angelofdog | "i will stay forever here" [voicemail @ scorched]

[ how about no spandex at all?

he doesn't flinch away or look sideways like he might with anyone else; he stares back at her quietly. he knows why she's worried, so he really can't lie about it. ]

I'm all right.

[ the hug is a surprise, and he stumbles backwards despite her weight — or rather, lack of it. heine stands there awkwardly for a moment or two, unsure of how to respond.

finally he puts one arm around her back, careful of her wings and everything else about the situation. ]

[ okay but the cape's a must. ]

[ it's a really brief hug - the sort that she hoped served as a comfort to him, as well as some sort of reassurance that she wasn't mad at him or anything. she'd been worried, yes, and sad, but never angry. ]

[ now that he's back, she's outright happy, and when Nill extracts herself from the brief hug, she smiles at him again - the best expression of that joy she could give without her Forge on hand to type them out. ]

[ okay, fine.

the smile is sort of unexpected because he left, he left her there and he feels a little guilty, a little angry at something he can't quite place. (story of his life, really.) ]

What's happened?

[ she cocked her head gently and raised both eyebrows in a dainty arch before shaking her head. ]

[ Nothing, that shake dictates, and it's...mostly true? Nothing too bad, despite the little war, and she'd met some nice people... one might even say she's made friends. ]

[ after a moment, she pointed back at the patrol headquarters. I live here now, she meant. Miss Priscilla invited me. ]

[ he understands the little gestures and looks, and nods along as if she is speaking (though she is, in a way). ]

Do you want to stay here?

[ she thought about it for a fair few moments, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. on one hand, she liked it there - it was a safe place and there were several people she had come to like. but on the other... ]

[ she shrugged, almost noncommittally, glancing between the building and him. I want to stay with you. ]

[ he notices the slight hesitation. ]

You can stay where you want.

[ though, he'd feel much better if he could keep her close. but he won't restrict her on that account. ]

[ She thought for another moment before pointing - not just gesturing - at the doorway to headquarters and blinked at him with big, imploring eyes. ]

[ Would you want to stay with me? she was asking quietly. As far as she knew, no one had moved into that apartment above the clinic, so that was probably there if he wanted it. ]

Yeah, but... not here.

[ too much authority. too many people. the clinic, at least, is generally devoid of government so long as he stays quiet. ]

Sorry.

[ she hesitated for a moment before taking a step toward him and fumbling her hands. despite the visible uncertainty, she really doesn't want to leave him now he's back... ]

[ I will go with you, then. ]

You can — come back here, too. Or stay here, if...

[ domestic arrangements? this is so hard for him. ]

...you can try both. But I'm not going to stay here.

[ it's hard for both of them - what is dedication. what is a room. ]

[ she shifted on her feet and, after a moment's deliberation, nodded. after all, it seemed like it would work well; it would be like having two homes she could bounce between. one for sleeping and the other for making sure Heine was alive. ]

[ ...something like that. ]

[ ah, the necessities of life. heine nods. ]

So what've you been doing?

[ he worries, as always, about the past he can't affect. ]

[ She gestures lightly before twisting her hands. What had she been doing. Learning to write better on the Forge? That was true, and after a second, she mimed typing - fingers lightly tapping keys made out of air. ]

[ And, um... Um. ]

[ Oh, eating olives. Which she mimes with bringing her hand to her lips and then drawing little ovals in the air and repeating the process. ]

[ - she'd been holed up during the attack. The war. But she can think of no hand gestures for that. ]

[ he gets the typing, but the ovals get a sort of squint. ]

What are — [ mimics the oval-drawing. it's kind of awkward. ]

[ she remakes the circle with her fingers, but... no, that's not quite working. ]

[ she furrows her brow. had she the forge on hand, she could spell it out on a document of sorts.... perhaps she should invest in one of those sort of reading things that Mister Break has; that could come in handy here. ]

[ but as she doesn't have one, Nill just raises a thin finger and spells out the word in the air. ]

[ O - L - I - V - E ]

[ he kind of mouths the letters inaudibly (barely noticeable), and then nods. ]

Do you like them?

[ heine can't remember what they taste like, but if nill enjoys them. ]

[ she smiles and nods, patting her stomach lightly; the sort of gesture that ought to be accompanied with an 'mhmmm!' but works well enough as it is. ]

[ she'd have to see if Merlin had any extra. maybe Heine would like them, too! ]

[ huh. he nods. ]

Where'd you get them?

[ a loose gesture, meant to be taken as my friend. but while one can map out the shape of olives, friends are not so easy. ]

[ so instead she takes to spelling out a name in the air again. ]

[ M - E - R - L - I - N ]

[ he watches, frowns slightly in concentration (or perhaps something else?), and commits the letters to his admittedly faulty memory.

he'll — well, he won't stalk him like badou, he'll just... remember his name. ]

Does he sell them?

[ she shook her head, no, and shrugged lightly. ]

[ ...he had just sort of given them to her. and once she'd taken a liking for them, she had gotten them for herself, and at plenty of parties. but, no, from merlin they had been free. ]

We could get some.

[ and that is about where everything just cracks, because he really isn't as together as he seems (which is saying quite a bit, because when does he ever seem to have it together?). he's starting to look slightly irritated about nothing in particular, but also the fact that he's lost months of time and it's unsettling and he's starting to feel the impact. ]

[ the slight change in his disposition is noted. perhaps a few seconds after the shift, but none the less, and her brow furrows ever so slightly. is he sick? is he angry? is he...sad? is he alright? ]

[ ...no. ]

[ probably not. yet it doesn't feel quite right to try to reach out and pat him on the shoulder, or hold his hand, or hug him. so she just tilts her head ever so slightly and purses her lips; right now? ]

Later, I guess.

[ his expression softens for nill, as well as he can make it, and he shakes his head. ]

I'm going back to the clinic. Do you..?

[ "want to come" - she assumes he is to say, and she nods keenly, even taking a few tentative steps down, away from the large house. ]

[ we can go there now. admittedly, it felt a little good to have a plan; a destination. Better than just hovering outside the patrol headquarters. olives... later. ]

All right.

[ he still knows the way; he's better at routine than face. it's not very far, either, and they draw near soon. ]

[ the atmosphere borders between uncomfortable and leisurely. it's not as if she can mark what changes it from one to the other, but it's there and present and even as they near the clinic Nill has no idea what to do with it other than toy with her hands and alternate glances between her feet and his. ]

"i will stay forever here" [voicemail @ scorched]

Re: action.

Re: action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action. WHOO. i am sorry for the delay!

action. no problem!

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.

action.