[Of course he has no idea about what her true intentions are. He knows he's told her about Peony before, but he doesn't know that she knows she's here yet. So the whole situation barely even comes to mind while he prepares himself for Riye's visit.
...Not a whole lot of preparation to do. He's spent most of the day on his futon with his leg propped up on some extra pillows, just chilling and reading and waiting for someone not Ethan to come back and keep him company. Riye also works for that.]
It's not locked.
[Why don't any of the doors here have locks though. Now that there aren't any traps left it's really troubling!]
[She walked on in then, slowly. No traps. Nooooo traps. She told herself she had zero intentions, only to visit Mal. Right? Right. That's what she wanted. Right.
Not right. But. She had to do what she had to do. Which was...?
Riye tried to look calm and blank as she made a seat for herself next to his station, eyes darting to what he was reading. Yeah, she wasn't sure she was ready for this but here she was.]
Huh. You keep reading like you are I may have to start working out.
[He may not have had a lot of time or reason to do a lot of reading before he got here, but he was never against the idea or anything... And now he's certainly gained a new appreciation for it. He's even gone so far as to delve into some fiction, like the current shitty trashy romance novelHAHAHA HEY OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH STOP LOOKING
and there it goes, tucked under the futon, never to see the light of day.]
But I guess someone should keep the gym in use while I can't.
[HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, sucker. She made a small, good-natured, curve of her mouth. If anything to distract her from all of the nagging questions. She reached into her bag and pulled out the goods. The protein shakes. Not the flowers.]
My brain agrees, my indoor body protests.
Anyway, the flowers didn't make the journey but I still have the gift of body building.
[She placed the cans by him before turning to look at the door. Luna nor Peony...Ethan maybe she expected to keep out, but neither of them. What were THEY doing out? That was what kind of did it in, she placed her hands on her lap, heart heavy. It was an honest question.]
[WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FLOWERS, HE WANTS TO KNOW. It sounds like some kind of disaster happened... but at least the drinks are good. Ugh, don't lump him in with bodybuilders though. He doesn't care about the size of his biceps, just the power behind them.]
Yeah... Working, I think.
[Or sneaking off to play catch-up. Which he wouldn't blame them for, but he didn't want to think too deeply about it, either.
He takes one of the cans and turns it idly in his hands for something to keep himself busy, even though it's clear he's not actually that invested in reading the nutrition label.]
...Looks like things are going to be less quiet overall now. That friend I told you about... she's here now.
[Well, he went out and said it. That just kind of threw it all for a loop.
Should she be happy for now that he said it? Maybe Riye could let a few thoughts translate enough in her brain to then feel like she could be more coherent.]
...Oh. Yeah, Peony. We met yesterday, or met all over again. Whichever sounds better. When I tried to go get these to you the first time.
Which was why I wasn't sure if it was okay to stop on over, admittedly.
[Ah. So they already met here. Peony didn't destroy the flowers, right? ...Maybe it was one of the many traps laying around. Whoops.]
Why wouldn't it be?
[Despite his efforts to sound casual, there is that edge that creeps into his voice, just like it began to back during that disastrous night out at the oden stand. It's not nearly as bad now as it was then, but the fact that it's there at all definitely betrays that he doesn't exactly appreciate her concern.
[The air grew thick, that dread and fear crawled right on out of the gutter. For someone trying very hard to be sensible and sensitive, the topic was just too sensitive. Trying to avoid it in favor of space, she was so sure that was what she wanted. It felt the most right to her. She DID want it, and if she were to just convey that she wanted nothing more than to be that support...then maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
But then her fear felt like it was coming alive, and she hated it. Riye had to get control back.]
I just figured maybe you needed a bit of time, that's all. Catching up and trying to sort things out. The last thing I wanted to do was get in the middle of it.
[He stared her down for a few tense seconds before his expression softened and he looked away, ashamed of himself. What the hell was he getting so defensive over? That was a pretty legitimate thing to worry about. If Riye's Jane came here he'd stand back and let them get caught up on things for a bit too. It's what he tried to do for Peony and Luna now.]
Ha... I guess there is a lot to sort out. [Where to even begin with all that...] There's a lot you wouldn't understand, but- a lot of messed up shit happened back home. Now there's just trying to deal with the aftermath.
[She felt her body tense up and then release. What was she so afraid of then? It was a sudden reflex, and she could still feel her nerves twinge and trust around.
There's a lot you wouldn't understand.
Somehow, when that was suddenly said...it made her feel awful. Like a cold steel wall came in between them. It didn't feel right. She would understand if it were explained as "complicated", but saying outright that she "wouldn't understand" was something that felt so different. She didn't understand right now, but she was hearing herself say that. ABOUT herself at this moment, said the girl who always knew who she was and where she stood.]
Now that it's happening, I kind of expected a lot of confusion before anything else. You and Luna both gave off the impression things weren't ideal before you got here.
[He settled back against his little stack of pillows, tossing the drink canister from hand to hand. What was this, some psychiatrist's office? I really do need to find someone like that, came a passing thought, not for the first time. Someone uninvolved enough not to be emotionally invested, so that ruled Riye out. Sorry, brosis, friends don't drag friends into Despair.
(Except when they do.)]
Long story short, we... shouldn't even be alive. [Except Luna, ideally... He never did find out what happened before his appearance here.] So this place is a second chance at everything, I guess. Don't worry about it. [EXCEPT HE'S PAINFULLY AWARE HOW WORRYING THE THINGS HE HAS SAID ARE ALREADY??]
[Uh, that was worrying. Completely worrying. If she thought about it, she would realize just how hard stuff like that was to talk about. She DID understand that. But she was repeating herself a lot, to give her a chance.
Being alive versus being NOT, that was a lot of information to let her big imagination run wild.]
This place works in weird and mysterious ways. It's mostly stupid ways but it sounds like there's a blessing in your case.
[Jealous, she felt. They were just talking about what they would kill just to see that One Person again, and now he did. He got to. So now here she was, right out here. Sitting in the cold outside like a puppy that just wanted to have that warm security of indoors. She hadn't felt this way since that one whole summer from back in the good old days of High School Simplicity. When she and Jane weren't speaking and she just about went through all of what she could to do so again. That empty dissociation she felt rumbling in her gut. Things felt impossible.
She wanted to ask so badly, but she couldn't find it in good sense to begin to do so.]
I'll promise I won't, if it means you guys can work things out in your own way.
[What a joke. Things never had a way of working out for him. But this was still the best possible scenario he could have hoped for.
And hey, with the way things did work around here, maybe Riye's friend would end up showing up after all. But he didn't want to make an empty promise like that, and he was sure she was already holding on to that hope. No point in building it up when there was no promise of payoff... he knew what the kind of thing led to. So he just closed his eyes and hung his arm over his face.]
Yeah... Just... keep an eye on Luna for me.
[No point in elaborating. It wasn't like Riye didn't already know about his tendency to overwork himself when troubled by now, so she'd probably notice it. He'd better not be sleeping in there after all...]
[It was a joke. To think that anything just seemed to work out the way things do. She remembered her talk with Raiden, and how she firmly believed in what she did and stuck to it. But...there was a twinge in her heart that made her question a lot. If they could be together, then that was great. That was truly wonderful for them, she was happy in a melancholic way. They could start over, no matter how bad it may be at first there was still that chance. Riye felt like she had to start over far too many times.
...They were friends, weren't they? How much did that mean to him? Did it mean as much to him as it did to her? Did ANYONE here understand that?]
I will, I just got to be stealthy about it. You and Peony know more about it than I do, but I know he's stubborn.
[Despite the mild attempt at humor, there was a frown.]
Need anything else? I could just jet and let you rest.
Edited (I actually believed in you spell check) 2017-04-04 07:13 (UTC)
[He meant it as a playful jab at Luna himself, but if someone was feeling a bit of angst about being left out of the loop, well. It might sound like there's a double-meaning. Oops.]
Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm not going to turn you into my errand girl or anything.
[A joke at who's expense then. Now that she was successfully placed somewhere to roost, it was a bit more apparent to her where she stood.
She Didn't Know.
Was it trust? Protection? Rejection? Pushing away? Riye had a difficult time reading the situation for once. This hadn't happened in some time. Him getting antsy and then relaxing, back to being vague.
It's not his fault, it wasn't. It was natural how he was acting. But what about her? She knew she wasn't feeling herself, and the fact that she could offer no protest and a cynical joke instead meant she was distancing herself from the emotional aspect as much as she could. Because it was simply safer.
It wasn't working this time.]
I'll leave you to it then. See you later.
[She needed to get out before she did or said something she could regret.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
...Not a whole lot of preparation to do. He's spent most of the day on his futon with his leg propped up on some extra pillows, just chilling and reading and waiting for someone
not Ethanto come back and keep him company. Riye also works for that.]It's not locked.
[Why don't any of the doors here have locks though. Now that there aren't any traps left it's really troubling!]
no subject
Not right. But. She had to do what she had to do. Which was...?
Riye tried to look calm and blank as she made a seat for herself next to his station, eyes darting to what he was reading. Yeah, she wasn't sure she was ready for this but here she was.]
Huh. You keep reading like you are I may have to start working out.
[....Hah....joke.]
no subject
[He may not have had a lot of time or reason to do a lot of reading before he got here, but he was never against the idea or anything... And now he's certainly gained a new appreciation for it. He's even gone so far as to delve into some fiction, like the current shitty trashy romance novelHAHAHA HEY OKAY THAT'S ENOUGH STOP LOOKING
and there it goes, tucked under the futon, never to see the light of day.]
But I guess someone should keep the gym in use while I can't.
no subject
My brain agrees, my indoor body protests.
Anyway, the flowers didn't make the journey but I still have the gift of body building.
[She placed the cans by him before turning to look at the door. Luna nor Peony...Ethan maybe she expected to keep out, but neither of them. What were THEY doing out? That was what kind of did it in, she placed her hands on her lap, heart heavy. It was an honest question.]
...Everyone else out, huh?
no subject
Yeah... Working, I think.
[Or sneaking off to play catch-up. Which he wouldn't blame them for, but he didn't want to think too deeply about it, either.
He takes one of the cans and turns it idly in his hands for something to keep himself busy, even though it's clear he's not actually that invested in reading the nutrition label.]
...Looks like things are going to be less quiet overall now. That friend I told you about... she's here now.
[Wild, right?]
no subject
Should she be happy for now that he said it? Maybe Riye could let a few thoughts translate enough in her brain to then feel like she could be more coherent.]
...Oh. Yeah, Peony. We met yesterday, or met all over again. Whichever sounds better. When I tried to go get these to you the first time.
Which was why I wasn't sure if it was okay to stop on over, admittedly.
no subject
Why wouldn't it be?
[Despite his efforts to sound casual, there is that edge that creeps into his voice, just like it began to back during that disastrous night out at the oden stand. It's not nearly as bad now as it was then, but the fact that it's there at all definitely betrays that he doesn't exactly appreciate her concern.
If you've got something you want to say, say it.]
no subject
But then her fear felt like it was coming alive, and she hated it. Riye had to get control back.]
I just figured maybe you needed a bit of time, that's all. Catching up and trying to sort things out. The last thing I wanted to do was get in the middle of it.
no subject
Ha... I guess there is a lot to sort out. [Where to even begin with all that...] There's a lot you wouldn't understand, but- a lot of messed up shit happened back home. Now there's just trying to deal with the aftermath.
no subject
[She felt her body tense up and then release. What was she so afraid of then? It was a sudden reflex, and she could still feel her nerves twinge and trust around.
There's a lot you wouldn't understand.
Somehow, when that was suddenly said...it made her feel awful. Like a cold steel wall came in between them. It didn't feel right. She would understand if it were explained as "complicated", but saying outright that she "wouldn't understand" was something that felt so different. She didn't understand right now, but she was hearing herself say that. ABOUT herself at this moment, said the girl who always knew who she was and where she stood.]
Now that it's happening, I kind of expected a lot of confusion before anything else. You and Luna both gave off the impression things weren't ideal before you got here.
no subject
[He settled back against his little stack of pillows, tossing the drink canister from hand to hand. What was this, some psychiatrist's office? I really do need to find someone like that, came a passing thought, not for the first time. Someone uninvolved enough not to be emotionally invested, so that ruled Riye out. Sorry, brosis, friends don't drag friends into Despair.
(Except when they do.)]
Long story short, we... shouldn't even be alive. [Except Luna, ideally... He never did find out what happened before his appearance here.] So this place is a second chance at everything, I guess. Don't worry about it. [EXCEPT HE'S PAINFULLY AWARE HOW WORRYING THE THINGS HE HAS SAID ARE ALREADY??]
no subject
Being alive versus being NOT, that was a lot of information to let her big imagination run wild.]
This place works in weird and mysterious ways. It's mostly stupid ways but it sounds like there's a blessing in your case.
[Jealous, she felt. They were just talking about what they would kill just to see that One Person again, and now he did. He got to. So now here she was, right out here. Sitting in the cold outside like a puppy that just wanted to have that warm security of indoors. She hadn't felt this way since that one whole summer from back in the good old days of High School Simplicity. When she and Jane weren't speaking and she just about went through all of what she could to do so again. That empty dissociation she felt rumbling in her gut. Things felt impossible.
She wanted to ask so badly, but she couldn't find it in good sense to begin to do so.]
I'll promise I won't, if it means you guys can work things out in your own way.
[That felt so bad coming out.]
no subject
And hey, with the way things did work around here, maybe Riye's friend would end up showing up after all. But he didn't want to make an empty promise like that, and he was sure she was already holding on to that hope. No point in building it up when there was no promise of payoff... he knew what the kind of thing led to. So he just closed his eyes and hung his arm over his face.]
Yeah... Just... keep an eye on Luna for me.
[No point in elaborating. It wasn't like Riye didn't already know about his tendency to overwork himself when troubled by now, so she'd probably notice it. He'd better not be sleeping in there after all...]
no subject
...They were friends, weren't they? How much did that mean to him? Did it mean as much to him as it did to her? Did ANYONE here understand that?]
I will, I just got to be stealthy about it. You and Peony know more about it than I do, but I know he's stubborn.
[Despite the mild attempt at humor, there was a frown.]
Need anything else? I could just jet and let you rest.
no subject
[He meant it as a playful jab at Luna himself, but if someone was feeling a bit of angst about being left out of the loop, well. It might sound like there's a double-meaning. Oops.]
Anyway, don't worry about me. I'm not going to turn you into my errand girl or anything.
no subject
[A joke at who's expense then. Now that she was successfully placed somewhere to roost, it was a bit more apparent to her where she stood.
She Didn't Know.
Was it trust? Protection? Rejection? Pushing away? Riye had a difficult time reading the situation for once. This hadn't happened in some time. Him getting antsy and then relaxing, back to being vague.
It's not his fault, it wasn't. It was natural how he was acting. But what about her? She knew she wasn't feeling herself, and the fact that she could offer no protest and a cynical joke instead meant she was distancing herself from the emotional aspect as much as she could. Because it was simply safer.
It wasn't working this time.]
I'll leave you to it then. See you later.
[She needed to get out before she did or said something she could regret.]