[ is he really brave if she knew the truth of his family's situation? already august doubts it. in battle he's the first out there, and sometimes the only one. when it comes to closer connections however... well, she doesn't know. he makes sure not to let her know even when, sometimes, it feels like he can almost say anything to her. almost, but he tightens his lips before it slips. being intimate with each other a numerous amount of times does not mean he lets anything slip by.
listening to her words, however, does bring a smile to his face as he crosses his arms and leans back on the chair. he has to shift his eyes away to finally stop looking at her. instead he picks up a nearby book that details about... fishing. ]
Of course. [ despite the initial talk they were — are going to have, august would never let wendy wander into any danger. ] Until you're back at your desk, rest assure that you're safe with me.
[ now, because it's obvious to him: ]
Go on and shut your eyes. I won't disappear when you wake up.
[Wendy doesn’t know a thing. Only whatever August tells and shows her. From there it’s nothing but inference, the woman doing her best to connect the dots without jumping to too many conclusions - an extraordinary feat in itself. He’s such a mystery, one she might be able to solve someday. But it’s still early. Much too soon. They have time - if they ever make it out of this cursed place.]
Thank you. [She repeats herself because she’s at a loss otherwise. She could thank him a million times, but she stops it at two.]
Hm? [He’s telling her to close her eyes, but she’s already beaten him to it. Her eyes are doing the longest blinks. They feel so heavy.] Oh. Mm. [The slightest nod.]
Don’t let me sleep too long, okay? [A little smile. A sleepy one. She can’t hide her exhaustion, especially now that she’s sprawled out and resting on a somewhat okay mattress. Of course he’ll be there when she wakes up. She was there for him.] I trust you.
[ no words leave past august's mouth except a nod of acknowledgement that's accompanied by a nod. yes, he will wake her up once enough time has passed — maybe four hours, or until he hears the storm end. the sound of harsh raindrops give muffled echoes from the rooftop and through the ceiling. fortunately it doesn't wake up the eventual sleeping wendy however, and it doesn't distract his sharp ears from picking up any potential footsteps from beyond the walls.
august places his coat over wendy before taking his seat once more. it's cold, she isn't beneath the sheets — no getting sick under his watch.
sunglasses folded and kept aside for now, he allows himself a few cat naps during the four hour watch so that he, too, doesn't get exhausted by the time they leave. strength is still needed to leave the mansion property and, should it come to it, carrying wendy out if her ankle is still in pain. can't save either if he drops to his knees out of extreme fatigue. it just won't do, and august would embarrass himself if it happened. not after his long life and experience in battle.
during one of the times he awakens, he looks at wendy and has to curl his fingers until knuckles go white. her palm lays open.
instead of four hours, it takes five until the weather finally calms down to nothing. no rumble of harsh rain from the roof and ceiling, no thunder roaring, and no lightning cracks. it's gone. ]
Wendy. [ he says while opening his sunglasses once more. ] Wendy, the storm's gone.
[Nearly as soon as she closes her eyes again, Wendy’s fast asleep. It’s caught up to her - the long hours, the additional stress (both good and bad). She only sleeps because she truly needs it. Most times she goes without - another unspoken perk of being stuck in such a strange place for as long as she has.
It’s a dreamless sleep. For reasons unknown, she isn’t plagued by the horrors she’s experienced today on their little misadventure. Or the usual things her mind decides to give her nightmares about - horrible things she’s seen and experienced firsthand, horrible things she’s done.
She is quiet and she is still, save for the occasional snore (sorry if this is how he finds out that Wendy Lin does indeed snore) or slight shift in position. But there isn’t much. She remains on her side facing where August sits watch, his borrowed coat draped over her. The storm helps, the constant white noise of the rain keeping her lulled and complacent. As does the promise of him still being there once she awakens.]
[ so it takes more to wake her up. what did she do before they met? her work, he assumes. always so hardworking to the point he wonders how many breaks she takes, and if she uses those breaks to see him. they have plenty of fun together when they do meet. he gets a taste for vanilla more often these days because of said meets, though he hopes she takes time for herself as well. there's the assumption that she does of course — an independent woman who refuses to be belittled by her co-workers. at least from what he remembers her saying.
they do have to go however. ]
Wendy. [ he repeats while getting on his feet. if there were windows, if the sun was out, he would open them at this point. instead he hovers over her with both bare hands on her shoulders. gentle, careful. ] It's time to go.
[It does. At least in this instance. Works so hard despite hardly working. More often behind a desk than out in the field. He doesn’t need to know all her free time - whatever little she manages to scrape up - is thoroughly occupied by him. That would just make her look bad, wouldn’t it? Obsessive even.]
Mm? [It’s more of a question this time. There’s the slightest bit of stirring once his hands are on her shoulders and the touch registers with her. It’s a bit delayed, her everything a bit foggy from being in such a deep sleep.]
Is it? [The bleariest little blinks. Oh.] I’m sorry… [She stifles a yawn by way of the pillow.]
A few hours. I wondered about letting you rest longer, but I don't know how long we have until the storm decides to make its return.
[ he makes a wave towards the ceiling, showing her: silence. no thuds from the roof that echoes into the room. no thunder that snaps in the air after lightning strikes. a quieter night for her to sleep through, and he would let her had they been elsewhere. this is not a safe world for them to do anything other than survive. that he can do, but obviously to him she can't fight.
a good thing he's around then. on the other hand, if they've never met then she wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. if he was never brought into this world in the first place, he would have never met wendy lin.
Oh - no no. It’s alright! [A shake of her head and a smile as she starts scooting up into a sitting position.] I’m up, I’m up. We might as well make a go for it since the rain stopped.
[A few hours did her a whole lot of good. Maybe too much good? She’s a little slow, but alert enough. She starts slipping his coat back on - the better to prove to him that yes she’s ready.
The quiet outside seems strange, yet comforting in this instance. It’s one less thing for them to worry about anyway.]
I could sleep all day sometimes. Really - it’s fine. We should go. [Swinging her feet down to the floor, she pauses at the edge of the bed, places a hand on his arm before standing.] Did you rest at all? [She holds his gaze, trying not to look too concerned.]
I was able to have some shut eye, yes. [ he says with a nod before turning his arm into something she'll be able to hook hers around. hopefully she can walk better now than a while ago, least shge need to be carried again. ] You need not worry about me. I'm more concerned for your ankle.
[ do they need to run again? how many zombies or bloodthirsty amphibians do they need to run from until they're out of this realm and safe? august isn't certain yet, but he will be. he must to keep the both of them safe from harm. at least he knows where not to take her next time, or at least to clean house first before anything else happens. ]
[Standing is easy if she leans in towards him. Putting pressure on her bad leg - that’s more of an issue. Wendy is hesitant at first, gingerly pressing her foot down to see what happens. There’s minor wincing, the tightening of her grip on his arm. She swallows the hiss that threatens to pass her gritted teeth. Exchanges it for a better distraction - a joke, or at least something more lighthearted.]
A bit too late for that, I think. I’m pretty invested.
[She’s chuckling at her comment. Please take it as a joke. She’s too frazzled to have this sort of conversation with him now, especially since they haven’t even gotten through the heavy stuff yet. Don’t ask why she worries about him, why she finds herself smitten.]
I can manage. [She takes a few tentative steps, is a bit on the wobbly side, but hooking her arm through his for support is a great help.] I’m just - gonna be a little slow for a bit. I guess. [Not gonna sigh about it. She feels stupid for letting this happen.] It’s okay.
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listening to her words, however, does bring a smile to his face as he crosses his arms and leans back on the chair. he has to shift his eyes away to finally stop looking at her. instead he picks up a nearby book that details about... fishing. ]
Of course. [ despite the initial talk they were — are going to have, august would never let wendy wander into any danger. ] Until you're back at your desk, rest assure that you're safe with me.
[ now, because it's obvious to him: ]
Go on and shut your eyes. I won't disappear when you wake up.
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Thank you. [She repeats herself because she’s at a loss otherwise. She could thank him a million times, but she stops it at two.]
Hm? [He’s telling her to close her eyes, but she’s already beaten him to it. Her eyes are doing the longest blinks. They feel so heavy.] Oh. Mm. [The slightest nod.]
Don’t let me sleep too long, okay? [A little smile. A sleepy one. She can’t hide her exhaustion, especially now that she’s sprawled out and resting on a somewhat okay mattress. Of course he’ll be there when she wakes up. She was there for him.] I trust you.
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august places his coat over wendy before taking his seat once more. it's cold, she isn't beneath the sheets — no getting sick under his watch.
sunglasses folded and kept aside for now, he allows himself a few cat naps during the four hour watch so that he, too, doesn't get exhausted by the time they leave. strength is still needed to leave the mansion property and, should it come to it, carrying wendy out if her ankle is still in pain. can't save either if he drops to his knees out of extreme fatigue. it just won't do, and august would embarrass himself if it happened. not after his long life and experience in battle.
during one of the times he awakens, he looks at wendy and has to curl his fingers until knuckles go white. her palm lays open.
instead of four hours, it takes five until the weather finally calms down to nothing. no rumble of harsh rain from the roof and ceiling, no thunder roaring, and no lightning cracks. it's gone. ]
Wendy. [ he says while opening his sunglasses once more. ] Wendy, the storm's gone.
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It’s a dreamless sleep. For reasons unknown, she isn’t plagued by the horrors she’s experienced today on their little misadventure. Or the usual things her mind decides to give her nightmares about - horrible things she’s seen and experienced firsthand, horrible things she’s done.
She is quiet and she is still, save for the occasional snore (sorry if this is how he finds out that Wendy Lin does indeed snore) or slight shift in position. But there isn’t much. She remains on her side facing where August sits watch, his borrowed coat draped over her. The storm helps, the constant white noise of the rain keeping her lulled and complacent. As does the promise of him still being there once she awakens.]
Mm.
[That’s all he gets from Sleeping Beauty.]
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they do have to go however. ]
Wendy. [ he repeats while getting on his feet. if there were windows, if the sun was out, he would open them at this point. instead he hovers over her with both bare hands on her shoulders. gentle, careful. ] It's time to go.
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Mm? [It’s more of a question this time. There’s the slightest bit of stirring once his hands are on her shoulders and the touch registers with her. It’s a bit delayed, her everything a bit foggy from being in such a deep sleep.]
Is it? [The bleariest little blinks. Oh.] I’m sorry… [She stifles a yawn by way of the pillow.]
How long was I out for? I didn’t mean to do that.
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[ he makes a wave towards the ceiling, showing her: silence. no thuds from the roof that echoes into the room. no thunder that snaps in the air after lightning strikes. a quieter night for her to sleep through, and he would let her had they been elsewhere. this is not a safe world for them to do anything other than survive. that he can do, but obviously to him she can't fight.
a good thing he's around then. on the other hand, if they've never met then she wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place. if he was never brought into this world in the first place, he would have never met wendy lin.
august decides to give her a playful smile. ]
Unless you'd rather sleep in more?
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[A few hours did her a whole lot of good. Maybe too much good? She’s a little slow, but alert enough. She starts slipping his coat back on - the better to prove to him that yes she’s ready.
The quiet outside seems strange, yet comforting in this instance. It’s one less thing for them to worry about anyway.]
I could sleep all day sometimes. Really - it’s fine. We should go. [Swinging her feet down to the floor, she pauses at the edge of the bed, places a hand on his arm before standing.] Did you rest at all? [She holds his gaze, trying not to look too concerned.]
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[ do they need to run again? how many zombies or bloodthirsty amphibians do they need to run from until they're out of this realm and safe? august isn't certain yet, but he will be. he must to keep the both of them safe from harm. at least he knows where not to take her next time, or at least to clean house first before anything else happens. ]
Can you walk?
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A bit too late for that, I think. I’m pretty invested.
[She’s chuckling at her comment. Please take it as a joke. She’s too frazzled to have this sort of conversation with him now, especially since they haven’t even gotten through the heavy stuff yet. Don’t ask why she worries about him, why she finds herself smitten.]
I can manage. [She takes a few tentative steps, is a bit on the wobbly side, but hooking her arm through his for support is a great help.] I’m just - gonna be a little slow for a bit. I guess. [Not gonna sigh about it. She feels stupid for letting this happen.] It’s okay.