magician_king | IC INBOX for The Last Voyages

[Oh, well. That explains it, in theory.]

It's not actually that hard to tell, Quentin. All the--

[As she goes over to him, she waves a hand back towards some of the detritus she's come across.]

Is that why the kitchen looks that way, too?

Oh- no, the magic didn't do a thing to the physical environment. It just made the windows go a little weird upstairs and put in a door.

This is just what the house is like.

Oh.

[That was rather more what she feared, of course. She wrinkles her nose and takes another look around, then decides, firmly:]

Not while I'm here. I'll take care of it.

...I'll help.

[Quentin decides.]

I mean, you'll steer, because obviously I'm terrible at this, but if you're working, I'll be working.

Don't worry about it. It's like rent. And I like cleaning.

[And Quentin is obviously terrible, and she's probably going to end up redoing whatever he does, because--]

I warned you about it, the... neat-freakiness.

You did.

[He has to admit.]

I just don't want you to feel like you have to. I'd never want to take advantage.

You're not. It's not like that.

[She gives him a Look.]

I just like things to be tidy. It makes me feel more... [In control.] ...comfortable. Okay?

Yes ma'am.

[He decides, then and there.]

Last you'll hear of it.

Good.

[She goes back to the table to pick up her bag.]

Where does this go? I wasn't sure.

Oh- through here.

[Standing, to show her through to the back bedroom. It's clearly his, as he'd warned her it would be- the bed is stripped bare, but lovely brass. There are shelves, littered with nicknacks he's picked up in his time onboard, her Christmas presents among them, and all the other ones they all got- statues of little animals and the like. A second pocketwatch, different from the one he always wears as his warden item. It's tidy, only by virtue of being so sparse.

[It's all lovely -- his bed is nicer than hers, although whether that's a New York perk or a warden perk she couldn't say -- but she gives him an uncertain look all the same.]

I can't just take your room like that. You're sure there's nowhere else you can put me?

[She has to at least try to talk him out of it.]

Tidy isn't same as picky. I'm easy.

It's really, really important to me that you're well-appointed while you're here. I'd feel ungentlemanly if you were on a couch, and I'd be really uncomfortable the whole time. This- you're doing me a favour, I promise.

[It's really, really important to me, Quentin says, and something melts for Nina under all the cynicism. She smiles unguardedly, girlishly, her eyes bright.]

Okay.

[How can she possibly argue with that?]

So help me with the fitted sheet. I'm tragic with those.

[He decides, laughing.]

IC INBOX for The Last Voyages

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