abnormalizes | Seasons: IC Contact/Continuations

Possibly both!

[Cuddle all you want, Louis. She makes another arm so she can hug him back.]

You don't have to do anything special to earn it, if that's what you're getting at.

Mmm... I wouldn't say that - more that it's stupid if I keep trying to push you away.
You've proven to me that you don't care if I ruin you, or corrupt you, or otherwise.

...

And, truthfully, the whole time you were reviving... I had been thinking about what it would be like to turn into stone.
You are the only one who reaches out to me first, you know. Everyone else, I would have to ask...

[And from the way he trails off, moving to press his face against her, it's clear he does not want to ask anyone, ever, if he can help it.]

Oh. That makes sense…. I don’t want you to go through that.

[She holds him a little tighter.]

I’d definitely appreciate it if you didn’t try to push me away. It’s clearly not going to work.

Evidently not.

[Muffled, gently, against her stomach.]

To your credit, you are a hell of a burr when you wish to be. I don't think I could get rid of you if I tried.
And trust me, I did try.

Not even sinking to my worst was enough. You're far too resilient for your own good.

Your worst isn't the worst thing that's ever happened to me. For better or for worse.

[This versus being killed by something that looked like her mother? Versus having to work around her crush's corpse for a whole day before someone got around to cleaning her up? She'd absolutely take this again.]

Well, what a way to make a man feel he's underperformed.

[Said as he turns his head enough that she can partly see his face, the small grin curling the edge of his mouth making it clear he's joking.

But then he's burying his face against her again, wrapping his arm around her a little more snugly.]

I will... try not to do anything like that again.
To you. I cannot promise this for everyone.

But I can promise this for you.

Thank you.

[She holds him just a little tighter.]

I trust you, Louis.

[Despite everything.]

You shouldn't.

[His voice is soft, and he pauses for a moment... before moving to sit up, pulling himself into her lap even more purely so he can wrap his arms around her neck.
A nice, snug embrace and nothing more.]

... But I'm going to be selfish and be glad that you do.
Ah, though, this does make me realize something in terms of trust...

Neither of us will be breathing a word of this to others, correct?
We will not tell a soul. I certainly won't, at any rate -
The risk of Chipp learning about it is far too high, and if he hears about what I have done... I fear the "starter apartments" wouldn't last, considering I live there.

[Well, if he's going to do that, then she's going to lean down to kiss him briefly before straightening back up.]

Of course not! I really don't want to tank your reputation like that. Chipp isn't the only one who'd be upset.

...

[Getting a kiss after all of that gets him to pause for a moment, clearly a mix of shocked and startled that she'd even consider it - let alone actually go through with it.
But after a moment of deliberation... he leans up so he can return it.

Equally brief, of course.]

It is not my reputation I care about in the slightest... the safety of others is my chief concern.
Chipp isn't the only one who would want my blood on their hands, this is true - and there are quite a few people here that are the scorched earth type.

I would not want the starter apartments, all the parks that I sleep in, as well as all of Stormreach decimated merely because I spend time there.

...

And... I would not want Rinku to know. Despite what I threatened... I do care about her and her wellbeing, as well.
But please do not tell her that. I don't need her calling me a friend, too.

[Okay, coming back to the issue of scorched earth later:]

......So, I don't know how to tell you this, but Rinku thinks she's friends with anyone she's spoken to once.

Ugh. I don't doubt this even one iota, but ugh.

[Yeah, he's just saying "ugh", it's not like a scoff or anything.]

... At least that would mean I am not anything special at all, if she considers everyone her friend.
It's... it's that "specialness" that I worry about. Becoming close enough to see me properly...

[Rinku would probably argue that everyone is special, but Evangeline doesn't feel the need to make Louis feel worse.]

She's not the most observant, with all the love in my heart. So you don't really have to worry about that.

[Please... he just wants to be a faceless drone at the crowd, at this point...

An incredibly difficult task considering he also has to balance that out with his teenage mallgoth vibes, his fashion sense, his very profound male peacock aura, and his entire philosophy of "I must be the most fuckable person in the grocery store", but he tries very hard, okay.

That said, he's going to smoosh his cheek against her shoulder. Delicately, thanks to his earrings.]

... There is that, I suppose. "Inobservant" is also just a synonym for "easy prey for an Orange magician".
Er -

Well, "prey" is an awful choice of words... rather - I am good at throwing glamors if I must. In order to make a hasty retreat, of course.

[She presses a smooch to his hair. Mwa.]

I really don't think you need to run away from Rinku.

[yeah when would that ever happen]

[He squeezes his eyes shut with the smooch, just like an angry little cat pretending it does not enjoy smooches (but very much enjoys smooches) would.]

... Somehow, you saying that makes me feel even more confident in my decision to do so.

[Well then, how about she does it again? So there.]

Whatever makes you feel better.

[In that case!

He's gonna sit up straight again so he can give her a proper smooch. So there!!]

What would make me feel better would be if she did not consider me a friend at all.
But I recognize that would be an uphill task that would harm her more than it would do me any good... and I would rather not cause her any distress if at all possible.

...

... Well - I would rather not consciously cause her any distress.
Eating you, obviously, would fall under that. But I... would not say I was in my right mind. Personally.

[Smooch returned!!]

-That would definitely upset her. Her aspiration is to be friends with everyone and make everyone happy, and it's been hard trying to convince her that she can still aim for that goal that's important to her without it being a failing on her part, her not being good enough, if some people don't get along with her.

[He's just going to nuzzle against her cheek, now, as tender and soft as anything.
Turning a question over in his head as he thinks of how to ask it, knowing that if he had a heart, it would be hammering at the mere thought of this.]

... If... I were allow this. If I were to allow Rinku to be an actual friend of mine...
What would be the risk of me getting hurt?
She... wouldn't hurt a friend, would she?

And - this sunny nature of hers... it isn't going to go away, is it?
Even if I were her friend?

She would never hurt you. Not in a million years would she hurt a friend.

You couldn't ruin her if you tried. Rinku will always be Rinku no matter what. It's safe to be friends with her.

...

[And now he pulls back from that hug for just a second, purely so he can move his arms down underneath hers for a warmer, more comfortable hold.
Wrapping them nice and warm around her ribcage.]

She... reminds me quite a bit of Jean. Not Chipp - T-Jean, as he was known by his family. When he was younger.
So much so, it would not surprise me in the least if he sees himself in her, as well.

Despite how afraid of everything he was, he, too, had this unrelenting love for everyone around him...

...I understand why you'd be afraid of changing her.

[She hugs him tight.]

But Rinku has been hurt before, and come out of it still wanting to understand the people who hurt her and not wanting to hurt them in return. So... I think it'll be alright.

The last thing I would want would be to open myself to her and change her as a result.
But... if you're certain of this. I'll, ah -
I'll try.

She's a good person. She deserves to be treated with kindness.

[The squeeze in that hug is returned, cuddling against her shoulder as he does.]

... As do you.

Thank you, Louis. Trying is all I can ask you for.

[She gently rubs his back.]

Thank you for having me in your life.

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