Henriette Threatens to Leave Again

[Marguerite]

Henriette could no longer remember just why she was fighting with Johnny, but something like that had never stopped her before. She was grumpy from a lack of fear, she was frustrated (and a little scared) that she couldn't get into someone's mind with the same ease and alacrity as ever and Johnny had forgotten to put his coat away in the closet for the last time!

Therefore, thought Henriette, slamming the door to their apartment behind her, Begin Round Two of Henriette vs. Johnny, i.e. Henriette Threatens to Leave Again.

It was almost routine now. Get the suitcases out of the closet, fling her clothes at them (and occasionally get some in them) and shout nonsense in French until Johnny came in and either apologized or distracted her. Henriette tossed a sweater at her trunk and repeated that she hated Johnny's guts and she was leaving-- in English this time, in case he hadn't quite gotten the message.

[Miss Jack]

Moods were tight with everyone lately. Stifled panic and desperation strung everyone's nerves like elastic bands ready to snap, and Johnny couldn't remember if his tired, considerably cranky demeanor had anything to do with Henriette or not. He was inclined to believe.... probably. But he just couldn't remember. The fights and the make-up sex tended to blend together, and he couldn't always recall which turn they were on at any given day.

He opened the door to their apartment to find Henriette, once again, flinging her belongings into a suitcase. A stray set of underwear flew by his head and he caught it with one finger. Ah. One of his favorites. Well if she thought she had a right to her undergarments, she could think again. He put it in his pocket.

"Leaving, mi'dear?" he asked, quite calm, all things considered.

[Marguerite]

"Yes!" Henriette exclaimed, mildly pleased with the readiness of his understanding. "Leaving!" She dramatically stalked the few feet from her dresser to her closet and began taking down her dresses and rattling the hangers around as much as possible. "For good!"

That last bit had been unforunately rather muffled by the closet, so Henriette stuck her head out and declared, "I mean it this time! You know what you did!"

At least, Henriette hoped he did, because she didn't remember. There was generally good reason to be angry with Johnny, however, so something was bound to come up.

[Miss Jack]

Johnny wracked his brain, going over the details of the last few days. He hadn't even seen Henriette that much, to be honest. Maybe that was the problem?

...he found it hard to believe Henriette was angry because she missed him.

"I'm afraid, my flower, you're going to have to remind me of my henious error, for I cannot seem to recall."

Either way, it was evident he didn't believe her claim of sincerity.

[Marguerite]

Henriette put her hands on her hips. "What! You don't believe me? I will, honest to God! Mere de Dieu, de penser qui je vivais avec une sotte comme vous...."

She threw the dress into her open suitcase, and, feeling that that was not suitably violent punctution, tossing the ends of her scarf over her shoulders.

Well damn it, now she didn't even have a reason for picking a fight. As far as she could remember, their last squabble had been about toothpaste, because they were both tired and rather cranky. "That is precisely what I'm talking about!" she lamented. "You don't recall? Oh Johnny! How I've lived with you all these years, I'll never know!"

Maybe she could make up an anniversary? It had been a couple hundred years, characterized by the frequency of break-ups more than anything else. Any given day had to be a first of some kind, considering there had been so many first dates over the years. "Hmph. You nevair pay attention to anyzing!"

[Miss Jack]

He cocked his head, squinting at her for a moment. Nevair pay attention to anyzing? Lately, she'd been slipping into a French accent, when usually, you couldn't tell she was French except when actually speaking it.

Throwing up his hands, he blew out a sigh of exasperation. "Egad, woman-- just tell me what I've failed to realize! I'll apologize, if that's what you're after-- if nothing else, I am sorry for this ugly mood you're in."

[Marguerite]

Well, that was unexpectedly satisfying. Henriette felt almost irritable with tenderness. She would have to come up with something, wouldn't she?

Or hopefully just distract him from the argument entirely. Henriette linked her arms around Johnny's neck. "Well, Johnny, maybe I'll forgive you then." Totally ignoring the fact that he hadn't done anything, but whatever. "Do you have any other arguments in your favor?"

[Miss Jack]

Did he have any arguments? When presented with such an opportunity, given the alternative, he was very much in favor of never having an argument about anything ever.

Henriette in close proximity had that effect. He'd regretted many a choice when faced in this position.

But this time, he really didn't have any because he didn't know what he was arguing.

"None whatsoever," he murmured in her ear, then bit down on the soft flesh.

[Marguerite]

Henriette nearly purred in contentment. "Mmmm. None at all?"

She liked this bit. Henriette kissed him, all previous anger completely dissipating. "Now, if you say something cliche like, 'who needs fear when one can live on kisses' I'll hit you. Johnny, has JAck told you anything about what's going on?"

[Miss Jack]

The tiniest hint of a frown pulled at his lips, for indeed he had been about to wax poetic and declare the nutrition of her love. Hmph.

"Of course," he replied, some of the day's exhaustion lacing his tone. "And have you?" He cupped her face-- she may hit him for dramaticly romantic sentiments, but demmed if they weren't true. "Sink me, it's terrible-- there are already riots forming-- can you, my love-- what I mean is, have you tried..."

Words, once again, failed to form in a pleasing fashion.