This is all for the best. Him being ignorant, that is. If Darcy knew it had been three years since his last kiss, she'd definitely have to remedy that as her civic duty. Especially given that she counts herself safely amongst the not deranged population, thank you very much.
Not that this is the time. This really isn't the time, in fact. She curses herself for sticking to the gravely serious matter at hand, rather than continuing to deflect, but is able to remind that it's important.
"I'd like that." Her face scrunches up for a second. "I mean, I'd like knowing how to do that. I hope I'd never have to actually do it."
It's all pretty dramatic, but it's not all self-pity. Some of it's just that Severus is an overgrown shut-in nerd and Darcy's sexual Bluetooth device isn't registering on his wifi because he's a fucking moron and hasn't reset the damn thing in so long there's half an inch of dust on it.
"Such is the case with most things," he says, drawling voice listing dryer. "For a place so overwhelmingly skeptical of magic, there are far too many bloody werewolves and vampires about." They have cooties, Darcy, it's so gross. "I'd tried to generate some cohesion about it but..." he trails off. Incidentally, not planned; Severus makes a vague gesture.
Clearly she needs to look into boosting her signal. Stupid boy.
"It seems like the sort of thing people would rather sweep under the rug and pretend it's not a problem, I think." That's not terribly charitable, especially considering that she's new, but it's not like she doesn't understand human nature.
"There are many reasons, but I don't know that you need to focus on them right now. It'll just stress you more."
Severus sounds a tiny bit like he's forcing himself to say that, and he is - not because he doesn't believe it, but because he's just not used to being comforting. Small children are remarkably durable when it comes to emotions; asking them questions works better than anything else he's found. Darcy's not a child.
Darcy finds the concern and the comfort flattering, but is in possession of just enough sense not to admit as much. "Makes sense," is much easier to say. And about a thousand times less awkward for the both of them.
When they arrive outside her room finally, she fidgets at the door. "Well, this is me." It sounds lame coming out of her mouth, and she doesn't quite stop the wince that accompanies the desire to be able to go back in time just a few seconds so she can take it back. Say something way more smooth than that. "I, ah..." Well, don't start now or anything. "Thanks. Again. For probably the billionth time, and it's still not enough." Jesus, Darcy. She catches herself staring at his mouth and snaps her eyes back up just a little too quickly to shrug that off entirely. "If you wanted to check up on me later... That would be okay."
Any awkwardness doesn't register with Severus - at least, not for what it is. She was nearly attacked by a werewolf and was crying just a little while ago; he doesn't expect her to be perfectly composed. She's a muggle with no context for any of this. He's a little surprised she's not a blubbering mess beyond recovery, to be honest. Nerves are understandable.
"If you like." Which sounds neither disinterested nor interested. Sure, he'll check on her. Okay. "Try to get some rest. And let me know what happens with your friend, please."
Maybe it's not a strike. Maybe this is just ball one. Baseball analogies aside, Darcy refuses to be disheartened by this. Especially given that she's not, like, dead or cursed or something. "Sure, no problem." She opens the door and steps inside. "Later, Sev." Her tongue sticks out between her teeth, forming the beginnings of an aborted superfluous thank you. A small wave is all the attempt she makes at covering it, before shutting the door.
Sev? Sev. Huh. He remembers, then, her use of it in the message, though he'd been rather preoccupied with other content. But it's not such a big deal, he supposes.
With Dacy secure, Severus turns and heads back to the lift, before going to the science labs instead of his quarters. He should probably clean up that bloody mess before anyone sees it.
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Not that this is the time. This really isn't the time, in fact. She curses herself for sticking to the gravely serious matter at hand, rather than continuing to deflect, but is able to remind that it's important.
"I'd like that." Her face scrunches up for a second. "I mean, I'd like knowing how to do that. I hope I'd never have to actually do it."
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"Such is the case with most things," he says, drawling voice listing dryer. "For a place so overwhelmingly skeptical of magic, there are far too many bloody werewolves and vampires about." They have cooties, Darcy, it's so gross. "I'd tried to generate some cohesion about it but..." he trails off. Incidentally, not planned; Severus makes a vague gesture.
Apparently he's not a good PR person.
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"It seems like the sort of thing people would rather sweep under the rug and pretend it's not a problem, I think." That's not terribly charitable, especially considering that she's new, but it's not like she doesn't understand human nature.
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Severus sounds a tiny bit like he's forcing himself to say that, and he is - not because he doesn't believe it, but because he's just not used to being comforting. Small children are remarkably durable when it comes to emotions; asking them questions works better than anything else he's found. Darcy's not a child.
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When they arrive outside her room finally, she fidgets at the door. "Well, this is me." It sounds lame coming out of her mouth, and she doesn't quite stop the wince that accompanies the desire to be able to go back in time just a few seconds so she can take it back. Say something way more smooth than that. "I, ah..." Well, don't start now or anything. "Thanks. Again. For probably the billionth time, and it's still not enough." Jesus, Darcy. She catches herself staring at his mouth and snaps her eyes back up just a little too quickly to shrug that off entirely. "If you wanted to check up on me later... That would be okay."
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"If you like." Which sounds neither disinterested nor interested. Sure, he'll check on her. Okay. "Try to get some rest. And let me know what happens with your friend, please."
No one else needs to go through this.
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With Dacy secure, Severus turns and heads back to the lift, before going to the science labs instead of his quarters. He should probably clean up that bloody mess before anyone sees it.