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Evelyn’s gloved hand slowly reached to the apartment door, the flickering of the overhead lights gave a thin yellow blanket above her. The shadow was strong beneath her aching feet, black pumps causing a strain on her ankles from standing over the roulette table at the casino for a majority of the evening. She twisted the doorknob with a slow turn, the slightest groan leaving her lips as the light spilled into her apartment as she stepped through the door and closed it with her free hand while her other kept her stable against the wall, cane abandoned on the floor like it was nothing more then a replaceable toy. Her hand slid slightly, the darkness of the assumed-empty apartment making her feel all the more drowsy.
“You seem burdened, my diamond. Long night, I presume?”
Evelyn promptly let out a gasped and strangled curse, body jolting back as if she had seen a ghost at the sound of someone else’s voice. She staggered back, tripping over her own feet and shoes as the gambler fell back and into the strong arms of another who had appeared behind her like a shadow. Her eyes looked up with a pit in her stomach, only for the fear to fizzle out like a bubble popping. Looking down at her was another figure, standing with Evelyn secure in their hold. Silvery-grey hair that was parted to one side with a sharp expression was Richard. The gambler let out a sigh, her eyes closing as her hat fell right off her head with a short tilt.
“I’m fine, darling. Just had a bad streak… broke it on the blackjack table and then scurried out before the next round could begin…”
With a modest hum, Evelyn felt her ‘darling’ lift her to her feet, hands lingering on the side of her waist before leaving. The lightswitch was turned on, letting the lights flicker to life above them. Under the lights did the appearance of the other finally take form. Long parted hair fell loosely on the shoulders of the taller, looking at Evelyn with a naturally-confident expression. Richard. Evelyn gave him a tired smile, dusting herself off from her tumble. She took off her shoes and placed them off to the side of the doorway, before removing her fur coat and tossing it to the hanger nearby. Richard had picked up Evelyn’s hat and placed it neatly on the hanger beside the fur coat. Her gloves were tossed somewhere unknown in the shadows of the apartment- a fuss meant for tomorrow.
“Do you want some tea? I can only imagine most of the drinks were circling your table.”
Like the sounds of the evening wind, Richard’s voice put something of a haze over Evenlyn’s weary mind. She walked over to the nearby lounging chair, plopping down with a soft thump coming from the chair. She brushed a lock of dirty blonde hair behind her ear, watching Richard wander from the front of the apartment to the kitchen nearby, putting the tin kettle over the stove and turned the heat on. It seems that not even words were needed to communicate between either of them. As Evelyn let her body sink into the chair, she closed her eyes and tried to fight the urge to fall asleep right there.
It was by no means a comfortable place to sleep, but just the feeling of something plush underneath her that mimicked a fraction of how comfortable a bed could be was enough to put her under a sleepy spell. The sound of the kettle was nothing more then background noise to her at this point, with the blending sound of puttering across the floor making it muted and soft in her ears. The world around her became blurry, leaving her headspace small and quiet as the sounds became muffled and the figure looming closely was watching over her with what she could only make out to be a cup in her hands. The cup was set down beside Evelyn in the chair, it’s only fate to go cold as the woman began to drift to sleep in the chair with Richard standing nearby.
The ‘knight’ waited for Evelyn to be fully in her slumber, drifted to sleep by the scent of tea boiling and the homely comfort of the cushioned chair. Richard sighed softly at the sight, being careful to move the cup back to the kitchen counter before going back to the gambler to scoop her up in her arms and carry the ‘princess’ to her bed in the next room over.
Richard carried her like she weighed nothing, hoisting her in his arms while she stayed as still as stone. The door opened with a slight creak, slow enough to not make that much of a noise. The room was dark, but even in that darkness Richard could see the many jewels and cosmetics lining the large vanity on the side of the room, while the large bed across from it took up at least half the room with its grand size. Richard walked to one side of the bed and slowly laid Evelyn down on the comforter, pulling the covers over her body.
She knew the other would throw a hissy fit in the morning, finding she was put to bed in her good pearls and stockings- but Richard was more then prepared to defuse her princess with well spoken words and promises of purchasing her new clothes if she ruins her own in her sleep. The knight walked to the opposite side of the bed, taking his things off and laying them haphazardly on the floor before slithering under the covers beside Evelyn in the darkness and sleepy bedroom they shared.