I think that it's best if we both stay

[ragingscoopaholic]

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?

Comments

[ragingscoopaholic]

Family name? You mean... like your last name?

[Even with how close he is to her, she finds this new information a little difficult to process, and she does appear to be genuinely confused.]

[volleygenius]

Well, it comes first for me. And it's the name I'm most called back home. Only my family and closest friends call me Bunta.

[ And a few others, but he wants to keep this simple. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

Is this something they commonly do in Japan?

[volleygenius]

Almost everyone goes by surname. It's less common for that to change, but when someone gives you permission, it's okay.

[ragingscoopaholic]

So if I introduce you to someone, or mention you to a friend, should I use 'Marui'?

[volleygenius]

'Marui' will cause less confusion for others. But if it's easier for you to have one name and stick to it, I understand.

[ragingscoopaholic]

Gotta be honest here, but I'm probably gonna mess up a whole bunch and keep calling you Marui.

[It's a nice feeling that she's special enough to call him by his first name... or last name? However that order works. But she's so used to 'Marui' that transitioning to 'Bunta' is going to take some getting used to.]

[volleygenius]

Well, it's fine if you do. They're both my name. Bunta is more intimate.

[ He pulls his hand back from her cheek and picks his mug back up for another drink. As he finishes it, he peers at her from over the rim. ]

Why not give it a try...?

[ragingscoopaholic]

[More intimate, he says. New name aside, none of this feels real. She has a boyfriend, and it's still only just now starting to sink in.

Then she looks down at her hands, where Marui is indicating.]

Oh! I almost forgot I was holding it.

[Totally not distracted with Marui touching her cheek at all. Nope. She lowers her gaze to her drink and brings the rim of the mug to her lips, taking a deep sip. It's cooled a bit, so it's not scalding hot. In fact, it's just the right temperature.]

It's delicious! Hot drinks really are a great way to warm up.

[volleygenius]

[ There's a brief moment where Marui stops, clearly caught off-guard by her reaction, before he realizes what's happened and why. He lowers his mug as he dissolves into a delighted chuckle because honestly, that was too cute. ]

They sure are. Glad you like it.

[ragingscoopaholic]

Huh? What's so funny? Is there something on my face?

[volleygenius]

[ That only seems to make him giggle more. ]

No. You're cute-- that's all.

[ragingscoopaholic]

[A blush quickly spreads across her cheeks.]

Are you making fun of me?

[The most menacing of pouts.

Which is to say, not very menacing at all.]

[volleygenius]

[ Nope still grinning like this is the most entertaining thing in the world. ]

How would I be making fun of you?

[ragingscoopaholic]

You keep smiling and laughing at me, and I haven't even done anything.

[volleygenius]

I can't be laughing at you if you haven't done anything.

[ragingscoopaholic]

... Wanna get decked again?

[She could give him a second swollen cheek to make his face symmetrical.]

[volleygenius]

Well. I'd rather keep sitting here and enjoying your company. Isn't that okay?

[ragingscoopaholic]

I guess that's okay.

[She teases him, pretending to sound put out, but now that she's mentioned it... she can't stop looking at his swollen cheek.

Taking another sip of hot chocolate, she continues eyeing that side of his face.]

... Does it still hurt?

[volleygenius]

[ He can trace her gaze easily enough and take a guess what she must be referring to. His smile remains easy and relaxed. ]

Nothing to worry about. I'm more resilient than you think.

[ragingscoopaholic]

Yeah, I know. But... here.

[Carefully, she places her mug down onto the small coffee table and scoots closer to him. Whether it hurts him or not doesn't matter, she had been meaning to do this specifically because she hadn't truly intended to punch him as hard as she did. Or at all.

Sitting directly in front of him, she raises her hand till it's about a couple of inches away from his cheek and uses her healing arte. There's a faint green glow that surrounds his cheek being emitted from her hand, and within seconds he will feel a reduction in pain, and the swelling will go down.]

[volleygenius]

[ She doesn't need to, but it's sweet all the same. It's still a bit incredible she has this power to heal by mere touch (almost-touch?). How handy would that be at the tennis court! Or in general. Being an active, playful teenager and a risk taker to boot, Marui has seen his fair share of scrapes, cuts, bruises, and more.

As the swelling recedes, he lifts his hand and fingers the spot her fist connected, then gives her an easy grin. ]

All better. Thanks.

[ Whether or not it's 100% healed, it's the truth. It wasn't really bothering him before and it's definitely not now. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

S-Still... I'm really sorry about that.

[That he provoked her isn't the point. She should've kept her cool better than that. Luckily, it's nothing her healing artes can't handle- things like minor wounds, cuts, scrapes, bruises, swelling can all be easily remedied with healing artes.]

[volleygenius]

You've got this backwards! Punching is meant to make the other person sorry.

[ It's cute that she's still upset about it. Maybe it's easier for him, having never been upset about it in the first place. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

Well, it doesn't help that you're kind of a punch-able guy.

[She'll concede to that much at least.]