brobeforehos | [eudio] inbox

[ It's mid-afternoon and he's prepping food in the kitchen because he hoarded some groceries from the store two blocks away. He's pretty methodical for all that the kitchen looks like an ordered mess. There's a box full of cold sandwiches on the couch because sure the Admin's got things covered, doesn't mean he can't do his part.

He's smoking though a cigarette right now, his coffee's gone cold and Naoki is keeping him company on the counter with a piece of shiny crumpled tinfoil to gnaw on. ]

[She has slept in the same clothes that she came in here yesterday - same clothes she was at City Hall in, too - only that's the only thing that makes this sort of feel like a walk of shame. Other than the fact that there is no shame, and nothing to walk away from.

That aside, it's been cozy here. She has to wonder, constantly, whether it's cozy because of the warmth or because of the company; constantly, remember the conversation with Ariadne and kick herself ever so gently over being a dumbass and a half. And yet, she still came here.

Because she's not the kind of dumbass and a half that ruins a good friendship with non-platonic feelings. Blossoming. For both.

While Mae isn't the biggest fan of coffee, she's learnt the appeal of it in Eudio. So because it's a hot beverage and hers has gone cold too, she's settled on making a new pot while Josh carried on prepping food. Beverages are her thing, not food.

After she pours herself a new cup and tops it off with milk -- aplenty -- she walks on over and touches his mug to check. Not asking, she takes that and dumps the cold coffee in the sink, refilling quietly. It's almost...pleasant. Dumbass and a half queen.]

Thanks. [ He tosses a grin over his shoulder as he packs a couple more sandwiches in foil wrap.

Mae brought it up while they were sitting together, heater warm and close by at City Hall. Hot chocolate and booze is good, but people need fuel to burn and while he half thought to himself that there'd be a mozzarella stick truck rolling up into the drive, that wouldn't be enough to feed everyone. ]

Snowfall looks bad. But I think we can maybe go later.

[ They could time it for when Hikaru finished the rounds; using City Hall as a rendezvous point and then come back together. ]

Edited 2015-05-23 07:28 (UTC)

[And maybe someone out there was vegan. Yes, all good valid points. She's very proud that her quiet little suggestion has triggered such a response from him, considering the whole load of food he's turning into sandwiches.

So sweet.]

Yeah? [Hadn't even looked outside the window, but it's true. She lets out a groan.] Why is this happening in May?

Try snow in September, in a country that was supposed to be the tropics.

[ Granted, it was only ever contained to Falner, but still. The temp change as soon as you stepped out the Main Gates were weird.

Scratching Naoki behind those ears now, as he kills his cigarette on the ashtray. The kitten purrs contentedly in response and proceeds to roll around and gnaw affectionately on his fingers. ]

[OH MY GOD, CAT, JUST CALM DOWN. You're not king of the world ffs.

Ffffff, look. Them are nice fingers, why should cats get to gnaw on them only?

Oh god, no. She turns around and looks for the sugar as a way to distract herself, fast.]

What should we do, meanwhile?

[ Petting the kitten a little more before scooping him up to hold against his chest, because he's turning around to lean back against that counter. ]

Stay put until it looks a little better, I guess.

[ But if it doesn't, he's going to go anyway.

He's watching her, deducing that she means to hunt up the sugar. ] Shelf to your left.

Thanks. [Yes, shelf - there's the sugar. And she's going to help herself and her coffee to some sugar, stirring it in with the same spoon she scooped it with.

Manners.] Want some sugar? [Eheh.]

Just a bit. [ He's not too picky with how his coffee's done. The blend they have on stock is usually good as is. ]

You can stay here for as long as you need, you know.

[ He's honestly not too comfortable to dragging you back out there in the snow. ]

[Okay, so - she takes another teaspoon from the drawer, then walks on over to where he's standing, with the cat, and adds just a bit -- what she imagines is just a bit -- into his coffee, stirring. Standing close, no big deal; it's heat preservation.]

Yes, but what would I do here? Don't get me wrong, it's been very night to sleep here last night, but - it's your place. Everything in it is yours, and fits, and I sort of...[Don't?] Well, I'm a guest. Nobody likes a guest who overstays their welcome.

[ There's a frown now, and maybe Naoki stops batting at his chin in favor of burrowing against his palm. You and tiny seem to be at odds ( he's got eyes, alright ) and it would be cute, but this conversation's more pressing. ]

You're not an imposition Mae.

[ There are things he knows that you don't. But they're not for him to tell. ]

And I don't think either of us could forgive ourselves if something happened to you.

[ He slides his gaze away at that; scratches the kitten behind the ears.

( She's not one of the Hounds, Josh. Of course she'd wonder. He honestly forgets sometimes, you know? ) ]

[There's no reason to be blushing over this, it's the absolute truth and that's how she says it, turning to look at him.]

The feeling is mutual. [For a beat, she stands there with the spoon in her hand, not stirring.] But, [and resumes activity again.] That doesn't mean you should let me impose - I'd feel better if you told me when to stop sweating up your bedsheets. Plus there's privacy -- I'm sure you're not getting a lot of that with me here...

[All done with the sugar, she walks back to put it in its place and pick up her mug.]

I don't feel alright, not having something to do.

Edited (i mean it's even better in the edit) 2015-05-24 14:55 (UTC)

[ He can't... really... knock her on the privacy thing.

Okay, setting Naoki down and feeling the kit hide behind his foot. He steps gingerly, picking up that mug and letting the warmth seep into his hands. ]

We-- [ take a breath, this is delicate ] --honestly don't mind.

[ Looking down at the cup. Yeah, he'll just say it. ]

But I suppose I get the apprehension.

[ It's probably weird, right? Knowing your almost-married friends could be going at it in the next room. ]

[What? Don't be ridiculous she most certainly doesn't think about THAT AT ALL.]

I could offer to help pick up, but I'm bad enough at keeping my own flat clean. And let's not even start on cooking, I might accidentally poison you.

[ That makes him laugh. ]

Food is easy, there's always something in the fridge and the flat doesn't actually need much cleaning. You don't... actually have to do anything, Mae.

[ He means it. You don't. ]

At least stay close until the blizzard let's up. I think Hikaru and I will breathe easier then.

Edited 2015-05-24 16:23 (UTC)

[Surely he could've worded that differently, too, right? Somehow, so as to not make it sound like she's so vital to their ability to breathe. Still, she doesn't have to wonder if our Mae still holds true, at least?

She stops biting her lower lip, and turns to lean back against the counter opposite him, and so they stand; facing each other but with the whole space between them, hiding behind coffee cups. Almost mirrored. She takes a sip out of her coffee, and looks up at him from under her lashes.]

Wouldn't want you two to be out of breath on my account. [Yes, Mae. You've thought about it often enough yet, you so would. Of course, what he doesn't know...probably lets her keep staying here, and doesn't ruin a very solid friendship.]

[ It's odd how he... he actually doesn't have a comeback to that. At least not a witty one, nor a response that won't be spilling secrets that are strictly his to keep.

So he'll stick to the parts that ring true: ] We'd just like you safe.

[ Because he's fond of you. He likes that it's easy -- this friendship, the exchanges. He likes that whenever things seem to escalate to awkward fast, the both of you can laugh about it after. ]

I guess... if you feel uncomfortable with us having you over, I don't want to force the issue.

I...[If she saw something in his pause, she hasn't read it quite yet. So there's a pause, and a moment of inner-reflexion.]

I do like your company. Both of you. [It's important to underline that, it feels important.]

And we really love yours.

[ No matter the subjects that get skirted around. Honesty Hour is rarely ever easy after all.

Before Josh can fumble over what to say next though, there's a blessedly quick interruption from Naoki, who has rolled on his side to tug at the hem of his pants.

Setting the mug down, picking up the kitten again and passing a small, shy smile at Mae. ]

Lemme just go put new food out for tiny and we can go flop on the couch.

Just not all of you. [Laughing uncomfortably because your cat doesn't like her. This is life, now. She rolls her eyes and waves him away to go feed tiny.

Flopping on the couch sounds -- like not much of an activity at all, actually. What'll they do? There's nothing to do when couching except for maybe snuggle up together. And there's a buffer, when the two of them are together, they act like a buffer for Mae's moral code and logical thinking to work.

But as her time at the club has proven, she's shit at it if they come at her individually.]

[ You and Naoki need to sort your stuff out, but it's okay, nobody's judging.

He doesn't take long. Naoki's a tiny thing and they make sure not to overfeed him so down into the basket he goes with a refilled bowl.

Coming back round now and dropping into the empty space beside you as he lets his head fall back on the rest. ]

Wanna split? [ He snagged one of the sandwiches he didn't bother to wrap. It's nothing fancy: just a double-decker of ham, mayo, cheese. ]

[You're judging and blame the STUBBORN CAN over this. She didn't ask for dislike. She did not.]

So long as you don't make me run afterwards, yes.

[ He's honestly stupefied by it. But he admits it's ridiculously cute. You're like two children all NU at each other.

On that comment though. ]

I didn't say a thing. [ Giving you a significant Look now, because of what you did. ] Besides, I don't think my heart could take another one of your falls.

[She takes half of the sandwich and retreats with it in the corner of the couch, watching him carefully from behind it.]

You fret too much. Or you would've seen through the plan for what it was.

You're squishy and I'm allowed.

[ Making a face for a bit. Okay, biting into that sandwich. ]

I nearly slipped myself, and you were barefoot. It wasn't too removed a possibility.

at the apartment | during the blizzard while hikaru is out

for a second i thought it was mae's apartment and was about to go DON'T SMOKE BITCH

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chuuuus

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