#piperhayes

[beyondedenton]

Had he grown accustomed to feeling unwelcome, she wondered? Did he think hospitality had fallen out of fashion everywhere? What a shame, if that were the case.

Piper gave a little nod, not wanting him to feel his concerns were being dismissed. "Not a problem, sugar. I'll talk t' everybody before ya come in. See how they're feelin'. I don't think it'll be an issue, though. Seriously. Ya been t' the house before. The family was fine with ya bein' there."

So long as he made it past the wards, he'd be golden. The witch didn't doubt his intentions for a second.

"I'm to believe everyone knows what I am?" One knew, of course. One had given her blessing. She had seen through his mask without effort. How was her business, but not her secret. If his assumptions were true, then everyone, including Piper, knew the horror of his appearance. Was this benevolent witch more angelic than human?

Too much time had passed without speaking. He no longer had words at his disposal. A polite smile, at best. His gaze returned to the window.

"His face is different," he said at last. "His father..." It wasn't his story to tell, but it was. A portion of it was. "His father was the worst sort of person. I will not sully your imagination with details, Miss Piper, but... my husband, his face is not the same. I didn't recognize him, at first."

[beyondedenton]

"Meditation? Nah. I don't have the patience t' sit still for that long. It might help me with tricky spells but... nah."

She shook her head with a rueful little chuckle. She was a ball of energy with human skin. But it made sense for a man like Maximus.

"I'm glad that it brings ya a lil peace. I want ya t' be comfortable, at the house. Anythin' ya need, ok?"

He wished it had been an option. After so many decades, meditation had become his escape from reality, growing potent with time. She was fortunate not to need it. Her spells would succeed just fine without.

"That's not to say... I will need the permission of every lady in the house. Oldest to youngest. And... our day is yet finished. Your comfort means everything to me."

[beyondedenton]

Piper nodded, considering that reality. The world was so far from just.

"Was it peaceful?"

Then, or now? No, he couldn't beg for the clarification. He would smile that polite smile.

"Not at first. Meditation is a learned skill. But... floating. Yes, floating. Have you tried?"

[beyondedenton]

His suspicions were on the mark. The concept was unsettling. She'd lamented more than once the very human need to sleep, but it had always been with a teasing air. It was impossible to imagine going without the bliss of unconsciousness. She wouldn't have made it through Dom's loss without the ability to shut it all off.

"A luxury? Does that mean if a master commanded you to sleep, you could?"

The demon breathed slowly, shallow. It wasn't a question of politely ignoring or answering truthfully; it was a matter of tact, and careful omission of unnecessary clutter.

"One tried. Not technically my master. Borrowed. More akin to a... trance-like state. He told me to sleep, and I felt as if... as if I were floating. Hypnosis, more like. After that, I tried my hand at meditation. Self-hypnosis."

[beyondedenton]

Her eyebrows rose, and it took some effort not to snap her head in his direction. "Ever?"

Had he mentioned that before? Piper's memory was far from perfect, but she thought she would have remembered something like that.

"Because ya don't have to? Or because ya can't?"

"I suppose I don't have to, because I cannot." He offered a smile, as if a smile would placate whatever it was she was feeling - he doubted that very much.

"My life is dedicated to my master, whatever shape that may be. Sleep is a luxury. A privilege. I fill my time anyway I'm able. I always have. I didn't sleep much when I was... alive."

[beyondedenton]

"Hm. I was thinkin' more tinkerin' with the flavors. Different frosting. Maybe a lighter cream between the layers. Seems like it might be a lil sweet, but maybe with the extra salt, it's not as rich." She waved a slender hand dismissively. "We'll figure it out."

The fun was in the figuring. And she trusted Maximus' experience. This wouldn't be a lesson, but a chance to explore together.

"Keepin' ya," she scoffed, barely loud enough to be heard. As though her treasured friend was a wounded stray that Brooke had toted home. "Ya settle down wherever ya want. We gotta spare room. A couch. There's a chaise in my room, if ya don't wanna be alone. I don't have nothin' for ya to wear, but you're welcome t' whatever else."

"Lighter, yes. Perhaps a Chantilly cream." He would not assume they would each make their own to compare. Though humorous, this was her place of business.

Her suggestion struck him like the lightest slap to his chest. Enough to look at her, attempting to decipher a hidden meaning between her words. Of course, he would find nothing.

He didn't want to be alone. Despite every day of his life in the company of others, he didn't like that dead-hanging silence. No good experiences ever came from isolation. Living in a spare room was far from lonely, but the intent of her words was kindness.

"I don't sleep, m'lady. The guest room will do just fine."

[beyondedenton]

Dimples deep as craters formed in her cheeks. Her smile was as much about the man beside her as it was the promise of trying out a new recipe. She enjoyed an experiment as much as any scientist. Those in the kitchen most of all.

"All right. We'll make an afternoon of it. Maybe make a couple, an' tweak one a lil bit. The neighbors'll take whatever's left off our hands. Or we can pass out samples in the shop."

She gave a little shake of her head, at his question. "Nothin' major. Closin' up shop. Pickin' up babygirl. Need t' make sure she gets her schoolwork done. Aunt Gladys is takin' care of dinner. Just the usual. Got plenty of time."

"Tweak," he echoed. He couldn't recall having used that word in his living years, applicable or not. It felt modern on his tongue, but also like candy.

"Butter or oil, milk or heavy cream; these sorts of tweaks? The old debate in my household was between a cold or warm oven."

But his thoughts lay elsewhere. On the possibility of seeing her family, and the promise of his true form. Both too surreal to be tangible.

"If I were to stay with you, m'lady, where would you feel comfortable keeping me?"

[beyondedenton]

"Mmm. Caramels." A favorite. And they could be tricky, even for her. Only her aunt's skill with a quick healing prevented her from carrying scars from the occasional molten sugar mishap.

"Sweet. You should let me take you out for caramels, one of these days. I found a recipe for a salted caramel and vanilla bean sponge cake I've been itchin' t' test out for the menu. Has an Italian meringue buttercream that looks lighter 'n air. It was so pretty. I think I could pull it off. Wanna be my guinea pig?"

"I will gladly assist you in any baking endeavor. You had my heart at salted caramel." He had her heart long before that, but it was of no importance.

Car rides weren't what they used to be, but riding with Piper was a pleasant experience. A lack of tension in his shoulders. A relaxed spine, and a distinct lack of gnashing his teeth.

"Is the rest of your day scheduled as well? After this delivery, that is. "