[The second her fingers run through Natsuno's hair, he practically melts into the touch, sighing softly. He can do without the good boy, but it feels so nice he's not about to complain. A warm, tingling sensation that has nothing to do with the wine spreads from the roots of his hair down to his neck, his chest. Did Rita feel it when he stroked her hair? He hopes she did.]
That's nice, [He murmurs.] Can you keep doing that?
[...He's so relaxed and content, how could she stop? Pleasant warmth radiates from her chest and their linked hands until it envelopes her entirety. She runs her hand through his hair, gently finger-combing out any tangles, glancing sidelong at the expression on his face. It would...be nice if he could be happy like this while not drunk.]
I don't know if you'll remember this tomorrow...but...y-you know, I'll...I'll do this any time you ask, if you like...
[It might make her die of embarrassment, but at least she'll go out happy? (Yeah, fluster aside, this is--nice. It's warm and cozy and one of the only good things that happens on this boat.)]
[Good thing she keeps going, though, because Natsuno is a little concerned that she thinks he'll forget it. Surely he's not that drunk, he's just... slightly tipsy, and only because Rita kept insisting on that.]
I'll do that for you too, y'know. And I'll be a blanket. If you want.
[What does she even say? He's bringing up her texts after she told him to forget it! Or maybe she's dug this hole for herself after what she just said...huff...]
Well...thanks... Before anything else, though-
[Sorry, Natsuno, critical levels of embarrassment here in combination with remembering some of the pills Clarke left behind for her--she stops stroking his hair and leans away to reach for the medications, even as the air that fills the space where his head was just leaning feels unusually cold, what the constant weather on the ship.]
H-here--take, uh... [Hang on she's gonna read the label real quick.] One or two? Two, then--here, and wash them down with water.
[...This cap is really stupid and she can't open it one-handed.]
...You'll have to let go of my hand. Just...for a bit, okay?
[Rita stops and suddenly all the nice, relaxing warmth goes away. Why did she stop? Natsuno opens his eyes to stare blearily at her, confused and a little anxious.
She wants him to... let go of her hand. But -
Oh no. Clarke told him not do anything she would do. Clarke is also touchy-feely. Does that mean he made a mistake snuggling against Rita, holding her hand and asking for head pets? Natsuno thought he'd be fine avoiding knives and rails, but at the end it was cuddles that led to disaster...
Yeah, he's definitely disappointed, but since Rita asked lets go reluctantly.]
...is that ib - bupp. Aye - boo - pro - fen?
[Clarke told him to take some! Quick, he needs to take two and wash them down with water before there will be more consequences for not listening to her.]
[She had a feeling he might be disppointed, and yet--the look on his face is somehow even worse. Ugh. Don't make her feel bad for trying to prevent a really terrible morning! How is it making her feel so guilty over...disturbing his peaceful moment of rest and contentment...dammit...]
Y...yeah, it has a stupid name like that... Clarke said it would when I--so you don't get a hangover, I guess.
[She retrieves two pills from the bottle, then holds one out for him to take; once he's washed it down, he'll get the other one.]
I'm surprised you could get drunk at all... I wonder if these will work.
[Oh, Clarke said it to Rita as well! Then it is extra important not to make a fuss and take the pills. Natsuno bravely puts his disappointment aside and does as instructed; he even manages to not spill any water this time.]
It's not s'pposed to work. Maybe the wine's magic.
[The pills, however, are definitely NOT magical and he sure is going to be hungover tomorrow. Hopefully he can recover quicker than most humans...]
Can we...
[Natsuno reaches for her hand again, giving Rita a hopeful look.]
Yeah, maybe... Or maybe some worlds just have weird wine that affects even you...
[It's something to keep in mind, at least--they nver know what they could encounter in the future--but for the most part, she's just focused on making sure he's taking those pills. Even as she worries he's still going to have a hell of a time tomorrow.
She nods satisfactorily as he finishes his medicine, and then--oh...oh no, something in her is, like, simultaneously fluttering and melting at that look?! What is going on... What is that expression and how can she possibly say no...]
O...of course. I just--wanted to make sure you took that medicine...just in case it might help, you know?
[She takes his hand, lacing her fingers with his, even as her face burns all over again. Is this always something he's wanted, or...did being in the nothing make him crave the contact?]
...Want me to, uh... I mean, we can go back to...before.
[Him relaxing and getting head pets. You know. Close...comforting things.]
[Oh, he knows. Rita's looking after him, because she's a kind and sweet genius. Also pretty. With soft hands.
Natsuno's expression softens and he hums a content affirmation, snuggling against Rita once again. It's nice to feel looked after - it's been so long since he could relax like this. Tohru-chan would do that, letting Natsuno crash at his place and even putting a blanket over him when he was too exhausted to move...
Oh.
Natsuno shifts, bringing his other arm around Rita. Good blanket.]
[He's...really, really happy like this, huh... Even--oh, he's getting even more cuddly now?!]
C...comfortable...?
[Don't mind if her voice raises a couple octaves in embarrassment. Rita's going to start wondering if it's possible for spontaneous human combustion to occur with just how hot her face and chest and--everything feels--even as it's not an unpleasant warmth, and also Natsuno sure is...everywhere right now. Her heart rate sure is picking up, too...
She swallows. His hair was soft, and he was so relaxed when she was running her fingers through it... Tentatively, she brings her free hand to his head again. She can't quite seem to say anything about it this time, though. Her voice doesn't seem to be working properly...]
[With his eyes shut and his head tucked against Rita, Natsuno is blissfully unaware of the impending combustion. He can hear her heartbeat picking up, but somehow it's comforting, another reassurance that she's here and alive.]
Yeah...
[Natsuno smiles to himself, letting out a small sigh before he stops thinking about anything and just relaxes, leaning into the touch. He's so glad Rita's here with him...
It's not long before he falls asleep. Rita is free to scoot out whenever she wants - it's unlikely he'll wake up for the next several hours.]
[W-well he certainly is...really happy, and relaxed, and it at least makes Rita feel happy for him. Even if it's only a temporary sort of happiness, still...he deserves it...
That line of thinking might be enough to keep the combustion under control, since she keeps smoothing Natsuno's hair as he relaxes further, and for some reason she's really aware of his breathing, when she can feel the slow rise and fall of his chest as he falls asleep.
...She wishes he could always be this happy. If only wishes were enough. But since they aren't...well. That just means she'll pet his head like this anytime he wants. If he wants to hug, too...she can do that. If it's for Natsuno, she will.
She stays with him like this for a good little while, worried that any large movements might disturb him, and instead busies herself with texting her roommate (even if she starts tapping at those keys rather aggressively at points).
Eventually, when he shows no signs of anything other than being very deeply asleep, she'll gently scoot slide out from his embrace, lowering his head down to rest properly on a pillow, and covering him with a blanket. What else...more water, placed on the table next to him, and the painkillers just in case. Oh, yeah--the wastebasket Clarke had set up for her, in case of puking--she'll place that near him, too. And make sure the blinds are tightly closed, because that morning light will probably be murder on his eyes. And then...
She can't sleep. She's just going to lie on her bed, lights off, and be completely unable to shut her brain off. Natsuno's always been really sweet, but tonight, he was...surprisingly cute?! How is she supposed to sleep?! She just keeps thinking about him and cats and the cat carving and other things, and ugh this is just how it was after Estelle saved her... She can't stop thinking about him.]
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That's nice, [He murmurs.] Can you keep doing that?
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[...He's so relaxed and content, how could she stop? Pleasant warmth radiates from her chest and their linked hands until it envelopes her entirety. She runs her hand through his hair, gently finger-combing out any tangles, glancing sidelong at the expression on his face. It would...be nice if he could be happy like this while not drunk.]
I don't know if you'll remember this tomorrow...but...y-you know, I'll...I'll do this any time you ask, if you like...
[It might make her die of embarrassment, but at least she'll go out happy? (Yeah, fluster aside, this is--nice. It's warm and cozy and one of the only good things that happens on this boat.)]
no subject
[Good thing she keeps going, though, because Natsuno is a little concerned that she thinks he'll forget it. Surely he's not that drunk, he's just... slightly tipsy, and only because Rita kept insisting on that.]
I'll do that for you too, y'know. And I'll be a blanket. If you want.
no subject
[What does she even say? He's bringing up her texts after she told him to forget it! Or maybe she's dug this hole for herself after what she just said...huff...]
Well...thanks... Before anything else, though-
[Sorry, Natsuno, critical levels of embarrassment here in combination with remembering some of the pills Clarke left behind for her--she stops stroking his hair and leans away to reach for the medications, even as the air that fills the space where his head was just leaning feels unusually cold, what the constant weather on the ship.]
H-here--take, uh... [Hang on she's gonna read the label real quick.] One or two? Two, then--here, and wash them down with water.
[...This cap is really stupid and she can't open it one-handed.]
...You'll have to let go of my hand. Just...for a bit, okay?
[In case he gets disappointed?!]
no subject
She wants him to... let go of her hand. But -
Oh no. Clarke told him not do anything she would do. Clarke is also touchy-feely. Does that mean he made a mistake snuggling against Rita, holding her hand and asking for head pets? Natsuno thought he'd be fine avoiding knives and rails, but at the end it was cuddles that led to disaster...
Yeah, he's definitely disappointed, but since Rita asked lets go reluctantly.]
...is that ib - bupp. Aye - boo - pro - fen?
[Clarke told him to take some! Quick, he needs to take two and wash them down with water before there will be more consequences for not listening to her.]
cries how is he so cute
Y...yeah, it has a stupid name like that... Clarke said it would when I--so you don't get a hangover, I guess.
[She retrieves two pills from the bottle, then holds one out for him to take; once he's washed it down, he'll get the other one.]
I'm surprised you could get drunk at all... I wonder if these will work.
no subject
It's not s'pposed to work. Maybe the wine's magic.
[The pills, however, are definitely NOT magical and he sure is going to be hungover tomorrow. Hopefully he can recover quicker than most humans...]
Can we...
[Natsuno reaches for her hand again, giving Rita a hopeful look.]
no subject
[It's something to keep in mind, at least--they nver know what they could encounter in the future--but for the most part, she's just focused on making sure he's taking those pills. Even as she worries he's still going to have a hell of a time tomorrow.
She nods satisfactorily as he finishes his medicine, and then--oh...oh no, something in her is, like, simultaneously fluttering and melting at that look?! What is going on... What is that expression and how can she possibly say no...]
O...of course. I just--wanted to make sure you took that medicine...just in case it might help, you know?
[She takes his hand, lacing her fingers with his, even as her face burns all over again. Is this always something he's wanted, or...did being in the nothing make him crave the contact?]
...Want me to, uh... I mean, we can go back to...before.
[Him relaxing and getting head pets. You know. Close...comforting things.]
no subject
Natsuno's expression softens and he hums a content affirmation, snuggling against Rita once again. It's nice to feel looked after - it's been so long since he could relax like this. Tohru-chan would do that, letting Natsuno crash at his place and even putting a blanket over him when he was too exhausted to move...
Oh.
Natsuno shifts, bringing his other arm around Rita. Good blanket.]
no subject
C...comfortable...?
[Don't mind if her voice raises a couple octaves in embarrassment. Rita's going to start wondering if it's possible for spontaneous human combustion to occur with just how hot her face and chest and--everything feels--even as it's not an unpleasant warmth, and also Natsuno sure is...everywhere right now. Her heart rate sure is picking up, too...
She swallows. His hair was soft, and he was so relaxed when she was running her fingers through it... Tentatively, she brings her free hand to his head again. She can't quite seem to say anything about it this time, though. Her voice doesn't seem to be working properly...]
congrats, you unlocked the one happy smile
Yeah...
[Natsuno smiles to himself, letting out a small sigh before he stops thinking about anything and just relaxes, leaning into the touch. He's so glad Rita's here with him...
It's not long before he falls asleep. Rita is free to scoot out whenever she wants - it's unlikely he'll wake up for the next several hours.]
HAPPY PRECIOUS SMILE
That line of thinking might be enough to keep the combustion under control, since she keeps smoothing Natsuno's hair as he relaxes further, and for some reason she's really aware of his breathing, when she can feel the slow rise and fall of his chest as he falls asleep.
...She wishes he could always be this happy. If only wishes were enough. But since they aren't...well. That just means she'll pet his head like this anytime he wants. If he wants to hug, too...she can do that. If it's for Natsuno, she will.
She stays with him like this for a good little while, worried that any large movements might disturb him, and instead busies herself with texting her roommate (even if she starts tapping at those keys rather aggressively at points).
Eventually, when he shows no signs of anything other than being very deeply asleep, she'll gently scoot slide out from his embrace, lowering his head down to rest properly on a pillow, and covering him with a blanket. What else...more water, placed on the table next to him, and the painkillers just in case. Oh, yeah--the wastebasket Clarke had set up for her, in case of puking--she'll place that near him, too. And make sure the blinds are tightly closed, because that morning light will probably be murder on his eyes. And then...
She can't sleep. She's just going to lie on her bed, lights off, and be completely unable to shut her brain off. Natsuno's always been really sweet, but tonight, he was...surprisingly cute?! How is she supposed to sleep?! She just keeps thinking about him and cats and the cat carving and other things, and ugh this is just how it was after Estelle saved her... She can't stop thinking about him.]