Locked to ladyofthehouse

[pasodoble]

Week 5, Saturday Night

( He'd promised they would speak after the trial and she probably didn't expect it to be so soon after but Spain insisted he was fine. Really! So let's go ahead and talk tonight (he promises they won't leave late).

After dinner, he'll guide her up to his room, shut the door behind them, and make a point of looking at the clock before going about the motions of being a host. He'll set the chairs up in the sitting area swiftly and pull out a chair for her, )

Do you want something to drink?

( Because he can get that too right now. )

Comments

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria notes the clock herself before sitting, not that she doesn't trust him or anything. Of course not.]

Wine is fine, I think.

[pasodoble]

( He's glad she asked because he actually might have taken a bottle from the wine cellar earlier this week that he really enjoyed... so he'll pour a glass of red for her and for him before taking a seat across from her. )

You wanted to talk?

[ladyofthehouse]

[She'll take the glass and sip from it before opening her mouth to speak.]

...


I did. Ah. [She'll take another sip, a much longer sip, before setting it down.]

I was actually wondering for a while how to put this, but I suppose the easiest way is to simply just say it, ja?

Especially after the events at trial... I didn't want to wait or put it off.

[pasodoble]

( Wondering for awhile, huh? Color Spain curious and he tilts his head to one side at the comment. When she says it like this, it feels a little ominous! )

Ah... I'm sorry... ( And now he's apparently causing rushed decisions or something. Truly, Phoenix is the most inconvenient killer he's had to deal with so far. He reach across to take her hand, ) Take your time.

There's no rush.

( But no amount of reassuring can change the fact that the time anyone has here is unpredictable. )

1/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[Time has always felt like a bit of disorienting thing for her, but she's certain she's not doing anything too rash or rushed.]

I was hesitant at first you see, because... because I tend to end up hurt in the end. There really are only so many times someone can stand for their heart to be broken before they lose interest in this sort of thing.

But. When you were lying there... and the thought that I'd never be able to see you smile at me again struck me...

I realized that despite everything... I want to see that smile for as long as I can.

2/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[She'll put her free hand over his and look very squarely into his eyes.]

Ich liebe dich.

[pasodoble]

( Spain listens intently. Soon, they would have known each other for six weeks-- six weeks! ANd despite it all, there was still so much to everyone in the castle that no one really knew. They found that out every week at a trial so having a chance to hear it in a different setting was a relief. It's too bad they can't learn more about everyone else this way too, right?

As she speaks, he opens his mouth to apologize for worrying her again but he doesn't interrupt her. He's so, so sorry and he leans closer as if to prove that he isn't going to go anywhere. There's a crooked beginning of a smile when she talks about his smile and then

It hits him like a ton. He's truly shocked and his mouth hangs open stupidly, unable to speak. The smile twitches upward and he suddenly bows his head down low, hiding his face and shoulders trembling. Is he laughing or crying?! )

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria tilts her head at the reaction, leaning in to try and make out an expression.]

...Spain?

[Maybe he doesn't know German...]

Ah... I love you.

[pasodoble]

( It's not that he doesn't understand-- he's actually pretty fluent, albeit, rusty on his speaking. His shoulders tremble and he puts his head down on the table. Oh, no... No!!! Give him a second!

Suddenly he sits up straight, his hands covering his mouth and his eyes tearing up. Don't worry, it's clear from his eyes that he's actually laughing so hard he's crying. She might also see some pink creeping on his cheeks from behind his fingers. )

Linda. ( Cute. He can barely contain himself and he mutters to himself, ) Y serio también... Ay... ( And serious too... ah... )

[pasodoble]

I'm sorry it's just... so serious. ( He's trying to compose himself. Give him a second-- ok, there. He brings one hand down his neck, to his collar, and then to awkwardly rub the back. ) I was surprised! I thought I was in trouble! ( What a relief!

And very suddenly, he jumps to his feet, both hands on the table and leans closer. His eyes are bright, his smile is wide, his full attention is on her, and he seems happy. )

Say it again! The same way you did the first time! I'll be better this time!

1/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[He's laughing-- she looks a little mad at that. Or embarrassed maybe. Both? She's bright red for some reason.] I-it's supposed to be serious!

I'll have said it three times then. [To his zero. She finds this egregious.]

[ladyofthehouse]

[She almost looks hesitant to repeat herself, as if the gravity of what she said finally sunk in hearing it out loud. She twists her hands together in her lap-- It's very serious!

But she said it twice and you can't take something like that back. She looks back at him as he smiles at her --that smile-- and she relaxes again.

Good things come in threes, don't they?]

...Ich liebe dich.

[pasodoble]

( Has he ever mentioned how much he actually dislikes German? Really, if he had to speak one language to speak to a horse, he'd definitely use German but this is different. His arms feel weak and he might drop himself on the table if he keeps using them to support himself.

There's a lot of fumbling. The chair goes back too hard, he bumps into the table, the wine glasses almost fall over, he grabs them both quickly to keep them from spilling. Damn this table for being in his way! He ends up shoving it out of the way when he finally comes around to her side. Those glasses he went through the trouble of saving have definitely spilled by now.

But he wants to say it like that too. Seriously and from his heart, with a little bit of shyness but without any hesitation. )

Ich liebe dich. ( He doesn't sound shy at all. He's practically blurting it out and he grabs both of her hands with his, raising them from her lap and so he can hold them. ) My German is really bad, huh? ( Laughing at himself. He's so happy he could dance. ) I'm better at a lot of other things though!

I can sing better and I can dance better. I can speak French better... and Portuguese too. And I'm really good at football and my food is the best in the world. But I'm not very good at German or piano...

... Is that okay with you?

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria watches the entire confusing display-- is he drunk? She hikes her skirt up at the first inclination the glasses are about to tumble over but he catches them-- only to send them tumbling anyway...

When she turns her head back from the glasses he's suddenly right there in front of her.]

...

[His German really is terrible. She ends up laughing too.]

Ja... well. I don't dance much these days and I don't like French. And my team never wins at football so I prefer skiing. And my food is surely much better than yours.

[She'll stand up too.] It's all okay with me. Everything.