http://paradisalogs.dreamwidth.org/53082.html#cutid1

[chastise]

[Irene knows better than to push her luck, for the moment. He's given her part of the game board, but if she doesn't keep careful hold of it, he won't have any qualms taking it back. So she does nothing than more than readjust slightly, when he snakes his arms around her to continue his work.

She hums out a low, noncommittal noise]

Patience is a virtue, Mr. Holmes. There are plenty who'd pay a fine price, for something like this, and slow is rather the point.

[But it's...Well, it's the elephant in the room, isn't it?] You must have done better than that.

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[chastise]

[His tension doesn't exactly make her stop, just lighten the pressure a little, until she finally feels his shoulders going slack. She's not sure if he simply recognizes that there's no danger in her presence (at least not at the moment) or if he simply in the smallest increments, is taking comfort in it]

I heard you.

[She shrugs slighlty, more an idle role of her shoulders than a proper gesture, knows he'll recognize it for what it is. The pads of her fingers make the slight trek into his hair] Perhaps I'm just interested in the sort of things the 'castle' deems a good time.

[It's true and a little bit of omission all at once. She's not altruistic enough to care for the good of others, and has no reason to fear for her own safety in this. She's not even curious for all the wrong sinister reasons, but she most definitely is interested]