unbr8kable | IC Inbox

[He's quiet, for a long couple of minutes - maybe staring up at them, himself.]

[Then, finally:]

Hey... Nem?

[Quiet for a beat. She doesn't turn to face him.]

...Yeah?

...would you do me a favor?

You can say no, if you want. But I been thinking about it a lot, and it's important.

[Slow, a little wary]

What's up?

When your game stuff wears off... like, the not being able to say what you want stuff...

[He hesitate - starts to say something - then hesitates longer.]

Would you go talk to Requiem?

[A pause.

Then, soft enough it's difficult to tell exactly the tone]

Why?

Cause you're having a bad time. Even if you gotta smile all the time cause you don't got a choice right now, I can tell.

[He's quiet a beat.]

But, like. I'm pretty sure you ain't the only one? I heard you and Doodles talking, at the live. So... I kinda texted Requiem later. Just, you know. To see what was up.

And, like. It sounds like you think she broke up with you, and she thinks you broke up with her? And you're both real sad about it.

[Silent for some time--actually, she attempts replies a couple times before finding one that will work]

I think--the truth, is different.

[She rolls to her side, huddling in on herself a little]

...Besides. If she cares so much, where is she? Howcome you're getting--you're the one put on messenger duty?

She said she tried to find you and she couldn't, and that you weren't answering her messages.

She thinks you won't talk to her cause you're pissed. That you finally got - [How did she put it?] - "sick of her junk" and left her.

[He shifts, a little - turns toward her.]

So just, like - talk to her? Please?

And if it's no good, it's no good, and you can call it quits or whatever. But if you're both miserable cause it ain't what you think it is... isn't it worth talking about it one time, to figure that out?

[Her head pops up, voice harsh]

W-well--well, maybe I am--sick. And----the rest. Is that a crime now? A-another thing okay for her and not me?

[And she curls in tighter, though the burst of anger fizzles as quickly as it comes on]

...I...I thought she'd stay, at least.

...hey.

[He leaves the ice packs to scoot closer to her - sets a hand on her arm, gentle.]

If you're for real sick of trying to make it work, that's your call. Like, if you're gonna be happier without her, I ain't trying to make you do something you don't wanna do.

But... it kinda sounds like you miss her?

[A beat, and then another.]

Did you want her to stay?

Of course.

[Her voice cracks, far too high, and she claps her mouth shut. Works on just breathing in and out; keeping the stinging behind her eyes from progressing any further.]

It--it-- I-it don't matter now.

It matters if you want it to matter.

[He rubs her arm, gentle - winces, and makes himself keep going, anyway.]

It matters if it matters to you.

[She just huddles there, mostly silent, for a long while.

In one smooth motion she sits up, wiping her eyes harshly before tapping at his forearm]

...Your wrist, we just set it. You should--

[--she sniffles, you know, allergies this time of year--]

--elevate it...maybe?

...yeah. I'll put it up.

[He hesitates. Then:]

Lay back down?

[Hesitates herself, then lies back beside him, on her back; gives a questioning hum if it's okay]

Turn this way?

[...Does so, careful]

[He hesitates - scoots closer. Reaches out to rest one wrist flat on the ground, and drape the other over her - elevating it, yes, but also holding her.]

...this okay?

[Takes a long, shaky breath]

...

[Scooches a little more, careful of his other wrist, so she can almost press her head over his sternum, where his heartbeat isn't.]

[He lets out the breath he hadn't meant to be holding.]

[Carefully, he angles the arm on the ground upward a bit more, so that he can scoot nearer - give her the choice to lean in, if she wants, and close the rest of the distance.]

[She apparently does want, since she does close the distance, hiding her face in his chest. She might also even reach out to knot a hand in his shirt, but only if it seems like it won't hurt him by mistake]

[The only reaction is him curling in a little closer, so probably it is fine.]

[After a long couple of moments, his thumbs starts tracing a gentle side-to-side path on her arm. It's not a back rub, because that is really painful right now, but it's what he can manage.]

[She should make him stop--should get up and change the subject or literally anything other than just lying here. But she is tired, defeated in a way too heavy to suck up or walk off, and it's hard to muster the strength to push him away, and she doesn't try.]

[Sometimes it's okay to just lie there.]

[He certainly seems to think now is one of those times, because he doesn't look like he plans on going anywhere, anytime soon. The steady back and forth of his thumb is slow and hopefully soothing, and he tucks his chin in a little, against the top of her hair.]

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Re: [Day 196, some time after the live]