“It really does. Although,” He began. “the months of constant darkness would fit in with my instagram aesthetic quite nicely.” That was one of the only upsides Severus could see. “Good. And then you can join me in lamenting the fact that there hasn’t been a single accurate adaptation. Honestly, I don’t see what’s so hard about that. Swings and roundabouts. Somehow I doubt that Mary Shelley would have been able murder people in quite the variety of ways you can.”
Severus shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know if there even much of a way for you to be helpful. I mean, it’s not as if you’re a witch. There’s no wand waving that would change things and make them better. It’s not how it works.” And in his opinion it would be ridiculous if things worked that way. They weren’t living in children’s stories, after all. A clean slate. What he would do to have one of those. He knew that a completely clean slate was impossible - he’d have to start over from scratch somewhere new for that to be possible - but they could still try for some semblance of a clean state. “That’d be good.” He sighed softly. “Sev Snape. Nice to meet you.” He attempted to joke, but the humour quickly fell flat in the sombre mood of the room. “We can try. As long as it’s just a clean slate with them. There are some things I’d rather not start fresh on.” Getting a proper job was one of those things he’d rather avoid.
His teeth sank into his lower lip at the feel of her fingers against his scars, desperately stopping himself from yanking his arm away from her touch. Severus knew that he didn’t deserve Marlene. Casting a glance at her out of the corner of his eyes as her head bowed, his breath hitched as her lips pressed against his scars. He really didn’t deserve her. “They don’t hurt anymore.” He answered quietly. She was still there. Marlene had done the exact opposite of what Severus had been anticipating, and it meant more to him than he could say. He swallowed heavily, his mouth dry and his heart hammering away in his chest. “I - I-” He stammered, completely at a loss for words. So much for him always having an answer for everything - what could he say to that? Taking a breath to steady himself, he leant forward and pressed his lips to her, hoping that the kiss would say everything he couldn’t verbalise.
"Honestly, always pushing for the aesthetic. Your dedication is as inspiring as it is downright terrifying. Mary Shelley needs to get onto my level." Her eyes were careful, yet still managed to be soft as she looked at him. She wished, truly and for the first time in her life, that she was some kind of witch. It would have been simpler if she could wave a wand and make him feel better. To make him feel happy in spite of their conversation would have been a gift she would have loved to give him and her inadequacy to do so was causing her no small amount of frustration. But perhaps it was for the better that there wasn't a quick fix. That wasn't how life was meant to work and even considering her profession included bringing an end to people's lives, she still managed to believe in the idea that things happened for a reason. No matter how much pain they brought.
A completely clean slate was beyond her ability to give, but some kind of new start for them both together was something she was more than willing to give if he wanted it. His introduction made her smile slightly and she took his hand, shaking it very slightly before dropping it again. "Marlene McKinnon, and the pleasure is all mine." No, something new wasn't entirely within their grasp, but they could try. "You can have a clean slate with as many parts of your life as you'd like. Including with me, but I'd rather not relive pressing a gun to your head."
She didn't know how to describe the nerves pulsing in her veins as she kissed his scars, scared it was the wrong thing, scared that this would break them. Fear was an emotion she'd tried her hardest to rid herself of; a shaking finger made it harder to press a trigger, but when it came to Severus she almost couldn't help herself. His reply made the edges of her mouth move slightly towards a smile, hoping to comfort him in some way. The scares themselves might not have hurt anymore, but the memories they came with couldn't have been painless for him. Marlene kept her eyes on his, soft and as comforting as she knew how to be. She welcomed the kiss, returning it in kind though only briefly. She felt as thought there was still so much to say, despite the fact that Severus had seemed incapable of articulating. The emotions that swelled so easily in her heart felt strange and new, but also comforting. As though they'd slowly been building without her having even noticed they were there. Marlene wasn't used to doubting herself and so, even when the stakes were as high as her own heart, she couldn't stop herself.
"I love you." The words were quiet, whispered into the space between their lips, but she felt them throughout her entire being. Her heart had been armour plated her whole life, but in the quiet and the darkness of his childhood living room, it was out in the open; all her love bared for him to see.