( he'd spent most of his afternoon messaging her, missives back and forth across the short distance they were separated that was successful in getting him out of his own head. these days, that was the scariest, most difficult place to get stuck in but he'd found that he could easily forget about everything surrounding him if he was in her presence.
he doesn't really know what that means and he's not thinking too closely about it. he just wants to...feel normal. and being around her, acting like the rand of old is the closest he's probably going to get to that.
sometimes, when they lay down to sleep at night, just before he falls asleep, he can actually believe that he's boring, plain. he's the same boy from two rivers who spent his days farming and chasing after a girl he liked.
and then he dreams. his nightmares capture him, toss him about, and torture him until he wakes up.
rand shakes his head, thinking that's for later. right now, his plan is to seek out selene, find her as they'd been teasing and see what sort of reward he can get for that. )
[ It might be somewhat bolder than her intended plan, sending messages back and forth from the sanitarium where he works — and while a part of Lanfear initially considered the possibility of said missives falling into the wrong hands, she then concludes that there's nothing within them that could even so much as indicate as who she really is, or who Rand really is.
More than that, she knows what something like this will do — keep him thinking of her, even when he isn't supposed to be, until his shift ends and he's making the short journey back to the inn, where she'll be waiting for him.
Perhaps it's even bolder, then, to wait for him in his room, on the excuse that she has the key to all of them and can enter them if necessary — even if she hasn't gone into any other rooms but his, hasn't entered any other dreams but his, since his arrival in the Foregate.
She isn't in here to search his things, doesn't intend on using her visit to disguise more sinister intentions. What might surprise her the most is that she's here simply for him to find her, and to see what he'll do when he discovers her sitting on his bed, of all places. ]
( work finishes uneventfully and he makes his way back to the over a path he's gotten to know well lately. he keeps his head down and no one stops him, no one asks him anyway which is what he wants.
the inn is busy but there's no sign of selene so he assumes she's off taking care of something or other and he'll see her lather.
except, he's wrong. because, as he opens the door his room, he gets the distinct feeling that someone is waiting on the other side of the door. it raises his guard and he tenses before the door swings fully open and it's her.
he breathes out and steps in, shutting the door behind him. )
[ Since his arrival, Rand has made ever certain not to draw any attention to himself — shaving that identifying red crop of hair had clearly been the first and most drastic step, rendering him that much more innocuous within the winding confines of the Foregate. But the rest of the world, his friends included, believe him to be dead, so as far as he's concerned, no one is looking for him. As an unassuming innkeeper, no one affords her more than a passing glance.
Fortunately, tonight at least, she's ensured that the only one who'll be looking at her is the one whose attention she desires the most. ]
I am.
[ Once he closes himself into the room, that door shut behind him, she leans forward, uncrossing her legs, but doesn't vacate her perch on his bed, gaze unapologetically drinking him in. ]
You see, my latest tenant is a bit late on paying me coin for his room. And if he doesn't have it today, well, then... [ She sucks her teeth gently, feigning concern. ] I'll simply have to take my payment another way.
( he tries to keep the smile off his face but a trace of it does flicker before he stifles it and looks down. when he looks up again, his face is blank. he moves to take off his jacket and toss it on the back of a chair.
then, he crosses over to stand in front of her, hands behind his back. )
I'd say I could have the coin tomorrow but that might be a lie.
( he tilts his head at her. )
How would you be taking the payment if I can't pay?
[ There is a bit of Lews in him, she thinks, as much as there can be when he's still somewhat in denial about his destiny, but that doesn't mean there aren't pieces that are completely, uniquely Rand, and she has to remember that, especially when he approaches her with that gentle set of his shoulders, hands clasped behind his back in a way that could certainly indicate innocence but hint otherwise now that she's caught the glimpse of that smile first. ]
Of course. The hospital doesn't always pay on time, either.
[ She says it with a note of understanding, but also with some feigned reluctance — just because his employer is late with handing him his coin doesn't mean she needs to wait to be paid.
Never mind the fact that she's already been charging him less than she should be — something which they're both more than aware of, since this thing began between them. ]
I haven't decided yet. [ She runs her gaze over him appraisingly, now that he's standing in front of her. ] I could accept something else as collateral. A stand-in, to satisfy me until I get what I'm owed.
( and he does want to be fair even if he has to struggle not to smile again. he thinks he has an idea of what she might be hinting at but he doesn't want to give that away. instead, he nods and even bows his head, subservient.
playing a part in this little game that's started now. )
What would you like as collateral? If I can give it, I will.
( he sneaks a glance up at her but then bows his head again, arms still behind his back as he waits for her response. )
Oh, I'm not so sure that you have a choice, wanderer.
[ A remark that Lanfear utters with a sort of playful bite — the truth is that he does have the choice to refuse her, if he wishes it. If he wanted her gone from this room right in this moment, she would comply, would give him the freedom and the space he desires. But looking over him right now, she's all but certain that he doesn't want her to leave.
Slowly, she rises to stand from the bed, conscious of his height over her — so much taller than she is, she thinks to herself, and while Lews Therin may have lacked the same in stature, he still carried that same note of authority in his shoulders.
She stretches out a hand between them, her fingers securing a grip in one of the open halves of Rand's dark coat, and tugs ever so slightly, trying to draw him closer to her. ]
What if I told you I wanted you to warm my bed tonight?
( she tugs and he steps forwad, no stumble, as he tips his chin down to see her. he'd thought, when he'd started this, that he might see someone else when he looked at her but that hasn't happened.
and he's grateful. he wants that part of his life hidden, buried, gone.
this is who he is now.
at his sides, his hands twitch a bit like he wants to touch her, brush her hair back or hold her hip but he keeps still for the moment. he plays the little game with a small smile. )
I think I would be amenable to that. I think I could do more than warm it, in fact.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
( selene/lanfear — @lanfeared )
no subject
More than that, she knows what something like this will do — keep him thinking of her, even when he isn't supposed to be, until his shift ends and he's making the short journey back to the inn, where she'll be waiting for him.
Perhaps it's even bolder, then, to wait for him in his room, on the excuse that she has the key to all of them and can enter them if necessary — even if she hasn't gone into any other rooms but his, hasn't entered any other dreams but his, since his arrival in the Foregate.
She isn't in here to search his things, doesn't intend on using her visit to disguise more sinister intentions. What might surprise her the most is that she's here simply for him to find her, and to see what he'll do when he discovers her sitting on his bed, of all places. ]
no subject
the inn is busy but there's no sign of selene so he assumes she's off taking care of something or other and he'll see her lather.
except, he's wrong. because, as he opens the door his room, he gets the distinct feeling that someone is waiting on the other side of the door. it raises his guard and he tenses before the door swings fully open and it's her.
he breathes out and steps in, shutting the door behind him. )
You looking for someone?
no subject
Fortunately, tonight at least, she's ensured that the only one who'll be looking at her is the one whose attention she desires the most. ]
I am.
[ Once he closes himself into the room, that door shut behind him, she leans forward, uncrossing her legs, but doesn't vacate her perch on his bed, gaze unapologetically drinking him in. ]
You see, my latest tenant is a bit late on paying me coin for his room. And if he doesn't have it today, well, then... [ She sucks her teeth gently, feigning concern. ] I'll simply have to take my payment another way.
no subject
then, he crosses over to stand in front of her, hands behind his back. )
I'd say I could have the coin tomorrow but that might be a lie.
( he tilts his head at her. )
How would you be taking the payment if I can't pay?
( because of course he's the tenant. )
no subject
Of course. The hospital doesn't always pay on time, either.
[ She says it with a note of understanding, but also with some feigned reluctance — just because his employer is late with handing him his coin doesn't mean she needs to wait to be paid.
Never mind the fact that she's already been charging him less than she should be — something which they're both more than aware of, since this thing began between them. ]
I haven't decided yet. [ She runs her gaze over him appraisingly, now that he's standing in front of her. ] I could accept something else as collateral. A stand-in, to satisfy me until I get what I'm owed.
no subject
( and he does want to be fair even if he has to struggle not to smile again. he thinks he has an idea of what she might be hinting at but he doesn't want to give that away. instead, he nods and even bows his head, subservient.
playing a part in this little game that's started now. )
What would you like as collateral? If I can give it, I will.
( he sneaks a glance up at her but then bows his head again, arms still behind his back as he waits for her response. )
no subject
[ A remark that Lanfear utters with a sort of playful bite — the truth is that he does have the choice to refuse her, if he wishes it. If he wanted her gone from this room right in this moment, she would comply, would give him the freedom and the space he desires. But looking over him right now, she's all but certain that he doesn't want her to leave.
Slowly, she rises to stand from the bed, conscious of his height over her — so much taller than she is, she thinks to herself, and while Lews Therin may have lacked the same in stature, he still carried that same note of authority in his shoulders.
She stretches out a hand between them, her fingers securing a grip in one of the open halves of Rand's dark coat, and tugs ever so slightly, trying to draw him closer to her. ]
What if I told you I wanted you to warm my bed tonight?
no subject
and he's grateful. he wants that part of his life hidden, buried, gone.
this is who he is now.
at his sides, his hands twitch a bit like he wants to touch her, brush her hair back or hold her hip but he keeps still for the moment. he plays the little game with a small smile. )
I think I would be amenable to that. I think I could do more than warm it, in fact.