Pride swelled in Alastor, watching Lotte with the dress. Temptation lingered in him, the urge to snatch the other dresses from their discarded place and mend them, too, but he wouldn't. Now was not the time for a big show. That was coming. Temptation could wait... And even if it couldn't, he would have to force it to; the night was too draining to attempt much more than parlor tricks.
So he physically separated himself from the faded cotton objects of his desire, picking up the bottle of whiskey again and both glasses, his and Lotte's, which he placed on the table and filled, before perching himself on the edge of the table itself.
"Of course." He didn't need to tell her that he wouldn't miss it for the world, couldn't seem over-eager. Not that it was entirely to do with Lotte herself. She was a measure of it, the idea of impressing and astonishing her, of seeing the world through the freshness of her gaze, enticed him. But no, it wasn't really that. The idea of going home tugged at his gut, stole any promise of rest from him. He wouldn't be wholly satisfied again until he was there.
This he played close to the vest. Lotte couldn't know how much of a favor she'd done for him by accepting this transaction. If she did, it would leave him beholden in some way, he was sure, even though the deal they struck was all but done. Would be done, in the morning.
"Have I been anything less than honorable, dear Lotte? No, you'll know the place when I'm done." He gestured to the full glasses seated by him. "Proper toast?"
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Pride swelled in Alastor, watching Lotte with the dress. Temptation lingered in him, the urge to snatch the other dresses from their discarded place and mend them, too, but he wouldn't. Now was not the time for a big show. That was coming. Temptation could wait... And even if it couldn't, he would have to force it to; the night was too draining to attempt much more than parlor tricks.
So he physically separated himself from the faded cotton objects of his desire, picking up the bottle of whiskey again and both glasses, his and Lotte's, which he placed on the table and filled, before perching himself on the edge of the table itself.
"Of course." He didn't need to tell her that he wouldn't miss it for the world, couldn't seem over-eager. Not that it was entirely to do with Lotte herself. She was a measure of it, the idea of impressing and astonishing her, of seeing the world through the freshness of her gaze, enticed him. But no, it wasn't really that. The idea of going home tugged at his gut, stole any promise of rest from him. He wouldn't be wholly satisfied again until he was there.
This he played close to the vest. Lotte couldn't know how much of a favor she'd done for him by accepting this transaction. If she did, it would leave him beholden in some way, he was sure, even though the deal they struck was all but done. Would be done, in the morning.
"Have I been anything less than honorable, dear Lotte? No, you'll know the place when I'm done." He gestured to the full glasses seated by him. "Proper toast?"