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[sortileges]

"--a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Is that it? How do I tur--"

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[sortileges]

[ She's safe, thankfully. Between her gripping onto him and his hands holding her steady anyway. It just makes it easier now that they're in place. Or at least in a way that's better (hopefully) for her back. ]

Do you want me to...? [ Then again she was ready to punch him last night when he gripped her shoulder... Smh ]

[psycholawgy]

It's fine, [ she says cheerily. her voice is still soft, though, much like the breeze. being loud at this time of day doesn't seem like a bright idea.

she tilts her head to the side until it's resting on his chest, both hand still on his shirt, though her grip has loosened. ]

A nice hot bubble bath would fix it, too.

[sortileges]

[ It's a great wake up for that actually, calming, soothing. He helps her down, cudding her close once she's in place. ]

That sounds like a good idea. [ In their own apartments... Ofc... ]

[psycholawgy]

I, um, [ her cheeks go red as she remembers that they were literally there all night. she didn't... tell ai about her pans, just that she was going out. . . but for her to not go home, she must be worried. ]

Ai. Shoot, I didn't tell her- [ then again, it's not like she expected to spend the night on the rooftop. ]

[sortileges]

[ He didn't tell Shigeru either, and is a little worried to check his CereVice in case there are 34950439 phone calls with him worrying why he isn't back yet. ]

We were gone all ...night.

[ He clears his throat slightly. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she raises her brow slightly, judging him. you think? ]

M- Maybe we should pack up.

[sortileges]

[ Wow, what is this judgement for...??? He shifts his arm to check his watch, squinting. It's still pretty early. ]

It won't take long to do that.

[ Not if he just magics everything away anyway... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she gets up to stretch her arms and legs and then ties her hair up in a ponytail. ugh... her back kind of hurts, but that night was just so fulfilling.

with a deep breath, she picks up the fairy lights and puts them in a small box. ]

Just sit tight, okay? I can get the decor down on my own.

[sortileges]

[ He opens his mouth to protest, but it's too late, she's already tying up her hair and moving to sort out the fairy lights. Softly, he says: ] I could have done that from here.

[ Then again, not everyone is lazy like him.

At least like this he can watch her, not in a creepy way but he's definitely admiring the way his jacket is too big on her and how hard she's working to put it away. ] Let me know when you want me to help.

[ And maybe, just maybe he'll do it the normal way for once. ]

[psycholawgy]

It's fine, I promise. [ she? she's smiling as she folds the blankets. ] Besides, this is my surprise for you. I'm not going to let you do any work.

[ she points to some of the snacks, though. ] If you're hungry, though, you can have those.

[sortileges]

It's hardly work. [ Still, he's smiling too when he looks at her.

The snacks ... were hardly touched last night, weren't they? Though he does reach for the glass he'd had and pours in some of the juice she brought up. He holds up her glass next. ]

Juice? [ Placing his own juice on the side, he digs around with his free hand to find other snacks she brought with her. ]

[psycholawgy]

Yeah, that'd be great.

[ fixing up the decor actually isn't taking too long, but when she's tip toeing to grab the blanket she placed atop a metal bar, she ends up tripping and falls flat on the floor.

ah...

what's new, tbh. ]

Not again.

[sortileges]

[ He doesn't really get a chance to start pouring it when he sees her start to fall out of the corner of his eyes. Thankfully he's sat up, leaving the pillows on the ground easy to move.

A quick look and she isn't falling directly onto concrete at least, instead landing on pillows to cushion her fall.

He doesn't say anything, but his mouth definitely twitches as he finally gets to pour the juice for her. ]

Whenever you're ready, it's here for you.

[psycholawgy]

[ her face hits a pillow and there's a soft thud, followed by an "oof" coming from her.

at the very least, before falling, she's managed to pull the blankets down and they landed on top of her... better than having to tiptoe again. it's not her fault she's small, okay?

so back to folding she goes. ]

I'm almost done.

[sortileges]

[ He has to wonder how she even got them up there to begin with. Threw them? It's possible. At least with the pillows there she doesn't seem to be injured. He eats a little of the popcorn before reaching for the pocky snack. He remembers it from when he'd taken a random box to her place for the movie night.

There's little hesitation before he opens the packet, takes one out to keep between his teeth as he turns to face her. ]

You do seem to have it under control. [ He says it dryly before biting down on the stick. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she stacks the blankets on top of the other and it looks like she's ready to bring them back down to her apartment. but that would mean making... whatever this is end. there's always next time, but this just feels so special. it's one day (and night) that she'll never, ever forget.

she walks back to where merlin is and takes a seat on the cooler before she grabs her glass and takes a sip. orange juice is just so good... so rejuvenating. she should have woken up early today to go jogging around the residential district, but that obviously didn't happen. ]

Hey, [ she's not concerned in the slightest, though with how her brow is creased-- ] Are you going to tell Shigeru?

[sortileges]

[ It does seem disappointing for it to end just yet, but there really is next time. And it isn't as though they don't see each other often anyway. He glances up at her from his place on the floor and gives her a smile when she takes her glass.

Even when her brow creases and she asks that he just... averts his eyes slightly, nudges his head and moves his eyebrows. It's a little suggestive of something though--



it takes him a moment to explain. ] I may have already hinted some things to him. He tends to worry quite a lot so... [ He pauses, then says: ] Are you going to tell Ai?

[ Little does he know she already told Iris and Yu... wow gurl. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she tilts her head to the side as she laughs sheepishly. a finger scratches her cheek as she speaks. ]

I think... she already has a clue. [ athena's not the best at keeping secrets that pertain to her, after all. . . ] We don't have to, do we?

[sortileges]

[ He bites into his lip at that, mostly because he isn't surprised either. Though... he rubs the back of his neck. ]

I don't know if I can lie about where I was last night. [ He cringes. ] Not to Shigeru, but he can't even talk and even if he could he's really shy and quiet. There isn't anyone else I'd really tell if you'd rather it stay between us.

[ A pause. ] I just don't want him to worry.

[ Because he acts more like a big brother than just a friend sometimes tbh... ]

[psycholawgy]

I, um, [ ah... she feels like she's being backed into a corner right now. what should she say? ] I don't know what this is- [ aside from courtship. should she not call him her boyfriend yet? is there a term to describe what kind of relationship they have now? ] So...

[ she can't finish it. ]

But you can tell him, if it would make you feel better. I mean, I've... asked advice from Iris and Yu, too.

[sortileges]

[ Look, he isn't the one who started this conversation, Athena? You backed yourself into this conversation. ] So? [ He blinks up at her, slowly watching her as he leans back on his palms. ] I'm courting you, you're courting me. [ He nudges his foot against hers. ] Or are there other words you're unsure of?

[ It was a lot simpler in 600-700AD... ]

Probably. I mean we share the same living space, he probably spent all night panicking that I didn't come back. [ What a cinnamon roll. ] And... you did?




[ Now that only makes his call with Yu all the more suspicious. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ athena thinks that she doesn't need to be courted tbh but it's much better than being boyfriend and girlfriend... especially when that's what everybody uses nowadays. and it's just weird. . . she's never imagined to ever even have a boyfriend, so. . . this is just perfect.

even if they kind of mean the same thing, anyway. smh. ]

Ahah... n- nevermind, okay? Forget I said anything. [ she nudges his foot right back. ]

If he ever did worry that you didn't come home, please tell him I said sorry. [ not that he knows who athena is... ] And yes. . . I had to tell someone. I couldn't- I felt like it was bad for my heart.

[ she looks down at her feet when she says that, swinging them softly like a little kid. ]

[sortileges]

[ Well you don't want to think of the stage after courting for a while if you're going with a more traditional sense. He's less familiar with the terminology here though so.

This works. ] If you say so.

[ He leans forward when she speaks, reaching for her ankles to stop her from accidentally kicking him at some point. It's gentle though, with his hands sliding up the back of her calves to knead gently. It's more to keep himself busy than anything else. But also to treat her like the queen she is ] I'll tell him you said sorry if it comes to it, but I'm sure he won't mind once he knows. [ But he ... grins at the rest, sorry Athena. ]

What did you tell them?

[psycholawgy]

[ merlin is lucky that her calves aren't a ticklish spot, or else he really would have probably gotten kicked by now. :')

though when merlin asks what he's told iris and yu, her eyes immediately dart around the area. it's obvious that she has no intention of telling him. not unless he forces the answer out of her. ]

I can't tell you! It's embarrassing.

[sortileges]

[ Wow... he tries to be nice and this is what he gets?

Thankfully she isn't and thankfully he pulls his hands away to press them on either side of her, holding onto the cooler instead. He uses it to pull himself to his knees and leans in like he's going to kiss her--instead though, he just hovers there. ]

You say that like we haven't already crossed that line. Are you getting shy on me?

[ actual worst tbh ]