[ That, at least, is an instant response that requires no actual amount of thinking. Usually she is all for gross things, but the idea of a jar of snot is a little much for her tastes. ]
Could you even do anything with a jar of snot? [ And then she starts laughing. ] I can't believe this is an actual conversation I'm having.
I can think of... three things off the top of my head I could do with a jar of snot. [ MAGIC IT'S SO CHARMING ] Which is not that odd, truly, you don't want to get into other bodily excretions and alchemy.
[ She folds her legs out in front of her, enough that he knee reaches across the bedspread to bump up into his thigh. Claire doesn't bother moving it and tries to ignore it, act like it's not happening, like it's no thing. ]
[ A lot is safe with her, apparently, and that is-- kind of frightening, in a way he hasn't experienced before. Fear may not be the best term - he's not sure he's able to feel fear anymore - but there's something disorienting about it. Severus wants to say to her that the reason he fought so much is because of this, whatever this is, that he might get used to, that he might completely fuck up. He's always been the person to discard something emotionally significant instead of risk ruining it.
This is new.
He squeezes her hand. ]
I do have to get to work soon, [ he says, with enough reserve to sound a little regretful about it, for once. ] You'll be all right?
[ She thinks about it for a moment, really considers it. Nothing comes, though, no dredged up source of sadness, nothing to imply that she might not be okay. There isn't even really any pain. Just an empty feeling in the pit of her stomach that bleeds into her chest when she thinks about it too much. Filling it with distraction is easier, but Claire recognizes that kind of displacement isn't going to do her any favors, and when the time comes that she needs to be upset, she'd rather do it alone.
All the same, for now, she knows innately that it's going to be alright. There are some loose ends that she'll need to tie up, but other than that, she's fine.
She squeezes back and gets up. ]
I'll be fine. Really. That's not just me saying that to say it. I'll be okay. [ She appears to think about something for a moment, staring at a spot on the bedspread without really looking at it. ] I'm going to have to get some of their things. I might need some help with it a little later, if you aren't busy.
[ He stays seated while she talks, watching her, and squeezes her hand again at the affirmation that she'll be okay. Is he doing this correctly? Being supportive? Claire seems to think so. Maybe it'll be fine. ]
Of course. [ Severus stands up, letting go of her hand again as he does. ] In about eight hours?
[ He doesn't really have 'shifts', he just works until he's too tired, but uh. He'll section it off, for her. ]
[ Claire nods, and then ends up opening her mouth anyway. ]
Yeah, that sounds okay.
[ That will give her enough time to actually gather herself together enough to collect what needs to be collected. She's not sure what she's going to do with any of it, but Claire supposes that she can cross that bridge when she comes to it. (Joke's on her, though, since she'll be the one with more than an armload of stuff and three dogs to contend with.)
And she knows, also, that breaks in his schedule aren't really breaks so much as self-imposed points in time where he makes himself put things down, so Claire can appreciate sectioning off something just because she asked. He's standing, and she's standing, so it seems a decent enough time to push herself up onto her toes and link her arms over his shoulders and behind his neck, stepping close to press against him and hold on for a moment. ]
[ For the first heartbeat Severus stands still and unresponsive, a bit taken aback but not at least not bluescreening. He catches up quickly enough and returns her embrace, palms slightly cool on her back. He lets his hands raise to her shoulderblades when they part, flickering a brief, small smile. ]
[ Her return volley of a smile is small and not really as packed with light as is her standard fanfare, but it's there, and it's genuine even if it's tight. Claire lingers in the radius of his embrace long enough only for it not to seem like she's running away, and then moves to open the door for him. Floor five bleeds into the room, but it's still a quiet hallway. It strikes her how much it actually means that he came all the way down here - - now edging into multiples - just to check up on her. She would find that mostly annoying if it was anyone else, but Severus manages to be unobtrusive in that way.
The door slides open and she catches and releases his hand in a brief squeeze on his way out. ]
[ It's true that Severus does not like being on this floor (why, w h y did they all move down here); he doesn't want to deal with Black and Lupin, and he doesn't want to deal with Black's reaction to knowing he doesn't want to deal with him, but-- whatever.
He steps into the hall, then turns around, giving Claire one last nod before he shifts slightly to one side and vanishes. ]
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[ That, at least, is an instant response that requires no actual amount of thinking. Usually she is all for gross things, but the idea of a jar of snot is a little much for her tastes. ]
Could you even do anything with a jar of snot? [ And then she starts laughing. ] I can't believe this is an actual conversation I'm having.
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[ Trust him. ]
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I kind of do, and I kind of really don't.
[ To be clear: she's not asking for clarification. ]
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But, ]
I think I'll not tell you.
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And you're always trying to act like you're not nice.
[ Maaaaybe referring to more than just neglecting to talk about poop in a jar. Or whatever. ]
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[ Really transparently kidding; his voice has a softness to it that he would otherwise never admit to actually having. ]
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Your secret's safe with me.
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This is new.
He squeezes her hand. ]
I do have to get to work soon, [ he says, with enough reserve to sound a little regretful about it, for once. ] You'll be all right?
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All the same, for now, she knows innately that it's going to be alright. There are some loose ends that she'll need to tie up, but other than that, she's fine.
She squeezes back and gets up. ]
I'll be fine. Really. That's not just me saying that to say it. I'll be okay. [ She appears to think about something for a moment, staring at a spot on the bedspread without really looking at it. ] I'm going to have to get some of their things. I might need some help with it a little later, if you aren't busy.
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Of course. [ Severus stands up, letting go of her hand again as he does. ] In about eight hours?
[ He doesn't really have 'shifts', he just works until he's too tired, but uh. He'll section it off, for her. ]
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Yeah, that sounds okay.
[ That will give her enough time to actually gather herself together enough to collect what needs to be collected. She's not sure what she's going to do with any of it, but Claire supposes that she can cross that bridge when she comes to it. (Joke's on her, though, since she'll be the one with more than an armload of stuff and three dogs to contend with.)
And she knows, also, that breaks in his schedule aren't really breaks so much as self-imposed points in time where he makes himself put things down, so Claire can appreciate sectioning off something just because she asked. He's standing, and she's standing, so it seems a decent enough time to push herself up onto her toes and link her arms over his shoulders and behind his neck, stepping close to press against him and hold on for a moment. ]
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I'll see you.
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The door slides open and she catches and releases his hand in a brief squeeze on his way out. ]
See ya.
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He steps into the hall, then turns around, giving Claire one last nod before he shifts slightly to one side and vanishes. ]