[John frowns at that. He knows how special her garden is to her, but he also knows that it can be rebuilt. Flowers and plants are resilient, and it is likely that not all is lost.
At her reminder of the reason for his summons, he flushes slightly. It feels a little silly, given the storm happening around them, but he has to tell her sometime, and he does not want to keep this to himself just because there are more serious matters happening outside their door.]
Ah. Yes, well.
[He turns, fussing with the nearby decanter for a moment, buying himself time to figure out how to broach the subject entirely.] I had wished to speak with you about… A particular someone. [He cuts his eyes back to her.] Relating to our last conversation on the subject.
[He winces internally. It isn’t his best start, he will allow that much.]
[ It's almost as if a switch has been flipped, and Claire forgets the weather, face opening up into a hopeful expression. She's wanted for him something that makes him deeply happy without having to hide anything about himself, and she still staunchly believes that it can happen on this planet. ]
Oh yes, I remember. Please tell me you've had a happy development?
[ She waits eagerly, both for the brandy and John's news, hoping they'll have something worth toasting to. ]
[John knows that he is taking his time in this reveal. He also feels more than a little bit self-conscious about this conversation -- which is ridiculous, in retrospect, considering how intimately he does know Claire.
Crossing back to the fire, he hands her a glass of brandy, keeping his own as he sinks down into his chair before he replies.]
I -- think so, yes.
[He offers her the flash of a self-conscious smile before glancing down into his glass in an attempt to gather himself.] I suppose you could say that I took what you said to heart. I'm... Not certain I can say what his motivation was. Perhaps it was the spirit of the Carnivale?
[ Taking the glass with thanks, she takes a sip just as he begins explaining, and her entire countenance lights up. ]
John! You've buried the lede here, this is fantastic. You had me worried you were downplaying something terrible.
[ She leans forward in her own chair, smile still in place. ]
So, you were both swept up and—?
[ Claire isn't sure if this is the first time he's been entirely, completely safe to tell his own story in as many or as few details as he'd like, and so she tries to keep the reins in his hands and be an enthusiastic friend. ]
[It is in fact one of the first times that John has ever been able to speak about things without fear, to another person who is not so directly involved. And even then, when he had shared with Claire, it had been mostly an interrogation on her part. Like a dog with a bone, she had been determined to ferret the information out of him and he had… Let her.
To offer it freely is much more terrifyingly new. But he would rather she hear it from him directly than at another time, from another person (somehow — and isn’t that a further nauseating thought).]
We have been known to each other for some time now. I was not certain if… Such attention would be welcome. In my attempts to investigate, I suppose that I was perhaps a little too obvious in my pursuit. [He glances up to her with the flash of a self-conscious, uncertain smile.] I fear I am still not used to this place. I still forget that there are other places and other times where… It is not so.
[His smile widens at the memory of that night.] He just came out and asked me, very bluntly.
[ Listening raptly, by the end, Claire's grinning so hard her cheeks hurt a little, and then she laughs happily. ]
Oh, I would've honestly loved to have seen the expression on your face! It's understandable, being unsure, so I'm happy to know Geralt finally put it out there. [ What a relief it is, to know one's wanted in return, no matter the nature of the relationship. She hopes he has this for a long while, that it has the chance to turn into as much as John's hopes have taken him. ]
And now, do you plan on...well, whatever the equivalent is to courting or going together is on this planet, while we're here?
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At her reminder of the reason for his summons, he flushes slightly. It feels a little silly, given the storm happening around them, but he has to tell her sometime, and he does not want to keep this to himself just because there are more serious matters happening outside their door.]
Ah. Yes, well.
[He turns, fussing with the nearby decanter for a moment, buying himself time to figure out how to broach the subject entirely.] I had wished to speak with you about… A particular someone. [He cuts his eyes back to her.] Relating to our last conversation on the subject.
[He winces internally. It isn’t his best start, he will allow that much.]
no subject
Oh yes, I remember. Please tell me you've had a happy development?
[ She waits eagerly, both for the brandy and John's news, hoping they'll have something worth toasting to. ]
no subject
Crossing back to the fire, he hands her a glass of brandy, keeping his own as he sinks down into his chair before he replies.]
I -- think so, yes.
[He offers her the flash of a self-conscious smile before glancing down into his glass in an attempt to gather himself.] I suppose you could say that I took what you said to heart. I'm... Not certain I can say what his motivation was. Perhaps it was the spirit of the Carnivale?
no subject
John! You've buried the lede here, this is fantastic. You had me worried you were downplaying something terrible.
[ She leans forward in her own chair, smile still in place. ]
So, you were both swept up and—?
[ Claire isn't sure if this is the first time he's been entirely, completely safe to tell his own story in as many or as few details as he'd like, and so she tries to keep the reins in his hands and be an enthusiastic friend. ]
no subject
To offer it freely is much more terrifyingly new. But he would rather she hear it from him directly than at another time, from another person (somehow — and isn’t that a further nauseating thought).]
We have been known to each other for some time now. I was not certain if… Such attention would be welcome. In my attempts to investigate, I suppose that I was perhaps a little too obvious in my pursuit. [He glances up to her with the flash of a self-conscious, uncertain smile.] I fear I am still not used to this place. I still forget that there are other places and other times where… It is not so.
[His smile widens at the memory of that night.] He just came out and asked me, very bluntly.
no subject
Oh, I would've honestly loved to have seen the expression on your face! It's understandable, being unsure, so I'm happy to know Geralt finally put it out there. [ What a relief it is, to know one's wanted in return, no matter the nature of the relationship. She hopes he has this for a long while, that it has the chance to turn into as much as John's hopes have taken him. ]
And now, do you plan on...well, whatever the equivalent is to courting or going together is on this planet, while we're here?