There were people you could be drunk and serious with and there were people you got drunk and told all your secrets to. Dolly had forgotten that Tappy was the latter rather than the former. In the far off reaches of her mind she knew her late friend would have killed her for so much as breathing on Trishna. Seeing him look so confused, so sad, it hurt a piece of Dolly's cold little heart. Whatever silly playfulness had been there before was gone as she lightly touched his cheek and exhaled slowly, "Darling, while I realize your wife would want you to stay alone forever, it's hardly fair given your situation. Cy and Gigi are growing up and then what? You spend the rest of your life alone in a stack of books and looking at the stars?" she sounded most incredulous as she looked at him, dark curls falling to frame her face, mouth drawn into a serious line (as serious as Dolly ever was anyway).

She didn't want for him to answer, instead she braced one arm around his neck and leaned backwards to snuff out her cigarette, her spine arched tugging the material of her dress taunt against her frame. She stretched lazily before righting herself, bringing along the wine. She didn't even bother with the glasses, taking a long drink before offering the bottle to Trishna. Class act, all the way that Dolores St. James. Settling her arms around his neck she lightly scratched the back of his head, "D'you know what I decided after New Year, Taps? I decided I was done chasing ghosts. I was done doing everything with a shadow trailing behind me," she shifted in his lap, settling herself in as her fingers moved in slow circles, "The hardest part is not looking back. You deserve to be happy, to have a full life" her face was close to his again, voice soft as she trailed her fingers down his chest "I want to help you do that," she swallowed hard fingers twisting the material of his sweater "Will you let me?"

He was either too sober for this or too drunk - he wasn't sure. Either way, when she pressed the bottle into his hand he took a long pull, silently listening to her.

His gaze followed her body as she moved, but it was her voice - and words - that he was caught on. He didn't know what he'd do when the girls left; he didn't have a plan. His life had never been structured enough to have a 'plan' decades in advance - and what she predicted was probably exactly what he'd do, aside from doting on his grandkids.

Her weight shifting and her fingers on his neck made him focus on her face, and the closeness and seriousness of it. Her fingers on his chest felt odd, and he distantly realized his heart was beating quickly as she rubbed just above it.

Tapendra's expression became pleading, looking at her; his mind swimming with drink, confusion, apprihention and regret. "How?" he asked finally, voice wavering slightly.

Dolly's heart hammered in her chest. She couldn't believe even she was going to do what she was thinking of doing. It didn't take much thought at all though when she finally dipped her head and pressed her lips to his. She threaded her fingers through his hair, supple frame melting into his. Her head swam and her heart rate increased. When she pulled back at last her breath came in short ragged bursts, blue eyes locked on his. Her voice was a horse whisper when she finally found it, "Tappy, do you trust me?"

He looked at her for a moment before lowering his head to her chest, a long slow breath leaving his body. It felt as though hours passed between them. The silence was deafening; would this be the first time Dolly St. James got her mark wrong? Would he dump her in a heap on the floor? At long last (though it was probably mere moments) he nodded his head. She felt the breath she didn't know she'd been holding exit her lungs as she slid from his lap. It might have been a mistake, but they were going to make it together as she slowly lead him to the bedroom and shut the door with a click.