gunslingerqueen | IC Contact + Overflow

[The door closes behind him, it's a really nice place, a kind of home-away-from home vibe, there's even a little kitchen and small living room! Pasha is napping on a little pokebed that looks like a giant, squishy green leaf.]

Huh? Oh, I didn't even think of that. I just didn't want to be alone.

[How strange, now that she's actually seeing him she is exhausted, more so than before, as if some breathe she was holding in was finally released. Now there's just dizziness and maybe a fever? She's never had one before, so.]

I do have movies, though! And I promised to make you hot chocolate and meet Null last time, too! But then I kind of ran off so I can do at least one of those now!

[He has to let it slide if she keeps talking!!!]

[even her just confessing that is huge to Gladion-- she's rather free with her words, her feelings, some of her feelings anyway. and she's started talking and is already moving away to start on all that and--

he gently wraps his fingers around her wrist]

Maybe you should take it easy.

[She's kind of like those spinning top toys, just go, go, go!!! ]

I look that bad, huh?

[Maybe she caved because, right now, he's the only one who can make her pause. It's not fair to him, but that sense of failure doesn't sting as badly as expected. Not right now, anyway.]

[gonna make him dizzy if she keeps going like that. he doesn't let go of her wrist, gently holding it between his fingers]

No....just tired.

Hah.

[... Okay, fine. Fine.]

I'm sorry for being the world's most terrible hostess, this is the first time you've come inside. I should have had a ... Something, ready.

[She's got manners, okay?! But:] But I might need to sit down. Maybe.

You're not-- [oh, she's, okay, voicing she needs to sit-- he scrambles for a second, widening of the eyes, mouth popping open, and gently leads her somewhere more comfy]

Okay, okay, let's just sit. Don't worry about it.

[....pft. Later, she's going to remember that second, and cherish it. In his own way, he's very earnest.

The couch awaits, she lays out over half of it, back to the cushions and legs thrown over one arm of it. Judging by the heavy exhale, this is comfortable for her but she's grabbed his hand at some point. If he wants to sit in one of the chairs it only means pulling away.

For the first time in nearly four days, she just ... Lies there.]

[he doesn't let her slip his hand away. just sits there on the edge of the couch, like in a second he'd either go flying off it, certainly to fetch her something. or see how Pasha is doing.

he just watches her with those bright green eyes]

[Existing underneath his gaze is peaceful, relaxation comes in waves and continues to such an extent that he’d be forgiven for thinking she may have fallen asleep. The sure grip on his hand says otherwise.]

Hey …

[A too-long pause, she chickens out but tries to come off smooth about it.]

Ask me something. Anything.

[Its a go-to even when she’s sober.]

[oh...oh?? how is-- what's he supposed to ask her...Gladion once again is floundering, unsure of how to proceed]

....Was there someone else there?

[He could ask if the sky was blue or how many times the number 1 could be split or about cars which she also knows a lot about. Sky’s the limit.]

Hm? [What matters is that it’s a little easier to talk now.] You mean, when I went back home?

[he went right for the throat of it. Gladion isn't one to mess around, is he? right to it...]

Yeah. Were you completely alone?

At first. I just went to grab the most important stuff from my old place.

[The photo album, her father’s guitar, a handmade paper rose. Stupid, sentimental things.]

The man I’ve been trying to avoid just … Gave me a lot of trouble.

[he'd found her. he'd hurt her. Gladion's brow furrows]

How did you get away? And...where is he now.

I told you, it's not a Hallmark-like thing. I just want to be really clear that he's not my boyfriend, or an ex-husband. [Because it sounds that way, which is just insult to injury, another layer of discomfort Desiderio enjoys inflicting.]

Same as always, though: Be patient. Something will always come up even if it means waiting longer than I'd like. He's off dealing with family stuff.

....Where? [he says it without looking at her, his voice light

he doesn't care about hallmark-y things. his life's never been like that]

It doesn't matter. I took care of it this time, he won't find me unless I go back home, and now I don't have a reason to do that.

[... At some point, she'll have to ask for clean bandages, these ones are gross, but. Not now. For the moment, she looks at him, not looking at her.]

I'm being serious. Don't get any dramatic ideas in your head, okay?

[Like comforting the idiotic woman who hadn't known any better, or picking the wrong kind of fight - hallmark movie stuff, where it all ends well and the credits roll.]

I'm not dramatic. I'm perfectly reasonable.

[and he is-- he doesn't have a flair for the dramatics-- dramatic clothes to make his mom angry, dramatic poses, explosive anger]

He shouldn't be able to walk around.

A lot of different people shouldn't be allowed to do a lot of different things.

[The world is your oyster, until you have to swallow all of the dirt inside of it and avoid choking.]

Be perfectly reasonable and just stay with me until I fall asleep. [No, she can't bury her face into the back of the couch enough, but damn, if the attempt isn't made.]

I'll stay, of course. [gentles his voice a little. that doesn't mean he's going to listen to her advice.

if you have the power to do something, you should]

Did you get to eat?

[She has to believe that he'll listen, for now, otherwise she might never rest.]

Nuh-uh.

[Food is the farthest thing from her mind, but she does lazily poke at a covered section of her collarbone. Luckily none of the blood is visible.] ... Could you pick up some gauze and stuff later? There's money in my wallet it's, somewhere.

[Over by Pasha, actually.]

[he gives a very, very soft intake of breath-- fear there, worry-- shock too-- but then he nods at her]

Okay, sure. I can do that. Want me to pick up some fast food too? Something greasy?

[It's for the best that she's too relaxed to actually hear it, the anxiety would set her off, otherwise.]

Hmm. [He's not getting his hand back until she's knocked out, which won't be too much longer.]

That place with the milkshakes. [Did they actually get them? She was utterly smashed and can't remember but there were definitely burgers, and they were greasy.]

That sounds tasty. I might even try one of the weirder flavors this time. Like mint.

[he gently, gently rubs the back of her hand with his thumb, over and over.]

[A weird sound: concerned judgment over the idea of a mint milkshake, but she'd still find a lot of joy in watching him try it.] ... Cake.

[As in, the birthday cake milkshake that was on the menu, but went unordered that night. There's other stuff to say: Her extra room key is by the door, could he check on Pasha? Was he really okay with her leaning on him this way? But that rhythmic motion is comforting, and lulls her to sleep with an embarrassing quickness.

If he moves slow enough, Gladion can retrieve ownership of his hand.]

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