[Lyall has a strong desire not to actually show his face for this communication, but he has found that it makes him even more anxious not being able to see the people he's talking to over these devices, not to be able to gauge their expressions (or their voices even, when it comes to text.
So. He chooses to use the video function to contact Lilith a few days after their...encounter. He's sitting in the shop, she'll be able to tell that by the background.]
Ms Lilith. [His expression is very serious, his eyes slightly downturned although not completely unfocused on the screen. He's clearly not the beast who backed her into an alley. For one, his eyes are back to being their normal hazel.] Good evening. I....I regret not contacting you sooner. I believe I owe you an apology.
[Lyall remembers everything from that night, so it isn't as if he doesn't remember her urging him on, challenging him. It isn't that he believes she was unwilling. And yet....
He still can't shake the feeling that he behaved poorly.]
My behavior a few nights ago. Our...encounter. [He manages not to grimace, but only just barely.] I was...ungentlemanly. And very rough.
( though she'd intended to tease there's a pause after he finishes. she expects apologies for behaviour certainly but-- being rough? and it tells her something about the man, about who he really is and what he thinks about that other part of him.
it makes her teasing drop, her tone a little more earnest as she responds )
I have no issue with what happened between us. ( it was rough yes, perhaps rougher than preference but no less enjoyable. because she'd wanted it, she'd pulled it from him )
[The look he gives her isn't quite disbelieving or surprised, but there's a quality to his voice that makes him sound a bit unsure of her dismissal.]
Still. If you have need of me, I am at your disposal. [Lyall still does not entirely trust this woman but his guilt over his behavior - perhaps his guilt over his behavior towards others this past week - drives him to make the offer. After a moment, not having forseen the apology being so easy to make, he continues in a different vein.] You have been well, I hope?
( unfortunately so. some didn't mind too much, or at least lilith could brush off the sex even if the manipulations irked her but lyall wasn't more people )
[When she says that, Lyall does not think of the sexual aspect of the changes. They...bother him somewhat but they don't worry him. Something else does. He has thought about that. About what to do if he's made to become different again. There's no indication of his worry about that in his face, though.]
[His gaze drifts off-camera for a moment and then back to her. The weight of the idea is one more stone placed on a pile that sometimes feels like it is placed on his chest. Pinning him down.
Quite suddenly, it is too much. He is finding that this happens...more than he is comfortable with, these days. Something skittering and anxious climbing up his throat, making it difficult to breath. He musters a deep breath nonetheless and forces calm as best he can. Presenting a mask to Lilith as he begins to crumble behind it.]
I should leave you to the rest of your evening. I only wanted to apologize.
[She does catch him at just that moment and because of his surprise and crumbling strength there is a moment where there are cracks in the mask. Enough so the wounded look in his eyes is more than evident.
In truth, in has very little to do with all of this. But that nature...it is a glimpse of what he could become and what he would loathe to be.
He swallows visibly, audibly, and then nods faintly.]
You may be right. [It's a very soft admission.] Thank you, Ms Lilith. Good evening.
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video; un: r.lyall (backdated to...11/3ish...)
So. He chooses to use the video function to contact Lilith a few days after their...encounter. He's sitting in the shop, she'll be able to tell that by the background.]
Ms Lilith. [His expression is very serious, his eyes slightly downturned although not completely unfocused on the screen. He's clearly not the beast who backed her into an alley. For one, his eyes are back to being their normal hazel.] Good evening. I....I regret not contacting you sooner. I believe I owe you an apology.
no subject
there are many ways that lilith could answer this but after what they'd done, at the entire change in him-- coy is how she plays it )
An apology? Whatever for Mr Lyall?
no subject
He still can't shake the feeling that he behaved poorly.]
My behavior a few nights ago. Our...encounter. [He manages not to grimace, but only just barely.] I was...ungentlemanly. And very rough.
no subject
it makes her teasing drop, her tone a little more earnest as she responds )
I have no issue with what happened between us. ( it was rough yes, perhaps rougher than preference but no less enjoyable. because she'd wanted it, she'd pulled it from him )
There's no apology necessary.
no subject
[The look he gives her isn't quite disbelieving or surprised, but there's a quality to his voice that makes him sound a bit unsure of her dismissal.]
Still. If you have need of me, I am at your disposal. [Lyall still does not entirely trust this woman but his guilt over his behavior - perhaps his guilt over his behavior towards others this past week - drives him to make the offer. After a moment, not having forseen the apology being so easy to make, he continues in a different vein.] You have been well, I hope?
no subject
( and she doesn't solely mean him. there had been others that were less than gentle, another wolf also )
It's little different to things this city has done previously.
no subject
[He hasn't been in Duplicity long. There have been the dreams and then there was the war. Mental compulsions are new.]
no subject
( unfortunately so. some didn't mind too much, or at least lilith could brush off the sex even if the manipulations irked her but lyall wasn't more people )
Unless you lock yourself away.
no subject
If it becomes necessary, I may.
no subject
Then hopefully you're able to act in time.
no subject
[His gaze drifts off-camera for a moment and then back to her. The weight of the idea is one more stone placed on a pile that sometimes feels like it is placed on his chest. Pinning him down.
Quite suddenly, it is too much. He is finding that this happens...more than he is comfortable with, these days. Something skittering and anxious climbing up his throat, making it difficult to breath. He musters a deep breath nonetheless and forces calm as best he can. Presenting a mask to Lilith as he begins to crumble behind it.]
I should leave you to the rest of your evening. I only wanted to apologize.
no subject
( she aims to catch him just before he closes the feed, though she hasn't entirely thought out what she plans to say first )
Whilst the city may affect us, bring out natures that we may not enjoy-- not all will think so unfavourably about it. About you.
( this time it isn't about the sex, the fact that she'd enjoyed that but rather it hadn't changed how she'd regard him. well, not negatively anyway )
Perhaps you underestimate them.
no subject
In truth, in has very little to do with all of this. But that nature...it is a glimpse of what he could become and what he would loathe to be.
He swallows visibly, audibly, and then nods faintly.]
You may be right. [It's a very soft admission.] Thank you, Ms Lilith. Good evening.
[With that, he does close the feed.]