songerein | I think that it's best if we both stay

Entry tags:

I think that it's best if we both stay

Who: Bunta Marui & Leia Rolando
Which: Log; closed
Where: Woods near residential.
What: December events: gumdrop, arguments, and competitive snowball fights.
Warnings: None, but will update if necessary!

[At some point she slipped into this quiet acceptance of their situation. What was supposed to be a few days of Marui crashing at her place until he found a house has somehow ended up with them now living together for an entire month. And she doesn't feel particularly inclined to upend the status quo. Though that doesn't make the situation any easier on her emotions. She is, sadly, used to pining for someone and keeping her true feelings to herself. It's a complicated situation, one that might cost her a great deal were she to ever find the courage to confess, and those thoughts are enough to keep her mouth shut.

If she had an inkling he felt anyway special towards her, she's somehow dismissed it with some excuse, or assumed she's reading too much into it. Marui is... sweet. And he's always surprising her with little gifts and sweets, only some of which she's asked for and most of which she's only briefly mentioned and he somehow took it upon himself to get for her. But she also does the same for him, as well as using other means to gauge his interest. Like wearing cute PJs around the house, with one in particular being a little revealing. But all that she's gotten from him were a few cracks and cheeky comments which have only proven her suspicions. That his actions could be reactions to both her gestures and him staying with her- like tokens of appreciation.

Admittedly, it's hard to decipher his actions when her own mind is a fierce storm of emotions. Were she to confess to him, she will be forfeiting any feelings she could potentially have for Jude. Which is something that still worries her, as if accepting that Jude's role in her life is more familial and platonic somehow diminishes his importance to her. She just never expected to fall for anyone else. More troubling is whether or not Marui would accept the complicated role that Jude plays in her life, if not then she would lose Marui entirely, and she's left with one-sided feelings that she'd have to eventually bury and move on from.

She jokes that she's trained herself long and hard in the art of unrequited love to be able to handle this, but the thought saddens her a little. Still, it's not enough to keep her down. If anything she's appeared entirely like her normal self around everyone. Marui's a fun roommate, even if he's occasionally obnoxious, and she enjoys his company. And that's all she can really ask for. More than anything, she doesn't want to lose that by forcing something that may not even be there.

Obvious complications aside, everything else is just fine.

All of it seems habitual now, no matter how they spend their day and what isn't said, they continue their now very domesticated lifestyle. The house is still somewhat bare, and with all the new shops opening up, and the seasonal chill in the air, it felt like an opportune time to go looking for some crystal powered appliances, clothes, and whatever else they could find for the house while enjoying the wintry scene outside. It's also the type of weather one could curl up together with someone. Even as they walk along the streets of the market she has fought the urge more than once to reach for his hand. Thankfully he's none the wiser else she'd probably never hear the end of his teasing.

It doesn't take long to pick up any last minute items they might have missed, cute decorations and the like, before they soon start heading back home with their modest haul. Between what they have now and dreamotion, there's almost a sense of convenience and normalcy returning to her life and for the first time since she arrived she's starting to actually feel a sense of belonging. Like this is a second home.

Is it okay to feel this way?

Suddenly she feels some icy water slip into her boot and she stops, wincing at the discomfort the sharp chill brings, and halting the bit of small talk they had going.]

Hold up a sec, I have to fix my shoe.

[Setting everything down, she kneels and notices her shoelace is completely untied, so she takes a moment to tie it and make sure it's secure, not really paying too much attention to her surroundings. When she's finished, she straightens up and looks around... noticing a certain someone is gone.]

Hm? Marui?

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[And because they're so much alike, she anticipates he's going to toss one at her back. She would do the same. But also it's just an easy target, so she's careful to look back, and when she sees it coming she swiftly dodges.]

Oh, c'mon! That's so obvious!

[Then she swoops down, gathers a handful of snow, and throws it at him. She doesn't expect that to hit him, but it'll keep him on his toes. Right after that one, though, she's already gathering enough to make another. And tosses it. And another, then tosses it. Trying to bombard him with a few snowballs at once. All while laughing.]

[ Her laugh is truly the best sound in the world.

He avoids her snowballs one after the other while chasing her around to score a hit of his own. Every so often he dips down, often without even stopping, to grab up another handful of snow to pack down into a ball and throw at her.

And after a few more of those, he just saves the one he has and focuses on catching her, because mashing it against her back the way she got him in the chest is a payback he simply has to experience.

As soon as he gets close enough. ]

[He's pretty fast, but she's just as fast, so she has to keep sprinting away, often zigzagging, though stooping down to grab handfuls of snow brings her dangerously close occasionally. She keeps hurriedly forming the snowballs as she runs, then turning to toss them at his chest or legs.

On one particular instance, she reaches down to grab the snow, and nearly tumbles over her self, but just barely manages to keep her balance, however it might not be in time to get away from him, so she makes a last ditch effort and tosses one at him and tries to run.]

[ He just takes the hit from that last ditch effort because now he has her! ]

Caught you! [ He yells as he dives, snaring an arm around her waist and taking her with him down to the ground. The snow might be freezing cold, but it does cushion the landing.

And that snowball he's been hanging onto gets mashed right down on top of her head through a laugh, his breathing heavy but not labored.

What a rush. ]

[His strong arm suddenly wraps around her waist, eliciting a sharp gasp, and she's quickly pulled down with him into the plush snow. Before she can even react, she's met with a wet chill atop her head, and she squirms, twisting her body so that she's now on her side, facing him.]

D-Don't put it on my head, that's freezing!!

[She cries out and grabs a fistful of snow, returning the icy favour by planting a small handful I to his own hair.]

Take that, you jerk!

[But her attempt to sound mad quickly dissolves into a small fit of laughter, having exacted quick revenge.]

[ Marui is too busy laughing to say much of anything back to her, even as she drives a wad of snow onto his own head. And it really is cold! Though he's not feeling how cold and wet they are as badly thanks to the buzz of warmth from running around so much.

Although... some of it might also be the company he's with. Looking at that bright face, hearing her giggle, feeling the shape of her waist under his arm, he just can't be too bothered by the cold. It makes his chest ache in the best way, because if things were a little different, it would be a perfect time.

But it's fine like this, too. Being with her is what matters most, not how he's with her.

He pushes himself up to a kneel and offers his hand to help her up. ]

Come on-- let's get back. I definitely need a big, hot meal after all that.

[Disappointment sets in all too quickly when he gets up, the heat between them quickly fading. Not that she wanted to remain in the snow for much longer, but... their proximity certainly made it bearable. And for just a brief moment, she hoped he would've given her some kind of sign.

With the ache fading in her chest, the cold begins to settle into her bones as she resigns herself to bottling up her feelings. She takes his hand, not missing the opportunity to make a playful jab.]

I'm shocked you didn't say cake. Who are you?

[Meanwhile, as she gets to her feet, a tiny, red slug approaches them. At the moment, it seems to just be circling them, as if observing them.]

[ Marui hesitates, looking somewhat bothered when Leia takes his hand, and all but fully ignores her jab. ]

That hand is freezing. Wait a minute...

[ Taking her other hand, he cups them between his (as if they're any warmer) and brings them close to his face so he can blow warm air over them. It's fine, he'd do this for his brothers, too. It's just friendly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he notices that little red floating thing but doesn't pay much attention to it since it doesn't look dangerous. ]

[Him blowing warm air onto her freezing hands makes her body shudder as if it's somehow gotten colder. It's a little embarrassing, to be honest. Which isn't to say that it's unwelcome, just that... his mouth is so close to her hands. The warmth of his breath tickles her skin, and her chest tightens a little.]

Uh... th-that really isn't necessary--

[She tries to plead, but her attention is diverted to the small, glowing red creature hovering above them. It actually looks like some kind of slug? No bigger than an inch. And it stares intently at them.]

Hm? What's that?

[ Marui looks briefly disgruntled, and after a moment lets go of her hands and turns, starting back towards the abandoned shopping bags. A small spot in his left footprint looks strangely burnt, if such a thing is possible in snow. ]

I dunno. I can't eat it, so I'm not interested.

"Grrr!"

...

[ Marui pauses in his tracks and looks up, befuddled, at the little floating slug. ]

Was that a... growl?

[Her somber gaze falls quietly on his back, watching him leave to fetch the bags. It's not that she didn't appreciate his attempt- if anything, she could've stayed like that for a while, letting his hands and his breath warm her. But it causes a particular ache in her heart, and she's not sure whether she should be feeling that way towards him, in case it complicates things.

The sudden growl breaks her trance, and she stares up at the little slug again.]

Sure sounded like it. But I thought you weren't interested since you can't eat it?

[The slug floats a little closer to them, growling and turning red.]

I'm not. Let's go...

[ The slug seems to have other ideas, though, and continues to flit closer. ]

"Destroy!"

[ Marui stops, thinks for a moment, then turns and addresses it with a kind smile. ]

What's wrong? Did we disturb you? Sorry-- our bad. If there's something we need to fix, lead the way. We'll take care of it.

"Smash!!"

Like I said, if you want something done, try and show us...

[It kind of stings when he doesn't roll with the intentional jab, and she's about to ask him what's wrong when he starts having a one-sided conversation with their little visitor.

Destroy? Smash? ...What? She looks around them, as if there might be a clue they might be missing.]

Hm. I don't even see anything around here that it could be talking about...

"Fight!!"

... Maybe there are some monsters nearby?

[ Marui sighs and scratches the back of his head. ]

Who knows... It's hard to know when it only talks in one-word sentences.

[ The slug flies around in a few circles and starts to chant in a goading manner. ]

"Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!"

[ ...Okay, now he gets it. A hand goes to his hip and he smiles. ]

You're outta luck here, little guy. Try the bar in town. Hey, Leia, you comin'?

Yeah, just a sec--

[She turns and goes to grab the bag she was carrying, stopping to bid the little slug goodbye before they leave him.]

Sorry about that, maybe one of the other little fairies in town will help you out.

[But the slug shakes, and starts to follow Leia as she makes her way over to Marui.]

"Fight!"

[ Ok, it's kind of amusing when he thinks about it, this little sluglike flying creature trying to start something between him and Leia. ]

Sounds pretty insistent, doesn't it.

[That's when it suddenly dawns on her. Which is... weird, why would it want to see two people randomly fight?]

You think it means us?

[In response, the little slug hurriedly zooms around them, chanting:]

Fight! Fight!! Fight!!!

Guess that answers that...

Seems that way. Too bad it just missed the snowballs.

Which I totally won.

Mmh, so did I.

How do you figure that?

"Fight! Fight!!"

Because I had fun. Didn't you?

Well, when you put it that way, yeah! We both did.

[At this point the little slug growls, glowing a deeper red.]

"Fight! Fight!!!"

[It's certainly persistent? Leia sighs and stares at it helplessly.]

Okay, but seriously, what're we gonna do about this thing?

I dunno. Maybe we can drive it away to easier pickings.

[Maybe? She thinks it over, staring at the now very frustrated slug continuing its chanting. She feels like if it were that easy, the little guy would've already left them for more likely targets.]

If you got any ideas, then I'm all ears.

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