[CLOSED]

[volleygenius]

Who: Marui and Leia
Which: Closed log
What: Dreamotion ability training followed by comfort and cuteness.
When: Afternoon and evening of Nov. 2nd
Where: Marui's treehouse
Warnings: None expected, will edit if needed

[ Marui's dreamotion abilities are not progressing well.

He isn't used to struggling with a new skill. He picks up on most things rather quickly. This, however, is quite simply a mystery. Maybe because it's so abstract? He's been able to do tennis and cakes with it like a true genius, but everything else has been a flop. The hot spring pool he made near his treehouse for bathing is uncomfortably small and shallow, and it occasionally mistakes itself for a geyser. His attempt to kill one of those giant termites with a bolt of lightning instead turned it into a particularly luminescent firefly. (On the upside, it's decided it lives with him and provides after-hours lighting around his house.) Bubble gum he'd thought for sure he could replicate as his supply dwindled to dangerously low levels, but the end result was too sticky to chew and popped while still in his mouth and that was great and interesting, perfect prank material, but not what he needed for everyday use.

He refuses to give up, though, especially in the aftermath of all that happened at that graveyard. He's determined to at least learn how to use it to protect himself and the people he cares for. And so now that he's given himself a one-day break to recover both physically and mentally from that ordeal, he's getting to work on that. Starting in the late morning outside his treehouse, he performs some warm-up stretches, rolls up his sleeves, and then... Well. This is about the part where he usually gets stuck. What should he try to do? In the end, what he most knows how to attack and defend with is still a tennis racket.

Well, no sense fixing what isn't broken. Time to invent some moves.

By the time lunch rolls around, Marui has worked up a decent appetite, and there is one thing and one thing alone that can satisfy him: cake. (Actually, some company would be nice too after spending all morning by himself, but hunger first.) Happily, cake conjuring is a dreamotion ability he's got down pat! He's even figured out how to conjure a platter for it to sit on now instead of the unfortunate (but admittedly hilarious) result of it splatting to the ground.

He takes a minute to imagine its shape, size, flavor, decorations, colors. It's easy with cake because he's seen, tasted, and baked so many. What would be really great right now is... yes. Perfect!

It's so real to him already-- the apple slices decorating the top; the warm and nutty aromas of maple, cinnamon, and pecan; how light and juicy it is inside with steaming apple pie filling between fluffy layers of spice cake! He's excited just thinking about it!

It feels like warm tingling at his fingertips. The cake realizes itself layer by layer, stacking higher and higher before disappearing inside a warm off-white encasement of frosting. Red-skinned apple slices radiate from the center on top in symmetry. Candied pecans line the base and accent the apple slices on top. An orange maple leaf pattern wraps around the side. ]

Yahoi! [ He cheers when it's done, and eagerly carves out a slice. ]

Comments

[volleygenius]

[ No, it did not, but he doesn't really care about those last couple of bites. He doesn't care whose fault it was that it dropped either. He grimaces as he tenderly rubs at the pinched skin. ]

There's no reason to be upset about the cake. You weren't going to eat it anyway, right?

[ Marui slides out from under that blanket (brr), tucks it neatly back around Leia, and sets the saucer on the table while he gets a cleaning rag, wets it in the bowl of water by the door, and starts to clean up the mess. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

H-Here, let me help--

[While she meant to make him regret his words, she didn't mean to give him a mess to clean. Guess she hadn't really thought that through, had she? She gently pulls the blanket off to go grab something to help him with cleaning the mess.]

[volleygenius]

It's fine.

[ He's got it already, not really enough of a job for two it's such a small mess. He scoops up the solid bits, wipes the floor clean with the rag, dumps the cake into a can for garbage, and drops the rag onto his designated laundry pile. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

[It's practically wiped up entirely by the time she's lowered the blanket, and his words only force her to settle back into her previous position against the wall. Albeit feeling slightly dejected. Sometimes she finds it hard to gauge his reactions, though. Is he annoyed, indifferent? Perfectly fine? Who knows. But she stays where she is, watching him curiously, and waits for him to come back.

She's already starting to feel cold again.]

[volleygenius]

[ Is he annoyed? Maybe a little, but it's nothing worth getting upset about. The mess is already cleaned up, and his side will stop hurting in a minute. ]

Well, as long as I'm up...

[ Marui climbs back up the ladder to the loft. After some brief rustling, a pillow sails off and flops down in Leia's lap. He starts back down to reclaim his spot under the blanket. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

[She stares blankly at the pillow as it lands onto her lap, then back at him as he approaches.]

What's this for?

[Is he actually planning on sleeping beside her?]

[volleygenius]

[ Marui tosses her a light grin. ]

Don't tell me you don't use pillows where you're from.

[ He felt that edge of heaviness that was threatening to creep back into the air after the cake accident. He's not going to let it take over. He climbs back under the blanket and nudges her to lean forward so he can place the pillow behind their backs. ]

[ragingscoopaholic]

[She tentatively leans forward, and also absentmindedly scoots closer to him.]

Uh, no, we do, but I meant... are you sure you want to sleep on the floor? Won't it be too uncomfortable for you?

[That's about half of her concern. The other half is him realizing he's technically sleeping right beside her.]

[volleygenius]

[ It's good that she's okay scooting closer since they'll have to be pretty cozy for their backs to share the pillow. It's certainly nicer once that bit of fluff is between them and the wall, even if it isn't big enough to cushion everything. ​]

The pillow is to make it more comfortable isn't it?

[ragingscoopaholic]

[She can't help it. He feels cozier than this blanket.]

Right. But a bed is still a lot more comfortable.

[volleygenius]

[ If she hadn't just scooted in close against him, he'd think this was her trying to tell him she was uncomfortable with them huddling together. That would be quite a pickle since it's really too chilly for either of them to be without a blanket. Thankfully, that clearly isn't what's going on here.

Not so thankfully, that leads his mind to only one other possible conclusion. ]

...Don't tell me that you're saying we should share the bed?

[ He's trying so hard not to blush. So. Hard. ]

1/4

[ragingscoopaholic]

...???

2/4

[ragingscoopaholic]

Sh-share...??

3/4

[ragingscoopaholic]

The... b-bed...??

4/4

[ragingscoopaholic]

[It's okay, because her cheeks are red enough for the both of them. Seriously. How does he say what he just said without looking and feeling embarrassed?? What is wrong with him?!]

H-How was that the conclusion you drew from everything I said?!

[And, seriously, isn't she cute enough that he could at least pretend to be flustered??? Ugh, this guy!]

[volleygenius]

Because...! You keep saying the floor won't be comfortable enough when there's only one blanket, and it's too cold for either of us to be without it! What am I supposed to think you mean?

[ragingscoopaholic]

I'd rather take my chances in the cold, thank you very much!

[At this point she's really embarrassed herself, and she's just trying to save face. The second those words leave her mouth, she instantly regrets them.]

1/2

[volleygenius]

[ ... ]

[volleygenius]

Then it's a good thing I'm here to be sensible for you. And that I'm more than tough enough to handle a night of sleeping on the floor.

[ragingscoopaholic]

[That shut her down real quick. Part of her wishes he would've continued arguing, and the whole thing spiraled into some silly bickering contest instead. That would be easier to handle than not really knowing if he thought she meant that or not.

Truth is... she wants to be exactly where she is right now. Nowhere else. And not just because she's cold, but because she likes the person under this blanket. Even if he's kind of obnoxious sometimes.

She's silent for a moment before she finally speaks, feeling more than terrible and really embarrassed.]

I didn't... mean that.

[volleygenius]

[ And that follow-up is exactly why he didn't continue arguing.

Leia's had a rough day already. She's tired and emotionally strung out from losing her close friend. She's barely had anything to eat. She's flustered and not communicating well. And if he's honest, he's tired and a little cranky, too, and that remark had stung. The last thing that moment needed was an escalation.

Hearing her deflate and effectively apologize, Marui lets out a breath and any lingering tension he feels with it. ]

It's all right. Been a hard day, hasn't it? I understand that. Try and get some sleep. It might not fix what's wrong, but you'll have a rested mind to deal with it.

[ragingscoopaholic]

[Oh. That was... Amazingly sweet of him. She's no intention of muttering that out loud, of course, but even the warmth in his words is enough to grip her tightly within its grasp. And she had to wonder... why. Why the difficulty, why is he getting to her like this?

One thing is certain, his words deescalate the situation. Beneath it all, Leia is more grateful to him than she can put into words. And she's a journalist.

She nods, slowly. Looking up at him with an apologetic look.]

Mm. You're right... Sure feels like everything's finally catching up to me.

[As if his words opened a floodgate, that feeling of exhaustion sure starts to hit her pretty hard. She settles in, scooting against the pillow and... moving somehow closer to Marui.]

Are you gonna get some sleep soon?

[volleygenius]

[ She doesn't really need to look at him like that. Like she hasn't already conveyed her regrets and been forgiven in turn. Doesn't need to and probably shouldn't, because it makes him want to...

He shifts himself to nestle into a comfortable spot next to her, ending up in a position where they seem to be leaning against each other, each holding the other up. He lets his eyes slip closed. ]

Don't worry about me. I can sleep whenever I want.

[ As if on cue, he yawns indulgently. ]

Talk in the morning. Goodnight...

[ragingscoopaholic]

Goodnight, Marui...

[She takes advantage of his eyes being closed to stare at him a little longer, even as she settles back against the wall. Funny, he can be a total pain in the ass, and there are times when she'd love to tape his mouth shut, but staring at him as sleep takes over... makes him look so gentle.

Did he fall asleep that fast? She doesn't wait to find out. Reluctantly, she tears her gaze away from him, worry settling in that if she falls asleep, if she takes her eyes off him, that he might be gone by morning.

... That he might get sent home next.

Pushing those fears aside, as best she can, she lets her eyes slip closed. She's not even remotely tired. How is she going to manage to sleep here at all? Her mind is plagued with thoughts of losing him, the awkwardness of being so close... and the weird fluttering in her chest. Against her better wishes, however, she remains still, focusing on her breathing bit by bit, until...

There's nothing more. In just a matter of minutes she's crashed completely- it really is like the weight of everything finally came crashing down on her. Only this time, she has some peace of mind. And he's beside her under this blanket.

Oblivious to the world, her body gradually seeks out his heat until she's fully leaning against his side, her head nestled against his shoulder as she drifts ever further into sleep.]

[volleygenius]

[ Marui is one of those infuriating people with the ability to fall asleep virtually on command. If he's comfortable enough to lie still, he can close his eyes and within a few minutes doze off. The floor may not be soft and fluffy like a bed, but they've got the pillow, the blanket, and each other's warmth, and the extra warmth under the blanket does a remarkable job of offsetting the unyielding surfaces they recline against on the comfort scale.

He isn't worried about things like whether one of them will disappear overnight or whether she's actually sleeping. He's content because there's cake in his stomach and his closest friend here is at his side. He dreams of a giant purple marshmallow that he bounces on like a trampoline, higher and higher until he escapes gravity. He flies over a pit of chocolate pudding full of gummy worms until he finds an open field of flowers. His captain, Yukimura, sits among them and hails him down to talk. He points out the different varieties and shares trivia about them that Marui immediately forgets despite his best intentions. But he does pick a few of the red ones; it's his favorite color, after all, and flowers make nice gifts.

Under the blanket, in his right hand, a single red rose from his dream manifests itself. ]