“ Actually I’m pretty certain tha’s how et works? See th’ box? ‘Safe for children’. Therefore et’s safe for me, too. ”
Of course he’d open the gift to see if it was ‘suitable for children’.“All I asked was if I put it together right,” she laughed. “I didn’t know how to work it - thought I’d come to you instead.”
A small roll of the eyes. “And the gift isn’t for you; it’s for Gilles.”
“Ugh, I hate stuff.” “You need to see something special!” “This place is loco.” “What about the weirdo with the beardo?” “No retreat, no surrender!” “Oh, you’re so cute when you beg!” “I belong to no one!” “How was I supposed to know that chickens don’t like baths?” “Perhaps you would consider a trade?” “Come on! It’s the only fun I ever get!” “Freedom is coming through!” “You are going to become a proper lady!” “Fathers do what’s best for their children.” “People will write songs about you.” “Wait a second. We were supposed to bring gifts?” “Don’t forget me!” “This is not me, this is you!” “Kids today…with their long hair and their ‘no killing’ stuff…” “That is a mighty mustache you have.” “I’m allergic to dying!” “Do not make it worse by apologizing!” “You don’t know women, my love.” “Are you kidding me? Is that how you see a woman? We’re only here to make men happy?” “We’ve already been to four bars! Twice!” “Did you think it was gonna be that easy?” “You two are acting like fools!” “You better get your finger out of my face!” “Come at me, bro!” “I’m gonna teach you some manners.” “Did I mention I also studied fencing?” “This looks like ‘jelly’…but I think it’s ‘jewelry’.” “Why don’t you fight a real man with a really awesome mustache?” “All right, that’s just not hurting at all.” “Thank you for this most informative talk…about you…” “I have nothing to give but my love.” “But it can’t end like this…can it?” “Arms and legs are for cowards!” “They crushed our dreams…hilarious.” “I waited so long for you…But not long enough!” “Now this is a castle!” “No one here can help you.” “Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding to plan.” “It’s a good day for doom.” “Run for your life!” “Wait, I didn’t do the thing! I gotta do the thing.” “Amazing, huh? This is our work! This is what we do!” “I’m going ‘alone’ too. Right next to you!” “You might wanna cover your ears right now.” “You misbegotten son of a leper’s donkey!” “Uh, can I get a slap too?” “What keeps you up at night? What eats at you on the inside? What, do tell, is your worst fear?” “This is impossible! It can’t be done!” “Man, this is a whole lot of bull!” “I swear by those before us, we will not fall! Not today, not ever! Now, who’s with me?” “You’re like the son I never had–but much prettier!”
Feeling the sudden warmth against her fingertips, Chrissy jumped slightly. She looked at the mug for a moment before accepting it and taking a long sip.
Silence. That was the only thing she wanted to fill the room - nothing else. She didn’t want to speak; even if she wanted to, she probably wouldn’t be able to saw a word.
After taking a second sip, she found that this was pretty rude of her - just barging into someone’s house without a single attempt at an explanation. A hand came up to swiftly wipe any tears on her cheeks before she looked up at him.
“Sorry for that,” she murmured, averting her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. She just looked at the liquid in the mug - staring blankly. “I just… I had nowhere else to go…”
He was gazing out of the window, looking for all the world to be lost in his own thoughts. The truth of the matter, of course, was a quiet sort of panic, what the bloody hell was he supposed to say to her?! –He tried to push away the awkward. Sure, he could tolerate her. He was happy for them. But the fact remained, he wasn’t exactly there for comfort, rarely was for anyone.
Might even say it wasn’t his cup of tea.
When she spoke at last, he gingerly turned his attention to her, perhaps as though to test and see whether it was safe to engage in conversation yet (he knew how she operated, well enough), or almost as though he were just noticing her. He rather detested forcing sympathy.
He shrugged, chancing a hot sip of the tea. “No problem.” Smiled briefly. He meant it, he did. But it didn’t mean he held the answers, either. That’s okay. Sometimes a change of location does a lot to clear one’s mind, and he could provide that. Easy.
“Well. Y’know yeh’re welcome here,” he reminded gently, “However long yeh need t’ stay.” Win paused, debating his next question. “…Yeh two okay?” A reference to his brother.
Her blank stare never changed, but her body flinched slightly as he asked her his question. “It…” She felt tears rush to her eyes again, and she attempted to blink them away.
“It has nothing to do with him,” she muttered, laying the mug gently on the table. “It has to do with me, and only me…” A sigh, and she looked up at him with tears in the corners of her eyes.
“I decided to go to you first… I don’t…” Another sigh. Her lips pursed slightly. “I don’t want him to know.” Her hands placed themselves on her knees - she squeezed them slightly and grimaced.
“Can you promise not to tell anyone?,” she whispered, voice barely audible. She had to know that she could trust him. No - that was a stupid thought. If she couldn’t trust Winfield, the toughest guy she knew, who could she trust?
“I…” She bit her lip hard. “I have cancer,” she muttered, voice low. “Stage three and getting worse…” A third sigh. “They said I have only a few years left to live - two at the least.”
At the sight of his arched brows, she could tell she didn’t look all too well. Chrissy pushed past him wordlessly, lifted a hand up to swiftly brush away her tears. She collapsed into the nearest chair, pulling the sleeves of her sweater tighter - tighter - down over her hands in discomfort.
She then bent her head down and rested her face in her hands, choking out a sob that she had been trying so hard to stifle.
Well. She seemed a little more forward than usual. Something must really be upsetting her. He made no comment on the matter, though his expression might have said as much.
Okay, crying woman in my living room, crying woman in my living room, what to do… let’s see…
He disappeared wordlessly into the kitchen, throwing her a wary look, still munching his apple as quietly as possible; it was gone in a matter of bites. Tea. Tea, his mother had taught him, soft words, if any, his father had said. Reservedness, and a willingness to listen. He knew how to do this.
Five minutes later, he was pushing a hot mug into her hands. He leaned back in the seat across from her, legs crossed, silently sipping his own and eyes cast aside. He’d let her take her time, if she needed to speak.
Feeling the sudden warmth against her fingertips, Chrissy jumped slightly. She looked at the mug for a moment before accepting it and taking a long sip.
Silence. That was the only thing she wanted to fill the room - nothing else. She didn’t want to speak; even if she wanted to, she probably wouldn’t be able to saw a word.
After taking a second sip, she found that this was pretty rude of her - just barging into someone’s house without a single attempt at an explanation. A hand came up to swiftly wipe any tears on her cheeks before she looked up at him.
“Sorry for that,” she murmured, averting her eyes. She couldn’t look at him. She just looked at the liquid in the mug - staring blankly. “I just… I had nowhere else to go…”