Alastor bent again at the waist, which she was swiftly growing used to, the way he loomed over her like a storm of red static and radio interference. It didn't throw her off half as much as his question, because she'd thought it was clear what she was getting out of this.
New Orleans. A chance at a real life, somewhere far from here, her ticket to ride, as he'd so aptly put it. It hadn't occurred to her to ask for more. Part of it, probably, was that she'd never really thought about what more could look like before now. A life away from here had been a far, distant dream... something to nurse quietly in front of the fire or sitting on her porch on warm, somewhat clear nights. Shapeless, wavering on the horizon like a cloud of heat. Look too hard and it'd disappear.
But blindsided was the only word for how off-kilter she felt at the possibility of companionship Alastor presented, gleaming on a platter like a wax feast. The suggestion hit her hard enough that Lotte was the one to take a step back this time, eyes wide as saucers.
Alastor was a man, however she teased, and not a bad looking one. Odd-looking, to most humans perhaps, but Lotte wasn't blind. She even found the things that made him pointedly inhuman appealing, if she were completely honest with herself. Somewhere in her reeling there was an odd fluttering in her chest, an uneven thud from her heart that threatened to push her further off balance, though she wasn't sure quite call it. Desire? Longing? Fear was in there somewhere, too, more recognizable than the rest she couldn't surely name.
But as quickly as it came it went, leaving something hollow in its place.
Fine houses and gardens aside, whatever she wanted from Alastor himself... she didn't want it as part of any deal.
Lotte thought of being grounded, and it came to her at her bidding, like roots extending from her heels into the ground. She chose her next words carefully, though even she wasn't quite sure what she was trying to conceal from Alastor this time.
"Well, I certainly enjoy your companionship... but I don't see how that'd be much different from whatever chains I'm breaking you out of now. The whole point of this is that you get your freedom, isn't it?"
If it didn't come freely, it wasn't really hers.
But she wasn't foolhardy enough to think she'd have an easy time of it in a new city with no other friends, no jobs, no other deals on the table.
"But the house and the garden... I'll take you up on that, why not. With an open invitation to drop by for a glass of whiskey and good conversation, if you'd like."
no subject
Alastor bent again at the waist, which she was swiftly growing used to, the way he loomed over her like a storm of red static and radio interference. It didn't throw her off half as much as his question, because she'd thought it was clear what she was getting out of this.
New Orleans. A chance at a real life, somewhere far from here, her ticket to ride, as he'd so aptly put it. It hadn't occurred to her to ask for more. Part of it, probably, was that she'd never really thought about what more could look like before now. A life away from here had been a far, distant dream... something to nurse quietly in front of the fire or sitting on her porch on warm, somewhat clear nights. Shapeless, wavering on the horizon like a cloud of heat. Look too hard and it'd disappear.
But blindsided was the only word for how off-kilter she felt at the possibility of companionship Alastor presented, gleaming on a platter like a wax feast. The suggestion hit her hard enough that Lotte was the one to take a step back this time, eyes wide as saucers.
Alastor was a man, however she teased, and not a bad looking one. Odd-looking, to most humans perhaps, but Lotte wasn't blind. She even found the things that made him pointedly inhuman appealing, if she were completely honest with herself. Somewhere in her reeling there was an odd fluttering in her chest, an uneven thud from her heart that threatened to push her further off balance, though she wasn't sure quite call it. Desire? Longing? Fear was in there somewhere, too, more recognizable than the rest she couldn't surely name.
But as quickly as it came it went, leaving something hollow in its place.
Fine houses and gardens aside, whatever she wanted from Alastor himself... she didn't want it as part of any deal.
Lotte thought of being grounded, and it came to her at her bidding, like roots extending from her heels into the ground. She chose her next words carefully, though even she wasn't quite sure what she was trying to conceal from Alastor this time.
"Well, I certainly enjoy your companionship... but I don't see how that'd be much different from whatever chains I'm breaking you out of now. The whole point of this is that you get your freedom, isn't it?"
If it didn't come freely, it wasn't really hers.
But she wasn't foolhardy enough to think she'd have an easy time of it in a new city with no other friends, no jobs, no other deals on the table.
"But the house and the garden... I'll take you up on that, why not. With an open invitation to drop by for a glass of whiskey and good conversation, if you'd like."