post palace takeout! [week 5]

[beathollow]

( at some point a bedraggled lot in yukatas manage to make their way to the dorm, shower and patch themselves up. and then mafuyu makes a very earnest request that they all go out for dinner, and, well, apparently many struggle to refuse her.

this is how they find themselves in something akin to a denny's or an ihop at like, midnight.




as one does. )

Comments

[cirquedesang]

[The question does come as a bit of a surprise - though with a second of thought, no, no, it shouldn't. The offer is appreciated, and that does show in the gentle smile he gives her! But he also shakes his head.]

Tonight, I will make do, and you will not pass out at this table.

[Not that he'd ever take so much from her that she'd faint from blood loss or anything, but. You know. Extenuating circumstances.]

[beathollow]

... Okay.

( she will not pass out at the table!

she will, however, lean on him, careful to avoid putting any pressure on any lingering wounds. )

[cirquedesang]

[Wasn't gonna risk it! Any passing out at the table by anyone will be on account of food-comas and palace-related exhaustion, not on account of him.]

Don't worry.

[And, similarly careful, he'll drape an arm around her shoulders.]

But what are you getting?

[beathollow]

( ... if she leans just a bit more, don't tell. )

I was thinking about one of the savory crepes.

( it would at least be a good, interesting bunch of textures. )

[cirquedesang]

[He won't tell! He won't even tell if she ends up accidentally catching a little catnap while waiting for her food.]

Oh?

[And where one might expect a comment about expecting a cute girl to go for something sweet--]

That's practical of you. It should help your recovery, some.

[Definitely as much of a balanced meal as one can get in an American-style Dennihop!!]

[beathollow]

Well, all the layers and ingredients would make good textures. I can't taste things, so I need to find enjoyment in food in another way...

( and this is how you know she's tired: no fucking filter. )

[cirquedesang]

[Oh, don't mind him, is that his heart breaking just a little bit?]

I won't pry- [At least not in public. He wants to know, but still has some tact.] -but I do hope the texture is enjoyment enough.

[beathollow]

Mm. I think it will be, if they cook the bacon right. Otherwise it's all just different forms of squish.

( she makes a face at that, but seems entirely unaware of that. )

[cirquedesang]

Different--

[Okay, as tragic as the situation is - and it is tragic!! - the turn of phrase combined with her expression does get a bit of a laugh from him.]

I'll make them recook it if they got it wrong.

[Excuse me she asked for no pickles!!!!]

[beathollow]

...

I wish my parents were more like you.

( maybe it's the fact that she's sincerely smiling that makes it really hurt. )

[cirquedesang]

[It would have hurt even if she wasn't smiling, but the fact she is, and the fact his first impulse is to rebuff, to tell her that no, she doesn't...

Well.

He doesn't. He's not so heartless as to crush her like that.]

I wish that wasn't true.

[She deserves better than him.]

[beathollow]

( the smile takes a rueful twist. )

So do I. But I'm still glad to have met you.

[cirquedesang]

I'm glad to hear that.

[He could spin it like that's his job, he exists to take all the troubles off anyone's shoulders with ease...

But that would also come with the crushing reality that... it's his job. He exists to remove anyone's troubles... for about ninety minutes, and then just becomes a pleasant memory.

The mirror between a show and the supposedly temporary nature of their kidnapping isn't lost on him in this moment.]

I'm glad to have met you, too.

[So we... reach out, a little. Admit that there is a worthwhile connection.]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu nods a little where she leans, waiting for their meals. if shes thinking about how this must come to an end someday, what awaits her when she returns home, anything of the sort, it doesn't show. for now, she's content in this warmth. )

...

This is fun.

[cirquedesang]

[For now, they're just a tired group of friends hanging out at a Dennihop. Nothing to worry about after.]

It is.

[It's warm, and comfortable. The sort of moment that feels like it should stretch on forever, but that is all too fleeting.]

[beathollow]

( she's quiet after, leaning against him for the most part. between waiting for her food and the occasional outburst of energy- like table standing or barking about flirting, mafuyu feels herself drifting in and out of a pleasant, light sleep.

it's nice. )

[cirquedesang]

[It is nice.

He tries to keep an eye on her, even through stirring chaos, to make sure that when she does drift off he doesn't move too much so he doesn't disturb her.

Perhaps he should try to keep her awake, so she's not struck by insomnia once she finally makes it to bed, but... well. She looks peaceful.

She deserves peaceful moments.

So she can sleep, when she steals those moments.]