It Scares You Being Alone

It's a last resort. Adele Naida One of the Seven Sirens Triton's Palace

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

Clopin laughed mirthlessly, nodding as she told him what he already knew it sounded like. He wasn’t sure how to make it sound like anything else, which made him wonder if it even was anything other than that. He took whatever approach he needed to in order to get the information for Ursula but he was trading that information to her in return for money. He hesitated as Adele took his hand, looking down at their hands and then back up at her.

"I do want to do this.” He assured her, shifting closer towards her. “You’re the best thing that’s happened to me in, well, ever.”

[adelenaida-blog]

Adele smiled brightly, leaning up on her toes and kissing him chastely. "Then lets give us an honest try. We owe it to ourselves right?" She was so hopeful at the chance to finally be actually happy.

[sally-leanne-morrow]

Sally smiled. “I don’t see why not. You’re a very beautiful woman, you looks alone can surely win you some free cheese sticks from any waiter.” 

[adelenaida-blog]

"I'm both flattered and now feel a bit like you are going to start pimping me out."

[officersoucie]

"I have no idea but let me know if it works."

[adelenaida-blog]

"I might have to step it up, I can't tell if he is into women."

[xavierrhiding-blog]

"I’m gonna go with no, but you can always try." 

[adelenaida-blog]

"I should just flirt with him then, give me a fake number?"

[adelenaida-blog]

"Do you think if I ask nicely the waiter will get me free cheese sticks?"

[princessofnevarra]

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

It was then that Clopin realized he should have tried to explain this all a little before just jumping straight into that. He’d made her feel like shit and he could see the feelings of inadequacy all over her. It was painful, that being the farthest thing from what he’d intended.

"It’s not that I want anyone other than you. You’re the only one I want.” He stepped forward, wanting to reach out and touch her but afraid that she wouldn’t want that just now… And he couldn’t blame her for that. He wanted to explain the situation in depth but he wasn’t sure it was wise to spill the truth about everything to someone that might very soon be an angry ex after a very short-lived relationship. He decided not to bring Ursula into it at least, wanting to avoid that if at all possible since they both worked for the woman.

"I work another job. I had to pay for my mom’s treatments and it’s just… I’ve done whatever I had to in order to make things work out. I’ve had to be versatile. I understand why you’re upset about this- but you know what it’s like trying to make ends meet. My mom depends on me for everything- there’s no way I could support her on what I make at the Palace."

[adelenaida-blog]

Her brows furrowed slightly at his explanation. If Clopin was trying to reassure of anything, he wasn't doing a very good job. "You realize you're making yourself sound a prostitute right?" She quirked a brow,"look I understand doing what you have to, believe me I do. I have a whole past that I have tried to forget."

"If you want to do this then we will, we will take everything else as it goes," Adele spoke gently, grabbing one of his hands,"and if you need any help with anything, I am here for you." 

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

The fact that she was trying to reassure him just made him feel more uncertain. He knew that perfection didn’t exist but he wasn’t sure he’d be good enough even for someone who understood that. Adele could do so much better than him and he was all too aware of that fact.

Shifting uncertainly, his hands felt uncomfortably warm against hers. He looked her in the eye, taking a deep breath as his jaw squared and his expression was wrought with a mixture of helplessness and determination.

"Would it bother you if we weren’t exclusive? Like physically, I mean." He forced the words out, bracing himself for her withdrawal. He couldn’t expect anything else really, knowing that probably sounded as bad to her as it did to him.

[adelenaida-blog]

"Did you not hear the whole jealous and selfish thing?" Adele joked, forcing a smile on her lips but it didn't reach her eyes. She pulled her hands away from his, taking a sip of her water as she tried to figure out what to say to him. Keeping her hands busy, she tried to open up the orange pill bottle. She frowned slightly, before setting it back on the counter.

How the hell was she supposed to react to that? She had been just so sure that he was as into her as she was into him. The doubts from when she was just a kid seemed to sink deeper into her head. Of not being enough, of the fact she would probably always end up alone. No one wanted her after all. Her jealousness was beginning to rear it's ugly head, that dark, sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. Adele finally managed to look at him, taking a somewhat shallow breath. 

"Yes, it would bother me," she finally spoke,"so if that is what you want then it is probably best we just stop before I get even more attached. I'm sorry if I put you into any kind of uncomfortable position." Her voice was firm, she wouldn't allow him to see her any other way.

[arthur-flik]

"That’s something you don’t hear everyday"

[adelenaida-blog]

"Ah, it's pretty common for a burlesque dancer though."

[quinn-valentine]

"I knew there was a reason to why I liked you"

[adelenaida-blog]

"You mean other than my pretty face and killer clothes?"

[ursulalennox-blog]

Ursula nodded in approval, but just as she was about to turn and go back to her own work, Adele’s question caught her attention. Smirking, she raised an eyebrow and placed her hand on her hip. “Glad to hear that you girls are all getting along so well,” she said with a laugh. “Which one are you gettin’ cozy with then?”

[adelenaida-blog]

"None of the girls," Adele chuckled softly,"as much as I love a female figure, it's actually Clopin I have been 'gettin cozy with'. I just want to make sure all the bases are covered before I think about anything long term." She didn't know why she was really asking, honestly she would probably just date him in secret if she said no.

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

Clopin nodded, setting the glass aside as she jumped right into her side of things. He knew this wasn’t an argument but he couldn’t help but feel like it was, setting himself up for failure by assuming that it would end that way.

"No, no. I want to. You’re - perfect. I can’t even begin to explain how much I want this. My life is just a little more complicated than you might realize. I want to make this work with you but I’m afraid you won’t like me once you know more about me. I mean, I don’t even particularly like me a lot of days.” He admitted, wondering how bad it would look if he hastily downed that glass of whiskey she had poured before. He wasn’t sure how much he should tell her about his dealings with Ursula’s business outside of the Palace, not wanting to risk jeopardizing everything that he’d worked for in addition to driving Adele away.

[adelenaida-blog]

Adele smiled softly, taking his hands,"from the little I know about relationships, a part of it is learning more about each other. You're not the only person with secrets, I could easily scare you away with my jealousy or selfishness. Believe me, I'm not perfect. Perfection doesn't exist. All we can do is to try this and if or when problems arise, work through them. Simple as that."

[hopefeir]

[adelenaida-blog]

Ksenia Solo at Wizard World Portland (source)

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

A look of understanding crossed Clopin’s features as he saw the bottle of pills, followed by a further sinking feeling. He nodded in understanding with a sympathetic half-smile.

"I don’t know. What do you want to do?" He asked hesitantly, taking the glass from her.

[adelenaida-blog]

"Let's get this out of the way," Adele spoke, taking a deep breath as if to prepare herself. "I'm really into you, like more than I've ever been to anyone and honestly I would like to say 'hey this is my boyfriend' but if you don't want to I guess I understand, it could make work weird I guess. I just don't want to lose you because I do really, really like you. There I said it."

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

"Um, whiskey would be good." Clopin decided to opt for the harder choice where normally he would have gone with a beer. He scrunched his nose as she grabbed a bottle of water.

"You’re seriously gonna let me drink alone?" He asked.

[adelenaida-blog]

She smiled softly, picking up her orange pill bottle she had gotten from the doctor after the mugging. "I'm not supposed to drink while on my meds," she said, shaking the bottle,"though it really does fucking suck." 

Adele pulled out a glass and the bottle of whiskey, pouring him a glass. "Should we talk now or wait till after we eat?"

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

[clopin-amaya]

Clopin allowed himself to be pulled inside, smiling a little as she spoke. Normally he would have been thrilled to see her but he had been dreading this conversation, worried that this might be the night that the dream he’d found himself in would end.

"Can I get a drink?" He asked hopefully, knowing he was going to need it.

[adelenaida-blog]

"Yes, what can I get you?" She perked a brow as she shut the front door,"I have beer, wine, vodka, whiskey, scotch, actually you name it and I probably have it. I may have a drinking problem." She chuckled softly as she headed into her small kitchen, grabbing herself a bottle of water. 

[adelenaida-blog]

Details | Clopin & Adele

Adele smiled slightly when she heard the knock on her door, her stomach fluttering at the thought of their relationship talk. The chinese takeout had arrived only ten minutes earlier and she had set up the coffee table with everything they would need. She sort of skipped towards the door, opening it with a smile on her face.

"Hey," she spoke softly, before grabbing his arm and pulling him inside. "I have food and netflix and anything else we need."