bitterness without a name

[payglorytoashes.livejournal.com]

Who: ILDE and RODOLPHUS
What: a gift!
Where: a coffee house that is not Queequeg's
When: afternoon... sometime...
Notes: if I say "girl you in danger" that's actually directed at Rodolphus
Warnings: inappropriate poetry

It is still a fine enough day that sitting outside to drink coffee is pleasant, and so Rodolphus has arranged, somewhat abruptly, to meet with Ilde, whom he still thinks of as 'the girl from the fog trip'. Sometimes, as now, 'who gave me the brooch' is appended to that.

There is something about the virtually motionless, straight-backed way he sits that simply does not look comfortable, yet one may get the impression he could easily maintain the position for hours. His manner of dress rarely varies, which was convenient in the event of Dean's funeral; it's still tailored charcoal grays and blacks, though of course, he forwent the brooch at that time. It is on right now, naturally, the same way one wears the sweater their aunt sent them when meeting that aunt. But he genuinely likes the brooch, at least as much as he likes anything, which is why there is a book lying next to his cup of expresso. It is a little worn and not, on first glance, much to look at, but there is still a trace of gilt on the leather cover, and the pages are very well preserved. The illustrations inside are black and white, a little grim, a little bold, definitely strange.

A younger man might fidget, check the time, look around, or inspect his prospective gift. Rodolphus stares off in the distance, perhaps thinking, perhaps not. He is aware of his surroundings, but they are relatively unimportant.

Comments

[rhinemaid]

Ilde and Rodolphus are friends.

Now, this may not be something that he's aware of - she hasn't felt the need to mention it to him, for example, and it's largely based in an arbitrary decision made several months ago - but nevertheless the fact remains, and so she's just slightly pleased when he contacts her, rather than concerned by the fact a man she described once as looking like he might come around and peer in somebody's windows has decided out of the blue that they should have coffee.

Viewed objectively, Rodolphus is (at best) a bit disconcerting. Viewed by Ilde, who is a lot of things but approximately none of them 'objective', his stillness is oddly comforting; the performative aspects of her general interaction become unnecessary. In other words, it's almost like she actually becomes creepier around him by osmosis - Ivan told her once that he thinks she creates a charming character for public consumption, and he's not entirely wrong about that.

So she doesn't feel obligated to traditional greetings when she joins him (but when does she ever), settling opposite and setting down on the table the red feathered beret she's been wearing lately. (Not indoors, after all.) "Is the new wizard one of yours?"

Don't pretend the idea of Rodolphus and Antonin hammered together isn't funny to you, too, imaginary audience.