[Accidental Video]

[whatwas]

[The PCD is set on a bedside table, so nothing is really the center of focus. The part of the window in view is carefully boarded up, and the bed is large and clean. And occupied.

Horst wakes the moment the sun is gone, just a twitch of the fingers at first and then a groggy mumble. He rolls onto his side, instinctively moving towards warmth. Yuca is next to him, though very much awake; the PCD can't see much of him at first, though.

Horst's arm snakes around Yuca's waist and pulls him closer.]

Hey. Fancy meeting you here.

...House is quiet. What'd you do with the kids?

[He sees the blinking light, makes a face, and turns the PCD off]

Comments

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[A few seconds later she enters the kitchen switching off her PCD.]

You've never been patient, have you Horst?

[She gives him a quick peck on the cheek before she sits herself at the table.]

So... where's my tea?

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I can be. But patience, like restraint, is a virtue best suited to monks. And priests.

[He hands her a tea cup and slides sugar and cream and lemon to her.

He sits across from her, and for once, the house is almost silent.]

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[As usual she doesn't touch the sugar or the cream. She just picks up a slice of lemon.]

Yuca has left to work with his father again?

[This is an event, but Raven is still Raven. They'll be no beating around the bush this week either.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[The difference for Horst in the event is that he's been with Yuca long enough he doesn't even bother with sarcastic, deflecting comments. Not about this. Not with Raven, who's seen it often enough to know how deeply bothered Horst is.

All he manages is:]

He might be home by morning.

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

How are the kids dealing with it this time?

[Because no it wasn't the first time it happened, far from it. But the kids were getting older and it became harder to explain them why their mother came back home with bruises each time he returned from Mayuri's.]

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Killua's gone to the Wastelands, Kota and Negi are practicing magic... At least they're not trying to go after Kurotsuchi yet.

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

What about Al and Asuna?

[She's not really worried. Those are usually calmer than the other three. Especially Al. Because this point is a little bit more debatable when it comes to Asuna.]

You know they will try to go after their grandfather. Sooner or later. Unless you decide to act first.

[Offline] annnd answering the other question too...

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

I know. [It's a hollow sort of admission.]

Al's used to it. He's afraid of Kurotsuchi, so even though he doesn't like it.... And Asuna doesn't know. [She's not as nosy as the triplets, and she's more level-headed; for some reason this means Horst protects her more rather than less. He figures the information needs to go to the kids who would overreact without it.]

I'd have gone after him by now if I didn't know what it would do to Yuca. So for now we're stale-mated; he won't hurt me or the kids, I won't kill him, we both get Yuca.

I used to wonder what my parents would have thought, they sure as hell weren't gentle with Severus or Vinny or me. But then I actually met Mayuri. I still wonder sometimes how Yuca got away when the bastard found out about me and him.

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[Raven slowly lays her cup down and stands up. She walks around the table to stand behind Horst, wrapping her arms gently around him and resting her chin on top of his head.]

Mayuri needs Yuca. So if he was to kill someone, it wouldn't be him. He'd rather kill you. So you're lucky he can't actually do that.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

[He leans back lightly against her.]

That's true now. When we got married, though, Mayuri was angry enough I doubt he even knew what he was doing.

[He peers up at her, smiling slightly]

If you get married, try to get along with the in-laws. And for the love of God, pray you get in-laws who can be bought off with a cheap gift basket.

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[A soft chuckle.] Sometimes I regret I was too young to remember that ceremony.

[She hums slightly at that and a tiny smile appears on her lips.] I don't think I'll have any trouble with Arthur's family. More like the other way around actually. ...But even if I didn't get along with his family, it wouldn't stop me from marrying him. Not anymore.

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Good. Don't ever let the in-laws dictate what you do, or what you feel. That's bad advice, of course, but worth it. [Which is the first time in fourteen years he's been quite that honest about how he feels about his relationship.]

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[A gentle kiss on his cheek.] If I end up with a family half as great as the one you have with Yuca, I'll consider myself lucky.

Anyway, you'll be part of the security staff for my wedding, won't you?

[Offline]

[ahandsomedevil.livejournal.com]

Hopefully you won't get triplets your first go. [He jokes, mostly. The only reason the triplets were at all manageable for him and Yuca was because Yuca never sleeps and Horst is always up all night.]

I'll be doing security before the wedding even begins. If Arthur looks shifty, I'll tie him up.

[Offline]

[feel-nevermore.livejournal.com]

[She chuckles.] Hopefully. But I'm not there yet, you know. I'm not that eager to have my own kids for the moment. [Not when she already has Alice, your kids and sometimes even you and Yuca to look after.]

[She gives him a mock-offended glare.] I don't really see any reason why Arthur would be anything but thrilled at the propect of marrying me. Besides... [She leans down to whisper into his hear.] I was only planning to have him tied up the night after the wedding.

[And if it wasn't for the mind bond they share and the slight increase of her heart rate, he could very believe she's as self-assured as she lets on. Because honestly? She's the one most likely to act shifty, not Arthur.]