This has depth. Cold rushing water beneath it, pitfalls and slippery sections Will hadn't been aware of until now, even with his 'gift'. Every word that Marijus ground out, every word that Neph manages to chip off herself to hand over, has a duality to it. The shine is too bright for Will to make out the shapes clearly, but he sees the shimmer, feels the smooth surface, tastes the promise behind everything.
They've gone through something, and maybe that's why they're both alone together, here in a part of the world neither of them is really from - Marijus from across an entire ocean, Neph apparently from different parts of the US.
Will feels like he can't quite do it justice, describing just what he sees in Marijus's eyes, but he's compelled to try.
Marijus is watching Neph like she's the only thing he's aware of, like his entire life has been eclipsed by this moment in time shared with her. All the ludicrous focus of Marijus's interest is contracted in Neph's direction, timeless and limitless and so heavy Will feels its pull like gravity, and it's not even for him. Will's mouth falls open, something too scared to feel hungry answering the call from Marijus's gaze, and Will is simultaneously glad for Neph and unsure how she can handle this.
It should feel far more foreign to watch a scene this intense unfold next to him. Being in forced close proximity to people's dramas has always been taxing at best, mortifying or terror-soaked at worst.
But this is like watching a natural landscape come into focus from the fog, or a storm coalesce. It's huge. Nearly limitless. Almost promises danger, but you lean in anyway, just to say you witnessed it.
Marijus is the one that looks caged right now, rigid and thrumming with energy, like he'd be pacing back and forth if he had the room at the end of his tether via Neph's hold on his wrist. Will thinks of a tiger in a zoo. "Alright." Marijus is clearly wrestling with something terrifying and unknown, and then all at once he just - steps forward and hugs Neph.
Will rocks back instinctively, giving them room, because now Marijus's arms are coming around Neph's thin shoulders, and Marijus is slim but not so much that it doesn't encroach on the lack of space that had existed a moment ago between Will and Neph. They make brief eye contact over Neph's shoulder, Marijus's face a hurricane, and then he tilts down into the downy parts of Neph's hair and mutters something into her ear.
Will's pretty sure he says "I don't think anything could ever cage you again, Nephele." He hadn't realized her name was short for anything similarly strange, had just assumed it was a brief nickname from nothing.
"I'll see you at the apartment." Marijus looks like he's holding himself together by threads. As Marijus pulls back away, holds Neph at a determined arms length, Will tilts back in, taps his free hand to Neph's wrist as a silent encouragement. But otherwise, this is-- this is about them, right now. Will's never been so content to be a silent observer.
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They've gone through something, and maybe that's why they're both alone together, here in a part of the world neither of them is really from - Marijus from across an entire ocean, Neph apparently from different parts of the US.
Will feels like he can't quite do it justice, describing just what he sees in Marijus's eyes, but he's compelled to try.
Marijus is watching Neph like she's the only thing he's aware of, like his entire life has been eclipsed by this moment in time shared with her. All the ludicrous focus of Marijus's interest is contracted in Neph's direction, timeless and limitless and so heavy Will feels its pull like gravity, and it's not even for him. Will's mouth falls open, something too scared to feel hungry answering the call from Marijus's gaze, and Will is simultaneously glad for Neph and unsure how she can handle this.
It should feel far more foreign to watch a scene this intense unfold next to him. Being in forced close proximity to people's dramas has always been taxing at best, mortifying or terror-soaked at worst.
But this is like watching a natural landscape come into focus from the fog, or a storm coalesce. It's huge. Nearly limitless. Almost promises danger, but you lean in anyway, just to say you witnessed it.
Marijus is the one that looks caged right now, rigid and thrumming with energy, like he'd be pacing back and forth if he had the room at the end of his tether via Neph's hold on his wrist. Will thinks of a tiger in a zoo. "Alright." Marijus is clearly wrestling with something terrifying and unknown, and then all at once he just - steps forward and hugs Neph.
Will rocks back instinctively, giving them room, because now Marijus's arms are coming around Neph's thin shoulders, and Marijus is slim but not so much that it doesn't encroach on the lack of space that had existed a moment ago between Will and Neph. They make brief eye contact over Neph's shoulder, Marijus's face a hurricane, and then he tilts down into the downy parts of Neph's hair and mutters something into her ear.
Will's pretty sure he says "I don't think anything could ever cage you again, Nephele." He hadn't realized her name was short for anything similarly strange, had just assumed it was a brief nickname from nothing.
"I'll see you at the apartment." Marijus looks like he's holding himself together by threads. As Marijus pulls back away, holds Neph at a determined arms length, Will tilts back in, taps his free hand to Neph's wrist as a silent encouragement. But otherwise, this is-- this is about them, right now. Will's never been so content to be a silent observer.