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Do they not normally charge? You seemed surprised.

[But it's lightly mentioned; she could probably get away without addressing it easily.]

I'll let you know. You have my word.

Good.

[ However, no such luck with skimming past that. ] I had heard that some of them charge, which... admittedly I don't like, but I think that's my own envy talking.

You wish you had that ability for yourself?

[ Idly, her fingers trace over the scars she left on his neck, which is fitting enough. ]

I wish I could heal the hurts I cause, yes.

[Resting a hand over hers.]

Which part bothers you? Paying someone else to fix the marks you left behind? Or being unable to take them back?

[His tone remains just as light and idle. More musing than anything else.]

I don't think take them back is quite how I'd put it. Sometimes yes, I regret the injuries, but not always. I don't regret these. [ Most of her doesn't, at any rate. ]

But it would be nice if I could help people too, instead of just harm them.

There aren't other things you can do to help?

Maybe. It's not always easy to know what's truly helping and what's self-indulgent posturing.

Can't give much advice, myself. I've never been very successful at it either.

You're helping me, if that makes any small difference. [ She'd be hard pressed to explain the whole of it, but it's true enough. ]

...?

In what way?

Well for starters, talking to you is making me feel a lot less terrible about that whole "scariest" thing.

Is that so? I'm glad to have helped, then.

It is. I like talking to you, even if it's a bit surprising that you haven't asked me to your room yet.

...

You really are serious, aren't you...

[He's still having trouble accepting as much, apparently.]

You thought I wasn't? It'd be a pretty cruel joke.

You can say no and it won't bother me. [ Emotional hangups absolutely, but she has none about sex. It's a form of bonding that's easier for her than words, her biology being what it is. ]

If that's what you'd like, I have no complaints.

This way.

[Turning in the direction of the individual rooms.]

'No complaints.' Your enthusiasm is overwhelming. [ Her tone is fond, she expected something like that. ] I'll see what I can do about that, hm?

[ Glancing at the tea, then shrugging and following him. It'll keep. ]

This much is already more than I could have expected.

[He can clean up the tea later, there's only like four members including himself. Attending to Alizarin comes first.

His room is still the basic default version, though there's a laptop set atop a desk if... not much else. He doesn't have much in the way of personal belongings yet, it seems.]

I'm not entirely sure if that's a compliment, but I'll take it. [ It might be the closest he gets to those sort of specifics? ]

You're not about to be a cold fish, I hope. I won't be thrilled if I'm doing all the work. [ Lack of confidence, or whatever the situation, shouldn't mean lack of participation. She could probably just issue direct instructions but too much of that isn't fun either, if there's no interest on his side then it's just boring. ]

There's no worry of that. My eyesight is quite good, you'll find.

[ Chuckling, how succinct. ] Glad to hear it.

[ She approaches him but stops one step shy and considers. ] Lose the shirt now, if you don't mind. I don't want to be responsible for blood stains. [ Her corset is already ruined from training, but it's black and red anyway. ]

Fair.

[Especially since he has layers today even if he opted out of wearing the coat and tie.

Vest, then shirt are removed without much fanfare. He's clearly not the active sort - he's thin, for one, but rather pale and unblemished other than those scars along his neck.]

[ It's not so much his physique she cares about as her eyes lock on his neck and start softly glowing. She takes the last step toward him, resting her hands on his shoulders and then sliding them down his arms to tug his arms around her, placing his hands where her corset laces are tied as a clear message: get to work. ]

[ With his hands where she wants them, one of her arms drapes over his shoulder. With her other, she fingertip-traces the scars on his neck again. Before, the feeling this act evoked was care and concern; this time it's admiring and possessive. ]

Anywhere you don't want me biting, [ her smile quirks up ] other than the obvious?

[He moves as directed easily enough, fingers deftly beginning to undo the lacing. Though he still doesn't react too much outwardly, he's definitely taking the opportunity to appreciate her looks up close and personal.]

Not particularly. I'm all yours.

[A quick movement, untying the knot, and then easing the corset loose.]

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