sharp, very feminine noise once he hits a particularly tight knot; this is a woman who has not had a massage uh...ever. In her life. And probably has built up tension like this over 3-4 years. SO. Tiny as she is, that's what she's like. "Small of my back, too, a bit. Not to get greedy," she adds, with a small smile.
[21:03] Martel: "Noted." He does not rumble, though frankly he enjoys this as much as anyone on the receiving end of it.
[21:04] * CandiceM sucks in a breath at one point. "Are you experienced at this?" Is she going to keep talking unless it is requested otherwise? Yes.
[21:04] Martel: "Yes, I am." He digs his thumbs in at one point, possibly unexpectedly.
[21:05] * CandiceM presses right back against that, though, as surprising as it is, with another small sound. "I can tell."
[21:07] Martel: "You may not have noticed," if his voice is lower or more like a murmur it's CLEARLY only due to proximity and that he's...easily heard. Yes. "But I'm not the most pleasant of men. It helps to have a few redeeming features."
[21:09] CandiceM: Clearly. Not that she's, like, noticed. Or anything. Her eyes are closed, though, and her voice has a lower, softer edge to it, for now. "I don't know, I find you pleasant enough. This doesn't hurt, though." She's getting progressively more relaxed! A+ hands, Martel, now they are full of Candice though. ... yep.
[21:10] Martel: "I try." His hands have taken a fair amount of punishment over the years, in the form of 'violence is actually quite hard work', but they /are/ quite talented. ...yes.
[21:12] * CandiceM stops talking, now; if he doesn't, er, keep her up or push her forward, she'll end up almost leaning on him but for his hands in the way. She doesn't realize, quite, it's just...well. Relaxing minutely is not something /either/ of them come by often!
[21:13] * Martel is actually totally okay with being leaned on, so it's probable at some point she's /going/ to realize.
[21:13] CandiceM: Then? He is going to have a Candice leaning on him. How will he ever withstand this.
[21:14] * Martel will be strong. It helps that he's large and muscular. With the strength. You know.
[21:15] * CandiceM is still very quiet when she speaks. "I feel like I ought to offer to return the favor, and I will." Just, you know, as soon as she wants to move again. Must be the wine doing this, obviously.
[21:16] * Martel rests his hands against the small of her back, slides them to her waist, and then puts them down against the sofa, slightly behind himself. "That's kind of you."
[21:21] CandiceM: "Is that your way of saying 'no'?" She's smiling with her voice, more than her expression.
[21:21] Martel: "That's my way of saying it'd be kind of you." He chuckles.
[21:24] CandiceM: "Good, then." She's big on reciprocating; it's not an obligation thing, it's because she likes to, basically. Candice (somewhat reluctantly) lifts herself up back to sitting up straight.
[21:24] * Martel moves back to sit against the corner of the sofa, /looking/ more relaxed than he is.
[21:27] * CandiceM pushes her locs behind her. "Well, if you'll turn a bit..." She has actually /done/ this for other people ever, though not...quite this way. She's not sure what 'this way' would constitute and is refraining from contemplating.
[21:29] Martel: "Ah, /now/? My shirt is a little more substantial than yours," he says, sliiightly dubious, but he's moving.
[21:29] CandiceM: "Unless you want to take it off," she shrugs.
[21:30] Martel: "True." Martel is FINE with that, he'll just shrug it off now. ...That is /quite/ a scar under there, but he turns away quick enough.
[21:32] * CandiceM isn't going to gape at it, at least, she knows better than that. Like the rest of her, Candice has small hands, but she's /strong/, surprisingly so, and starting at the small of his back to work her way up. She suspects he is not looking for her to be particularly gentle about it.
[21:32] CandiceM: Just a hunch. From having met him ever.
[21:33] * Martel appreciates a bit of ungentle here and there, it's true. He's quiet, aside from a few involuntary responses.
[21:34] CandiceM: It's also going to take her a bit longer; he's got a lot more shoulder than her to work on! But she's diligent about it, biting her lip without realizing when she focuses on a knot by his shoulderblade. "That good?"
[21:35] Martel: "Mm? Yes." Okay, /now/? Now he rumbles.
[21:36] * CandiceM is used to him being low-voiced, but now he's awful gravelly, isn't he? She can't help noticing, as she keeps working--knuckles, thumbs, the heels of her hands, all of that is going into this. Srs massage bsns. B|
[21:37] * Martel has more scars here and there than just the absurd one over his heart from the broadsword, unsurprisingly. And there are...still bruises in a few places from whatever his most recent 'outlet' happened to end up being.
[21:38] * CandiceM is careful about those bruises, then. They're not too difficult to work around. She's also apparently intending to go all the way up to the back of his neck!
[21:40] * Martel is presumably glad he's already tied his hair back, then, although that doesn't get it completely out of the way. And--evidently he wasn't kidding about that one shoulder being more sensitive than the other, from the indrawn breath and unintentional flinch forward.
[21:41] CandiceM: "Ah, I'm sorry," she murmurs into his ear--because she's close enough for that.
[21:42] Martel: "...fine. It's fine."
[21:42] * Martel breaaathes.
[21:43] * CandiceM finishes at his neck, and drags her nails--light, the kind of light that leaves white marks that disappear a minute or two later--over that sensitive shoulder, like an apology, before drawing back slightly. There?
[21:45] * Martel leans forward, briefly, and then ... breathes out, and retreats back into his sofa corner. Sans shirt. :| "Thank you."
[21:45] CandiceM: "You're welcome." She smiles, a little, and now doesn't seem to quite know what to do with herself, so she settles her hands in her lap.
[21:46] Martel: "I think it's been longer since someone did that for me than the other way around," he says, wryly.
[21:47] CandiceM: "I don't think I've ever had it done, so...you managed to be the first there," she returns, equally wry.
[21:47] Martel: "Congratulations to me." He snags his wine glass.
[21:49] * CandiceM laughs a little, way too low for her own liking (how did it get to feel this...close together? Oh right, same sofa, lots of touching). She gets her glass, too.
[21:50] * Martel loosens the knot on the black ... thing he tied his hair back with. (It's a ribbon, Martel, just deal.) He fidgets with his hair about as much as any woman, ffs.
[11:42] CandiceM: "Mm--you mentioned your trip coming up?" Detail some more details, please, Candice thinks they should segue away from...things. Yes.
[11:45] * Martel is still pretty gravelly when he talks again, how about that. "Did I?" he has to think about it.
[11:48] * CandiceM nudges him lightly with her arm, which...how will that help anything, Candice. "I think so."
[11:48] Martel: "Mm--well, I'm sending /Maria/ on a trip, soon. Otherwise the only one coming up for me is to the Vale."
[11:52] CandiceM: "Ah, gotcha." She closes her eyes again, tilting her head back.
[11:53] Martel: "I'd go myself, but--" He spreads his hands, which is a pointless gesture since she can't see it.
[11:53] * CandiceM can sort of sense it, vaguely, and opens her eyes to glance over. "Understandable. Are you concerned she'll get into trouble?"
[11:54] Martel: "Some, yes. I spoke to Sephrenia about it--she'll see that Maria's kept an eye on, one way or some other."
[11:55] CandiceM: "Clever," she approves, "I guess you have to be sneaky about it." Hey, Martel, she's going to reach across you to grab her notebook from the end table! Hi.
[11:56] Martel: ..............hi. "Now and then. Yes." ...help.
[11:57] CandiceM: "Sorry, am I in your way?" She pauses halfway back to glance up at him. Only halfway, though.
[11:58] Martel: "No." But as soon as she moves, he's refilling his glass. FYI.
[11:59] * CandiceM sits up straighter and makes a note of a few things in her notebook. And she saw that, Martel.
[12:00] * Martel has no idea what the narration is talking about. Really.
[12:02] * CandiceM sets the notebook down...aaand apparently--the parts of her that are still tense include her calves and lower thighs, so she's pressing her knuckles into the latter with a bit of a wince. "It's hot as hell in Wyoming lately, I'm glad I can come here. Should move out to the South again soon, though, that's gonna be worse."
[12:03] * Martel raises his eyebrows slightly at the tension in her legs, although he...assumes that if she'd wanted that massaged out she would've asked when he was doing it. "Rendor was that way--hot."
[12:05] CandiceM: "Figured asking for more wouldn't be fair," she explains, at the look, which is...mostly true, and nods. "Rendor?"
[12:06] Martel: "I wouldn't mind," he says, mild, but he doesn't push it. "A country in Eosia. Not Elene. Sparhawk spent his exile there."
[12:06] * CandiceM laughs a little. "I'm not gonna say no, I'm just not used to..." What, taking favors for herself? Yeah, pretty much. Doing them's another thing. "What's it like? Beyond 'hot'."
[12:08] Martel: "Get," he suggests, taking one of her feet into his lap. Presumably the rest of that sentence is 'get used to it'. "It's hard to describe the atmosphere."
[12:11] * CandiceM ...lets him, though she's clearly bemused. Doesn't keep her from being relaxed, though. "Is it a desert?"
[12:11] Martel: "Parts of. I didn't spend a lot of time there, but--it's an interesting place. Chyrellos sends churchmen now and then to try and convert the heathen masses. It's never ended well."
[12:13] * CandiceM laughs a little, which shakes her whole body. "I bet it doesn't. Mississippi--that's where I'm headed next--is real Christian, but they don't fuss at me any."
[12:15] * Martel is sticking with the 'work his way up' technique here. Just fyi. "The last time I was in Rendor, I wasn't really taking in the scenery or religion." It's dry, and a little unpleasantly self-mocking. "Which denomination? Of Christianity." See, look, he's been learning stuff about it all on his own.
[12:17] CandiceM: Interesting notion: when he hits a certain nerve under her right knee, her leg will tremble slightly. Old injury, not one that hurts, precisely, it's just off now. "Mostly protestant, Baptist. Some Catholic."
[12:18] * Martel ... notes that, and for a moment he's a little more gentle and exploratory--until it swiftly occurs to him that's not totally appropriate and he switches back. "Protestant I think I've heard. Baptist I don't know."
[12:20] CandiceM: "Baptists are protestant. Southern Baptists are the biggest Christian group in the States after Catholics, they're...ah, conservative. Bit modern, but still conservative about it." She stretches against his hands. "I'm not gonna want to move when you're done with me."
[12:21] Martel: "I had an interesting conversation with a priest, recently--Church of England." He moves his hands up past her knee. "Then don't. It's a comfortable sofa." ...yes, that's why.
[12:22] CandiceM: "Oh yeah?" She's hoping he'll elaborate--she likes priests, probably always will, provided they're the good kind. "Then I won't." She also won't outwardly note where his hands are, though there's a tiny involuntary noise at a certain point that almost embarrasses her.
[12:24] Martel: "Father ... Gregory Norrington, if I'm recalling the name correctly. I'd estimate he was around my own age, but he seemed far younger."
[12:25] CandiceM: "How's that?" She's going to arch her back and stretch her arms behind herself to acquire one of the pillows at the other end of the sofa, one moment.
[12:26] Martel: "Boyish. Young at heart in the manner that gets novices killed." He's not disparaging so much as reminded of...novices that got killed. "Off fighting supernatural creatures."
[12:27] * CandiceM ...nods, after a moment. "Been there." Meaning she's been that person.
[12:28] * Martel has been the person killing those people. He's not going to say that. "Mm. It was an interesting conversation." Unbeknownst to Martel, he's also met said priest's brother.
[12:32] CandiceM: "Learn anything?"
[12:32] Martel: "A little."
[12:35] CandiceM: "Better than nothing," she decides, shifting a little closer to him for the sake of convenience. Not that his reach isn't kind of ridiculous as is.
[12:35] * Martel switches to her other leg. "I can only take so much education at once," he murmurs, dryly amused.
[12:39] CandiceM: "You need breaks, clearly. Which is what I was attempting to wrangle you into earlier, but you resisted me."
[12:40] Martel: "This isn't a break?" he asks, mildly, digging his thumbs into her calf.
[12:40] * CandiceM bites her lip. "Mm." ...give her a second. "Well, I'm not going to say no."
[12:40] Martel: "There you are then."
[12:41] CandiceM: "Yes, there I am." She attempts to fix the hemline of her shirt, which is cropped above her stomach as is but still needs to be reasonably covering, okay.
[12:43] Martel: "Right /there/," he suggests, with a laugh in it, focused on one spot. ...Not that he's distracting her from her hemline or anything. Why would he do that.
[12:45] CandiceM: "...yes, indeed." She presses the leg he isn't working on against him a little tighter and watches his expression.
[12:45] * Martel 's expression is fairly telling, even if he doesn't look up from what he's doing.
[12:47] CandiceM: "Not tired of me yet, are you?" That's...a fascinating phrase to use when she is basically applying it to her /body/, but mostly she's doublechecking the favor thing. Which she tends to do until told to knock it the hell off.
[12:47] Martel: "Never." An /awesome/ response to that, surely.
[12:49] * CandiceM smiles a little. "I ought to get you listening to some blues before I go down to Mississippi. Best thing about the state."
[12:51] Martel: "Oh, yes?"
[12:52] CandiceM: "Mmmhm. If I were going to dance to anything--/anything/--it'd be the blues, old-school."
[12:53] Martel: "Mmm. An impressive recommendation."
[12:54] * CandiceM grins at him and squirms a little, unconsciously trying to get more comfortable.
[12:54] * Martel is...a little higher up on her thigh than he meant to go when he takes his hands back and idly starts kneading her feet. Just...for something to occupy himself, apparently.
[12:56] CandiceM: "You do like to keep your hands occupied, don't you?" ...yes.
[12:58] * Martel glances up, with a very slight smile. "I like to /be/ occupied."
[12:59] CandiceM: "I think we discussed type A personalities already, didn't we?"
[13:01] Martel: "The subject's come up." Knead, knead. "I can think of worse ways to be occupied." ...'all previous ways the last five years before death'. For example.
[13:02] * CandiceM is attempting to grab her notebook by turning without dislodging her legs. Good luck, madam. "I do endeavor to be occupying." TAKE THAT AS YOU WILL.
[13:03] * Martel could be more helpful, but watching the attempt is presently more entertaining. ...shh. "I've noticed."
[13:05] * CandiceM pauses mid-reach to glance at him. "See, this is what it's like being five two."
[13:06] Martel: "Need help?"
[13:06] CandiceM: "If you would, please." ...does this necessitate him reaching over her--she's not going to think about that.
[13:07] * Martel is actually going to just hold her feet to one side of his hip with his other hand and lean over her to grab it. SUP CANDICE he hasn't put his shirt back on.
[13:08] * CandiceM ...averts her eyes a second too late. There is no color in her cheeks. At all. She's thirty five years old, she should be over this by now >:|
[13:11] * Martel offers the notebook to her without actually moving back very far.
[13:11] * CandiceM takes the notebook, but now she's looking at his face again, quietly. Hello.
[13:12] * Martel flexes his hand on her ankles, sort of reflexively, and then sits back down again. "You're welcome." ...heh.
[13:17] * CandiceM gives him a bit of a look at that. "Yes, thank you." She does that thing with her legs and the squirming and then pressing down again, possibly as some sort of retribution for--what. She doesn't even know for sure.
[13:18] * Martel smiles, unrepentantly, although there is a sharp-quiet inhale at her 'retribution'.
[13:22] * CandiceM shakes her head. "I don't relax like this often." Ever.
[13:23] Martel: "I'm very relaxing when I put my mind to it." ...yep.
[13:25] CandiceM: "I've noticed. I ought to come to you more often."
[13:25] Martel: "You'd be welcome to."
[13:27] CandiceM: "You could start up a business. Relaxation techniques." Her smile is a little bit crooked.
[13:27] * Martel laaaughs. "Quite a turn around."
[13:28] CandiceM: "I bet. Though I would of course demand to be on the VIP list, being the one to suggest the notion and all."
[13:30] Martel: "'VIP'?" He has, by this point, just sort of left her feet on his lap and reclaimed his glass.
[13:30] CandiceM: "Very Important Person. People on VIP lists are ostensibly supposed to get privileges." Her eyes are closed again.
[13:31] Martel: "And what privileges would you ask of me?" It wouldn't be so bad if he weren't half-naked and rumbling, probably.
[13:32] * CandiceM opens one eye, one arm cast over the other one. "I don't know, what could I get out of you?" Playful, quiet, as usual.
[13:33] Martel: "An excellent question." Potentially one that shouldn't be asked over an open bottle of wine, Martel submits, or would if they hadn't already opened that bottle.
[13:34] CandiceM: Martel is dead right, but Candice submits the wine is keeping her from getting weird and awkward, so! Hey, she's only buzzed. "It might depend on how tolerant you are."
[13:36] Martel: "Extremely, within reason." And selectively, but do they need to get that specific?
[13:36] CandiceM: "Then it's settled." ....what is. Oh, she's teasing him, judging by that smile she sends his way.
[13:37] * Martel nudges her leg with his knee, smiling back over the rim of his glass. "As you like."
[13:39] * CandiceM apparently takes that as a cue to move! ...something like that; she's tucking her legs underneath herself to kneel /very/ close to him--close enough that she can balance one arm against his shoulder. ...'sup Martel. "If I were a different kind of girl," she tells him, "That would be a dangerous thing to say."
[13:40] * Martel regards her with that particular look of his; impassive, except for his eyes. "It's still a dangerous thing to say."
[13:42] * CandiceM looks back, mild; her expressions are pretty easily read. "Fair enough."
[13:42] Martel: "True enough, as well." Which, that it's dangerous or what he said? ...or both?
[13:43] * CandiceM laughs into his shoulder, which /definitely/ is dangerous. "You're master of the triple-layered sentence, do you know that?"
[13:45] Martel: "A finely honed skill." ...you know what else is dangerous? How he's just going to lift her into and out of his lap so he can stand up, leaning briefly over her to say, half-murmured, "I believe I mentioned uphill battles, as well. Would you like a glass of water?"
[13:47] * CandiceM ...well then. She can grasp his meaning there, and is maybe smiling again, rueful. "Nah, but I'll have another beer if you can find something dark back there."
[13:48] Martel: "All right." He is just going to uh. Leave that alone, apparently; HE gets water, while he scours the bar area for beer.
[13:50] * CandiceM is going to put music on. Which her typist will upload for Martel's. Blues, naturally. Because it's hot out, and warmer in here as the evening progresses. (No, that's not innuendo. Probably.)
[13:50] * Martel stays over behind the bar a while longer than he really needs to, leaning on his hands with his back to her.
[13:51] * CandiceM can dance, then, without wondering what he's thinking, and oh, she will.
[13:53] * Martel sits on one of the chairs -- an armchair, mind, but not the sofa -- after setting her beer down with her notebook.
[13:59] * CandiceM has faaairly lowkey stuff on right now...but more rowdy things lined up. "Uphill battle successfully won?" She says it over her shoulder, still dancing in her idle and practiced way.
[13:59] Martel: "Put away." Which is not the same.
[14:00] CandiceM: "...yeah, likewise. I'm clearly not much of a warrior."
[14:03] * Martel shoots her a wry glance, but whatever he's thinking he doesn't say. He's quiet, while he thinks of ... a safe segue.
[14:09] * CandiceM puts the Jimi Hendrix song on now, leaning over the jukebox. "I'm guessing you're not up for dancing."
[14:11] * Martel laughs, almost startled. "That I am is half the problem, little queen." Clearly something resembling open honesty is a step towards letting people in. Possibly not a step really ideal /right now/.
[14:12] CandiceM: "Caballero, it's just a dance if you don't want it to be anything else." But she's thinking on that, all the same. "I get your meaning, though."
[14:13] Martel: "The qualifier is my meaning," he says, mildly.
[14:15] CandiceM: "Then," she says, drawing closer and putting her hands on either side of his head on the top of the armchair, "It's just a dance because it can't be anything else." Which is a different sort of thing. "But that's all theoretical." She won't push him at it, she's just saying.
[14:15] * CandiceM is well-aware this is, uh, dangerous, also, but...you know what, maybe it's the music.
[14:17] * Martel watches her, quiet. "Chasing around the things I couldn't have didn't work very well for me last time. Another time, perhaps."
[14:18] CandiceM: "I think you're putting more on it than it is there," she says, carefully, "I'm not exactly--accessible, in a certain sense. So it's safe."
[14:22] * Martel laaaaughs, although mostly at himself. "We see things differently on a number of subjects. This is one of them. Leave it."
[14:27] CandiceM: "Gotcha." She leans against the bar, beer condensing against her wrist. "I've been told I get a little skewed sometimes, anyhow."
[14:33] Martel: "Don't we all." He leans back in the seat, tapping his fingers against the side of the glass. "I don't mean to be ungracious. You asked me if I'd be lonely, when I settle."
[14:34] CandiceM: "Yeah, I did."
[14:35] Martel: "The question assumes I'm not." ...and that is apparently all the elaboration he's getting into.
[14:36] * CandiceM looks at him, silently, too soft-eyed to not understand.
[14:38] * Martel doesn't meet THAT look.
[14:41] CandiceM: "I only ask, because...it's sympathetic. Not empathetic." Meaning she directly understands the feeling. Does that say enough?
[14:45] Martel: "I thought as much." He breathes out. "I can only stand at so many edges right now."
[14:50] CandiceM: "No edge here," she promises, "None I'm trying to put you on, anyway."
[14:53] * Martel chuckles. "It may be of my own making, but it's there. And so--a step back." Or five.
[14:55] CandiceM: "Fair enough. I guess I'm..." She touches her hair, shrugging. "I don't let people get very close. Not close enough to--" Touch her. At all. Physically. "--I've actually gone three or four years before without physical contact. So I get why, it's just...well, what it is, I supopse."
[14:56] Martel: "I know the feeling."
[14:56] CandiceM: "You've just got better at the battle than me, I suspect."
[14:57] Martel: "I'm aware of my own limitations. It's all."
[14:58] CandiceM: "Mm. I think I have too many of them."
[14:59] * Martel smiles, wryly. "I've plenty."
[15:00] CandiceM: "I'm sure you have good reason."
[15:01] * Martel is quiet, for a time. "No. Not for most of them."
[15:01] CandiceM: "No?" She's...hoping he'll elaborate, but not really expecting it.
[15:04] * Martel isn't quite sure HOW to. He's giving it some thought, though. "Many of them came out of repression of things I had no good reason but pride and stupidity for repressing."
[15:06] CandiceM: "But you're keeping them?" She frowns, slightly.
[15:06] Martel: "It's not my intention."
[15:07] CandiceM: "Good. If I can help...?" She does not mean the stuff they were semi-discussing earlier, she thinks their mutual lines there are pretty clear. For now. She unfortunately can't be sure they'll stay that way.
[15:07] Martel: "I've no idea how you would," he says, ruefully.
[15:16] CandiceM: "Well, it'd probably help if you made them clearer. To start."
[15:17] Martel: "So it would." ...he knows when he's hit them, explaining them is more difficult.
[15:18] * CandiceM chills out with her beer, in the meanwhile, pressing the cooler condensation on the body of the bottle to her neck this time.
[15:25] * CandiceM also...eyes the jukebox again. Hmm.
[15:26] Martel: "I'm not sure how to make them clear," he says, eventually.
[15:27] CandiceM: "It seems like--you're a little...closed down? Occasionally? Or attempting it." Gently, cautiously.
[15:29] Martel: "Something of the sort."
[15:29] CandiceM: "That might be a start. I don't mean with me, of course." It seems presumptuous. Not to mention, as stated several dozen times prior, dangerous. (Not that she wouldn't like it, but...you know.)
[15:31] Martel: "No, of course not." There is a 'but' on the tip of his tongue that, ironically considering the conversation, he keeps to himself.
[15:31] * CandiceM tilts her head and...doesn't say anything else. Because she doesn't /know/ what to say, after that.
[15:32] * Martel eventually says, "I've no options there, that would be any more of a good idea. Yet. So--it's not my intention to keep these things, but there's time."
[15:34] CandiceM: "There is," she agrees, with a sudden, warm smile, "Just don't let too much of it pass by."
[15:37] Martel: "It's not entirely up to me." He collects his shirt, getting to his feet with a faint smile. "Be well, Candice."
[15:40] CandiceM: "You, too. I'll see you soon, I hope, for the Vale trip."
[15:40] Martel: "/That/ I am looking forward to." He totally is, too.
[15:41] CandiceM: "Me, too." She smiles a bit.
[15:42] * Martel half-bows, and leaves.
[20:12] CandiceM: "If you fathered a child with someone other than your wife, would she be entitled to something similar?" She's not trying to sound judgmental, she just wants to figure this out.
[20:13] Martel: "I'd deserve it and she'd be entitled. Whether or not she could kill me is another story."
[20:14] CandiceM: "Fair enough," though she's pretty sure poison would make it easier. They say that's women's weapon, though, maybe he'd anticipate it. "What if she had no choice, in the conception?" That's...a...question. Yeah. Eesh.
[20:16] Martel: "That's not unfaithfulness. That's my failure to protect her." There is a silence. "He'd take a lot longer to die."
[20:16] * Martel is suddenly a lot more interested in his wine.
[20:17] CandiceM: "Fair enough," she says, again, watching his expression. "I'm sorry, was that too prying?"
[20:18] Martel: "It's complicated in a way I don't wish to discuss."
[20:19] * CandiceM keeps watching. "Ah. It's a concern of women, you know; I think the statistics where I'm from are, oh...one in three? I imagine it's more like half for other time periods." Like his, is the implication. "Or more. It's underreported, too."
[20:23] Martel: "That it's a concern 'of women' is likely part of the difficulty." He's dry, but ... sincerely thinking about it, analyzing from as many angles as he can even as he'd rather shy away from it immediately.
[20:24] CandiceM: "Probably! It's, um...hard to put yourself in someone else's shoes as it is, that makes it more difficult. Like I've no idea what it's like to be physically intimidating. For example."
[20:27] * Martel goes to say something, and then just sort of...makes a helpless 'mea culpa' kind of hand gesture. "Yes." He had more points to make. He doesn't presently feel he's speaking from a particularly strong position.
[20:28] CandiceM: "Maybe this is a conversation to have with less wine? Particularly since I plan on having more."
[20:29] Martel: "Another time. Yes." He smiles, wryly, and without a lot of humor.
[20:31] CandiceM: "I've been told I can be too serious. I think I just did that again."
[20:32] Martel: "I suggest drinking more wine." He seems to have lost his taste for it, at least for the moment. That won't last.
[20:33] CandiceM: "That I can do." First, she rises to attend to the jukebox. 'Hallelujah' suits the mood, somber and sincere Jeff Buckley. She goes to take a seat on the sofa, this time, glass in hand.
[20:34] * Martel turns slightly to face her better, but he doesn't move otherwise. The song meets with approval, anyway.
[20:35] * CandiceM tilts her head up. "When you were a boy, what did you think you'd be right now? Who, I mean?"
[20:37] Martel: "When I was a boy." He thinks about this for a while. "A Knight, for one thing. Perhaps Lord Preceptor." Always ambitious. Even then. Especially then.
[20:38] CandiceM: "And not relating to your career...?"
[20:40] Martel: "I was the only son and extremely proud." He's still extremely proud. "A family of my own wasn't at the time considered 'optional'."
[20:42] CandiceM: "I see." She's reminiscing, as she has done a few times since returning to the Nexus.
[20:44] Martel: "So had I done what I expected to, I'd have married Petrana, had many little white-haired babies and perpetuated the Pandion reputation for God and Queen."
[20:46] CandiceM: "And been happy?" It seems important to ask.
[20:46] Martel: "I don't know." ...well.
[20:46] * CandiceM rolls her head around to regard him.
[20:47] * Martel isn't sure he wants to think about how happy he /could've/ been. So his will to drink is back, woo. "Mm?"
[20:48] * CandiceM shakes her head, and streeetches, catlike. It's not good for her to pry too much.
[20:50] * Martel watches that, eyes half open, and then tilts his head back as is his weird habit.
[20:51] * CandiceM glances at him, a little self-conscious about that sprawl of hers for a second. "Long day." She's sore, or something.
[20:52] Martel: "The offer if you need something is still there." Trivia: this Martel does ungentle massage just as well as his younger alternate, but is a whole lot less forthcoming about the talent.
[20:53] * CandiceM lifts her head. "Like?" She has NO IDEA, tbh, but ...seriously, with as hard as she works, she needs to take better care of herself.
[20:55] * Martel chuckles. "What could you need? Muscle tension eased, something warmer to drink..."
[20:57] CandiceM: "...the first wouldn't hurt, if you've got a trick," she admits, "I can be kind of rough on myself. Although at least I'm not sleeping outside lately." 'Lately.' Woman.
[20:58] Martel: "'Lately'. Candice, find a /bed/." LIKE HIS--ow, cut that out. He's putting his glass down, though, and rolling his sleeves up. "Where are you tense?" And do you mind having great big Martel-hands all over you?
[20:59] CandiceM: "When I have the opportunity, I do, Lord knows, but it's a little difficult when what I'm chasing is out in the woods and the locals aren't too hospitable." She indicates her shoulders, neck, upper back. It's...not /just/ there, but that's what she'll limit it to, for. Reasons.
[21:01] * Martel tsks quietly (it sounds absurd coming from him, fyi) and sits down by her. He starts with her back, works his way up. ...it has nothing to do with the likelihood of continuing further down if distracted. Really.
[21:02] * CandiceM makes a sharp, very feminine noise once he hits a particularly tight knot; this is a woman who has not had a massage uh...ever. In her life. And probably has built up tension like this over 3-4 years. SO. Tiny as she is, that's what she's like. "Small of my back, too, a bit. Not to get greedy," she adds, with a small smile.
[21:03] Martel: "Noted." He does not rumble, though frankly he enjoys this as much as anyone on the receiving end of it.
[21:04] * CandiceM sucks in a breath at one point. "Are you experienced at this?" Is she going to keep talking unless it is requested otherwise? Yes.
[21:04] Martel: "Yes, I am." He digs his thumbs in at one point, possibly unexpectedly.
[21:05] * CandiceM presses right back against that, though, as surprising as it is, with another small sound. "I can tell."
[21:07] Martel: "You may not have noticed," if his voice is lower or more like a murmur it's CLEARLY only due to proximity and that he's...easily heard. Yes. "But I'm not the most pleasant of men. It helps to have a few redeeming features."
[21:09] CandiceM: Clearly. Not that she's, like, noticed. Or anything. Her eyes are closed, though, and her voice has a lower, softer edge to it, for now. "I don't know, I find you pleasant enough. This doesn't hurt, though." She's getting progressively more relaxed! A+ hands, Martel, now they are full of Candice though. ... yep.
[21:10] Martel: "I try." His hands have taken a fair amount of punishment over the years, in the form of 'violence is actually quite hard work', but they /are/ quite talented. ...yes.
[21:12] * CandiceM stops talking, now; if he doesn't, er, keep her up or push her forward, she'll end up almost leaning on him but for his hands in the way. She doesn't realize, quite, it's just...well. Relaxing minutely is not something /either/ of them come by often!
[21:13] * Martel is actually totally okay with being leaned on, so it's probable at some point she's /going/ to realize.
[21:13] CandiceM: Then? He is going to have a Candice leaning on him. How will he ever withstand this.
[21:14] * Martel will be strong. It helps that he's large and muscular. With the strength. You know.
[21:15] * CandiceM is still very quiet when she speaks. "I feel like I ought to offer to return the favor, and I will." Just, you know, as soon as she wants to move again. Must be the wine doing this, obviously.
[21:16] * Martel rests his hands against the small of her back, slides them to her waist, and then puts them down against the sofa, slightly behind himself. "That's kind of you."
[21:21] CandiceM: "Is that your way of saying 'no'?" She's smiling with her voice, more than her expression.
[21:21] Martel: "That's my way of saying it'd be kind of you." He chuckles.
[21:24] CandiceM: "Good, then." She's big on reciprocating; it's not an obligation thing, it's because she likes to, basically. Candice (somewhat reluctantly) lifts herself up back to sitting up straight.
[21:24] * Martel moves back to sit against the corner of the sofa, /looking/ more relaxed than he is.
[21:27] * CandiceM pushes her locs behind her. "Well, if you'll turn a bit..." She has actually /done/ this for other people ever, though not...quite this way. She's not sure what 'this way' would constitute and is refraining from contemplating.
[21:29] Martel: "Ah, /now/? My shirt is a little more substantial than yours," he says, sliiightly dubious, but he's moving.
[21:29] CandiceM: "Unless you want to take it off," she shrugs.
[21:30] Martel: "True." Martel is FINE with that, he'll just shrug it off now. ...That is /quite/ a scar under there, but he turns away quick enough.
[21:32] * CandiceM isn't going to gape at it, at least, she knows better than that. Like the rest of her, Candice has small hands, but she's /strong/, surprisingly so, and starting at the small of his back to work her way up. She suspects he is not looking for her to be particularly gentle about it.
[21:32] CandiceM: Just a hunch. From having met him ever.
[21:33] * Martel appreciates a bit of ungentle here and there, it's true. He's quiet, aside from a few involuntary responses.
[21:34] CandiceM: It's also going to take her a bit longer; he's got a lot more shoulder than her to work on! But she's diligent about it, biting her lip without realizing when she focuses on a knot by his shoulderblade. "That good?"
[21:35] Martel: "Mm? Yes." Okay, /now/? Now he rumbles.
[21:36] * CandiceM is used to him being low-voiced, but now he's awful gravelly, isn't he? She can't help noticing, as she keeps working--knuckles, thumbs, the heels of her hands, all of that is going into this. Srs massage bsns. B|
[21:37] * Martel has more scars here and there than just the absurd one over his heart from the broadsword, unsurprisingly. And there are...still bruises in a few places from whatever his most recent 'outlet' happened to end up being.
[21:38] * CandiceM is careful about those bruises, then. They're not too difficult to work around. She's also apparently intending to go all the way up to the back of his neck!
[21:40] * Martel is presumably glad he's already tied his hair back, then, although that doesn't get it completely out of the way. And--evidently he wasn't kidding about that one shoulder being more sensitive than the other, from the indrawn breath and unintentional flinch forward.
[21:41] CandiceM: "Ah, I'm sorry," she murmurs into his ear--because she's close enough for that.
[21:42] Martel: "...fine. It's fine."
[21:42] * Martel breaaathes.
[21:43] * CandiceM finishes at his neck, and drags her nails--light, the kind of light that leaves white marks that disappear a minute or two later--over that sensitive shoulder, like an apology, before drawing back slightly. There?
[21:45] * Martel leans forward, briefly, and then ... breathes out, and retreats back into his sofa corner. Sans shirt. :| "Thank you."
[21:45] CandiceM: "You're welcome." She smiles, a little, and now doesn't seem to quite know what to do with herself, so she settles her hands in her lap.
[21:46] Martel: "I think it's been longer since someone did that for me than the other way around," he says, wryly.
[21:47] CandiceM: "I don't think I've ever had it done, so...you managed to be the first there," she returns, equally wry.
[21:47] Martel: "Congratulations to me." He snags his wine glass.
[21:49] * CandiceM laughs a little, way too low for her own liking (how did it get to feel this...close together? Oh right, same sofa, lots of touching). She gets her glass, too.
[21:50] * Martel loosens the knot on the black ... thing he tied his hair back with. (It's a ribbon, Martel, just deal.) He fidgets with his hair about as much as any woman, ffs.
[11:42] CandiceM: "Mm--you mentioned your trip coming up?" Detail some more details, please, Candice thinks they should segue away from...things. Yes.
[11:45] * Martel is still pretty gravelly when he talks again, how about that. "Did I?" he has to think about it.
[11:48] * CandiceM nudges him lightly with her arm, which...how will that help anything, Candice. "I think so."
[11:48] Martel: "Mm--well, I'm sending /Maria/ on a trip, soon. Otherwise the only one coming up for me is to the Vale."
[11:52] CandiceM: "Ah, gotcha." She closes her eyes again, tilting her head back.
[11:53] Martel: "I'd go myself, but--" He spreads his hands, which is a pointless gesture since she can't see it.
[11:53] * CandiceM can sort of sense it, vaguely, and opens her eyes to glance over. "Understandable. Are you concerned she'll get into trouble?"
[11:54] Martel: "Some, yes. I spoke to Sephrenia about it--she'll see that Maria's kept an eye on, one way or some other."
[11:55] CandiceM: "Clever," she approves, "I guess you have to be sneaky about it." Hey, Martel, she's going to reach across you to grab her notebook from the end table! Hi.
[11:56] Martel: ..............hi. "Now and then. Yes." ...help.
[11:57] CandiceM: "Sorry, am I in your way?" She pauses halfway back to glance up at him. Only halfway, though.
[11:58] Martel: "No." But as soon as she moves, he's refilling his glass. FYI.
[11:59] * CandiceM sits up straighter and makes a note of a few things in her notebook. And she saw that, Martel.
[12:00] * Martel has no idea what the narration is talking about. Really.
[12:02] * CandiceM sets the notebook down...aaand apparently--the parts of her that are still tense include her calves and lower thighs, so she's pressing her knuckles into the latter with a bit of a wince. "It's hot as hell in Wyoming lately, I'm glad I can come here. Should move out to the South again soon, though, that's gonna be worse."
[12:03] * Martel raises his eyebrows slightly at the tension in her legs, although he...assumes that if she'd wanted that massaged out she would've asked when he was doing it. "Rendor was that way--hot."
[12:05] CandiceM: "Figured asking for more wouldn't be fair," she explains, at the look, which is...mostly true, and nods. "Rendor?"
[12:06] Martel: "I wouldn't mind," he says, mild, but he doesn't push it. "A country in Eosia. Not Elene. Sparhawk spent his exile there."
[12:06] * CandiceM laughs a little. "I'm not gonna say no, I'm just not used to..." What, taking favors for herself? Yeah, pretty much. Doing them's another thing. "What's it like? Beyond 'hot'."
[12:08] Martel: "Get," he suggests, taking one of her feet into his lap. Presumably the rest of that sentence is 'get used to it'. "It's hard to describe the atmosphere."
[12:11] * CandiceM ...lets him, though she's clearly bemused. Doesn't keep her from being relaxed, though. "Is it a desert?"
[12:11] Martel: "Parts of. I didn't spend a lot of time there, but--it's an interesting place. Chyrellos sends churchmen now and then to try and convert the heathen masses. It's never ended well."
[12:13] * CandiceM laughs a little, which shakes her whole body. "I bet it doesn't. Mississippi--that's where I'm headed next--is real Christian, but they don't fuss at me any."
[12:15] * Martel is sticking with the 'work his way up' technique here. Just fyi. "The last time I was in Rendor, I wasn't really taking in the scenery or religion." It's dry, and a little unpleasantly self-mocking. "Which denomination? Of Christianity." See, look, he's been learning stuff about it all on his own.
[12:17] CandiceM: Interesting notion: when he hits a certain nerve under her right knee, her leg will tremble slightly. Old injury, not one that hurts, precisely, it's just off now. "Mostly protestant, Baptist. Some Catholic."
[12:18] * Martel ... notes that, and for a moment he's a little more gentle and exploratory--until it swiftly occurs to him that's not totally appropriate and he switches back. "Protestant I think I've heard. Baptist I don't know."
[12:20] CandiceM: "Baptists are protestant. Southern Baptists are the biggest Christian group in the States after Catholics, they're...ah, conservative. Bit modern, but still conservative about it." She stretches against his hands. "I'm not gonna want to move when you're done with me."
[12:21] Martel: "I had an interesting conversation with a priest, recently--Church of England." He moves his hands up past her knee. "Then don't. It's a comfortable sofa." ...yes, that's why.
[12:22] CandiceM: "Oh yeah?" She's hoping he'll elaborate--she likes priests, probably always will, provided they're the good kind. "Then I won't." She also won't outwardly note where his hands are, though there's a tiny involuntary noise at a certain point that almost embarrasses her.
[12:24] Martel: "Father ... Gregory Norrington, if I'm recalling the name correctly. I'd estimate he was around my own age, but he seemed far younger."
[12:25] CandiceM: "How's that?" She's going to arch her back and stretch her arms behind herself to acquire one of the pillows at the other end of the sofa, one moment.
[12:26] Martel: "Boyish. Young at heart in the manner that gets novices killed." He's not disparaging so much as reminded of...novices that got killed. "Off fighting supernatural creatures."
[12:27] * CandiceM ...nods, after a moment. "Been there." Meaning she's been that person.
[12:28] * Martel has been the person killing those people. He's not going to say that. "Mm. It was an interesting conversation." Unbeknownst to Martel, he's also met said priest's brother.
[12:32] CandiceM: "Learn anything?"
[12:32] Martel: "A little."
[12:35] CandiceM: "Better than nothing," she decides, shifting a little closer to him for the sake of convenience. Not that his reach isn't kind of ridiculous as is.
[12:35] * Martel switches to her other leg. "I can only take so much education at once," he murmurs, dryly amused.
[12:39] CandiceM: "You need breaks, clearly. Which is what I was attempting to wrangle you into earlier, but you resisted me."
[12:40] Martel: "This isn't a break?" he asks, mildly, digging his thumbs into her calf.
[12:40] * CandiceM bites her lip. "Mm." ...give her a second. "Well, I'm not going to say no."
[12:40] Martel: "There you are then."
[12:41] CandiceM: "Yes, there I am." She attempts to fix the hemline of her shirt, which is cropped above her stomach as is but still needs to be reasonably covering, okay.
[12:43] Martel: "Right /there/," he suggests, with a laugh in it, focused on one spot. ...Not that he's distracting her from her hemline or anything. Why would he do that.
[12:45] CandiceM: "...yes, indeed." She presses the leg he isn't working on against him a little tighter and watches his expression.
[12:45] * Martel 's expression is fairly telling, even if he doesn't look up from what he's doing.
[12:47] CandiceM: "Not tired of me yet, are you?" That's...a fascinating phrase to use when she is basically applying it to her /body/, but mostly she's doublechecking the favor thing. Which she tends to do until told to knock it the hell off.
[12:47] Martel: "Never." An /awesome/ response to that, surely.
[12:49] * CandiceM smiles a little. "I ought to get you listening to some blues before I go down to Mississippi. Best thing about the state."
[12:51] Martel: "Oh, yes?"
[12:52] CandiceM: "Mmmhm. If I were going to dance to anything--/anything/--it'd be the blues, old-school."
[12:53] Martel: "Mmm. An impressive recommendation."
[12:54] * CandiceM grins at him and squirms a little, unconsciously trying to get more comfortable.
[12:54] * Martel is...a little higher up on her thigh than he meant to go when he takes his hands back and idly starts kneading her feet. Just...for something to occupy himself, apparently.
[12:56] CandiceM: "You do like to keep your hands occupied, don't you?" ...yes.
[12:58] * Martel glances up, with a very slight smile. "I like to /be/ occupied."
[12:59] CandiceM: "I think we discussed type A personalities already, didn't we?"
[13:01] Martel: "The subject's come up." Knead, knead. "I can think of worse ways to be occupied." ...'all previous ways the last five years before death'. For example.
[13:02] * CandiceM is attempting to grab her notebook by turning without dislodging her legs. Good luck, madam. "I do endeavor to be occupying." TAKE THAT AS YOU WILL.
[13:03] * Martel could be more helpful, but watching the attempt is presently more entertaining. ...shh. "I've noticed."
[13:05] * CandiceM pauses mid-reach to glance at him. "See, this is what it's like being five two."
[13:06] Martel: "Need help?"
[13:06] CandiceM: "If you would, please." ...does this necessitate him reaching over her--she's not going to think about that.
[13:07] * Martel is actually going to just hold her feet to one side of his hip with his other hand and lean over her to grab it. SUP CANDICE he hasn't put his shirt back on.
[13:08] * CandiceM ...averts her eyes a second too late. There is no color in her cheeks. At all. She's thirty five years old, she should be over this by now >:|
[13:11] * Martel offers the notebook to her without actually moving back very far.
[13:11] * CandiceM takes the notebook, but now she's looking at his face again, quietly. Hello.
[13:12] * Martel flexes his hand on her ankles, sort of reflexively, and then sits back down again. "You're welcome." ...heh.
[13:17] * CandiceM gives him a bit of a look at that. "Yes, thank you." She does that thing with her legs and the squirming and then pressing down again, possibly as some sort of retribution for--what. She doesn't even know for sure.
[13:18] * Martel smiles, unrepentantly, although there is a sharp-quiet inhale at her 'retribution'.
[13:22] * CandiceM shakes her head. "I don't relax like this often." Ever.
[13:23] Martel: "I'm very relaxing when I put my mind to it." ...yep.
[13:25] CandiceM: "I've noticed. I ought to come to you more often."
[13:25] Martel: "You'd be welcome to."
[13:27] CandiceM: "You could start up a business. Relaxation techniques." Her smile is a little bit crooked.
[13:27] * Martel laaaughs. "Quite a turn around."
[13:28] CandiceM: "I bet. Though I would of course demand to be on the VIP list, being the one to suggest the notion and all."
[13:30] Martel: "'VIP'?" He has, by this point, just sort of left her feet on his lap and reclaimed his glass.
[13:30] CandiceM: "Very Important Person. People on VIP lists are ostensibly supposed to get privileges." Her eyes are closed again.
[13:31] Martel: "And what privileges would you ask of me?" It wouldn't be so bad if he weren't half-naked and rumbling, probably.
[13:32] * CandiceM opens one eye, one arm cast over the other one. "I don't know, what could I get out of you?" Playful, quiet, as usual.
[13:33] Martel: "An excellent question." Potentially one that shouldn't be asked over an open bottle of wine, Martel submits, or would if they hadn't already opened that bottle.
[13:34] CandiceM: Martel is dead right, but Candice submits the wine is keeping her from getting weird and awkward, so! Hey, she's only buzzed. "It might depend on how tolerant you are."
[13:36] Martel: "Extremely, within reason." And selectively, but do they need to get that specific?
[13:36] CandiceM: "Then it's settled." ....what is. Oh, she's teasing him, judging by that smile she sends his way.
[13:37] * Martel nudges her leg with his knee, smiling back over the rim of his glass. "As you like."
[13:39] * CandiceM apparently takes that as a cue to move! ...something like that; she's tucking her legs underneath herself to kneel /very/ close to him--close enough that she can balance one arm against his shoulder. ...'sup Martel. "If I were a different kind of girl," she tells him, "That would be a dangerous thing to say."
[13:40] * Martel regards her with that particular look of his; impassive, except for his eyes. "It's still a dangerous thing to say."
[13:42] * CandiceM looks back, mild; her expressions are pretty easily read. "Fair enough."
[13:42] Martel: "True enough, as well." Which, that it's dangerous or what he said? ...or both?
[13:43] * CandiceM laughs into his shoulder, which /definitely/ is dangerous. "You're master of the triple-layered sentence, do you know that?"
[13:45] Martel: "A finely honed skill." ...you know what else is dangerous? How he's just going to lift her into and out of his lap so he can stand up, leaning briefly over her to say, half-murmured, "I believe I mentioned uphill battles, as well. Would you like a glass of water?"
[13:47] * CandiceM ...well then. She can grasp his meaning there, and is maybe smiling again, rueful. "Nah, but I'll have another beer if you can find something dark back there."
[13:48] Martel: "All right." He is just going to uh. Leave that alone, apparently; HE gets water, while he scours the bar area for beer.
[13:50] * CandiceM is going to put music on. Which her typist will upload for Martel's. Blues, naturally. Because it's hot out, and warmer in here as the evening progresses. (No, that's not innuendo. Probably.)
[13:50] * Martel stays over behind the bar a while longer than he really needs to, leaning on his hands with his back to her.
[13:51] * CandiceM can dance, then, without wondering what he's thinking, and oh, she will.
[13:53] * Martel sits on one of the chairs -- an armchair, mind, but not the sofa -- after setting her beer down with her notebook.
[13:59] * CandiceM has faaairly lowkey stuff on right now...but more rowdy things lined up. "Uphill battle successfully won?" She says it over her shoulder, still dancing in her idle and practiced way.
[13:59] Martel: "Put away." Which is not the same.
[14:00] CandiceM: "...yeah, likewise. I'm clearly not much of a warrior."
[14:03] * Martel shoots her a wry glance, but whatever he's thinking he doesn't say. He's quiet, while he thinks of ... a safe segue.
[14:09] * CandiceM puts the Jimi Hendrix song on now, leaning over the jukebox. "I'm guessing you're not up for dancing."
[14:11] * Martel laughs, almost startled. "That I am is half the problem, little queen." Clearly something resembling open honesty is a step towards letting people in. Possibly not a step really ideal /right now/.
[14:12] CandiceM: "Caballero, it's just a dance if you don't want it to be anything else." But she's thinking on that, all the same. "I get your meaning, though."
[14:13] Martel: "The qualifier is my meaning," he says, mildly.
[14:15] CandiceM: "Then," she says, drawing closer and putting her hands on either side of his head on the top of the armchair, "It's just a dance because it can't be anything else." Which is a different sort of thing. "But that's all theoretical." She won't push him at it, she's just saying.
[14:15] * CandiceM is well-aware this is, uh, dangerous, also, but...you know what, maybe it's the music.
[14:17] * Martel watches her, quiet. "Chasing around the things I couldn't have didn't work very well for me last time. Another time, perhaps."
[14:18] CandiceM: "I think you're putting more on it than it is there," she says, carefully, "I'm not exactly--accessible, in a certain sense. So it's safe."
[14:22] * Martel laaaaughs, although mostly at himself. "We see things differently on a number of subjects. This is one of them. Leave it."
[14:27] CandiceM: "Gotcha." She leans against the bar, beer condensing against her wrist. "I've been told I get a little skewed sometimes, anyhow."
[14:33] Martel: "Don't we all." He leans back in the seat, tapping his fingers against the side of the glass. "I don't mean to be ungracious. You asked me if I'd be lonely, when I settle."
[14:34] CandiceM: "Yeah, I did."
[14:35] Martel: "The question assumes I'm not." ...and that is apparently all the elaboration he's getting into.
[14:36] * CandiceM looks at him, silently, too soft-eyed to not understand.
[14:38] * Martel doesn't meet THAT look.
[14:41] CandiceM: "I only ask, because...it's sympathetic. Not empathetic." Meaning she directly understands the feeling. Does that say enough?
[14:45] Martel: "I thought as much." He breathes out. "I can only stand at so many edges right now."
[14:50] CandiceM: "No edge here," she promises, "None I'm trying to put you on, anyway."
[14:53] * Martel chuckles. "It may be of my own making, but it's there. And so--a step back." Or five.
[14:55] CandiceM: "Fair enough. I guess I'm..." She touches her hair, shrugging. "I don't let people get very close. Not close enough to--" Touch her. At all. Physically. "--I've actually gone three or four years before without physical contact. So I get why, it's just...well, what it is, I supopse."
[14:56] Martel: "I know the feeling."
[14:56] CandiceM: "You've just got better at the battle than me, I suspect."
[14:57] Martel: "I'm aware of my own limitations. It's all."
[14:58] CandiceM: "Mm. I think I have too many of them."
[14:59] * Martel smiles, wryly. "I've plenty."
[15:00] CandiceM: "I'm sure you have good reason."
[15:01] * Martel is quiet, for a time. "No. Not for most of them."
[15:01] CandiceM: "No?" She's...hoping he'll elaborate, but not really expecting it.
[15:04] * Martel isn't quite sure HOW to. He's giving it some thought, though. "Many of them came out of repression of things I had no good reason but pride and stupidity for repressing."
[15:06] CandiceM: "But you're keeping them?" She frowns, slightly.
[15:06] Martel: "It's not my intention."
[15:07] CandiceM: "Good. If I can help...?" She does not mean the stuff they were semi-discussing earlier, she thinks their mutual lines there are pretty clear. For now. She unfortunately can't be sure they'll stay that way.
[15:07] Martel: "I've no idea how you would," he says, ruefully.
[15:16] CandiceM: "Well, it'd probably help if you made them clearer. To start."
[15:17] Martel: "So it would." ...he knows when he's hit them, explaining them is more difficult.
[15:18] * CandiceM chills out with her beer, in the meanwhile, pressing the cooler condensation on the body of the bottle to her neck this time.
[15:25] * CandiceM also...eyes the jukebox again. Hmm.
[15:26] Martel: "I'm not sure how to make them clear," he says, eventually.
[15:27] CandiceM: "It seems like--you're a little...closed down? Occasionally? Or attempting it." Gently, cautiously.
[15:29] Martel: "Something of the sort."
[15:29] CandiceM: "That might be a start. I don't mean with me, of course." It seems presumptuous. Not to mention, as stated several dozen times prior, dangerous. (Not that she wouldn't like it, but...you know.)
[15:31] Martel: "No, of course not." There is a 'but' on the tip of his tongue that, ironically considering the conversation, he keeps to himself.
[15:31] * CandiceM tilts her head and...doesn't say anything else. Because she doesn't /know/ what to say, after that.
[15:32] * Martel eventually says, "I've no options there, that would be any more of a good idea. Yet. So--it's not my intention to keep these things, but there's time."
[15:34] CandiceM: "There is," she agrees, with a sudden, warm smile, "Just don't let too much of it pass by."
[15:37] Martel: "It's not entirely up to me." He collects his shirt, getting to his feet with a faint smile. "Be well, Candice."
[15:40] CandiceM: "You, too. I'll see you soon, I hope, for the Vale trip."
[15:40] Martel: "/That/ I am looking forward to." He totally is, too.
[15:41] CandiceM: "Me, too." She smiles a bit.
[15:42] * Martel half-bows, and leaves.