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[allgotrabies]

Hey, it's Annie, you know what to do.

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[madaboutit]

Fuck, why does she have to keep talking?

Sweeney tries to push through it, to focus on the sensation of her lips and hands and how eager his flesh is to meet them. He catches her suddenly by the throat, hoping it will end further discussion. His fingers only get a quick squeeze before his body shudders, and his hips shove back away from her hand.

[allgotrabies]

"Dammit, Sweeney-" She's about ready to strangle him when it dawns on her and she scoots back. "Gerard?"

[madaboutit]

He pulls his hands away, sitting back on his heels as his eyes dart around, trying to get the context of where he is. It's certainly not where he was, but at least it's vaguely familiar. His attention flits to her, which only fills him with a sinking dread. Though he doesn't want to, his attention drops to his hips and he immediately flushes crimson.

His hands are quick to find the buttons, though it's not easy task to fit everything back in, especially since he's so susceptible to the overwhelming sensation of each grazing.

While he fumbles, he looks back to her with sincere concern.

"I'm so sorry. Did he--" His voice is frantic. "Did I--Are you hurt?"

[allgotrabies]

"No," she smooths her dress down, moves to kneel instead because it seems a little more proper. "No, I'm fine. Just dumb. Are you okay?"

[madaboutit]

"No," he breathes before he can catch himself. When she moves, he leans back, eager to preserve any distance between them, even when she's not trying to actively close it.

"I mean--if you are." The assurance comes easier, if no less hurriedly.

[allgotrabies]

"I'm sorry we keep meeting like this." She pushes her hair back, not sure if she should be amused by all this. "Me and Sweeney don't usually even touch but lately we just...well. You know." Better than anyone.

"I, um, I got the flowers. They're beautiful. I love them."

[madaboutit]

Sweeney. Right.

He swallows, and his gaze skitters along the path. But the mention of flowers brings his attention back to her face, and a flicker of a cautiously confused smile passes his lips.

"I'm glad--I mean. I didn't know if it was too forward, but...but I didn't know what else to do."

[allgotrabies]

"No one's ever given me flowers before," she says, and it feels very different telling this to Gerard than to anyone else. "Sweeney said the flowers mean something but I don't know flower...uhm, language?"

[madaboutit]

His blush is softer, and he tries to swallow back his shyness with the hint of a shrug.

"I just--I wanted to express my sincere apology."

[allgotrabies]

"There's nothing you should be sorry about," she insists, but smiling all the same. "I'm okay with what Sweeney does. But you're not the one doing it anyway. Right?"

[madaboutit]

His brow furrows in a nervous frown. His eyes are kept low.

"I do not believe God will see it that way," he answers softly. If they're his hands, his...well, the rest of him, the sin is the same.

[allgotrabies]

"I guess I've never believed in God," she says, looking at the ground between them. "What's it like? Because it sounds...awful. To believe someone hates you for wanting to be close to someone else."

[madaboutit]

He allows him to look up at her, his eyes growing tender.

"It's not that at all. God wants us to be together. To love, honor, and cherish each other. To be fruitful and multiple. We are all called to be that. We're half of a whole, and it's our duty and blessing to become complete."

Gerard offers a small supportive smile. "I am still looking for my other half." She's not alone. God still loves her and wants her to be happy.

[allgotrabies]

"Yeah that's never been something for me. I can't multiply," a faint smile. "Not in a way you'd like. But I'm not human so maybe your God thinks I'm evil anyway."

[madaboutit]

Ok, so that's a lot to take in. But then he remembers where he is, and that there are non-humans here, looking for redemption.

"That's alright," he assures her. "He brought you here. He sees worth in you and wants you to have a chance for happiness."

[allgotrabies]

She isn't sure why some part of her bucks against that notion. Shouldn't she like that thought? Maybe because only humans are favored by any God she's ever heard of. And maybe because no human she's ever cared about found favor from any quarter, least of all heaven.

"I'm a werewolf."

[madaboutit]

Ok. Maybe more to take in than he's ready to, but it can be reflected on later during prayer. It's less that she is, and more that he's...been with her. That's hard enough on it's own.

"And I'm half a man," he jokes gently, trying to put her at some form of ease, even as saying it aloud only makes it more real. "We all have things outside of our control that we must bear."

[allgotrabies]

"You're a good man," she assures him, but he's made her smile. She holds out her hand. "Come walk with me?"

[madaboutit]

Well, there's that at least. He shifts that he might push himself up without the use of his hands, then slides his gently in hers, ready to lift her.

"Of course."

[allgotrabies]

It's so unlike Sweeney that she wonders again how they can still share a head. She thinks there has to be some common point where they intersect, but she can't imagine right now what it is. She takes his hand because it seems so natural to him even if it isn't to her, and smiles at him when she's on her feet.

"Do you know lots of flowers?"

[madaboutit]

She seems better. That is better. He smiles warmly.

"Of course I do," he confirms, happy to know all those hours of study is good for something. Gerard moves gently, continuing with her hand to try to guide it to the crook of his elbow. She had asked to walk with him, after all.

[allgotrabies]

This much she has done before, with Steve whenever he lets her, which is all the time really. She enjoys it immensely and gives Gerard a grin.

"Tell me about the flowers, then."

[madaboutit]

He laughs lightly, resting his hand softly over hers.

"Well, that is a rather broad topic." Gerard gives her a sideways glance, a smile tucked tightly in his lips. "Care to help a fellow out and narrow it down a touch?"

[allgotrabies]

"What are those?" Pointing to a cluster of pretty purple flowers. "Are those violets?"

[madaboutit]

"Hmm." He knows one part of the answer, but the other takes some work.

"They're not violets," Gerard confirms with confidence. "I...I think it's Rock Cress." He smiles back at her with a hint of playful embarrassment.

"I admit, it's not one I've really worked with."