The arrangement - Nora Ward & Dirk Dreamer
“You keep acting like I’m just an inconvenience.”
She says quietly. There’s no anger in her voice - just exhaustion and surrender. Her voice barely stirs the air between them, but the words linger.
He doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t blink. He just watches her - still, unmoving and unreadable.
“Isn’t that what you are?”
He replies, his tone flat, disinterested.
She exhales slowly and nods to herself. Not in agreement but in resignation.
“…Right. Of course. That’s all I am to you ....”
She lowers her gaze, her voice barely audible.
“This isn’t how people live.”
He leans back, calm and controlled. His voice doesn’t rise.
“We’re not like other people..... And you’d do well to remember that.”
She doesn’t flinch at his words. Doesn’t pull away. But her fingers curl just slightly at her sides — the only visible sign of the tension beneath her skin.
“Dirk...... I can’t keep living like this. You don’t see me. You don’t even try. What am I still doing here if I don’t matter to you?”
The silence stretches between them as he leans in and places a hand on her thigh. Not as a comfort or a sign of affection, but as silent claim.
"You’re still pretending this was ever about you."
She doesn’t respond. Her eyes stay fixed on his, searching his face for any trace of softness - anything at all.
Then he smirks. As if the conversation itself amuses him.
“You’re bound to me, Nora...”
... he says, voice low but unwavering.
"Always were.
Always will be.
There’s no you without me.”
______________________________________
"Desk Talk" Animation by @tinisimss
