{Lie #6/Audio} ~ sleep your stolid sleep

[unreadability]

[For a long moment, only the sound of Mireille’s slow breathing is audible. The rustle of sheets, as if she is moving, followed by a low gasp. An outdrawn exhalation, then stillness for a couple of seconds. When she speaks, one may notice an uncharacteristic lisp - as if she has problems properly forming the sounds with her mouth. Her voice is

Comments

[population_ctrl]

[Looking at you. Those are dark circles beneath his eyes because sleep is overrated, right? Just a blank expression, really.]

audio;

[unreadability]

[Her breath catches in her throat.]

video;

[population_ctrl]

[His breathing, on the other hand, is calm. Slow. Verging on exhausted.]

audio;

[unreadability]

[There's a rustle of motion and the slick sound of skin against satin. Her breathing is further away now, when she has put the looking glass down - away.]

[walkingtheweb]

Mireille? Are you... all right?

[ There is reluctance in his tone, but also wariness. He's been following that other conversation ]

audio; 1/2

[unreadability]

[This is what wide-eyed fear sounds like.]

Ray -

audio; 2/2

[unreadability]

I should have been more... careful.

[The soft, emotionless way she says it makes it impossible to say what exactly she is referring to.]

audio

[walkingtheweb]

[ He doesn't like what she's saying, nor how she's saying it. Nor does he like how certain facts keep wanting to connect in his brain. But all he'll say is...]

You said you were... ill? Do you need a doctor?

[simplifyingly]

Mrs. Mireille? Are you all right?

audio;

[unreadability]

I've just... worn myself down.

[Her voice is emotionless. Flat.]

[Audio]

[simplifyingly]

[There's a moment's hesitation.]

I hope that you are able to get plenty of rest, then.

audio;

[unreadability]

Yes, it...

[Hesitation on her end as well. The words are on her tongue, but she doesn't know whether they say too much. Or too little.]

... It shouldn't be so difficult.

[secrets_hekeeps]

.. Madame Duroc? [ he sounds decidedly worried. ] Should I-- would you like for me to-- I can help, if you should like.

audio; 1/2

[unreadability]

No.

[It's not sharp as such. Hurried, rather.]

audio; 2/2

[unreadability]

[Pausing, a couple of breaths. More softly.]

Thank you, but... there is no reason.

1/?

[annealoncemore]

[ oh ffs woman i told you to stay for dinner. ]

2/3...?

[annealoncemore]

[ and stay forever, actually ]

3/5 oops

[annealoncemore]

[ a long, low exhale. almost like... like he'd drawn the breath to speak and then let it back out. because...

well how do you want a guy to react when you run out on him like that and then make this sort of post? not that Silver is the type to blame himself for, for startling her into sickness or whatever it is that's wrong with her. but still. still. ]

4/5 p.s. all video

[annealoncemore]

[ and a moment of utter silence. Not quite looking away, but with a look in his eyes that makes it clear he may as well be.

He hasn't forgotten her haste to part. it's not that he's holding a grudge, he's just - ]