First question: Yes. It was just after that thing with the redcaps in the Highlands. We spent enough time in that little country pub that I got used to the warm beer.
Hmm. Maybe half a glass more. But tipsy enough I'm remembering a lot of them with more fondness than I probably should be.
You really think I have to be completely shitfaced to admit we had some good times?
[She is, however, tipsy enough to open up more than she would- though maybe not the way he'd been hoping.]
I stopped blaming you for Dad years ago. Despite anything you want to convince yourself, I don't have a reason to hate you. I don't always particularly like you, but I can't hate you.
[So she does. She's still in the cutesy-printed pajamas, and there's a tan and white rabbit snoozing on the back of the couch behind her, which admittedly takes away from the more somber expression on her face and tone of her voice]
Give me a little more credit, John. Is it so hard to believe I just like hearing from you, 'cause it means you're not dead? If I were booty calling you, I'd be upfront about it.
I'm never gonna not care about you, no matter how hard you try to make me stop.
[ yikes okay. he smoothes his hair then ruffles it up before taking the call. nervous? who's that? he swallows, keeping a tiny, bland smile as she starts in on him predictably. ] I didn't- [ but she doesn't give him time to interject. he knows she doesn't want to sleep with him or they would be right now. he is only a man. a very weak man. ]
That is your fatal flaw, isn't it? You're the patron saint of lost causes, luv.
[ there's no true heat in the words, but lord does he feel it tonight. unconsciously, his palm lays flat over the top hats as if he's keeping watch, gaze growing more somber and serious to match hers. he even refrains from waking up the bunny with some babytalk, maybe he isn't as weak tonight as he thought. ]
I've never tried to make you do anything, Zee. That would be like changin' the way the wind blows. Un-possible. I was just sick of bein' a leaf.
[ words meant to be hurtful and nothing else, she knows his game by now. he doesn't expect her to fall for it, and yet he can't shut it off. shutting off means letting her in and if he does that he damns her along with him. ]
[The bunny does open its eyes and perk its floppy ears a bit, woken more by her voice than anything from the phone speaker.
Zee's expression is quick to soften, and part of her has to fight the damn smile that hearing his voice still prompts.]
You're more a bird than a leaf. But I'm sorry if- well, I'm sorry for a lot.
[She tilts her head up when she feels whiskers on her cheek] No, you're a spoiled little diva, don't give me- oh, fine. [she feeds the very fat (probably pregnant) rabbit something dark green and leafy over her shoulder.]
[ ugh the rabbit is so cute he's having trouble focusing. john clears his throat before dragging his gaze back to zatanna's. he probably looks like shit. she looks relaxed, flushed from the wine, and a little sad. it's a look he's familiar with putting on her face and it makes his brow crease as a result. ]
I'm a girl now? [ he challenges lightly, knowing that wasn't how she meant he's a "bird" but unable to hold it in all the same. finally he breaks, unable to ignore the exchange anymore when zee feeds the rabbit. ] It's no wonder she's spoiled.
[ he can't look at her while he says the next part, looking down instead at the hats, still indenting his palm. he flips his hand over now as if to make sure they're still there and whole. ]
We're all sorry. The last person you need to apologize to is me.
[Is it weird she kind of misses finding him half-passed-out in the little fenced in area of her garden she keeps for the rabbits? LBR, his soft spot for the bunnies probably got him into her pants faster than the tantric workshops.]
One of her babies is still unspoken for, you know. And they'll be litterbox trained.
[And now she's smiling, and scratching the rabbit behind the ears.]
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Hmm. Maybe half a glass more. But tipsy enough I'm remembering a lot of them with more fondness than I probably should be.
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I can wait.
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right.
I can't blame him for being curious, I guess. We were making a lot of noise.
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That's sure some wine.
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[She is, however, tipsy enough to open up more than she would- though maybe not the way he'd been hoping.]
I stopped blaming you for Dad years ago. Despite anything you want to convince yourself, I don't have a reason to hate you. I don't always particularly like you, but I can't hate you.
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[ brutal honesty for no reason. he really hates being sober, why is he again? ]
That makes two of us, luv. I can't hate me either.
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Let me know how the charms work. I use a different method for stored magic these days. Only a few years of shelf life, but more oomph.
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I should let you get back to your night in.
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Maybe come see the show sometime.
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I might be considering giving one of these guys a really embarrassing skin rash rn. I won't. But I'm thinking about it.
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[ he's read them too not like he'd admit it. ]
It's sweet that you'd think I'd defend your honour though. You really are snockered.
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Give me a little more credit, John. Is it so hard to believe I just like hearing from you, 'cause it means you're not dead? If I were booty calling you, I'd be upfront about it.
I'm never gonna not care about you, no matter how hard you try to make me stop.
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That is your fatal flaw, isn't it? You're the patron saint of lost causes, luv.
[ there's no true heat in the words, but lord does he feel it tonight. unconsciously, his palm lays flat over the top hats as if he's keeping watch, gaze growing more somber and serious to match hers. he even refrains from waking up the bunny with some babytalk, maybe he isn't as weak tonight as he thought. ]
I've never tried to make you do anything, Zee. That would be like changin' the way the wind blows. Un-possible. I was just sick of bein' a leaf.
[ words meant to be hurtful and nothing else, she knows his game by now. he doesn't expect her to fall for it, and yet he can't shut it off. shutting off means letting her in and if he does that he damns her along with him. ]
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Zee's expression is quick to soften, and part of her has to fight the damn smile that hearing his voice still prompts.]
You're more a bird than a leaf. But I'm sorry if- well, I'm sorry for a lot.
[She tilts her head up when she feels whiskers on her cheek] No, you're a spoiled little diva, don't give me- oh, fine. [she feeds the very fat (probably pregnant) rabbit something dark green and leafy over her shoulder.]
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I'm a girl now? [ he challenges lightly, knowing that wasn't how she meant he's a "bird" but unable to hold it in all the same. finally he breaks, unable to ignore the exchange anymore when zee feeds the rabbit. ] It's no wonder she's spoiled.
[ he can't look at her while he says the next part, looking down instead at the hats, still indenting his palm. he flips his hand over now as if to make sure they're still there and whole. ]
We're all sorry. The last person you need to apologize to is me.
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One of her babies is still unspoken for, you know. And they'll be litterbox trained.
[And now she's smiling, and scratching the rabbit behind the ears.]
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