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She flopped onto the bed with a tired groan, filling the silence temporarily. Her long, navy purple hair which was out of it’s usual ponytail sprawled out onto the bed around her head. It was an entrancing pool of silky locks, one the man beside her wished to drag his fingers through as if it were water, to feel how soft it would be against his flesh.
“Did you have a rough day, Miss Clorinde?” The Chief Justice, Monsieur Nuevillette, asked in a calm tone. His eyes were narrowed as he looked at her whilst he lay on his side, almost admiring her in a way. From her gorgeous face which he thought was carved by the Archon’s themselves, to her hands which were starting to grow tough spots in replacement of her usual soft pads of muscle, he loved every inch of her with his whole heart.
Clorinde turned her head to look him with a sigh, rolling the rest of her body over to properly face him. Her eyes lingered on his face, noting how his expression conveyed he was ready to listen. “I suppose, but it’s nothing I cannot handle.” She paused for a moment, casting her gaze down towards the bed she lay upon and away from Neuvillette. “And you don’t have to address me so formally when it’s just us, Mon—” She stopped herself, clearing her throat as she corrected the incoming mistake. “Neuvillette.”
He hummed softly in response as he closed his eyes momentarily. Clorinde’s eyes went back to him and she watched him with confusion before clearing her throat to grab his attention again. Neuvillette’s eyes re-opened after a moment and he raised an eyebrow at her. “Yes, Clorinde?” He made sure to follow what she had said earlier about formalities being unnecessary.
“..Do you think we could.. hold each-other?” She asked rather quietly, almost anxious about what she was asking. “I understand if you want to keep things simple and slow in our relationship, and if this oversteps any boundaries I’ll respect your wishes.” She added the last part on rather quickly, as she didn’t want it to seem like she was forcing herself onto him even if she were only requesting him to embrace her.
Neuvillette stared at her quietly for a few minutes, almost examining her face in an attempt to read her. Clorinde’s gaze often drifted between him and elsewhere as she tensed up a bit at how loud the silence was. She couldn’t tell if he was upset or not, his expressions were usually so collected and calm that he was unreadable most of the time.
“..As long as you’re comfortable.” His voice broke the silence like a gunshot, which was a clear contrast to the soft and gentle tone he spoke to her with. Clorinde’s focus directed itself completely onto him. She blinked for a moment, pondering if whether or not she heard him correctly.
Noticing her surprised and partially confused expression, Neuvillette simply moved closer to her to signal what he had meant. He carefully moved his arms to be around her. He could feel Clorinde shifting to be more snug in his grasp, as well as making sure both were in comfortable positions to continue relaxing.
After a minute of moving to be more content and at ease, Clorinde’s back was now pushed against Neuvillette’s chest, and his head rested near her soft and silky hair. “Is this how you’d prefer it, dear?” He asked calmly, moving one of his arms to allow his hand to touch her hair, his fingers stroking through the smooth strands. Just as he had assumed, it was a fantastical feeling upon his fingertips once it made contact.
Clorinde hummed contently in response, sinking into the relaxing feeling of him gently threading his fingers through her hair. “This is perfect,” She breathed out her response, smiling a bit as she faced the wall ahead of her. “Are you comfortable, Neuvillette?” She asked, wanting to make sure both were on the same page with this. His happiness meant the universe to her, so Archon’s above, may they forbid her selfish needs for affection from the one she loved most to never be one-sided.
He nodded his head as a ‘yes’ despite the fact she couldn’t see it, merely rustling the pillow it was laid upon. “I am. This, indeed, is most certainly enjoyable.” He muttered tranquilly, continuing to brush her hair with his fingers as if hypnotized by the feeling and the look of it.
“As long as you are happy, I’ll be happy as well.” Clorinde sighed out in response, her eyes barely staying open. His simple ministrations of threading his delicate fingers through her hair were putting her to sleep, her eyes constantly fluttering open and closed. She wouldn’t mind falling asleep knowing Neuvillette was next to her, though, for he was the one holding her.
He didn’t know what to say in response to that, a little star-struck by her endearing words. Even after the two had began confiding in each other ever since Mr. Callas’ death, he has felt elated whenever he is around her. But of course, there are moments where the rain will fall because he cannot help it. Tears that don’t fall down his face, but down upon the whole world. Yet Clorinde was always there. There to ease his grief, the mediator who kept him from losing his way admits the shadows of his sorrows. She was everything to him.
Lost in thought, he didn’t even notice Clorinde had fallen asleep by now. His hand manually kept brushing through her navy purple hair as if on autopilot. Pulling himself back to reality, he slowly stopped the movement with his hands, doing so in a way that wouldn’t rouse her from her precious rest. He placed the arm back around her at the waist, palm resting flat against her stomach, doing his best as to not awake his sleeping beauty while still indulging in her warmth. Once he knew she would not awake from his minor adjustments, he simply held her preciously as he waited for sleep to claim him as well.