(no subject)

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

WHO: Euterpe & Padraig
WHEN: Monday night
WHERE: Padraig's house
WHAT: 'Friendly' visits
WARNINGS: Not sex, because saints are STUPID.

Galas were supposed to be a lot of fun and often they were, but tonight's one had been a snooze. So Euterpe had mingled with the music industry big wigs for an hour or so before finally making her exit.

Walking home she had to go past Padraig's house and so decided to stop her. The rap of her knuckles against the door were sharp and firm and in her thin coat she waited for him to answer.

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[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

"Thank you," Euterpe grinned, pleased to be admired. "Now, offer me a glass of wine, Naomhan, and I'll tell you about silly humans."

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Alcohol. Alcohol was a very good idea.

He beckoned her to follow him into his kitchen and then he went to fetch some wine goblets. "You're just trying to get me drunk."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

"Like I ever have to try," Euterpe teased, moving into the kitchen and pulling herself up to sit on the bench while he poured for them, giving her skirt a slight tug to keep it decent. "So, tonight I was told on four separate occasions that I was too pretty to just be a song writer. Which is, of course, completely true, but still somewhat offensive. I know I'm great, human man watching my arse as I walk away, and although the reminder is appreciated, I think I'll stick with what I'm enjoying."

Then she smiled at him. "Tell me about your politicians, my little saint."

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

The thought that someone was sleazing on her made him quite angry, and he frowned. "Some people are just...gross," he said as he poured the wine. He handed her a glass and then leaned against the counter with his own. "I'm sorry they said that."

He sighed and then said, "politicians panicking about drought, which I understand. And trying to make policy which isn't going to help."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

"Men are men are men," Euterpe just shrugged. "I can more than handle myself on their level."

"Were I a rain goddess," Euterpe told him, leaning in and touching her glass to his with a quiet clink, "I'd fix that drought right up for you."

She would, she realised right then, have done almost anything at all for her dear Padraig. He had become her best friend. "You mean so very much to me, Padraig," she told him with a warm smile, her voice suddenly serious and meant only for him.

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Padraig smiled fondly as she said she would make it rain, and he took another sip. "They did ask me if I knew a rain goddess," he said with a smile.

Then she was telling him wonderful things, and it made the tips of his ears go red. Not something that happened often. He glanced over at her and smiled lightly, "you mean a lot to me too, Euterpe."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

Did she spy a blush there at the edges of his cheeks? She almost thought she did. With the little smile still in place, Euterpe lean in towards her saint and kissed him, her lips wet with wine.

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Kissing!

There was kissing, and before he caught himself, he kissed her back. He hadn't kissed anyone in decades and there was absolutely no one he had wanted to kiss more than Euterpe in centuries.

But he had made a vow.

When his brain caught up, his eyes opened wide and then he jumped away from her as if he had been shocked. "Oh no! No no no!"

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

The kiss was warm and soft and wonderful and she'd started to slide her arms around him just as he pulled away in what appeared to be horror. Euterpe stiffened and stared at him, eyes wide in surprise. "What? What??"

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

"I- I-I'm sorry!" He apologised immediately, because there was no reason to be rude. "I'm sorry, I just- I can't. I can't kiss you. Or anyway." He didn't usually get this flustered and it was only because more than anything, he wanted to be kissing her.

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

Euterpe slid down off the bench, shocked by Padraig's reaction to what she had thought was actually quite a nice kiss - although far too short. She took a few steps towards him, reaching out to take his arm. "Breathe, Naomhan," she told him. "Of course you can kiss me. I want you to kiss me."

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Oh he was breathing. It was nigh on hyperventilating. He pulled his arm from her grip and took a few steps backwards so he could try to regroup this thoughts. It was difficult when most of his mind was busy admiring how enticing she looked in the dress she was wearing.

"No, I mean- I can't. I-I took a vow!" He shook his head then, "I...want to kiss you too, but I can't."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

Saints and their vows, she would never understand that insanity. But George was a saint as well and he was off having sex with someone who was supposed to be his enemy! Even Euterpe was better than that, she would assume.

She remembered, though, what Lust had said, something about how these saint types just needed a little coaxing. She supposed she could see that, but Padraig looked a little like a trapped animal and Euterpe wasn't much of a hunter.

"Shh," she said soothingly, reaching out her hand to him but not actually trying to touch him yet. "Shh, it's okay, Padraig. How could one little kiss break any vow? One kiss between two people who care for each other as much as we do?"

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

He swallowed roughly and was ashamed to admit how very swayed he was by her words. He wanted to believe them and use them as his excuse, but he knew he couldn't. He was going to have to flog himself enough for returning her first kiss.

"I can't break my vow," he said, shaking his head in dismay. "I want to, but if it wasn't difficult, it wouldn't be worth anything."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

"One kiss," Euterpe said softly, her gaze lingering on his lips before she dragged it back up to meet his eyes. She'd taken another step towards him, so close now. "That can't be breaking anything," she told him with a little shake of her head.

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Why was she doing this to him?! He had started shaking without noticing, and he balled one of his hands up into a fist to keep from reaching out to her.

Surely she was right? One kiss couldn't matter? He certainly wasn't backing away from her. He could feel her body heat. That or he had suddenly gotten very warm, which was also likely. "Please," he finally managed to mumble. "This hurts."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

It was only those words that stopped her, her expression mixing confusion with concern now. She stepped back, lifting her hands a little in the international symbol of surrender. "Okay," she told him as she studied his face. "I'm stopping. It's okay."

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

He breathed out a shaky breath and then he gave her a look of utmost sympathy. "I'm sorry," he said again. "It's not you. You're my best friend and I love you. I just can't- I can't."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

"Okay," Euterpe assured him, taking another step back. "I mean, I don't get it, but okay. But," she added, reaching for her coat. "I get the feeling I should probably go."

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

Padraig felt terrible and he wished she wouldn't, though he had a feeling if she didn't it was going to be awkward. "Will you come back?" he asked, his vulnerability completely out of character.

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

It wasn't really a side of Padraig she was used to a for a moment she just looked at him with a little bit of concerned confusion. Then she nodded and said, "of course I will," as though he shouldn't have even doubted that.

"And," she added with a smile, "I'll even let us both pretend I didn't try and jump your bones. How's that, Naomhan?"

[naomh-padraig.insanejournal.com]

At that, he smiled again. "That sounds like a great idea," he said with a chuckle. "I'll see you soon then, Euterpe."

[framethephrases.insanejournal.com]

With an amused shake of her head, Euterpe headed towards the door. "Later, saint."