[ emma's eyebrow cocks in a way that melts some of that irritation in her expression (though she often finds that her vexation is almost a token gesture, rather than because she finds him aggravating — obnoxious, certainly, but not actually bothersome). ]
Oh, I beg your pardon. How irksome you must find it to be confused for him when you're clearly the more handsome man.
[ ...oh, maybe that bourbon is still settled in her system yet. ]
[ Faraday barks out a laugh at that, startled but pleased. Part of him had expected more of that same teasing, a flat reassurance in Emma’s usual deadpan delivery that Faraday was not nearly as handsome as he proclaimed himself to be.
This, somehow, is better. Unfamiliar territory, sure, but amusing all the same. ]
I certainly think so. I mean, it’s as clear as the day is long, ain’t it?
[ emma might usually shut him down immediately from this point, but she's encouraged by the laugh, by the look on his face — and also the odd curl of warmth she feels in her chest. her tone implies she's joking, because she does enjoy teasing him, but...there's a measure of truth to it too. ]
Perfectly clear. Why, you've even got yourself a proper beard.
[ He snorts again, taking the teasing on the chin. This is more in line with their usual back and forth, and it's comforting. An exchange he's grown accustomed to, being the butt of Emma's jokes as much as she is for his.
That first time they had drifted apart after their blow-up had reminded him just how much he enjoyed this, how much he missed it when it was gone. This past week apart was another nail in the coffin, so to speak.
He draws a hand down the beard in question, almost as though he's preening. ]
It is a good beard.
But I like to think my winning personality has a lot to do with my attractiveness.
[ emma finishes off another bite of her dinner before sliding the plate away, leaning forward to gently rest her elbows on the table as she watches faraday stroke his beard.
she might have a real sort of grin on her face if she wasn't such a composed woman otherwise, but instead, there's the familiar impish look she occasionally gets during these exchanges, not quite a grin and not quite a smirk.
mischievous, but amused. ]
Charismatic devil that you are, I'm sure that's exactly the reason you have so many enamored women beatin' down your door. How could they resist such charms?
[ Faraday fights down the grin threatening to curl his lips, and instead, he inhales deeply, exhales slowly on a magnanimous sort of sigh. He shakes his head, as if rueful. ]
It's the cross I had to bear in life, to tell you the truth. All those broken hearts left behind me. A burden, really.
[ Another heavy sigh. ]
Bless 'em. They never stood a chance against the likes'a' me.
[ emma manages to school her expression into one of her usual, perfectly deadpan looks, solemn as she just shakes her head. ]
A real misfortune. Might be for the best, then, that I'm the only one seein' you these days — protect them from having to experience all that lovesickness over the infamous Faraday.
[ of course, she only keeps that tiny smirk off her face for a moment, can't quite manage to tame that light of mirth out of her eyes. ]
[ It's Faraday's turn to lean forward on the table, resting his chin on the heel of his palm. ]
But 'course, this means that you get the full force of all my debonair charms. A wonder you haven't fallen for me, yourself.
[ And this time he does smile, because— well, it's a silly thought, isn't it? Emma Cullen, ever falling for a man like him. Hell would truly have to freeze over for something like that to ever come to pass.
(Even if a part of him wishes. A bitter, warm sort of longing that he tries his best to ignore.) ]
[ emma's smile falls away for a moment — just a second in a slackening of her expression, like she's almost startled out of the joke by his words. but she gathers herself back up again quickly, passing off the faltering with a dismissive little scoff.
damn right, sterner stuff.
(but not nearly so stern as he might expect.) ]
Now really, you've been here with me far past long enough to know that for yourself.
[ and it has been a while, she thinks distantly. long enough that he's become a fixture in her home, and with this past week, she realizes how much that truly means. he doesn't simply fill emptiness for her, but rather, has made himself a place that emma wants to see properly held — by him alone. ]
Besides, all the women you've had moonin' over you in the past, I'd expect you'd suss it out easily enough if I had done the same.
[ He hums thoughtfully, rocking back to rest his elbow over the back of his chair. ]
Reckon you might be right on that count.
[ There were signs, of course. Lingering glances and private smiles. Eye contact from across a saloon, broken by a shy little laugh.
Of course, many of those open acts of flirtation had been acts. A desire to bring in few coins to keep the drinks flowing and business booming, but Faraday liked to think the attentions of the saloon girls were a little more genuine, when it came to his company. ]
[ emma is not, and has never been, the kind of woman inclined to coy flirtation. she could manage it for show, if the need truly arose, but in terms of demonstrating her affection with bashful smiles and furtive looks — well, she just had no interest in that kind of production.
...of course, what that really means is that the finer subtleties of coquetry would often escape her. she's far likelier to bluntly smother a man's flattering compliments than accept and return them — as proven in the encounter with poor teddy q.
and she'd even been trying her hardest to be polite then. ]
Then it seems I may be what you've sorely needed.
[ she manages to summon up that impish look again. ]
[ I may be what you’ve sorely needed. A small, distant part of him agrees with that thought, tentatively flickering behind his sternum. But it wouldn’t do to voice that idea aloud, not when they’ve so recently come to some sort of accord. ] Humble, she says. [ As if in an aside, eyes directed to the heavens. ]
Is that what you call your frequent and unfounded accusations on the quality of my character?
[ her eyes light with good humor, and she might have laughed if she hadn't been so focused on the banter itself. ]
As a man with a proud streak as tall as your tales, Faraday, I'd say I do you quite the favor.
[whosoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whosoever humbles himself shall be exalted — or something to that effect.
one would have to ask horne for a more precise recitation, though that draws emma's mind to the crosses on the hill with a soft twinge. ]
"Unfounded," only by your need to maintain airs, but not because I've misjudged you.
[ though that's far more ribbing than truth. she had misjudged faraday something fierce when she'd first met him, and he'd proved her wrong any number of times. she hasn't forgotten how unpleasant and cruel he could summon himself up to be when he wants, but she's also seen more sides to him than she thought even existed. ]
So. Yes. To keep you humble.
[ said with an insufferable little smile to boot. ]
[ His eyes narrow in an apparent glower, but that good humor still dances in his eyes, flickers at the corner of his mouth.
Truthfully, her teasing did little to damage his overblown sense self-worth. More’s the pity, really, considering the size of his pride. ]
You’re lucky I’m not willin’ to part with these cards just yet. [ This, in a good-natured sort of grumble. He snaps a card off the deck, holding it up between two fingers.] Otherwise I’d flick this straight at that smug little smile’a’ yours.
[ A low level sort of glare before he drops the card back atop the deck, his shoulders sagging as he lets out a long breath. ]
Frankly, I deserve a sainthood for this ill-treatment you heap on me. [ Though he says it without any heat or resentment. ] I’m startin’ to think you only let me hang around on account of my thick skin.
I would have hoped death might remove "poor taste" from your list of qualities, Mister Faraday, but I suppose, given the proof of your coffee, my hope was misplaced.
[ she summons up a look of disappointment, just for him. ]
An honest shame.
But I'm sure it can be fixed up if you learn to drink coffee proper, rather than black and burnt.
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no subject
Oh, I beg your pardon. How irksome you must find it to be confused for him when you're clearly the more handsome man.
[ ...oh, maybe that bourbon is still settled in her system yet. ]
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This, somehow, is better. Unfamiliar territory, sure, but amusing all the same. ]
I certainly think so. I mean, it’s as clear as the day is long, ain’t it?
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Perfectly clear. Why, you've even got yourself a proper beard.
Truly the envy of all sorts of folks.
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That first time they had drifted apart after their blow-up had reminded him just how much he enjoyed this, how much he missed it when it was gone. This past week apart was another nail in the coffin, so to speak.
He draws a hand down the beard in question, almost as though he's preening. ]
It is a good beard.
But I like to think my winning personality has a lot to do with my attractiveness.
no subject
she might have a real sort of grin on her face if she wasn't such a composed woman otherwise, but instead, there's the familiar impish look she occasionally gets during these exchanges, not quite a grin and not quite a smirk.
mischievous, but amused. ]
Charismatic devil that you are, I'm sure that's exactly the reason you have so many enamored women beatin' down your door. How could they resist such charms?
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It's the cross I had to bear in life, to tell you the truth. All those broken hearts left behind me. A burden, really.
[ Another heavy sigh. ]
Bless 'em. They never stood a chance against the likes'a' me.
no subject
A real misfortune. Might be for the best, then, that I'm the only one seein' you these days — protect them from having to experience all that lovesickness over the infamous Faraday.
[ of course, she only keeps that tiny smirk off her face for a moment, can't quite manage to tame that light of mirth out of her eyes. ]
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[ It's Faraday's turn to lean forward on the table, resting his chin on the heel of his palm. ]
But 'course, this means that you get the full force of all my debonair charms. A wonder you haven't fallen for me, yourself.
[ And this time he does smile, because— well, it's a silly thought, isn't it? Emma Cullen, ever falling for a man like him. Hell would truly have to freeze over for something like that to ever come to pass.
(Even if a part of him wishes. A bitter, warm sort of longing that he tries his best to ignore.) ]
You must surely be made of sterner stuff.
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damn right, sterner stuff.
(but not nearly so stern as he might expect.) ]
Now really, you've been here with me far past long enough to know that for yourself.
[ and it has been a while, she thinks distantly. long enough that he's become a fixture in her home, and with this past week, she realizes how much that truly means. he doesn't simply fill emptiness for her, but rather, has made himself a place that emma wants to see properly held — by him alone. ]
Besides, all the women you've had moonin' over you in the past, I'd expect you'd suss it out easily enough if I had done the same.
no subject
Reckon you might be right on that count.
[ There were signs, of course. Lingering glances and private smiles. Eye contact from across a saloon, broken by a shy little laugh.
Of course, many of those open acts of flirtation had been acts. A desire to bring in few coins to keep the drinks flowing and business booming, but Faraday liked to think the attentions of the saloon girls were a little more genuine, when it came to his company. ]
Seems to me I've met my match, then. So to speak.
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...of course, what that really means is that the finer subtleties of coquetry would often escape her. she's far likelier to bluntly smother a man's flattering compliments than accept and return them — as proven in the encounter with poor teddy q.
and she'd even been trying her hardest to be polite then. ]
Then it seems I may be what you've sorely needed.
[ she manages to summon up that impish look again. ]
Someone ought to keep you humble, after all.
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Humble, she says. [ As if in an aside, eyes directed to the heavens. ]
Is that what you call your frequent and unfounded accusations on the quality of my character?
no subject
As a man with a proud streak as tall as your tales, Faraday, I'd say I do you quite the favor.
[ whosoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whosoever humbles himself shall be exalted — or something to that effect.
one would have to ask horne for a more precise recitation, though that draws emma's mind to the crosses on the hill with a soft twinge. ]
"Unfounded," only by your need to maintain airs, but not because I've misjudged you.
[ though that's far more ribbing than truth. she had misjudged faraday something fierce when she'd first met him, and he'd proved her wrong any number of times. she hasn't forgotten how unpleasant and cruel he could summon himself up to be when he wants, but she's also seen more sides to him than she thought even existed. ]
So. Yes. To keep you humble.
[ said with an insufferable little smile to boot. ]
no subject
Truthfully, her teasing did little to damage his overblown sense self-worth. More’s the pity, really, considering the size of his pride. ]
You’re lucky I’m not willin’ to part with these cards just yet. [ This, in a good-natured sort of grumble. He snaps a card off the deck, holding it up between two fingers.] Otherwise I’d flick this straight at that smug little smile’a’ yours.
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[ she props her elbow on the table, her palm cradling her chin as she looks at him, that smug look not quite budging. ]
You wouldn't be gettin' that card back.
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Frankly, I deserve a sainthood for this ill-treatment you heap on me. [ Though he says it without any heat or resentment. ] I’m startin’ to think you only let me hang around on account of my thick skin.
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[ she just lifts her eyebrows at him a touch, that unimpressed expression mingling with the tinted smugness in the crook of her lips. ]
I keep you around for many reasons, Faraday. Most of which are hardly relatin' to your good nature.
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Lemme guess.
[ The cards snapping as he riffles two packets together. ]
My ability to fetch things from high places probably factors pretty favorably, don't it?
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[ she lifts one finger, like she's actually counting off why she keeps him around. ]
I find you're a far sight more convenient than a stool.
[ she holds up a second finger, obviously trying to keep the smile off of her face now. ]
Not havin' to sleep, you're awake plenty early enough to start the coffee. Something also in your favor.
no subject
You sure on that one?
As I recall, someone had complaints as to the quality of the coffee I produced.
no subject
Some people don't care to drink black sludge passed as coffee in the morning. But the second attempt wasn't godawful, so that was appreciated.
Besides, now that you can drink it yourself, it might be more palatable.
[ now she's offering to share her coffee, kind soul that she is. ]
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"Wasn't godawful." Well, now, isn't that just the prettiest sorta compliment?
[ He shakes his head, seemingly in disapproval. ]
Ain't no fault of mine that you drink coffee as weak as all that. Might as well be drinkin' water, at that point.
no subject
I would have hoped death might remove "poor taste" from your list of qualities, Mister Faraday, but I suppose, given the proof of your coffee, my hope was misplaced.
[ she summons up a look of disappointment, just for him. ]
An honest shame.
But I'm sure it can be fixed up if you learn to drink coffee proper, rather than black and burnt.
[ shots officially fired over coffee. ]
no subject
Good Lord, you've got some strong opinions on coffee.
[ Faraday smirks, then, huffing out a laugh. ]
Any other sore topics I oughta know about? Some lingerin' thoughts on the proper servin' temperature, for instance?
no subject
It oughtn't be so hot I'll have blisters from my first sip.
[ she gives a definitive little nod. ]
I don't particularly fancy a throbbing tongue when I am tryin' to enjoy my coffee.
I will admit, you have tended to serve it at a decent temperature. At least you've gotten that much right.
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