[She is still as a frozen statue as he speaks, one slow line at a time, as he withdraws, as he touches her face (touches! her! face!) and tucks her hair back. As he pulls back. As he says- that.
Oh.
Oh.
She takes a step back, to lift both hands to her mouth. Her heart is pounding in her chest, something she hadn't realized before now, like she'd been on the edge of a quiet panic and had been waiting, waiting for him to explain himself so she could let it go. "I fall"? I fall? It's... absurd, frankly. She knows who he is. He knows who she is. Was he in denial when he said all of that nonsense at the wedding, or had it taken her lashing back for him to realize it was viable, or that he was having those feelings for her? Was he acting intentionally cruel as a way of pushing her away? Or is she being tested, somehow? She doesn't think he would be so unkind. But this is unfamiliar territory for her. No one has ever- god, no one has ever. She has no idea what to do.]
...I... [She sounds positively squeakish. Mortifying. She swallows, takes a breath, and tries again. Better-] I don't... know what to say.
[Truthful. And meant to buy her time. He's a handsome man, and he has flickers of kindness and courtesy that might tempt any woman. A gentleman, as he'd demonstrated on the walk to this place. His gift to her was... extravagant, but he apparently didn't realize that. He's sensible. But he also does not strike her as someone ready for a romantic relationship, despite apparently being thousands of years old. Or perhaps because of that. Maybe under different circumstances, with a little growth, she might-
no subject
Oh.
Oh.
She takes a step back, to lift both hands to her mouth. Her heart is pounding in her chest, something she hadn't realized before now, like she'd been on the edge of a quiet panic and had been waiting, waiting for him to explain himself so she could let it go. "I fall"? I fall? It's... absurd, frankly. She knows who he is. He knows who she is. Was he in denial when he said all of that nonsense at the wedding, or had it taken her lashing back for him to realize it was viable, or that he was having those feelings for her? Was he acting intentionally cruel as a way of pushing her away? Or is she being tested, somehow? She doesn't think he would be so unkind. But this is unfamiliar territory for her. No one has ever- god, no one has ever. She has no idea what to do.]
...I... [She sounds positively squeakish. Mortifying. She swallows, takes a breath, and tries again. Better-] I don't... know what to say.
[Truthful. And meant to buy her time. He's a handsome man, and he has flickers of kindness and courtesy that might tempt any woman. A gentleman, as he'd demonstrated on the walk to this place. His gift to her was... extravagant, but he apparently didn't realize that. He's sensible. But he also does not strike her as someone ready for a romantic relationship, despite apparently being thousands of years old. Or perhaps because of that. Maybe under different circumstances, with a little growth, she might-
...No. This feels very... ill-timed.]