[ It's breathtaking, really, how gentle he can be. How sweet and careful, like she's made of spun glass and his hands are lead (destined to break her). Titian Duke will never be soft but he's already learning how to dull his sharp edges, how to smooth down those barbs to his personality so that his baby sister's skin won't catch and tear. Each nuzzle, each kiss, each slow step as he walks them in a careful circle across the carpet — they're an I love you, I don't deserve you, an I'll die without you.
But those confessions are simple and the Duke children are complicated — bond together by blood and lust, by sex and codependence. By madness; by loyalty; by love.
Claret looks up at her brother and wishes somehow there were a way to express it simply and elegantly and knowing that the words won't hurt him. ] You don't— you don't love me all the time, [ she says carefully but then quickly shuts her eyes and shakes her head. ] No— no, wait. That's not right, it's just—
[ It's just sometimes you forget. It's just sometimes you love me less. It's just Vermillion, Vermillion, Vermillion. ] If Vee knew—
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But those confessions are simple and the Duke children are complicated — bond together by blood and lust, by sex and codependence. By madness; by loyalty; by love.
Claret looks up at her brother and wishes somehow there were a way to express it simply and elegantly and knowing that the words won't hurt him. ] You don't— you don't love me all the time, [ she says carefully but then quickly shuts her eyes and shakes her head. ] No— no, wait. That's not right, it's just—
[ It's just sometimes you forget. It's just sometimes you love me less. It's just Vermillion, Vermillion, Vermillion. ] If Vee knew—