[ Fingers brush against fingers, skin against skin, and reality collapses around them. She stands like she's at the center of a blank universe, staring at a piece of her life that shouldn't fit in any logical place — somewhere in England, in a manor just as ridiculous as this, horror and hedonism walking hand in hand almost every day. She sees them by the pool, she sees them in an abandoned chapel; sees him picking her up from a clinic with a damaged shoulder, sees them sitting outside in the early hours while he shows her how to make art and reveals the many faces he's had. Sees them having sex, saying I love you and meaning it, kissing at the countdown of a new year, huddling in an apocalyptic scenario, making plans for the future when Raíz eventually found her way to their luxurious prison and brought them home. ]
Oh my god.
[ One arm thrown around him for a hug, face to face, she lets go of his hand to complete the embrace, holding Theodore Price so very so tight. She knows his name. He knows hers. ]
[His arms are around her, tightly cinched. He remembers meeting her - remembers the life they laid out together, full of dreams and a future that was almost taken from them. Because he remembers more than that, too. Disjointed memories that are all colliding in his brain, of how his life went on after that... after meeting her, after losing her. After losing everything and vindictively stabbing a knife into the heart of...
And then he was here, in the manor, somehow. Trying to think too hard of how he came to be here makes him feel lightheaded and odd in a way he doesn't want to test. Little does he know that the reason for his split thoughts is indeed rooted in the fact his memories were split from the Theo that was, into the Teddie that will be and the... Jewel Beetle that now exists. A happy ending for both mind and body, it seems.
He's kissing the crown of her head.]
I knew that I knew you. Even though I- didn't have reason to.
[ She feels strange in her own body, old-new memories from a place that's neither in the past or the future, really, except on the date announced to its every guest. Cellar changed while she was there, but she's still ... her, right? And Theo is here. ]
[He'll miss that. He feels like he understands her more now, having been separated from Mila as long as she had. He kisses her brow, then each cheek. Slow and methodical, like he has all the time in the world to bless her with these kisses. And, thanks to things working out for once... maybe he does.]
... I'm not sure what to do with our newfound freedom. What - what should we do? Besides... stay stitched at the hip.
[ Each kiss does feel like a blessing; the last one is to his lips, his face in her hands, chaste, sweet, making up for what she thought had been a lost dream. Then she hugs him again, cheek on his shoulder. Cellar's forgotten wish was made years before she ended up in Saltburn, years before she ever imagined someone like Theo could exist, and yet this feels like the confirmation that what's in her contract is real. It came true. ]
… We could have our first date. [ Grinning. ] In the real world this time. Wait, oh my god — a road trip!
[It's been years since he had the ability to roam free - and even before then, his life was marred with the concept of always having Willem out there waiting. He's... free of that shackle, and the shackle of being entrapped in other universes. He seems stunned at the notion, smile reviving with another kiss, lip to lip and then to the tip of her nose.]
We could really? Where do you want to go? How do we - who has a van we can steal?
[ She's looking at him now, both hands on her cheeks. They're warm. This is harder to decide than she thought it'd be. Mostly because up until Jewel made it here she didn't think it was going to be a necessary decision at all. Well, maybe she would meet someone eventually, fall for them enough to want this…
… and she did. Just somewhere else. ]
He probably will? But it's not like he can stop us. No matter how hard he rolls his eyes.
Alright. Let's - let's plan it all out first, so if he's pissy we can just dip. Do you actually wanna go to Vegas? I thought the cheesy little chapel might be cute, I dunno.
[He's not sure how to tell her that was a very long time ago for him - how he went through the wringer after that, and all this unnecessary detail that led him here. But he furrows his brow rather than weigh her down with that, and tentatively turns his head to one side.]
Finding you against all odds, like I did again here.
[ He helps the murmur of anxiety quiet down effortlessly. She hugs him close, cheek against him, and lets her eyes close. They'll get started on their new (and old) plans in a minute. ]
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no subject
Oh my god.
[ One arm thrown around him for a hug, face to face, she lets go of his hand to complete the embrace, holding Theodore Price so very so tight. She knows his name. He knows hers. ]
You're here. It worked.
no subject
And then he was here, in the manor, somehow. Trying to think too hard of how he came to be here makes him feel lightheaded and odd in a way he doesn't want to test. Little does he know that the reason for his split thoughts is indeed rooted in the fact his memories were split from the Theo that was, into the Teddie that will be and the... Jewel Beetle that now exists. A happy ending for both mind and body, it seems.
He's kissing the crown of her head.]
I knew that I knew you. Even though I- didn't have reason to.
no subject
We found each other. And you look exactly the same.
[ She sounds happy, but also — sad? And self-aware. ]
I can't call you— [ She stops, looking up, same feeling translating on her expression, sad smile. Cellar mouths 'Teddie', just in case, ] Anymore.
no subject
[He'll miss that. He feels like he understands her more now, having been separated from Mila as long as she had. He kisses her brow, then each cheek. Slow and methodical, like he has all the time in the world to bless her with these kisses. And, thanks to things working out for once... maybe he does.]
... I'm not sure what to do with our newfound freedom. What - what should we do? Besides... stay stitched at the hip.
no subject
… We could have our first date. [ Grinning. ] In the real world this time. Wait, oh my god — a road trip!
no subject
[It's been years since he had the ability to roam free - and even before then, his life was marred with the concept of always having Willem out there waiting. He's... free of that shackle, and the shackle of being entrapped in other universes. He seems stunned at the notion, smile reviving with another kiss, lip to lip and then to the tip of her nose.]
We could really? Where do you want to go? How do we - who has a van we can steal?
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[ Playing with his hair, gradually beaming again. ]
I mean - just as long as we make it back in time for the family dinner. Wanna go to Disneyland?
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I was hoping something a little more romantic. Like Vegas.
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[ Cellar can only pretend to mean that for about two seconds, then she's hiding her face against Theo's neck. ]
You wanna do it for real?
[ Third time's the charm, or something. ]
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[Do they have to invite anyone? Would she want to?]
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[ Cane Corso and Boa Constrictor come to mind. So does their messy divorce. Uhm. ]
But maybe … we could tell Great? Since he was my mentor.
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[He says with a pretend wince, mostly joking on the latter part - jk jk unless...?]
He won't get annoyed and tell us not to do it, right?
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… and she did. Just somewhere else. ]
He probably will? But it's not like he can stop us. No matter how hard he rolls his eyes.
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Alright. Let's - let's plan it all out first, so if he's pissy we can just dip. Do you actually wanna go to Vegas? I thought the cheesy little chapel might be cute, I dunno.
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[ Arms wrapping around his shoulders and neck now. ]
Oh, this means I should go shopping. Can't let you see the dress before, can I?
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[...]
Silly question but - do we get a company card, or...?
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[ But he only has an issue when agents get unhinged with their spending. See: that one time someone brought a tank. ]
What kind of ring did you wanna get?
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[Theo likes rings, but he loves sentiment the most. Anything can have meaning in the right way; tattoos, earrings, scars.]
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I don't think I've ever worn diamonds before. Not — not out here, I mean.
[ She wore just about everything in Saltburnt. Her smile softens then, thinking. ]
What's the last thing you remember from the other place?
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Finding you against all odds, like I did again here.
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I'm glad you found me. [ Caressing his hair. ] I feel like more stuff keeps trickling in every minute? It's weird.
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Let's get ahead of it all and carve some time out for ourselves. Ring shopping, lunch and what else? Day by a pool?
🎀!
[ He helps the murmur of anxiety quiet down effortlessly. She hugs him close, cheek against him, and lets her eyes close. They'll get started on their new (and old) plans in a minute. ]
Welcome home, babe.