...You know, maybe this sounds kind of funny, but I usually don't think of myself as being older than you. I guess that sounds kind of backwards when I talk about remembering you when you were little. But most of the time I think of you as older than me. It probably helps that you're taller than me, too.
It's that kind of gift, huh. Helping me by keeping me safe. If that's how it is, then I'll definitely cherish it.
Is that so? Well, I guess I am both taller and older here. It sounds a little backwards, Reimi.
[ But. It's good to hear. He didn't actually expect that she would see him as older. ]
It's completely that type of gift. I saw it and thought you should have it.
[ That makes it sound way more thoughtful than 'this will give me peace of mind'. This gift is just as much for putting himself at ease as it is for her. ]
Well, even if it's backwards, I kind of like it that you're taller. It's nice.
Anyway, I can come over right now? I'll just be a little longer than usual because it's Sanguis, so I'm going to take the long way around where there aren't so many people out.
[But she leaves it at that, and sure enough, in a little while there's a knock at Rohan's door, and Reimi is waiting outside. She's dressed for the season and brandishing a wrapped package, with Arnold sitting patiently at her side.]
[ He answers the door within just a few moments. She got there safely, without issue, so he's relieved. He has his gift for her sitting on an end table in his living room. Considering that she had to take a detour, he expected it to take much longer. ]
You got here safely.
[ That last message she sent is still hanging, so he adds: ]
People aren't dangerous during Sanguis, they're just kind of creepy sometimes.
[The irony and impact of what she's insisting doesn't actually hit her until after it's already out of her mouth — and maybe, just maybe, she isn't always the most accurate gauge of people when it comes to telling the difference between "just creepy" and "dangerous".
But. That's not the point, and she shakes it off quickly, coming inside and bringing Arnold with her so that Rohan can shut the door behind them.]
[ Yeah, creepy can be dangerous. That doesn't work. It doesn't help. Still, he closes the door behind her. He looks towards Arnold, offering a head pat. ]
Hi, Arnold.
[ He makes his way to the end table. He picks up the barrierette before handing it to her. ]
[She blinks, surprised, but accepts the gift and turns it over in her hand to look at it. He'd said he had something for her, so it's not the gift itself that catches her off-guard, but the general lack of fanfare as he hands it over.
She'd seen something like this in Lumi's shop, though she doesn't quite put two and two together until she remembers what his incentive had been toward getting this for her. Something to keep her safe. Something so that he doesn't have to worry about her. It's one of those things — it makes a shield, or something like that.
Something to protect her even when Rohan's not there. She bites her lip, thinking about it, and glances up at him.]
Thank you...
[She sets her other things aside, fiddling with the clasp on the barrierette before pinning it carefully into her hair.]
[ He doesn't want to nake a big deal of it. He doesn't want to be weird about it. But he needs her to be safe and at least he knows she will at least be while wearing this. At least any immediate danger will not get her. He watches her with it. He stops himself from helping her. ]
It uses a lot of Chroma so...
[ hm ]
Let me know if you need... help.
[ He wishes there were a less awkward way to say that. ]
[He really is taller than her, isn't he. It's a funny, idle thought, but it's the one that stands out as she steps into his personal space and reaches up to take his face in her hands. She's perhaps the only person in the entire world who could get away with this, she knows, and even now she's not altogether sure that she will.
But she pushes herself up onto her tiptoes, and tugs him down to her, and kisses him softly on the mouth until she can feel the chroma bloom from it and know that he'll have felt it, too.]
I'm okay now. I promise. Feel — I'm warm, see? No crystals. I'm okay. It's okay.
[ He manages, somehow, to not sputter like a total fool when she gives him that kiss. Instead, he just looks at her for a moment, blinks as if he's considering her words. Yeah, it had worried him, giving her a gift like this. Though potentially life-saving, she could be drained. Though she'd be alive. So he had to tell himself that it would be fine and the payoff would be worth it. Even if she never needed to actually use the barrier.
And then she said it. He wants to deny that that's the reason why he was worried about the Chroma use. That he just wanted to keep her safe. He doesn't want to let her know how badly what had happened not long ago had impacted him, though she knew.
There was no way she didn't. He had made no effort to hide it the day that he came back here, to his apartment, after everything had happened.
Still, this small thing would help not only her, but him. It was a little bit of a selfish gift, and he knew it. And he was fine with it. ]
I know [ he's insisting ] I just wanted to warn you. [ He's just glad he kept it together. ]
I can tell you look much better. And... it'd be better if you didn't have to use it at all, but if you need to, it's there.
[ Yeah. He's definitely not going to talk about the kiss, whether it's the one from the other night or just now. And while he knows for her, he'd do it again, especially with her life on the line. If it were most others, he's not sure that he would have. Which isn't helping. ]
[She's slow to untangle herself from him, moving piece by piece as she sinks back down onto the flats of her feet, then skims her fingers along his cheek, then releases his face one hand at a time. It's an effort to stay connected as long as possible before it eventually breaks. It's the opposite of pulling away quickly.]
I feel much better, too. But I'll be careful with it. I'll call, or something, if I ever have to use it.
[And it feels like he's not going to say anything else about it, wound-up and stilted as he is, so she reaches instead for the wrapped package she'd brought with her and retrieves it, pressing it carefully into his hands.]
This one's for you. Happy birthday, Rohan. I hope you like it.
[ It had felt good to be close. Partly because the pleasant touch brought him Chroma. Partly because he liked the attention. He liked being close to people that he genuinely liked. He takes her word to heart, but drops it. He knows she'll ask him if she needs help or needs him for any other reason. He knows he'll come running because it's her and he likes being useful and helpful to others as much as he won't say it.
He eyes the wrapped gift in his hands for a moment, before glancing at her. It's been - well, how long since he opened a gift like this? Several years. He doesn't really remember. He's never been a big birthday celebration.
It wasn't like he had friends to celebrate with. And he wasn't about to go out with his editor or publisher to celebrate. So he just didn't. And here, it had come and passed and he had easily dismissed it. ]
You didn't have to get me anything.
[ No, of course she didn't. Of course. He'll carefully open the gift.]
...Thank you, though.
[ He finally reveals the gift. He glances towards her. He sounds pleased - happy, easy. Sincere. Maybe even surprised, perhaps? But he shouldn't be. She knows him so well. And yet, here he is. ]
Lumi said you could use it to change the way the interior of your house looks. I thought maybe, for your studio, it'd be inspiring — drawing while you were surrounded by galaxies, or underwater, or something like that.
[But it's good to hear him sound genuinely happy because of it, rather than the anxiousness or fear that had plagued him when she'd been in trouble. It's nice when Rohan is happy. He smiles even when he's not actually smiling.]
We can go out to eat if you want, too. It doesn't have to be a whole big thing. But it's your birthday, Rohan, you deserve to do something special for it. So if there's something you want...tell me, and we'll do it. Okay?
[ Her instincts are right. It would be great and inspiring and he could see his favorite places and visit some new places. He really liked it. It was thoughtful, it was smart. It was something... Reimi knew he'd love and he does. ]
Yeah, it's... perfect.
[ He was looking forward to seeing the places it could take him. Home? Places he couldn't easily access here, on this planet. He was going to try every single thing. It appealed to his enjoyment of travel when he didn't have many options here. At her offer, he considers. It might be a good excuse to get on his motorcycle again, too. ]
I hadn't really thought about it. [ And he doesn't want a big thing, so that's why he never thought of it. ] Well, there's this cafe that I saw on level one. It looked quiet. [ And there's the appeal of it. ]
Have you ever been on a motorcycle before? [ You know. Before he assumes... ]
Okay! Then let's go out to dinner. I have enough chroma for the both of us, and you don't have to worry, it's not like you can't just help me get more if I need to.
[There is always something that feels vaguely illegal about "it's fine if we don't have enough money, we can just make out a little and pay the check no problem", but such is life in Lunatia and that is neither here nor there.
At the mention of the motorcycle, however, she starts laughing, fixing him with a skeptical look and a roll of her eyes.]
Oh, sure I've been. You know, when I was dating my bōsōzoku boyfriend back home. [She scoffs, trying not to laugh.] Come on! Where would I have ever had the chance to ride a motorcycle?
[ That does sound good to him, and a little creepy when put like that. He tries not to think about it. Besides, if he goes about this the way he's about to suggest, they could potentially earn a bit more Chroma on the way there. ]
Here. You could have had a chance to here. [ Which brings him to his next point. ] I just got mine back, at full. We could take it there.
[ And, well, he'd be glad to be the one driving the first time she rides one. Cool. ]
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...That's funny.
I have something for you.
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Wait, something for me?
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[ Since it's Reimi. ]
Yeah. I picked it up when I was checking things out.
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...So you got me something just because? It's not MY birthday...
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I did. I thought it'd help you.
[ And himself. It'd help himself feel better. ]
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Oh. So you were thinking of me...that's awfully nice of you, you know.
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Unless you count, but I don't know if you actually do. You're technically older.
I was. Don't -- don't think too much into it. I just want you to be safe, that's all.
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It's that kind of gift, huh. Helping me by keeping me safe. If that's how it is, then I'll definitely cherish it.
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[ But. It's good to hear. He didn't actually expect that she would see him as older. ]
It's completely that type of gift. I saw it and thought you should have it.
[ That makes it sound way more thoughtful than 'this will give me peace of mind'. This gift is just as much for putting himself at ease as it is for her. ]
So, come over. Anytime.
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Anyway, I can come over right now? I'll just be a little longer than usual because it's Sanguis, so I'm going to take the long way around where there aren't so many people out.
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Alright. Stay safe, Reimi.
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[But she leaves it at that, and sure enough, in a little while there's a knock at Rohan's door, and Reimi is waiting outside. She's dressed for the season and brandishing a wrapped package, with Arnold sitting patiently at her side.]
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You got here safely.
[ That last message she sent is still hanging, so he adds: ]
And yes, to watch after you.
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[The irony and impact of what she's insisting doesn't actually hit her until after it's already out of her mouth — and maybe, just maybe, she isn't always the most accurate gauge of people when it comes to telling the difference between "just creepy" and "dangerous".
But. That's not the point, and she shakes it off quickly, coming inside and bringing Arnold with her so that Rohan can shut the door behind them.]
...Anyway, Arnold came with me, so. Hi, Rohan.
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Hi, Arnold.
[ He makes his way to the end table. He picks up the barrierette before handing it to her. ]
You know, in case they aren't just creeps.
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She'd seen something like this in Lumi's shop, though she doesn't quite put two and two together until she remembers what his incentive had been toward getting this for her. Something to keep her safe. Something so that he doesn't have to worry about her. It's one of those things — it makes a shield, or something like that.
Something to protect her even when Rohan's not there. She bites her lip, thinking about it, and glances up at him.]
Thank you...
[She sets her other things aside, fiddling with the clasp on the barrierette before pinning it carefully into her hair.]
I'll make sure I always have it. Okay...?
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It uses a lot of Chroma so...
[ hm ]
Let me know if you need... help.
[ He wishes there were a less awkward way to say that. ]
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[He really is taller than her, isn't he. It's a funny, idle thought, but it's the one that stands out as she steps into his personal space and reaches up to take his face in her hands. She's perhaps the only person in the entire world who could get away with this, she knows, and even now she's not altogether sure that she will.
But she pushes herself up onto her tiptoes, and tugs him down to her, and kisses him softly on the mouth until she can feel the chroma bloom from it and know that he'll have felt it, too.]
I'm okay now. I promise. Feel — I'm warm, see? No crystals. I'm okay. It's okay.
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And then she said it. He wants to deny that that's the reason why he was worried about the Chroma use. That he just wanted to keep her safe. He doesn't want to let her know how badly what had happened not long ago had impacted him, though she knew.
There was no way she didn't. He had made no effort to hide it the day that he came back here, to his apartment, after everything had happened.
Still, this small thing would help not only her, but him. It was a little bit of a selfish gift, and he knew it. And he was fine with it. ]
I know [ he's insisting ] I just wanted to warn you. [ He's just glad he kept it together. ]
I can tell you look much better. And... it'd be better if you didn't have to use it at all, but if you need to, it's there.
[ Yeah. He's definitely not going to talk about the kiss, whether it's the one from the other night or just now. And while he knows for her, he'd do it again, especially with her life on the line. If it were most others, he's not sure that he would have. Which isn't helping. ]
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I feel much better, too. But I'll be careful with it. I'll call, or something, if I ever have to use it.
[And it feels like he's not going to say anything else about it, wound-up and stilted as he is, so she reaches instead for the wrapped package she'd brought with her and retrieves it, pressing it carefully into his hands.]
This one's for you. Happy birthday, Rohan. I hope you like it.
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He eyes the wrapped gift in his hands for a moment, before glancing at her. It's been - well, how long since he opened a gift like this? Several years. He doesn't really remember. He's never been a big birthday celebration.
It wasn't like he had friends to celebrate with. And he wasn't about to go out with his editor or publisher to celebrate. So he just didn't. And here, it had come and passed and he had easily dismissed it. ]
You didn't have to get me anything.
[ No, of course she didn't. Of course. He'll carefully open the gift.]
...Thank you, though.
[ He finally reveals the gift. He glances towards her. He sounds pleased - happy, easy. Sincere. Maybe even surprised, perhaps? But he shouldn't be. She knows him so well. And yet, here he is. ]
Really. Thank you.
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[But it's good to hear him sound genuinely happy because of it, rather than the anxiousness or fear that had plagued him when she'd been in trouble. It's nice when Rohan is happy. He smiles even when he's not actually smiling.]
We can go out to eat if you want, too. It doesn't have to be a whole big thing. But it's your birthday, Rohan, you deserve to do something special for it. So if there's something you want...tell me, and we'll do it. Okay?
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Yeah, it's... perfect.
[ He was looking forward to seeing the places it could take him. Home? Places he couldn't easily access here, on this planet. He was going to try every single thing. It appealed to his enjoyment of travel when he didn't have many options here. At her offer, he considers. It might be a good excuse to get on his motorcycle again, too. ]
I hadn't really thought about it. [ And he doesn't want a big thing, so that's why he never thought of it. ] Well, there's this cafe that I saw on level one. It looked quiet. [ And there's the appeal of it. ]
Have you ever been on a motorcycle before? [ You know. Before he assumes... ]
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[There is always something that feels vaguely illegal about "it's fine if we don't have enough money, we can just make out a little and pay the check no problem", but such is life in Lunatia and that is neither here nor there.
At the mention of the motorcycle, however, she starts laughing, fixing him with a skeptical look and a roll of her eyes.]
Oh, sure I've been. You know, when I was dating my bōsōzoku boyfriend back home. [She scoffs, trying not to laugh.] Come on! Where would I have ever had the chance to ride a motorcycle?
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Here. You could have had a chance to here. [ Which brings him to his next point. ] I just got mine back, at full. We could take it there.
[ And, well, he'd be glad to be the one driving the first time she rides one. Cool. ]
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