[Charles takes a sip of the whiskey as he watches her, his lit cigarette still between the two fingers not wrapped around the bottle. Once he sets it down, he gets to smoking, as if he's trying to fit as many bad habits into as short a time as possible, the worst of which might be standing right in front of him.]
[The ashes on the end of her cigarette threaten to fall.]
Henry's in my room. [Separate rooms. Propriety.
She's honest, because he knows her better than anyone else. He'll know when she's lying, and he'll find out anyway when Henry lumbers into the kitchen, looking for his glasses.]
[He says it as if he might not believe her, because lately her carelessness when it comes to him has been seeping into his system. Things aren't like they used to be and Charles is painfully aware of that.
His hand tightens around her wrist when she tells him that Henry is in her room, though he knew exactly what her answer would be. ]
Maybe it's time everyone collected their things and left. I'm not feeling well.
[She doesn't argue having them leave, so he finally lets go of her wrist and takes another drag of his cigarette before stubbing it out in the ashtray on the table. He lifts the bottle of whiskey, shakes it around, then takes another long sip before he makes any more decisions.
His tone softens a bit now when he speaks to her again.]
I'm going out to get more vodka. Please, Camilla. Make sure they're gone by the time I get back.
[Camilla watches his every move carefully, almost studying him.She watches his Adam's apple bob when he swallows. She's always liked that.]
They'll be gone. [She promises, though she wishes she didn't have to. She gives him a smile, puts her own cigarette out as well, and makes to leave the kitchen to awake her friends.]
[ Once Camilla leaves the kitchen, Charles finishes off what's left in the bottle. Something to sooth his head, though the thought of Henry in Camilla's room is enough to keep it pounding. He doesn't want to see Henry, or Francis, both of them for very different reasons, so he slips out before Camilla can get them moving.
When he returns, he's feeling worse for wear, but Francis is no longer on the floor and there's no car out front. ]
[She's not looking forward to it. By now, she's finished that cigarette, out on the back porch waiting for Charles to come home. There's a tension in her shoulders, matching the pounding of her head. Couldn't they do this later? After coffee and their hangovers disappeared?
When he calls, she reappears inside the house. Better to respond than let him get angrier.]
[ It would probably be much smarter for them to do this later, with less tension and less of a hangover, but Charles hasn't been doing the smartest things lately and when it comes to Camilla he's been losing his head even more than that.
He almost expects her not to be here anymore, so when she appears, he might be less angry than she thinks he is. For now, at least. He eyes her, going to the bar to grab two glasses, filling them both. ]
[he starts, but all he ends the sentence with is slamming down the glass of vodka on the bar, letting some of the contents sloshing out. What a waste is all he can think about, before he looks at Camilla again]
We used to fall asleep talking. Do you remember that?
[Among other things, but he hasn't even gotten to that just yet. He knows that's why he's jealous and he feels like he has every right to be. They're both in this. They've both been in this together since they were born. She's the one changing things around now and he's still desperately trying to hold on to something]
[She winces, doesn't reach for the glass he's clearly poured for her.]
Yes, I do.
[They'd sit there and hold hands and talk- sometimes they'd argue or fight about different subjects, or sometimes it would just be about how boring their day was and how dreadful classes were.]
So why are you changing things? Haven't they changed enough?
[He can't remember the last time they sat in bed together to talk about classes or fight about different subjects. He can't remember the last time he hasn't spent a night drunk, actually. When did they last share a bed together? He doesn't know.
He downs half of what's in his glass, then shakes his head.]
You're so preoccupied lately, I'm surprised you remember I'm here at all. Is this how you want things to be?
[ Camilla has been unbelievably calm in the face of all of this, while Charles feels like he's slowly losing his mind. He can't lose her too. He feels like he might die. ]
We can. Of course we can, Camilla. We can at least try.
[He knows they can't go back, nothing in the world can set things right again, but he's going to try and keep things as steady as he can for as long as he's able to. Which... hasn't exactly been going well. His anger, his fear, it all stems from this.
His anger dissipates slightly when she moves toward him and he slides his hand into hers, pulling her closer. He wraps an arm around her, vodka still in hand and buries his face into her neck]
[Of the two, Camilla has always been better at hiding her emotions. Yet it's still a surprise at how unhinged he's become. Perhaps because she let him, him and Henry, carry the bulk of the guilt.
She lets him come to her, wraps him in her arms, holding him to her. Her Charles, her sweet older brother. But his words are chilling, whispered in her ear.]
[If Henry feels guilty about any of it, Charles doesn't know it. He's not surprised, though. It was Henry's idea in the first place and now all their lives are ruined and Henry is just waltzing in and out of Camilla's bedroom, taking even more from him.
But right now he's comforted by her arms around him and the drink in his hand, so he just leaves things be, kissing her neck.]
I don't want to fight with you about this. Don't make have to fight about it all the time. Let's just stay in today, have some drinks and lay around in bed. Nurse this horrible hangover of ours, yes?
[She doesn't want to give in, she realizes, but the other option is to make this whole fight significantly worse. And the way he's kissing her neck, it's a no-brainer.
Knees weak, she tilts her head so he can get better access to the creamy flesh.]
I'd love nothing more, [she says, and leans into the hug, holding him tighter.] You know exactly what to say.
[ Charles is relieved when she gives in and he thinks that maybe he can make it like old times again. There has to be some sort of chance.
He kisses up her soft neck, slowly inhaling the scent of her. Even hungover like this, he swears she smells like fresh flowers. When he gets to her ear, he nuzzles his nose against it and he feels calmer already. ]
[ Her laugh is sweet and has him kissing her neck again, before he pulls back with a nod. For a moment he wants to argue that he doesn't need help, but maybe it's just that he doesn't need help from anyone else. From Camilla? He clearly does. ]
I'm going to shower, I probably smell like weeds dunked into a distillery.
[And yet he still drinks more from his glass, before reaching over and grabbing hers as well, handing it over to her]
You do, [She tells him, without leaning up and kissing his cheek.] I'll meet you in your bedroom. [His, obviously. Hers still has fresh signs of Henry.
She takes the vodka, and gives Charles a quick squeeze before she lets go and starts to drink.] Hurry up.
[He gives her a nod, then heads off to shower, wanting to wash whatever reminders of this day away, even though it's barely afternoon. He finishes his drink in the shower, setting the glass aside and hopes that Camilla brought the bottle with her to his bedroom.
They might've had other things to do today, but he doesn't remember. It's been harder to keep track of everything lately. All the days run together when he ends up drunk for most of them. When he's done, he wraps a towel around his waist and goes to light up a cigarette, heading to his room, seeing Camilla there. ]
[Of course she's brought the bottle, and it's sitting on his bedside table when he returns into the room. She's in a light nightgown, her bathrobe draped over Charles' desk chair.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
for @corombona
Date: 2017-07-01 10:57 pm (UTC)[Charles takes a sip of the whiskey as he watches her, his lit cigarette still between the two fingers not wrapped around the bottle. Once he sets it down, he gets to smoking, as if he's trying to fit as many bad habits into as short a time as possible, the worst of which might be standing right in front of him.]
Why did you leave me last night?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 12:12 am (UTC)Leave you?
Francis and Henry came over- I'm pretty sure Francis is asleep on the living room floor.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 12:16 am (UTC)[Of course, neither did the rest of them, if they really are here, but that's not the point. Camilla should have come looking for him]
Francis is asleep on the living room floor, so where is Henry?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 12:26 am (UTC)[The ashes on the end of her cigarette threaten to fall.]
Henry's in my room. [Separate rooms. Propriety.
She's honest, because he knows her better than anyone else. He'll know when she's lying, and he'll find out anyway when Henry lumbers into the kitchen, looking for his glasses.]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 12:33 am (UTC)[He says it as if he might not believe her, because lately her carelessness when it comes to him has been seeping into his system. Things aren't like they used to be and Charles is painfully aware of that.
His hand tightens around her wrist when she tells him that Henry is in her room, though he knew exactly what her answer would be. ]
Maybe it's time everyone collected their things and left. I'm not feeling well.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 12:40 am (UTC)She knows exactly what's going to happen when she sends their friends home.]
I'll wake them.
[Better her than Charles right now. They'll leave, if she asks.]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:00 am (UTC)His tone softens a bit now when he speaks to her again.]
I'm going out to get more vodka. Please, Camilla. Make sure they're gone by the time I get back.
[They can deal with the rest after that]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:02 am (UTC)They'll be gone. [She promises, though she wishes she didn't have to. She gives him a smile, puts her own cigarette out as well, and makes to leave the kitchen to awake her friends.]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:09 am (UTC)When he returns, he's feeling worse for wear, but Francis is no longer on the floor and there's no car out front. ]
Camilla?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:27 am (UTC)When he calls, she reappears inside the house. Better to respond than let him get angrier.]
Yes, Charles?
[She knows what comes next.]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:32 am (UTC)He almost expects her not to be here anymore, so when she appears, he might be less angry than she thinks he is. For now, at least. He eyes her, going to the bar to grab two glasses, filling them both. ]
What have done to you that's been so awful?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 01:36 am (UTC)Nothing, Charles. You haven't done anything.
[He'd been rougher than usual, lately.]
We fell asleep talking.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:02 am (UTC)[he starts, but all he ends the sentence with is slamming down the glass of vodka on the bar, letting some of the contents sloshing out. What a waste is all he can think about, before he looks at Camilla again]
We used to fall asleep talking. Do you remember that?
[Among other things, but he hasn't even gotten to that just yet. He knows that's why he's jealous and he feels like he has every right to be. They're both in this. They've both been in this together since they were born. She's the one changing things around now and he's still desperately trying to hold on to something]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:08 am (UTC)Yes, I do.
[They'd sit there and hold hands and talk- sometimes they'd argue or fight about different subjects, or sometimes it would just be about how boring their day was and how dreadful classes were.]
I thought you had gone up to bed. I'm sorry.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:21 am (UTC)[He can't remember the last time they sat in bed together to talk about classes or fight about different subjects. He can't remember the last time he hasn't spent a night drunk, actually. When did they last share a bed together? He doesn't know.
He downs half of what's in his glass, then shakes his head.]
You're so preoccupied lately, I'm surprised you remember I'm here at all. Is this how you want things to be?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:24 am (UTC)I wish we could go back to the way things were before, too. But we can't, Charles.
[She takes a few steps in toward him, extending a hand.] I will never forget you, Charles. You know that.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:33 am (UTC)We can. Of course we can, Camilla. We can at least try.
[He knows they can't go back, nothing in the world can set things right again, but he's going to try and keep things as steady as he can for as long as he's able to. Which... hasn't exactly been going well. His anger, his fear, it all stems from this.
His anger dissipates slightly when she moves toward him and he slides his hand into hers, pulling her closer. He wraps an arm around her, vodka still in hand and buries his face into her neck]
Then stop acting like you have.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 02:56 am (UTC)She lets him come to her, wraps him in her arms, holding him to her. Her Charles, her sweet older brother. But his words are chilling, whispered in her ear.]
I will- I promise.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 03:28 am (UTC)But right now he's comforted by her arms around him and the drink in his hand, so he just leaves things be, kissing her neck.]
I don't want to fight with you about this. Don't make have to fight about it all the time. Let's just stay in today, have some drinks and lay around in bed. Nurse this horrible hangover of ours, yes?
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 03:32 am (UTC)Knees weak, she tilts her head so he can get better access to the creamy flesh.]
I'd love nothing more, [she says, and leans into the hug, holding him tighter.] You know exactly what to say.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 04:00 am (UTC)He kisses up her soft neck, slowly inhaling the scent of her. Even hungover like this, he swears she smells like fresh flowers. When he gets to her ear, he nuzzles his nose against it and he feels calmer already. ]
It's easy when I'm around you.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 04:41 pm (UTC)I want to help you, Charles, [she tells him.] If it takes the day in bed, it takes the day in bed.
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-02 06:58 pm (UTC)I'm going to shower, I probably smell like weeds dunked into a distillery.
[And yet he still drinks more from his glass, before reaching over and grabbing hers as well, handing it over to her]
(no subject)
Date: 2017-07-03 12:14 am (UTC)She takes the vodka, and gives Charles a quick squeeze before she lets go and starts to drink.] Hurry up.
sorry, i was away!
Date: 2017-07-07 05:55 am (UTC)They might've had other things to do today, but he doesn't remember. It's been harder to keep track of everything lately. All the days run together when he ends up drunk for most of them. When he's done, he wraps a towel around his waist and goes to light up a cigarette, heading to his room, seeing Camilla there. ]
You know, I'm not even sure what day it is.
XD same
Date: 2017-07-10 02:33 am (UTC)It's Tuesday.