Who: Seth and Starters Within Where: Around Wonderland When: June Rating: Updated as needed Summary: Working out feelings, and maybe a date at some point. Ping me if you want a starter The Story:
Emotions were shit and Seth is having a fucking time with them. What's right and wrong has never been a concern even if he could be counted on to do the right thing, in some cases. He's just not sure what the right thing to do is. He needs help and he knows where to get it.
Sending a text, he grabs some things from the closet and heads down to the lake, setting up a blanket on the dock and settling in with a tall, icy cup and not alcohol. Which seems casual. Especially for a guy sitting by a lake in a suit and tie.
The texts he sent went to Chloe.
[Meet me by the lake. I need to talk to you about some things.
It wasn't the text so much, but the politeness of it. Not that Seth was every demanding; if anything he was the opposite, usually discounting any support he needed from Chloe, downplaying the things that were bothering him for the sake of strewing in them or snuffing them out completely.
So the 'please?' She's not sure if to be comforted or concerned.
He's pretty easy to find at the lake and she walks calmly to his blanket, pausing to take a look out at the water before she sinks down next to him without invitation.
Glancing up, Seth offers a crooked smile and picks up a second cup to offer to her. "Horchata. I was thinking about Richie this morning," he admits, likely only to admit something like that to Chloe.
"Since I wanted to talk to you about a few things, some of them mirror related, so wanted to avoid them being able to listen in. Not that I don't think the queens can anywhere, but minimizing things, you know?"
His paranoia shows often enough that he has stopped trying to hide it.
"You think the lake counts as a mirrored surface?"
Chloe takes the cup, offering a sympathetic smile in return. She knows Seth is never really going to get over Richie being gone, but he has somehow managed to become capable even in the wake of it. She can't blame him. She'd fall apart without Lucifer, as much as she hates to admit it.
"I mean, that makes sense." She grimaces, though, giving a wary look to the water. "God, I hope not, or baths are going to be really awkward from here on out." Not to mention bathtub sex, not that she'd ever voice that. Ever.
Being apart, and not knowing anyway to be with him is not the same thing. "I guess this is what prison was preparing us for," he says with a snort, rolling his eyes. "Five years then. Just now on a year here. So I've got time."
Which is at least how he's trying to look at it for the time being.
No mentioning bathtub sex, thanks. He know she loves Lucifer, but he really doesn't need details.
"I... I had a talk with your mirror the other day. I put up a message for her and she responded."
She takes a sip of her drink, tilting her head to the side thoughtfully. Sometimes she forgets about Seth's sordid background at home; she compartmentalizes a little too well, and it can be easy to forget that he had a life before here, one that was hard, one that she wouldn't have exactly approved of.
Wonderland might be a break from their lives at home, but Chloe has learned that it's not an escape. There are just some things you can't shake.
"You sure that was a good idea?" She lowers the cup, a little surprised that he would have. Seth doesn't like the Mirrors, and theirs are particularly unlikable. "You know you can't trust anything she says."
"Nope. It is generally a fucking awful idea, especially if you listen to the things that George talks about when it comes to the mirrors and their queen."
Nothing is private, nothing is sacred, and even if Chloe's mirror didn't turn on him, the queen might.
"I just wanted to see if anyone would give us an idea of what their thinking on that side of things, you know? George seems to be sure that they don't want war anymore than we do, so I wanted to check it out. Not like I could ask fanged and hungry, could I?"
He rolls his eyes at that. "She wouldn't commit to anything, but she definitely wasn't all let me kill everything given the chance. Though..." He pauses, chuckling. "I maaaay have left her out a bottle of scotch and..." He lifts his arm where the bracelet is around his wrist. "I may have left her one of these with it. Just to see if it works on culebra."
Chloe raises her eyebrows skeptically. She doubts it would have any effect on culebra, but it wasn't as if they'd ever really had the opportunity to test it.
Not to mention, her and Seth's Mirror seemed pretty cozy at the party near Christmas. Chloe isn't sure her Mirror would want vervain.
"I don't know, Seth. I'm kind of with Georgia on this. I mean, yeah, your Mirror and Freya's haven't done us any favors, and mine is... Well, she's a scary bitch. But for the most part, I seriously doubt they want this anymore than we do."
"Hey, what's the worst that happens? He's pissed that I gave her a bracelet," he says, seeming amused. The problem is that his mirror is a dangerous killer and Seth is a dick with a mean streak sometimes. It isn't a good combination in any way.
He shrugs though at that. "I'm not sure if Georgia is right or not," he admits. "I just know I'm fighting one war back home and I really don't want another one here. Why I checked with the only one that might talk to me and wouldn't literally talk about killing everyone to piss me off."
His mirror would love it if Seth talked to him. It's why he avoids it.
"The worst that happens is he's pissed you're talking to his chick and he comes after you next chance he gets. Or me."
She's not exactly scared - Chloe has already faced death, after all, although there are fates worse than death, she supposes - but she doesn't feel great about the entire situation. It feels like a set up that Seth might have just waltzed right into.
"I think we'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wants a war on either side, honestly. Okay, what did she say to you?"
"He comes after you, and I will get someone to stake him. I know how to kill him, and I know people that will do it," he says, not that he is sure he could swear. Except one. If he told Lucifer she was in danger, he would likely only have to tell him how. Not that he wanted to bring Lucifer into this either.
"It's an experiment anyway. What happens when Richie gets back," he points out, even if every day that passes, he tells himself it won't happen. They were too lucky to have that and it wasn't coming back.
"He would," he points out. "Just from the things I've seen, he's that kind of culebra." Richie hadn't been, but he would be. He will bet on that.
She gives him a look. There's no way he or Lucifer would get to her in time; if Seth's Mirror wants her dead, he'll find her like he did the last time and he'll just finish whatever it is he had wanted to start back then. Chloe isn't sure what purpose it would serve him, but she doubts he really needs one. She's pretty sure he would kill her just to piss Seth off if he was bored enough.
Or, she'd be lucky if he killed her, really.
"He might come back. You never know with this place." Chloe hasn't given up hope for him; because she knows it's all random, she also knows how much time passes doesn't make any difference. It could be tomorrow, it could be two years from now. As far as she's concerned, there's no point in losing hope anymore than there is a point in planning for it. "Okay, sure, I guess he might, but he's not everyone. Did she say she did?"
"It's not his to handle. He's my mirror, and I can handle it." And all of this only makes him want to destroy his mirror more than ever. Of course one day, when a new ruler has taken charge of things on that side of the mirror, it may occur to him to try and ask if there is a way to destroy him, for the sake of all. Not that he's certain anything like that might work, but if you don't ask, you never know.
"You would think, if the rulers here really were as powerful as this place seems, they might have some control on closing those off for good. So why not do that?" He waves a hand. "And I know you don't know the answer. I just think about these things and what goes on here."
He shakes his head. "She is cagey, smart like that, and wouldn't give an outright answer. Which is good on her part, but I got the feeling she wasn't into it, and you're right. Most aren't. Except all it takes is a handful willing to kill."
Given that Wonderland hasn't devolved into all-out war, Maggie calms down a little after the chess match. (Once she's ensured that both Tims and Clementine are in one piece, at least.) She wasn't actually surprised the the chess, just by the fact that its effects weren't even more lethal.
It's a resolution that feels too easy, but it's still a resolution of some sort. A potentially shaky peace is better than none. It's enough of a reprieve that she lets herself turn her attention to resolving something much more personal.
His mirror hadn't died in that battle, and for that Seth is not happy. Especially given one thing he shares with his mirror is not trusting this new queen anymore than he did the last. Maybe mingling and friendship would work with most, but the bastard is a culebra with all the ego and attitude of many he's known and Seth doesn't trust him.
But it ended without a lot of dead bodies, and the mirrors weren't running the show, so he'd deal with it and get back to the other things he's been working on.
Glancing at the message, he can't help but smile as he sends one back. "For you always. Others pay a price. What's up?"
Maggie smiles in welcome when Seth comes through the door, beckoning him
over to the couch. She hasn't made popcorn or started up a movie, so she's
obviously after something besides a movie night this time.
"I wanted to talk to you about something." She makes sure to say it
warmly, despite any nerves. Maggie doesn't want Seth worrying it's
something bad. She'll wait till he's settled next to her before she starts.
The chess mass that wasn't death for all had still been tense. Especially watching his smug ass mirror there playing at tough. The thought of staking him just to see what would happen stays with him often.
But this is definitely not nearly as tense. This is Maggie, and time with her that definitely helps to make things better for Seth in Wonderland.
He chuckles at that start. "Well, if this ends up being bad, I don't promise not to drown my sorrows in Scotch and I'll tell Chloe it's your fault," he teases with a smile.
Maggie laughs softly. "If you come out of this conversation needing to down
your sorrows, clearly I've botched it. Don't interrupt me for a minute,
alright?"
There's only so much she can brace for this. She's been thinking it through
long enough.
"I would have kissed you awhile ago if it weren't for my virus." Maggie
doesn't pause noticeably, though she's watching Seth's face closely for
reaction. "I'm still not willing to let you take that risk, but I
really like you. If you ever want to talk about things we could do a
little more safely, I'm definitely interested."
She makes sure to finish with, "You don't need to answer right now."
It's important to Maggie that he not take risks for her without thinking
them through first. At least not this particular risk. However she feels
about him.
The request not to interrupt her stops Seth, causing him to straighten, watching her curiously as she begins.
An expression that changes slightly, not sure what he expected. It echoes how he's been feeling, things that he would have liked to have explored between them.
Yet there is that part of Seth that never believed she might feel the same way. Not because of anything between them, but because of the man he is and how he's known his life to be. Maggie is an amazing woman, strong and beautiful and resilient. Nothing like the women he's known before in any intimate way. Except maybe Chloe.
"I've kind of been thinking the same things, wondering how that could work," he admits, wanting her to know that it isn't at all one sided. "Like I've been looking into ways to not harm you and others but surprisingly willing to take chances I shouldn't be."
Maggie puts any delight at that answer on hold long enough to summon up a
stern look at the mention of Seth taking chances he shouldn't. "I'm not
saying that dating me will ever be risk-free, but I'm pretty adamant about
limiting that whenever possible. There are still plenty of options,
depending on what level of risk you're alright with. I write porn for a
living, grew up as the heir to a pharmaceutical company, and live in a
world where a magic closet will give me any sex toy I dream up. If I can't
come up with possibilities for any given level of acceptable risk,
obviously I'm not trying hard enough."
She slides her fingertips along Seth's arm before taking his hand. Then,
finally, she grins. "I can get much more creative if I have to, but
protected sex is considerably safer than makeouts. And there are plenty of
places besides my mouth that you could kiss me."
"I could say the same, Maggie. Even if it's not the same. I'm a career criminal with a Prince of Darkness for a brother. Not exactly a recipe for safe and normal."
And he knows it isn't the same but that doesn't change that he is no safer than he might provide for her in many ways.
Yet he knows that while both bring about the possibility of death, it isn't the same. At least he's aware of that.
"Well aren't you being a sweet tease," he murmurs, shifting to take her hand in his. "I'm sure there are a lot of other places. We can work that out. How much..." He pauses, considering how to word this. "What are the limits? Is it just fluids? What contacts are truly off limits?"
Sure he'd love to pursue the teasing lilt in her voice, but even as willing as he is to risk the dangerous, he won't put Maggie in that position.
"You're worth it," Maggie states simply, squeezing his hand. She does get
down to business, though, rather than teasing any further.
"Just fluids. So long as I've showered recently, you're good to touch or
kiss me. No unprotected sex of any variety, no kissing me on the mouth.
If you have any open cuts, warn me so that I can be more careful than
usual. Me kissing you all over is only a good idea if you feel like going
through decon. Nothing makes decontamination pleasant, but I can at
least offer you the best shower of your life to follow it if you ever
decide it's worth the trouble." She smiles and leans her shoulder against
Seth's. "If not, I'm sure I'll survive the disappointment."
She pauses, then says, "My one other non-negotiable condition is that you
don't get involved with anyone else, either concurrently or after me,
without added precautions. I would vastly prefer a blood test
beforehand. If you're unwilling to take a blood test, a serious
conversation about the fact that you may have picked up a zombie virus, and
the risks inherent, is absolutely required."
Seth is silent for a long moment. He's been through a lot of things, endured so many things, and yet he can't remember ever hearing those words from anyone that made him believe them. Maggie though, she is something else and he can't help but to believe her words, even if he think he isn't worthy of them.
She makes him want to believe it though, even if he thinks he knows better.
"Oddly enough I've had a lot less cuts here than I'm used to," he admits, knowing he's making a bad joke at maybe a bad time but that rarely stops him.
"Okay, I'll ask. What does it involve besides a shower, because you are working hard to make showering with you sound bad, and I need to know why." Because he can't imagine why it would be so bad. "Though you're worth a lot, Maggie, and you should get used to me believing that."
Hell as it is, she in many ways represents so much he fears and has developed a dislike for, and is willing to risk all of it for her.
"Uhmmm, okay I've been here a year and dated one person and she's with Satan now, so I doubt that's a problem. Besides..." He falls quiet a moment, considering how to word this. "I've never seriously dated much before this place. I was married, sure, but it was a legal thing and sure she was a hot piece, and I wanted her alive and safe, it wasn't anything for emotions or love." At least not for him and at the time, that had been all that mattered to Seth. "I'm not interested in seeing someone else, Maggie. I don't have a goddamn clue how to handle how I feel about you, or even what to do about it, but I know enough to know I have no interest in anyone else."
He's a confused hot mess when it comes to people and being social, but he can promise her that.
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For Chloe
Sending a text, he grabs some things from the closet and heads down to the lake, setting up a blanket on the dock and settling in with a tall, icy cup and not alcohol. Which seems casual. Especially for a guy sitting by a lake in a suit and tie.
The texts he sent went to Chloe.
[Meet me by the lake. I need to talk to you about some things.
Please?]
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So the 'please?' She's not sure if to be comforted or concerned.
He's pretty easy to find at the lake and she walks calmly to his blanket, pausing to take a look out at the water before she sinks down next to him without invitation.
"Since when do you come out here?"
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"Since I wanted to talk to you about a few things, some of them mirror related, so wanted to avoid them being able to listen in. Not that I don't think the queens can anywhere, but minimizing things, you know?"
His paranoia shows often enough that he has stopped trying to hide it.
"You think the lake counts as a mirrored surface?"
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"I mean, that makes sense." She grimaces, though, giving a wary look to the water. "God, I hope not, or baths are going to be really awkward from here on out." Not to mention bathtub sex, not that she'd ever voice that. Ever.
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Which is at least how he's trying to look at it for the time being.
No mentioning bathtub sex, thanks. He know she loves Lucifer, but he really doesn't need details.
"I... I had a talk with your mirror the other day. I put up a message for her and she responded."
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Wonderland might be a break from their lives at home, but Chloe has learned that it's not an escape. There are just some things you can't shake.
"You sure that was a good idea?" She lowers the cup, a little surprised that he would have. Seth doesn't like the Mirrors, and theirs are particularly unlikable. "You know you can't trust anything she says."
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Nothing is private, nothing is sacred, and even if Chloe's mirror didn't turn on him, the queen might.
"I just wanted to see if anyone would give us an idea of what their thinking on that side of things, you know? George seems to be sure that they don't want war anymore than we do, so I wanted to check it out. Not like I could ask fanged and hungry, could I?"
He rolls his eyes at that. "She wouldn't commit to anything, but she definitely wasn't all let me kill everything given the chance. Though..." He pauses, chuckling. "I maaaay have left her out a bottle of scotch and..." He lifts his arm where the bracelet is around his wrist. "I may have left her one of these with it. Just to see if it works on culebra."
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Chloe raises her eyebrows skeptically. She doubts it would have any effect on culebra, but it wasn't as if they'd ever really had the opportunity to test it.
Not to mention, her and Seth's Mirror seemed pretty cozy at the party near Christmas. Chloe isn't sure her Mirror would want vervain.
"I don't know, Seth. I'm kind of with Georgia on this. I mean, yeah, your Mirror and Freya's haven't done us any favors, and mine is... Well, she's a scary bitch. But for the most part, I seriously doubt they want this anymore than we do."
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He shrugs though at that. "I'm not sure if Georgia is right or not," he admits. "I just know I'm fighting one war back home and I really don't want another one here. Why I checked with the only one that might talk to me and wouldn't literally talk about killing everyone to piss me off."
His mirror would love it if Seth talked to him. It's why he avoids it.
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She's not exactly scared - Chloe has already faced death, after all, although there are fates worse than death, she supposes - but she doesn't feel great about the entire situation. It feels like a set up that Seth might have just waltzed right into.
"I think we'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wants a war on either side, honestly. Okay, what did she say to you?"
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"It's an experiment anyway. What happens when Richie gets back," he points out, even if every day that passes, he tells himself it won't happen. They were too lucky to have that and it wasn't coming back.
"He would," he points out. "Just from the things I've seen, he's that kind of culebra." Richie hadn't been, but he would be. He will bet on that.
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She gives him a look. There's no way he or Lucifer would get to her in time; if Seth's Mirror wants her dead, he'll find her like he did the last time and he'll just finish whatever it is he had wanted to start back then. Chloe isn't sure what purpose it would serve him, but she doubts he really needs one. She's pretty sure he would kill her just to piss Seth off if he was bored enough.
Or, she'd be lucky if he killed her, really.
"He might come back. You never know with this place." Chloe hasn't given up hope for him; because she knows it's all random, she also knows how much time passes doesn't make any difference. It could be tomorrow, it could be two years from now. As far as she's concerned, there's no point in losing hope anymore than there is a point in planning for it. "Okay, sure, I guess he might, but he's not everyone. Did she say she did?"
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"You would think, if the rulers here really were as powerful as this place seems, they might have some control on closing those off for good. So why not do that?" He waves a hand. "And I know you don't know the answer. I just think about these things and what goes on here."
He shakes his head. "She is cagey, smart like that, and wouldn't give an outright answer. Which is good on her part, but I got the feeling she wasn't into it, and you're right. Most aren't. Except all it takes is a handful willing to kill."
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It's a resolution that feels too easy, but it's still a resolution of some sort. A potentially shaky peace is better than none. It's enough of a reprieve that she lets herself turn her attention to resolving something much more personal.
She sends Seth a message. "Are you free?"
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But it ended without a lot of dead bodies, and the mirrors weren't running the show, so he'd deal with it and get back to the other things he's been working on.
Glancing at the message, he can't help but smile as he sends one back. "For you always. Others pay a price. What's up?"
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Oh, Maggie doesn't trust the new queen. She's wary, but cautiously optimistic that they'll at least have a break before things go to hell.
She grins. "Good thing, because I haven't been baking today and I'm not sure I have enough bribes on hand to buy your time. Come over."
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"On my way. No food or bribes needed," he sends, grabbing his jacket and heading out the door for her place.
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Maggie smiles in welcome when Seth comes through the door, beckoning him over to the couch. She hasn't made popcorn or started up a movie, so she's obviously after something besides a movie night this time.
"I wanted to talk to you about something." She makes sure to say it warmly, despite any nerves. Maggie doesn't want Seth worrying it's something bad. She'll wait till he's settled next to her before she starts.
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But this is definitely not nearly as tense. This is Maggie, and time with her that definitely helps to make things better for Seth in Wonderland.
He chuckles at that start. "Well, if this ends up being bad, I don't promise not to drown my sorrows in Scotch and I'll tell Chloe it's your fault," he teases with a smile.
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Maggie laughs softly. "If you come out of this conversation needing to down your sorrows, clearly I've botched it. Don't interrupt me for a minute, alright?"
There's only so much she can brace for this. She's been thinking it through long enough.
"I would have kissed you awhile ago if it weren't for my virus." Maggie doesn't pause noticeably, though she's watching Seth's face closely for reaction. "I'm still not willing to let you take that risk, but I really like you. If you ever want to talk about things we could do a little more safely, I'm definitely interested."
She makes sure to finish with, "You don't need to answer right now."
It's important to Maggie that he not take risks for her without thinking them through first. At least not this particular risk. However she feels about him.
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An expression that changes slightly, not sure what he expected. It echoes how he's been feeling, things that he would have liked to have explored between them.
Yet there is that part of Seth that never believed she might feel the same way. Not because of anything between them, but because of the man he is and how he's known his life to be. Maggie is an amazing woman, strong and beautiful and resilient. Nothing like the women he's known before in any intimate way. Except maybe Chloe.
"I've kind of been thinking the same things, wondering how that could work," he admits, wanting her to know that it isn't at all one sided. "Like I've been looking into ways to not harm you and others but surprisingly willing to take chances I shouldn't be."
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Maggie puts any delight at that answer on hold long enough to summon up a stern look at the mention of Seth taking chances he shouldn't. "I'm not saying that dating me will ever be risk-free, but I'm pretty adamant about limiting that whenever possible. There are still plenty of options, depending on what level of risk you're alright with. I write porn for a living, grew up as the heir to a pharmaceutical company, and live in a world where a magic closet will give me any sex toy I dream up. If I can't come up with possibilities for any given level of acceptable risk, obviously I'm not trying hard enough."
She slides her fingertips along Seth's arm before taking his hand. Then, finally, she grins. "I can get much more creative if I have to, but protected sex is considerably safer than makeouts. And there are plenty of places besides my mouth that you could kiss me."
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And he knows it isn't the same but that doesn't change that he is no safer than he might provide for her in many ways.
Yet he knows that while both bring about the possibility of death, it isn't the same. At least he's aware of that.
"Well aren't you being a sweet tease," he murmurs, shifting to take her hand in his. "I'm sure there are a lot of other places. We can work that out. How much..." He pauses, considering how to word this. "What are the limits? Is it just fluids? What contacts are truly off limits?"
Sure he'd love to pursue the teasing lilt in her voice, but even as willing as he is to risk the dangerous, he won't put Maggie in that position.
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"You're worth it," Maggie states simply, squeezing his hand. She does get down to business, though, rather than teasing any further.
"Just fluids. So long as I've showered recently, you're good to touch or kiss me. No unprotected sex of any variety, no kissing me on the mouth. If you have any open cuts, warn me so that I can be more careful than usual. Me kissing you all over is only a good idea if you feel like going through decon. Nothing makes decontamination pleasant, but I can at least offer you the best shower of your life to follow it if you ever decide it's worth the trouble." She smiles and leans her shoulder against Seth's. "If not, I'm sure I'll survive the disappointment."
She pauses, then says, "My one other non-negotiable condition is that you don't get involved with anyone else, either concurrently or after me, without added precautions. I would vastly prefer a blood test beforehand. If you're unwilling to take a blood test, a serious conversation about the fact that you may have picked up a zombie virus, and the risks inherent, is absolutely required."
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She makes him want to believe it though, even if he thinks he knows better.
"Oddly enough I've had a lot less cuts here than I'm used to," he admits, knowing he's making a bad joke at maybe a bad time but that rarely stops him.
"Okay, I'll ask. What does it involve besides a shower, because you are working hard to make showering with you sound bad, and I need to know why." Because he can't imagine why it would be so bad. "Though you're worth a lot, Maggie, and you should get used to me believing that."
Hell as it is, she in many ways represents so much he fears and has developed a dislike for, and is willing to risk all of it for her.
"Uhmmm, okay I've been here a year and dated one person and she's with Satan now, so I doubt that's a problem. Besides..." He falls quiet a moment, considering how to word this. "I've never seriously dated much before this place. I was married, sure, but it was a legal thing and sure she was a hot piece, and I wanted her alive and safe, it wasn't anything for emotions or love." At least not for him and at the time, that had been all that mattered to Seth. "I'm not interested in seeing someone else, Maggie. I don't have a goddamn clue how to handle how I feel about you, or even what to do about it, but I know enough to know I have no interest in anyone else."
He's a confused hot mess when it comes to people and being social, but he can promise her that.
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