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. ]
My first ride since I've gotten here. And we can take it to go to dinner.
[ It would be pretty cool to pull up to a restaurant with it, wouldn't it? He thinks so, too. Plus, they could ride together, earn Chroma on the way there, since she'd be holding on for the ride. Extra bonuses, right? See, he's thinking about this. Totally a genius. ]
It's a fun ride. I had figured at some point you'd ride with me.
[ Rohan has no objections to the miniskirt, and he knows better. Oop. He's glad the opportunity to ride is coming sooner than planned. Cool. ]
We can head out soon, if you'd like.
[ He doesn't mind if Arnold hangs out at his apartment. He's a good boy, after all. ]
I can walk Arnold back home, if you don't want him staying here...
[Great minds think alike. Of course, then it occurs to her that it's Sanguis, and Rohan was already nervous enough about her walking over alone earlier; probably he won't want her heading back out again, barrierette or not.]
Or...am I staying over tonight, after we get back?
[She flicks a glance up toward his face, guarded but curious.]
[ As far as he's concerned, Arnold is just as welcome here as Reimi is. And yes, he doesn't like the idea of her walking back on her own during Sanguis. Especially if she doesn't have to. ]
And you're staying over, too.
[ How's that for not being wishy-washy this time. ]
I may have some things to make a dog treat for Arnold. It'll need time to freeze, so it'll have to be for later. But he'll be fine here.
...Well, that settles that, then! I'm staying over, too.
[It's better not to think about it too hard, the idea of spending the night at Rohan's. Thinking too hard means she'll have to start putting a name on it, and is it a sleepover, or crashing on a friend's couch (figuratively speaking, since she's got her own room, after all), or is it something else altogether?
If she thinks too hard about it, she'll think about Rohan staying over at her house when his parents were going to be out late, and how now the tables have turned. So she's not going to think that hard about it.]
And if it's just a quiet cafe, we don't have to worry about getting dressed up, right? What I'm wearing is okay?
[She shuffles from foot to foot, pivoting like she's putting her outfit on display.]
[ He's making every choice not to think too hard about it. Because that would require him to figure out what it all means, and he doesn't have the energy for that. Not with how little he's slept, with how hard he's focused on his work. He's good at putting on a face, though. He'll feel better, probably, leaving the house a little.
He looks her up and down. ]
Yes, it is. No need to do anything fancy.
[ And, didn't she always look cute anyway? No, he absolutely didn't just think that. He's turning on his heel to go get the helmets for his motorcycle so that they can start out. ]
[She leads Arnold over to the couch and clicks her tongue softly, motioning until he jumps up onto the cushions and settles down comfortably, the picture of contentment. Dogs probably aren't supposed to be on the furniture, but also, it's Arnold. She spoils him rotten whether she means to or not.
Then, once she's sure he's settled and happy, she scratches fondly behind his ears and heads back to wait for Rohan to return.]
[ He returns after a moment with two helmets. The one he's holding in his hands, he hands directly to her to use. The other he's holding under his arm, is his. They're similar in style because he likes the style, and it seems to be pretty popular around town when he was shopping for ones. He knew she'd be on it at some point, so it was only natural she'd get her own helmet. He wasn't going to get them for others. ]
Here. Staying safe, and it shouldn't even mess up our hair.
[ You bet he already tried it. Because why wouldn't he. He moved one hand to his pockets, and finds a thing he had also picked up for Arnold. Just in case, you know? A squeaky thing shaped vaguely like a squirrel gets offered to the pup. ]
[He planned this, she realizes gradually, and with subdued surprise. This isn't just a coincidence; he had this ready and waiting, and if the color scheme is any indication, he had it planned specifically for her. Which means he anticipated that they would do this. He expected that someday she'd be on the back of his motorcycle. He was ready for it when the day finally came, and it has.
And isn't that something. It's awfully nice, is what it is, and she makes a quiet show out of fussing over the helmet because it gives her an excuse to drop her chin and hide the light flush that starts to rise in her cheeks.]
You're that worried about my hair, huh.
[But her smile brightens exponentially when Arnold gets his treat, and he does indeed reach out and take it happily in his jaws, cronching on it and making it squeak with overt delight.]
Awww. Everybody's getting presents today! That's so nice.
[ He had hoped one day he'd get to have her ride on his motorcycle with him. It was something he enjoyed, and since he liked and cared for her? It's only natural he'd want to share it with her. He didn't enjoy, or even like, very many people's company, but he'd watched people long enough to know that this was normal. Or he hoped. He was actually trying. ]
I think it's fine. In case you were worried.
[ It's not like he wants anyone to think he's thoughtful. ]
And, well, it's Arnold. So of course he gets stuff. [ He's a pretty awesome dog okay. ]
[THIS TSUNDERE. Luckily, Arnold is immune to such things and is happily nomming away on his brand new toy, which means with one final pat and a scratch behind the ears, Reimi's ready to get her helmet and follow Rohan out the door.]
Well, that'll keep him busy for a while. He's really excited to have toys again, you know, after all that time when we didn't have any to play with.
[But she's not going to dwell on that, because it's gloomy and sad, so she keeps it as a passing reference and briskly moves on.]
I'm really excited, Rohan! What made you decide to get a motorcycle, anyway? You just wanted one?
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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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[okay okay okay all other thoughts go right out the window because holy shit rohan has a motorcycle that's...weirdly...hot...hhhhhgnghghgh.]
...Really? We could do that?
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Yes. I had it at home and I got it here finally, well, full sized.
[ Nods. ]
Yes. I haven't gotten to ride it since I got it back. And yes - I do have helmets.
[ He got them as soon as he got it back, of course. Because he figured he'd just skip that debate or conversation. ]
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[rolling up to the restaurant on a motorcycle oh shit oh shit sorry mom and dad she's a sukeban now i guess]
That would be great! I'd like that a lot...!
[YOU ARE WEARING A MINISKIRT]
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[ It would be pretty cool to pull up to a restaurant with it, wouldn't it? He thinks so, too. Plus, they could ride together, earn Chroma on the way there, since she'd be holding on for the ride. Extra bonuses, right? See, he's thinking about this. Totally a genius. ]
It's a fun ride. I had figured at some point you'd ride with me.
[ Rohan has no objections to the miniskirt, and he knows better. Oop. He's glad the opportunity to ride is coming sooner than planned. Cool. ]
We can head out soon, if you'd like.
[ He doesn't mind if Arnold hangs out at his apartment. He's a good boy, after all. ]
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[Great minds think alike. Of course, then it occurs to her that it's Sanguis, and Rohan was already nervous enough about her walking over alone earlier; probably he won't want her heading back out again, barrierette or not.]
Or...am I staying over tonight, after we get back?
[She flicks a glance up toward his face, guarded but curious.]
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[ As far as he's concerned, Arnold is just as welcome here as Reimi is. And yes, he doesn't like the idea of her walking back on her own during Sanguis. Especially if she doesn't have to. ]
And you're staying over, too.
[ How's that for not being wishy-washy this time. ]
I may have some things to make a dog treat for Arnold. It'll need time to freeze, so it'll have to be for later. But he'll be fine here.
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[It's better not to think about it too hard, the idea of spending the night at Rohan's. Thinking too hard means she'll have to start putting a name on it, and is it a sleepover, or crashing on a friend's couch (figuratively speaking, since she's got her own room, after all), or is it something else altogether?
If she thinks too hard about it, she'll think about Rohan staying over at her house when his parents were going to be out late, and how now the tables have turned. So she's not going to think that hard about it.]
And if it's just a quiet cafe, we don't have to worry about getting dressed up, right? What I'm wearing is okay?
[She shuffles from foot to foot, pivoting like she's putting her outfit on display.]
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He looks her up and down. ]
Yes, it is. No need to do anything fancy.
[ And, didn't she always look cute anyway? No, he absolutely didn't just think that. He's turning on his heel to go get the helmets for his motorcycle so that they can start out. ]
I'll be right back.
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[She leads Arnold over to the couch and clicks her tongue softly, motioning until he jumps up onto the cushions and settles down comfortably, the picture of contentment. Dogs probably aren't supposed to be on the furniture, but also, it's Arnold. She spoils him rotten whether she means to or not.
Then, once she's sure he's settled and happy, she scratches fondly behind his ears and heads back to wait for Rohan to return.]
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Here. Staying safe, and it shouldn't even mess up our hair.
[ You bet he already tried it. Because why wouldn't he. He moved one hand to his pockets, and finds a thing he had also picked up for Arnold. Just in case, you know? A squeaky thing shaped vaguely like a squirrel gets offered to the pup. ]
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And isn't that something. It's awfully nice, is what it is, and she makes a quiet show out of fussing over the helmet because it gives her an excuse to drop her chin and hide the light flush that starts to rise in her cheeks.]
You're that worried about my hair, huh.
[But her smile brightens exponentially when Arnold gets his treat, and he does indeed reach out and take it happily in his jaws, cronching on it and making it squeak with overt delight.]
Awww. Everybody's getting presents today! That's so nice.
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I think it's fine. In case you were worried.
[ It's not like he wants anyone to think he's thoughtful. ]
And, well, it's Arnold. So of course he gets stuff. [ He's a pretty awesome dog okay. ]
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Well, that'll keep him busy for a while. He's really excited to have toys again, you know, after all that time when we didn't have any to play with.
[But she's not going to dwell on that, because it's gloomy and sad, so she keeps it as a passing reference and briskly moves on.]
I'm really excited, Rohan! What made you decide to get a motorcycle, anyway? You just wanted one?
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