crossmyheartandhope

He - was gonna get ahold of Exael?

[There is - an odd note in his voice.]

Same deal as for C and Haruto, don't feel too special. But he'll be pissed if he calls for no reason--I forgot to tell 'im you're back.

...I talked to him earlier. He didn't mention.

[Leaves off reaching for that senbei and drinks some more of this drink instead.]

Culpable deniability. He'd ruin his rep if people saw him not being 100 percent asshole all the time.

--But you talked to him? Today?

Yeah, I made the rounds when you did your thing. Hit up him and AlcheME.

Oh...makes sense.

[Finally kills the rest of her drink]

--Anyways, that means he already knows, so whatever. Sorry for the alarm or whatever.

No worries, dude. Better you thought of it than had him calling demons or whatever in the middle of the night.

Yeah. Maybe all you guys've had enough demon chats for a while. Crazy idea, I know.

[She goes to finish her cup--realizes she already has, and reaches for his instead]

Yeah... yeah. Fingers crossed I'm done for a while, anyway.

[He hands over the cup when she goes for it - scoops up her empty one and fills it, too. There is in fact just as much rum.]

Edited 2019-01-15 07:11 (UTC)

[Winces--she thinks she liked the OJ better--and takes another sip anyway]

You're done. They can't find anymore bullshit loopholes, so. Stuck in normal hell.

I'll take normal hell.

Good.

[Leans closer to him, shoulder to shoulder, which is a bit farther than she expects but she gets there eventually so good enough. She'd kinda hoped the heater would've gotten him a little warmer than that but--she'll just have to do her best.]

[Leans in against her, grateful, and goes quiet for a couple of beats. He sips at the drink - lowers it, then stares at it and takes another sip, longer this time.]

...hey.

Hey.

[Lets the silence stretch around them--lets him take the lead]

Is it - like. Is it really weird if I say I missed this?

...Hiding out with a bunch of stolen mattresses?

[Ducks his head and nods.]

And like - you.

And just... this. E-everything, I mean. All of it.

...Feels like it's been a long time, huh.

Yeah.

[His voice breaks on the word, a little.]

...

[Puts her drink down so she can lean in further, give him a hug proper]

[Holds on hard with one hand - then sets the drink down and holds on with the other hand, too, like he's afraid to let go.]

[It takes him a couple of minutes to say anything else, and when he does, the words are muffled by her shoulder:]

...it was like that one game.

[Her hold isn't particularly tight, but is steady, and she strokes over his mid-back, gentle. Silence stretches as she wonders if he'll follow up, and eventually, she gives the gentlest prompt]

...Oh?

...not at first. At first it was like this bar? With like. Wires, and monsters in the furniture. And Lilith was hanging out.

It was creepy, but it was like - it was okay?

[Keeps up the slow rhythm, voice even and soft]

...So, she didn't try anything.

Not till it was time for me to pay up.

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