Palace Game 6/3

[fujimaru]

The Dreamer In The Grand Temple
Humanity Foundation Value: ????

What has been will be again,
what has been done will be done again;
there is nothing new under the sun.

Comments

[fujimaru]

--?!

[ She squeaks, startled, jolting in his arms before she hesitantly puts her arms around him again, trying to pat his back, a little awkwardly. ]

I--I'm sorry. For scaring you.

[cultfavorite]

It's nothing you need to apologize for. It wasn't your fault. ...I was afraid we'd find you in Solitary one of these mornings. Since, supposedly, it exists to protect those who are losing control to their possessions. I'm relieved beyond words that all it took was this instead.

[He would trudge through so much blood if it meant her not ending up in there, okay.]

[fujimaru]

[ She's quiet for a moment, rubbing his back as best as she can, from the angle she's at. It's such a strange thing to hear, that anyone would be so worried about her, especially without her existence acting as an anchor. Huh. He does like her, ]

I'm here. You found me. I'm okay.

[cultfavorite]

[Ritsuka he is your boyfriend,

He indulges in the hug for another moment before pulling back with a tiny sigh and smiling down at her. It's all good! She's here!]

I didn't stay so you could comfort me...forgive me.

[fujimaru]

[ That doesn't mean he has to say all of that! Her experience with declarations like that is sparse, and it's easier to assume someone's general concern, rather than a personal one. When her pulls back, she's blinks at him, reaching to touch his face, her palm light on his cheek. ]

It's okay. I think it was harder for you than me... I was asleep all this time. But I promise I feel better.

[cultfavorite]

Rested?

[Gently teasing. He knows how bad she can be about that! He smiles, though, cheek warm under her hand, and squeezes his arm around her.]

You could rest with me until I wake up. I'm exhausted after all that. Those stairs . . . among other things. I wonder, when I fall asleep in a dream, does that wake me in real life? We'll find out.

[fujimaru]

...Yeah. We'll find out.

[ She kind of knows, now, how to lie down with someone, and arrange her limbs to deal with this other body without jabbing anything uncomfortable or even just unpleasant. She can do this.

After a beat, she says, also gently teasing, ]

I didn't realize you were so out of shape that just going up from the other room would wear you out.

[cultfavorite]

[He settles on the bed in a position where they aren't going to disturb anything he's left on it, because he does want to leave those things there. It's fine, there's room, even if they're ~forced~ to cuddle up some. Oh nooooo. He gets his arms around her and peeks an eye open at her:]

Well. Have you ever seen me at the gym? No? There's your answer.

[In a tone that means: maybe it's not all of the answer, but it's the one I'm giving right now, and that's fine.]

[fujimaru]

[ She's not entirely sure why he's so insistent on leaving the things on her bed (it's her bed?? even if it's just metaphorical??) but she's fine with the cuddling. But when he peeks at her, she grins back. It's fine if he doesn't want to elaborate. Ritsuka isn't worried.

And it's more fun to tease him a little. ]

Ehh, should I be worried about your stamina? Maybe I should make you do morning jogs with me.

[cultfavorite]

[He grins too, closing his eyes, though it's tempting to keep peeking back at her.]

I've never had a single complaint about my stamina, I'll have you know. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

[morning jogs noooooooooo]

[fujimaru]

[ Morning jogs YES, ]

I'm not knocking it, I'm asking a sincere question about how things are.

[ she says, chirpy, performatively obnoxiously bright. ]

[cultfavorite]

I'll just have to show you when we have some peace and quiet, won't I? To reassure you. If you're going to be worried about my physical health. Morning jogging . . .

[He rubs hard at her back, back and forth, roughing her up like she's an energetic puppy trying to rouse him to play with her while he's trying to relax.]

[fujimaru]

[ She starts to laugh at that, startled at the roughing-up, squirming like she's trying to shove him off. He started this?! ]

It's not a bad thing! It helps you to wake up in the morning, and it's good for you!

[cultfavorite]

[He is going to be grabby and roughhouse with his eyes closed as if he's the one trying to sleep here and this is all her fault!!]

I don't know why I'm taking health advice from someone who ate ice cream with soy sauce on it!

[fujimaru]

Yeah, and which one of us has the energy to do stuff in the morning? Me, that's who!

[ She's outright giggling now, shoving harder at him. This is not a very big bed, Saturn, if he wants to stay on it with all of the things he's put on it, this is going to end very poorly for them both, ]

[cultfavorite]

When is the last time you tried to get me to do anything first thing in the morning, anyway?! Go ahead! Wake me up tomorrow and I'll show you! —But not to jog.

[WHOSE FAULT IS THAT. He tries grabbing onto her to stop her, noooo! Don't push him off! Or anything else!]

[fujimaru]

What, do I have permission?

[ She's very wiggly, unfortunately for the both of them, still laughing. ]

I could just drag you to go jogging with me, but I can't do that after we out of Silent Hill.

[cultfavorite]

You can always knock, you know. Unless I have a sign out. I'll never be disappointed to hear a knock at my door and find you on the other side . . . except when it's because you're trying to make me jog.

[He grabs her over on top of himself for a stupid wiggly kiss to her forehead. Mwah!]

[fujimaru]

--I'm not much for that, you know.

[ Well. Here she is, looking down at him, her head tilted. The kiss is not precisely a deactivation, but she's more thoughtful now. ]

I mean, I was joking, sure, but... I don't actually like making people go along with my whims. If I wanna do something, I'll just do it by myself. You can come along if you want, and if you don't, that's okay.

[cultfavorite]

[Well then he's just going to hold her there lightly, hand splayed on her back, and give her a thoughtful blink up.]

. . . I'd like to spend time with you, you know. You don't have to go dragging me along with your whims if you don't want to. I know you aren't that kind of person. But—invite me, sometimes, if you want company, to something you're doing. Or you can ask me to set aside an entire day for you, and I will. Not because you're making me go along with anything, but because I want to.

[fujimaru]

...Okay. I'll remember that.

[ Unfortunately, she has not really leveled up with a relationship like this to do anything like that, but it's a nice thought to have. Maybe it can be another little item tucked away in this room in the future, the idea she can ask for something for herself.

For now, she stays settled where she is, because this is a new position to be in, and it's a bit strange, in a nice sort of way. ]

[cultfavorite]

[Now he's relaxed again, rubbing a hand soothingly (for who?) over her back and closing his eyes.]

Good. I need your help, you know . . . I'm sorry to ask that of you. But we're partners, so . . . I have to. Anyway. Good night, just for now.

[fujimaru]

[ She waits until his eyes are closed, until he appears to be asleep, and leans down, pressing her lips briefly to his before she pulls back to curl up more comfortably on him. ]