Carlisle-Esme, Pittsburgh.

[ofthefamily]

Vampires don't sleep.

They do, however, sometimes find it relaxing to sit in a chair with a gramophone record playing in the background -- instrumental; an orchestra. Beyond that, there's no label on the record to dictate where or when the performance was recorded.

Carlisle's eyes are closed, his feet are propped up on a chair.

Comments

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle rolls his eyes, not moving an inch.

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme smiles at him and shifts around to make herself more comfortable.

[ofthefamily]

With the music swelling from the gramophone:

"You can't fault me for being cautious, you know."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"I suppose not," she agrees. "Can I ask why you're so cautious?"

[ofthefamily]

"Charles. The fact that you're still so young. Edward."

Not necessarily in that order.

"Myself. It is extremely rare that I haven't known what I was doing, and now you make twice in five years."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"What does Charles have to do with anything?" Esme asks.

[ofthefamily]

Carlisle shifts minutely.

"I'm not him. I won't treat you like he did."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"I would certainly hope not," Esme says. "Do you think I would be here if I thought you were anything like him?"

[ofthefamily]

Maybe, if you were afraid to run --

"A vampire's venom doesn't heal everything," Carlisle starts and for the first time he can't quite look at her. Even with her so close, it's still --



"We don't have to...pursue anything you don't want."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme tilts her head, trying to make sense of what he's saying.

"I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at. Are you... does this have something to do with me not being a virgin?"

[ofthefamily]

"What? No. No! How -- no. Just. That...no. That couldn't be farther from what I meant."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"Then what are you trying to say?"

[ofthefamily]

"I'm not going anywhere. If there are things you want to deal with first -- "

Namely, shoving Charles into a deep dark hole --

" -- That can be addressed. Your virginity is just...I can't even. No. Not what I meant."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

"Carlisle? Weren't you just telling me to have faith that I would find something to love and that I should be looking forward, not back?"

Esme's pretty sure she didn't imagine him saying those things.

[ofthefamily]

"I'm pretty sure I wasn't expecting you to actually listen to me."

[mamavamp.livejournal.com]

Esme laughs. Possibly for the first time since she started her new life.

[ofthefamily]

Well.

Okay then.