heartlands | limelight inbox

What?

It doesn't have to be a big one.

[ ??? he's still ??? ]

Okay?

Tell me one thing you really like about yourself?

[ that counts right??? ]

—Oh. Um. I mean, I like to think I'm pretty compassionate.

More importantly! Now I can get a bigger bed from Nana and you can stay here whenever you want.

Oh.

[ that sure sinks in hard. ]

... I think that proves you're way more than just "pretty compassionate".

Or maybe that you deserve somewhere you feel safe.

[ if that's not a critical hit. ]

[ he sort of freezes forgetting to breathe for a second. for a different reason. ]

...What is it?

[ nope, nope, nope, nope - ]

I don't want you to think I feel unsafe in the Disorder but also the rest of my thought is too embarrassing to say.

Maybe safe wasn't the right word. Comfortable...?

[laughs a little]

You're really talking to me about embarrassing thoughts?

[ ... ]

[ groans and rolls over so he's not facing him, it's fine. ]

I know you're not using my ability to hear you against me but I feel like you're using it against me. [ It's at least a Mild attempt at a joke. ] You've got to promise not to laugh at me or I'm going to lounge sofas.

If you go to the lounge sofa I'm going with you, but I also won't laugh.

Oh my god.

[ the overdramatic tones of a teenager as its his turn to grab ginghams pillow and hide it in for like a solid thirty seconds. partly to work out the feeling partly because he's going to die ]

- You're right. That I feel safer sleeping near someone? [ he's quieter, more super dying: ]

And I feel safe with you. Specifically.

—Oh.

[PREDICTABLY GOES RED but doesn't laugh]

Then - I mean, obviously you can stay here whenever. No question.

[ sorry, that he's never giving up this pillow because he can't look at him again. ]

- And you're always welcome over, too, you know that right?

Yeah. Of course I do.

Okay.

[ a breath and he relinquishes the pillow and turns back to him ]

I think until you said it - I didn't think about it before. Maybe I had a sibling I shared a room with before? So you get used to sleeping near someone then, right?

[ he's not thinking of tommy, but he's also thinking of tommy ]

And there were a few days before we were found that Dove and I slept pretty closely for comfort and maybe with her - [ missing, he shakes it off. ] Just never thought of it like that.

Mm... I'm like 95% sure my vision self was an only child, and I am too, but - I can at least get that it feels nice to have someone there.

...The offer was for you, but - maybe it's a little selfish. That is, I'd be glad if you stayed, too. It's been a long day for both of us, seems like.

Weird, though, right? You'd think I'd want to be alone but it feels like... being around someone safe and comfortable feels better.

[ yes, he chose those words deliberately. especially when gingham continues and he sits up and moves for his hand. ]

I'll stay. I'll always stay and you can be as selfish as you want anytime you want.

[takes his hand easily, then laughs a little]

You think I could do another task for a door that comes directly into my room so you don't have to worry about running into any of the others whenever you head out in the morning?

[ okay. that earns a laugh ]

I think she'd ask for a lot more than a couple of orders if she could. Are you worried about them?

In terms of, like - how they'll act around us? Nah, not really. I mean, Satin's definitely more supportive than he is teasing. Brocade might joke about it, but Cash told me if I ever needed advice I could go to him and he wouldn't make it embarrassing, and he seemed really sincere about it.

I mean - not that I've needed advice. I think things have been going pretty good so far? This boat being insane aside.

[ nods, a little ]

Then we're fine as long as I don't avoid eye-contact. [ joking, ] And if it helps it's about the same? Flamingo and Forte have definitely teased me a little already so they would. Uh, Duran doesn't know about us at all but he was my therapist? So it feels weird. He's probably guessed he knew how I felt before -

[ oop ] Anyway. I agree? I mean if we didn't have boat drama we could be like the perfect couple. But also in a weird way we have the boat to thank for even being together at all. So.

I don't think I've met Duran yet, so it makes sense he doesn't know...

Ha. I like to think I would've asked you out eventually, even back home. But - I get what you mean.

Oh yeah? We need new sheets and pillows for your new bed so -

[ He definitely looks amused and teasing now, maybe to get rid of his own embarassment: ]

Prove it. How would you have asked me out?

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