[ emma leans her hip against the table, crossing her arms over her chest with a slightly exasperated scoff. ]
Suits you? Rather it hides that self-satisfied look you wear so well.
[ things have changed with faraday — but so steadily that emma hardly pays it any mind to how effortlessly she stands near him now, how unbothered she tends to be by the moments of contact, how half-hearted even her annoyance with the man comes out. certainly, that irksome behavior hasn't vanished, and faraday is just as capable of the obnoxious antics that before would've inspired icy disdain from emma, but...
it's different now.
she's not sure when or how she'd become fond of the gambler, but the months and months that he'd spent in her home, by her side, had softened her to him — had made him important.
probably why the idea of him up and disappearing bothers her so terribly now. ]
And I think I could do with a touch less of that.
[ teasing. always teasing.
but she reaches to take a card from the deck, intends to just flick it right back at faraday — because she can. ]
[ Faraday’s always been quick on the draw, hands made fast by cards and guns alike. When he spots Emma going for the deck, his hand darts out to reach it first. He scoops it up and holds it high as he leans away. ]
Didn’t anyone tell you? You never touch another man’s prayer book without permission. It’s awful rude.
[ He leans back all the more, stretching his arm overhead and swapping the cards from one hand to the other. He may be sitting, but he still has some height on her, and long arms, to boot. ]
See, now? That lack of faith is exactly the reason why you ain’t touchin’ these. You’ll spoil ‘em.
Bad enough you already swiped away one of my cards earlier. I’m gonna have to resanctify it ‘fore I put it back in the deck.
[ The one she had so cruelly confiscated after he flicked it at her. ]
[ the difference in height and arm length doesn't stop emma from reaching anyway, and she just looks down at faraday with a huff. ]
Wouldn't you think I've touched them far often enough that any "spoiling" that's meant to occur already has?
[ because she already spends a great deal of time with those cards — though the one she's confiscated is staying in the pocket of her dress (for now. mostly just to mess with him). ]
Yeah, but you weren’t goin’ off at the mouth with that nonsense of yours before. Speakin’ it aloud is what jinxes it.
[ Faraday is also completely making this up as he goes, but he’s used to bullshitting, used to spouting off whatever first comes to mind as a distraction tactic. Sometimes, it works. Other times, it doesn’t. But it never stops him from trying, either way. ]
It’s like how puttin’ down a hat ain’t so bad, but settin’ it down on a bed drains out all the luck.
[ the same stories is how he intended to finish that, except Emma lashes a hand out, and Faraday interrupts himself with a quiet hup as he snaps his hand up high, keeping it just out of reach. ]
Nice try. [ He grins, triumphant. ] You’re fast, Emma Cullen. That, I'll grant. But you ain’t as fast as me.
[ emma is absolutely not sulking over the near miss. absolutely not even a bit, but she's still a touch huffy as she braces her hand on the back of faraday's chair to keep her balance, glancing from his smug grin and back to the cards then down again. ]
I'd thought perhaps dyin' might have given me some kind of advantage over you. Suppose it's just my luck your reflexes are what they always were.
[ which is, to say, incredibly impressive.
...and with her hand bracing on the back of his chair, she tries to stretch again and reach — because emma cullen is nothing if not determined (and competitive as all hell). ]
[ His grin turns from triumphant to amused as she mopes – and isn't that a wonder, to see such a serious, determined woman brood so terribly. He doubts he would have ever seen this side to her in life, but he's glad for the opportunity now.
There's a teasing lilt to his voice when he parrots back, ]
It's such a treat, watchin' you sulk so magnificently.
[ Though the moment is short-lived, as she's gamely snatching for the cards again. He keeps it away, reflexes sharp and hands fast and arms long, and she leans against him and the chair—
and tips it back.
And he has only time enough to yelp as they all go tumbling backward.
[ emma doesn't even have time for a smart remark, because before she realizes what's going on, the chair has given up the proverbial ghost and the rest of its precarious balance.
...taking emma and faraday along with it.
thanks to leaning on faraday like that, she can't get her feet back under herself in time before she's falling to the ground with a short, startled cry, and she just lands smack against his chest. ]
—oof!
[ it knocks the wind out of her for a moment, long enough for her to just lay there on the floor, blinking wide eyes at faraday, her torso pressed to his, and she's very quickly realizing this is much closer than they tend to get.
she'll stand right beside him, certainly. sit with him close enough that their hips could nearly touch. brush her hand over his arm or give him a well-timed prod, but— this is a whole new level of being up against faraday, and it makes her stomach flutter and her heart pound and that's...oh lord. ]
[ Faraday doesn't have much time to react either. He probably could've blinked himself away to avoid the fall, but the ability doesn't come quite so naturally. His instinct instead has him dropping the deck to wrap his arms around Emma's waist, keeping her in place so he can take the brunt of the fall.
Which he does, and if he had breath in his lungs, the landing would've driven it from him. As it is, he feels his back meet the wood of the floor, has a brief moment where he thinks he sees stars. It hadn't hurt, thank God, but it was enough to daze him.
After a few seconds, once he has his wits about him again, ]
You really wanted those cards, huh?
[ He says it with a bit of a laugh, one hand still pressed lightly on her back, the other touching the back of his head by reflex. Stupid, in retrospect, but he's still not entirely used to being mostly dead, yet. A half-second of prodding is enough to remind him he'll find no bumps, no blood, and he chuckles at himself, slightly self-conscious.
Faraday looks to Emma, still not quite realizing the compromising position they're in, and looks her over with some concern. ]
[ she clears her throat, finally managing to push herself up on her hands. she's still hovering over him, hasn't quite managed to convince her body to get off of the floor, but she's not pressed so completely to faraday, which makes it...slightly better?
she still, unfortunately, feels a touch flustered, and she certainly hopes it doesn't reflect in the color of her cheeks. ]
I'm just fine.
[ she hadn't been the one to hit the ground, after all, and faraday had taken the brunt of the fall; she's mostly startled, a little out of breath, and still trying to gather up the resolve to pry herself away from the man.
her hair falls over her shoulder, and she reaches up to tuck it behind her ear, keep it out of faraday's own face. ]
If you'd just let me have 'em, this whole thing would've been avoided.
[ there's not exactly any malice or anger in her voice; she's not bothered by the fact that they fell, if she's honest, but still feels uncertain about how damn close they are.
Or, you could'a' just conceded that I was clearly the winner in that exchange.
[ Which wasn't much of a revelation, all things considered, up to and including the reason for their meeting in the first place.
The cards in question have scattered across the floor, and he casts them only a brief, annoyed glance, before he goes right back to ignoring them. They'll clean up the mess in a few seconds, but Faraday is in no rush.
He looks her over again, and he thinks he sees a hint of color in her cheeks, thinks he senses a bit of agitation in her words. Embarrassment, maybe for toppling them over like a rickety bridge. He grins, waggling his eyebrows. ]
[ emma meets his grin with narrowing eyes, balancing herself on one hand with her other elbow resting on his chest to point a semi-threatening finger in his face. ]
I am not a sore loser, Joshua Faraday.
[ (except she absolutely is.)
her seriousness is probably belied by the flush of face, the unruliness of her hair, and also the fact that she's still leaning over him like this. ]
And as I had not given up, clearly you hadn't yet won.
Actually, I'm pretty sure I'd won about, oh, a half-dozen times? Maybe more'n that?
[ Still a triumphant gleam in his eyes, still completely unbothered by the fact that she's lying atop him. Evidently he finds more satisfaction in gloating to the exclusion of all else. ]
Seems as though you just don't know when to leave well enough alone. It's endearing, kinda. Bless your stubborn, li'l heart.
[ He laughs, quirking an eyebrow at her in a way that clearly says, That's a load of bull. ]
If believin' that is what's gonna help you sleep at night, Miss Emma, then by all means. Sure. You let me keep the cards outta your grubby, unlucky hands.
[ she huffs at him, that "why are you such a pain" scowl in place. she reaches up to give his chin a forceful little squeeze, eyes narrowed as she looks down at him. ]
How did I find myself cursed with such an irksome man?
[ she's exasperated, of course, but she doesn't, and really has never, thought of him as a curse — despite the oddness of their circumstances. ]
[ He just laughs all the more even as she grabs his chin, and he brings up a hand to grasp at her wrist, to loosen the hold at least a little. ]
I think you misspoke. [ Because despite the phrasing, he doesn't take too much offense. By now, he knows they have something like a friendship settling between them; if she were truly huffed at him, it would've been with much more ice than this.
[ emma loosens her grip on his chin, but doesn't completely let go with that glare of hers still in place.
but it's true, really: if she was actually angry, she'd be moving immediately, shutting him out with a few chilly words, but she's stayed in place, still resting against him on the floor of her home (even if it's not the most comfortable area to sprawl). ]
And I think you expect far too much from that face of yours.
[ ...except she does think he's handsome — and that thought gives her pause when she realizes it, startles her even, but she knows that saying it aloud would be...odd.
and it would encourage him a whole lot more than she means to. ]
[ Evidently that glare of hers has done little to deter him. His grin takes on a crooked edge, eyes lighting in that way that can only signal some silly joke, some ridiculous spin of words: ]
It's made many a beautiful woman fall for me before.
[ He gestures vaguely, the wave of his hand seemingly encompassing the two of them and the floor. ]
Seems as though I can include you in their number.
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Suits you? Rather it hides that self-satisfied look you wear so well.
[ things have changed with faraday — but so steadily that emma hardly pays it any mind to how effortlessly she stands near him now, how unbothered she tends to be by the moments of contact, how half-hearted even her annoyance with the man comes out. certainly, that irksome behavior hasn't vanished, and faraday is just as capable of the obnoxious antics that before would've inspired icy disdain from emma, but...
it's different now.
she's not sure when or how she'd become fond of the gambler, but the months and months that he'd spent in her home, by her side, had softened her to him — had made him important.
probably why the idea of him up and disappearing bothers her so terribly now. ]
And I think I could do with a touch less of that.
[ teasing. always teasing.
but she reaches to take a card from the deck, intends to just flick it right back at faraday — because she can. ]
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Didn’t anyone tell you? You never touch another man’s prayer book without permission. It’s awful rude.
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While I am more than aware you worship at the altar of gambling, Faraday, I hardly think that makes your cards any means of holy.
[ ...and, of course, she tries to lean over and reach them, because emma is hardly one to be so easily deterred. ]
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[ He leans back all the more, stretching his arm overhead and swapping the cards from one hand to the other. He may be sitting, but he still has some height on her, and long arms, to boot. ]
See, now? That lack of faith is exactly the reason why you ain’t touchin’ these. You’ll spoil ‘em.
Bad enough you already swiped away one of my cards earlier. I’m gonna have to resanctify it ‘fore I put it back in the deck.
[ The one she had so cruelly confiscated after he flicked it at her. ]
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Wouldn't you think I've touched them far often enough that any "spoiling" that's meant to occur already has?
[ because she already spends a great deal of time with those cards — though the one she's confiscated is staying in the pocket of her dress (for now. mostly just to mess with him). ]
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[ Faraday is also completely making this up as he goes, but he’s used to bullshitting, used to spouting off whatever first comes to mind as a distraction tactic. Sometimes, it works. Other times, it doesn’t. But it never stops him from trying, either way. ]
It’s like how puttin’ down a hat ain’t so bad, but settin’ it down on a bed drains out all the luck.
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Then maybe I oughta be settin' your hat on my bed, if I'm apparently goin' to jinx something of yours.
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[ Even if it seems she's stopped grabbing for the cards, he still keeps his posture slightly twisted, arm held back, though not quite as high. ]
'S your bed, after all.
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[ 3...2...1...
she only eyes the cards for a second, but then she's leaning over faraday, hand snapping out to reach for the deck one more time.
she's not entirely expecting to get it (because, damn it, the man is fast), but she at least has to make an effort. ]
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[ the same stories is how he intended to finish that, except Emma lashes a hand out, and Faraday interrupts himself with a quiet hup as he snaps his hand up high, keeping it just out of reach. ]
Nice try. [ He grins, triumphant. ] You’re fast, Emma Cullen. That, I'll grant. But you ain’t as fast as me.
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I'd thought perhaps dyin' might have given me some kind of advantage over you. Suppose it's just my luck your reflexes are what they always were.
[ which is, to say, incredibly impressive.
...and with her hand bracing on the back of his chair, she tries to stretch again and reach — because emma cullen is nothing if not determined (and competitive as all hell). ]
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There's a teasing lilt to his voice when he parrots back, ]
It's such a treat, watchin' you sulk so magnificently.
[ Though the moment is short-lived, as she's gamely snatching for the cards again. He keeps it away, reflexes sharp and hands fast and arms long, and she leans against him and the chair—
and tips it back.
And he has only time enough to yelp as they all go tumbling backward.
Whoops. ]
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...taking emma and faraday along with it.
thanks to leaning on faraday like that, she can't get her feet back under herself in time before she's falling to the ground with a short, startled cry, and she just lands smack against his chest. ]
—oof!
[ it knocks the wind out of her for a moment, long enough for her to just lay there on the floor, blinking wide eyes at faraday, her torso pressed to his, and she's very quickly realizing this is much closer than they tend to get.
she'll stand right beside him, certainly. sit with him close enough that their hips could nearly touch. brush her hand over his arm or give him a well-timed prod, but— this is a whole new level of being up against faraday, and it makes her stomach flutter and her heart pound and that's...oh lord. ]
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Which he does, and if he had breath in his lungs, the landing would've driven it from him. As it is, he feels his back meet the wood of the floor, has a brief moment where he thinks he sees stars. It hadn't hurt, thank God, but it was enough to daze him.
After a few seconds, once he has his wits about him again, ]
You really wanted those cards, huh?
[ He says it with a bit of a laugh, one hand still pressed lightly on her back, the other touching the back of his head by reflex. Stupid, in retrospect, but he's still not entirely used to being mostly dead, yet. A half-second of prodding is enough to remind him he'll find no bumps, no blood, and he chuckles at himself, slightly self-conscious.
Faraday looks to Emma, still not quite realizing the compromising position they're in, and looks her over with some concern. ]
Alright?
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[ she clears her throat, finally managing to push herself up on her hands. she's still hovering over him, hasn't quite managed to convince her body to get off of the floor, but she's not pressed so completely to faraday, which makes it...slightly better?
she still, unfortunately, feels a touch flustered, and she certainly hopes it doesn't reflect in the color of her cheeks. ]
I'm just fine.
[ she hadn't been the one to hit the ground, after all, and faraday had taken the brunt of the fall; she's mostly startled, a little out of breath, and still trying to gather up the resolve to pry herself away from the man.
her hair falls over her shoulder, and she reaches up to tuck it behind her ear, keep it out of faraday's own face. ]
If you'd just let me have 'em, this whole thing would've been avoided.
[ there's not exactly any malice or anger in her voice; she's not bothered by the fact that they fell, if she's honest, but still feels uncertain about how damn close they are.
new and strange, is what it is. ]
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[ Which wasn't much of a revelation, all things considered, up to and including the reason for their meeting in the first place.
The cards in question have scattered across the floor, and he casts them only a brief, annoyed glance, before he goes right back to ignoring them. They'll clean up the mess in a few seconds, but Faraday is in no rush.
He looks her over again, and he thinks he sees a hint of color in her cheeks, thinks he senses a bit of agitation in her words. Embarrassment, maybe for toppling them over like a rickety bridge. He grins, waggling his eyebrows. ]
Seems to me you take losin' awful poorly.
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I am not a sore loser, Joshua Faraday.
[ (except she absolutely is.)
her seriousness is probably belied by the flush of face, the unruliness of her hair, and also the fact that she's still leaning over him like this. ]
And as I had not given up, clearly you hadn't yet won.
[ because that's absolutely how it works. ]
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[ Still a triumphant gleam in his eyes, still completely unbothered by the fact that she's lying atop him. Evidently he finds more satisfaction in gloating to the exclusion of all else. ]
Seems as though you just don't know when to leave well enough alone. It's endearing, kinda. Bless your stubborn, li'l heart.
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Seems you just don't want to admit I could've gotten them outta your hands. Maybe I was lettin' you just keep them because I could.
[ ...well, not really, because he's got that height and those long arms and he's quick, but still.
competitive as always. ]
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If believin' that is what's gonna help you sleep at night, Miss Emma, then by all means. Sure. You let me keep the cards outta your grubby, unlucky hands.
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[ she huffs at him, that "why are you such a pain" scowl in place. she reaches up to give his chin a forceful little squeeze, eyes narrowed as she looks down at him. ]
How did I find myself cursed with such an irksome man?
[ she's exasperated, of course, but she doesn't, and really has never, thought of him as a curse — despite the oddness of their circumstances. ]
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I think you misspoke. [ Because despite the phrasing, he doesn't take too much offense. By now, he knows they have something like a friendship settling between them; if she were truly huffed at him, it would've been with much more ice than this.
He knows that firsthand, after all.
Which is why he grins now, winking up at her. ]
Think you meant to say handsome.
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but it's true, really: if she was actually angry, she'd be moving immediately, shutting him out with a few chilly words, but she's stayed in place, still resting against him on the floor of her home (even if it's not the most comfortable area to sprawl). ]
And I think you expect far too much from that face of yours.
[ ...except she does think he's handsome — and that thought gives her pause when she realizes it, startles her even, but she knows that saying it aloud would be...odd.
and it would encourage him a whole lot more than she means to. ]
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[ Evidently that glare of hers has done little to deter him. His grin takes on a crooked edge, eyes lighting in that way that can only signal some silly joke, some ridiculous spin of words: ]
It's made many a beautiful woman fall for me before.
[ He gestures vaguely, the wave of his hand seemingly encompassing the two of them and the floor. ]
Seems as though I can include you in their number.
[ And there it is. ]
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falling on the floor.
of course. obviously. that's all he meant by it. ]
Suppose at least I should be flattered you're countin' me among the beautiful women swoonin' after your charms.
[ but she's quick to add: ]
Not that I have. Swooned over you, is what I mean.
[ she'd like to be perfectly clear on that front. ]
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