IC Contact + Overflow

[gunslingerqueen]

Wanna continue a TFLN thread? Wanna text or call Nariko, or just play in general?

Here's the place to do it!

Comments

[hairrowing]

[there's a slight...worry she won't be able to hold it down, but they'll come to that when they get to it]

Hmmm? Really?

[gunslingerqueen]

Mmhm! It feels kind of like Fate.

[Just like drinking this gigantic milkshake was a matter of destiny.]

Which is weird since I don't know that I completely believe in that sort of thing.

[hairrowing]

Fate...or inevitable I guess. Maybe we just needed each other.

[gunslingerqueen]

[That's so ...]

Honestly ... [Her straw dances around in the drink for a bit. Needed each other ...] yeah, I think you're right.

[And it's not so bad, is it? Or at least for the moment.]

[hairrowing]

It isn't weird.

[it's more of a statement than a question. well, maybe it is strange, since they're so different in temperament and whatnot]

Happy holidays/merry xmas/all those things!!!

[gunslingerqueen]

It might be a little weird.

[Their first meeting alone was a hell of a time.]

But, like, in a good way! I thought I wouldn't ever see you again.

[Teasing him in a Denny's and getting his number hadn't necessarily guaranteed anything, after all.]

<333 hope you had a wonderful day, boo!

[hairrowing]

Really? The world isn't as big as you'd think. There's a chance we would have found each other again.

[though slim, very slim]

I did and same to you <333!!

[gunslingerqueen]

You are right, but I usually have terrible luck! I didn't even think you'd text me back to begin with.

[Her smile is a very difficult force to contain, and she's given up on the burger in favor of snacking on some of the bacon.]

I'm glad you did, though. I still need to earn that hug.

[hairrowing]

Did I seem that...unwilling?

[he's curious. even as he stuffs his own face]

Mmm.

[gunslingerqueen]

Not anymore than your cool attitude requires!

[brb shoving a handful of fries in her mouth, which she covers with one hand when speaking becomes easier.]

I think I'm just used to being the one who is called, instead of doing the calling! Or, maybe I had terrible friends who never listened.

[It's the latter, but she's not ready for that conversation.]

[hairrowing]

Mmm, not necessarily. I'm sure your friends are probably okay.

[he wouldn't know, and frankly he just. feels like she's the type to call? or get called a lot??]

[gunslingerqueen]

I think they did their best, but honestly, I wasn't always a superstar at asking for help.

[Yes, she's the one that gets calls at three in the morning, with something exploding in the background.]

Not even when things were genuinely, hopelessly shitty.

[hairrowing]

You don't say.

[he raises a brow at her, but the corners of his mouth are soft, layered in a smile]

Not a good habit.

[gunslingerqueen]

You wouldn't recommend it, huh?

[A bashful sort of pout, the irony isn't lost!! But damn, that smile is one for the record books. ]

But you know I'm literally your cosmic friend forever, now. You've adopted me!

[hairrowing]

Cosmic? Forever?

[the smile does widen now, into a real one]

I'd like that.

[gunslingerqueen]

Good. Then it's a promise.

[And then...! Well, she eats! There's a content air despite the growing migraine, the fact that half of this dinner is coming back up at some point like a threat, and the matter of getting back to her hotel safely. None of that matters.

It's nice to have a friend again.]

[hairrowing]

[it's...really nice to have friends again. of course he has his Pokemon, they're his family, his lifeline and anchor, and they can communicate but. this is different. and it's nice. a nice, contentment in this silence, it stretches around them, warm]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Her own comfort with the lack of noise for its own sake is a rare hallmark. Once upon a time in her life, silence was the promise of a threat, the prelude to violence, and its presence had made her skin crawl, back then.

But in the present, Nariko finishes eating and is no less animated! Chin in both hands, the smears in her pile of ketchup threaten to tell her fortune. Fall asleep somewhere random? Find company for the night? The slow and dreary process of removing her makeup and slithering into boring pajamas, flopping under hotel sheets.

Bleh.

She decides to bend over and try to get her shoes back on, assured of her increasing sobriety until the corner of the table and her forehead kiss violently! Her eyes cross a little,]

Nnngh...

[It is still going to be a long night. But at least one shoe is on!]

[hairrowing]

[he's content, and basking in it, until that violent, loud thud of her forehead and the table. he drops what he's still nibbling on and leans forward, green eyes wide--]

Are you okay?

[gunslingerqueen]

[She angles up, wincing and rubbing the wounded spot on her head.]

Mmhm, I think I just need my bed.

[And like sixteen pillows to cuddle with.]

[hairrowing]

[leaning in closely, at least it doesn't look like she has a knot on her head]

Okay, we'll get outta here.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She is nothing, if not durable.]

Next time, we'll do something that's actually fun.

[She puts way too much money under one of their cups before getting up.]

[hairrowing]

This wasn't not fun.

[he's at least going to say that. defend that

and he

sighs. and puts some of the money back, while replacing it with his own]

[gunslingerqueen]

Fun adjacent isn't good enough!

[It definitely got better with time, but -

Oh, he's lost his mind!!!

Nariko attempts a glare and just puts more of her own down and takes his back!!

Which, hopefully he doesn't notice because now she's run out of physical money to pay for anything else...]

[hairrowing]

[he notices


and he frowns at her]

Why...