[When Shinichi had asked, Kaede briefly forgot how to speak. Again. Emotions and feelings she'd only just let herself feel again fizzed up all at once like the bubbles in a drink, turning her mind into a cloud of frazzled static. Words wouldn't make it out of her mouth without becoming similarly indistinct and fuzzy, so she'd pressed her face against his shoulder, hand curled tightly against his jacket and ears blending in with her hair, and hoping he could hear and understand her little raspy "yes".
And...he did. The dreams did, too.
This place was so big two Maple Inns could fit in, with room left over--and with a great vaulted ceiling too, one that never seemed to trap cold air or steal warmth from that always-lit fireplace. The hills and snow-covered trees hemming the place in made the lodge feel protected, not claustrophobic. And the snow was so deep the drifts came up to well above her knees; if she stepped off a path she'd be in soft powder over her ankles. Kaede's vectors were rather useful when it came to sweeping the snow out of the way, but it hardly seemed much an impediment to Shinichi. He'd been flitting around the lodge like a quiet, but giddy moth; Kaede followed him sometimes, mostly to ensure there was not, in fact, something dreadful hidden in one of the rooms, but she just as often left him to his devices. Shinichi seemed to be planning something; at least some of them could be surprises. It gave her time to rest on a couch in the main lounge, and wonder at the warm feeling in her chest that didn't come from the fireplace.
The diclonius didn't stay put long, though, especially when Shinichi wanted to go outside. After wiggling into a long coat that was thinking about being too long, Kaede's knees were still a bit cold despite the long skirt and leggings--but nevermind that. She drew close to the bespectacled boy in a few steps, like some part of herself needed reassurance he was still there, still here. And she inevitably noticed him flushing when she did, which made a blush of pink appear on her ears while she pretended not to notice. She did notice how his hand seemed to be troubling him in the cold--was Migi being a problem again? Something indignant and possessive joined the Warm Thing in her chest, but before she could get too far into that spiral, Shinichi came to a stop.
Kaede's head tilted a bit at him; her voice was level, the better to hide the complex bundle of things underneath, but there was a bit more lightness in her expression than before. Almost like amusement.]
You're more experienced than I am, then.
[She'd seen snow before, of course--but never this much, let alone used a sled in her life.]
I'll go with you.
[It was out of her mouth before Kaede thought too much about it; there was only one sled, and a lot of trees Shinichi could run into. And--the way he smiled, it made the Warm Thing flutter a little.]
( There's a fluttering in his own chest at the response, and the way Kaede's looking at him โ he knows the subtle tells of her expressions by now, at least most of them, he thinks. He used to be reminded of Migi with her cool surface calm, that detachment that keeps her apart from things and people, and back when he'd first known her maybe he tried to respect it in the same kinds of ways (and maybe it unsettled him for awhile, because it reminded him of Migi), but... it's different now. He knows she's not like that. Not something alien, looking at humans through some clear lens. Not someone to treat clinically. She's not anything like Migi. She's... someone he can only ever imagine being so soft to; that's all he'd ever want to be with her. As soft as he possibly can, gentle and comfortable and warm. He's still learning her, but there are ways he knows her, too. The same as she knows him after all this time, after everything they've been through together. He can see that little bit of lightness there, no matter how subtle it may be. He's felt it before.
And it fuels him, makes the waves of his own shyness and even the lingering nerves feel less sweeping, more like pleasant little ripples in his stomach. He wants to make her happy, and he's smiling wider, perking up. She wants to go with him.....! He's excited... )
Okay...! We can go together.
( Gloved hands reach for the thick line of rope connected to the thing and he's pausing for a moment, thinking about it... Should she sit in front or back...? Clearly, he's never done this with two people before. In the movies, it seems like the girl is always in the front, but... what if they go over a bump or something and his weight hurts her from behind...? (He has literally seen Kaede kill a man and yet Shinichi is worried about her being squishy, okay....) )
I can sit in the front. That way I won't squash you.
( He gives a soft laugh, moving to sit on the wood with his knees bent. Of course, that flush to his cheeks is only growing as he realises it means Kaede will be behind him.... and he's sure she'd think to hold on, but he needs to clarify just how tightly.... If this were anyone else, he might be in danger of sounding cringey or smooth or flirtatious or a number of things, but judging by how red the tips of his ears are... it comes out sounding considerably uncool. )
Ahโ you should probably hold onto me pretty tight. So you don't fall off....
[Kaede is still a little squishy, it's true. Mostly bony and pointy and sinewy, though. But where all those held-back emotions were percolating away in her chest was very soft, and so usually very well protected and armored until she forgot what any of them were supposed to feel like.
Around Shinichi, she didn't feel like she needed to hold that armor so close. He wouldn't spring to attack some fleeting weakness in her demeanor, he'd just make a little worried frown, or...or that wobbly smile.
So she wasn't prepared when he mentioned where to sit on the sled, or how. The sound of the metal runners gliding over the snow was only a passing detail to distract herself with. The rest of Kaede's mind was distracted by the Warm Thing's fluster, and how nice it was to hear Shinichi laugh.]
Uh-
[Set a bit off balance, her response was embarrassingly close to an awkward stammer.]
R-right.
[Shinichi didn't see that, right. Or hear. Surely he wasn't a witness or anything even though she was saying this right next to him. Kaede carried on straightaway as if her ears weren't feeling unusually warm, kneeling on the sled the same way Shinichi had. And she held onto his shoulders, like he asked, fingers curled tight on the young man's jacket.]
Like this?
[Kaede's voice still hadn't fully recovered, sounding quiet and almost uncertain.]
(Oh.... he did hear that little offbeat hiccup, something that sounds very close to the way Shinichi often, nervously, speaks... And it makes his heart do a sudden fresh dose of flippy-fluttery things, almost steals his own breath for a moment.
It's not the first time Shinichi's thought this, but it reels him sideways all over again, gently โ Kaede is extremely cute.
He may be oblivious to many things (at least, Migi would claim as such).... but not even he could possibly miss the fact that his suggestion has caused that little bit of fluster in the girl. And Shinichi can barely stand it, pleased in a way that's new for him, stupidly happy, giddy, maybe. He can't remember the last time he ever felt that way. Migi happened, and then Deerington, and then another dreamscape, and things have been frightening and upsetting and weird, but somehow he's able to feel nervously happy and it's.... nice. He's biting down on his lip a little to stop from smiling too much, only as soon as he feels Kaede grasp onto his shoulders, his heart's going crazy all over again and the butterflies in his stomach have either multiplied in number or are having a dance party. )
I think that's good. Unless you feel safer holding onto my waist, eitheโ ( Aaaand his own voice cuts off from the mix of pleasant nerves and blood-flushed ears and cheeks and he's clearing his throat immediately. A little embarrassed by his own verbal slip-up, but he knows he's not cool.... ) โEither one.
( Still, he's buzzing with those happy nerves as he adjusts his grasp on the rope and glances down at the slope they're on the precipice of. Of course, it's at that moment that a soft voice pipes up from his palm, muffled by woolen glove, the fabric moving slightly as Migi speaks in his usual robotic tone. )
Shinichi. I have calculated the slope's angle and determined that the safest velocity when traveling down it would beโ
It's fine! ( The boy's voice, lowered almost to a hush, comes quickly and with a desperation. Please be quiet.... He doesn't want to be reminded about his talking alien hand right now, okay.... )
Shinichi. Steering a wooden sled is not so simple. It requiresโ
Migi, it's fine. I'll be careful, don't worry.
( ....Silence. It doesn't alleviate his dose of discomfort, and he's wincing a little as he turns his head back towards Kaede, giving an awkward breath of a laugh. )
Sorry about that.... Are you ready? We just have to umโ kind of scoot over the edge.
[After she'd gotten on the sled Kaede couldn't quite see Shinichi's expression anymore, though she could definitely see his ears still reddening. Something light and shivery pressed through her fingertips, though she couldn't tell if it was from herself, or from him. She straightened up a little to glance over his shoulder more, in case it was something to be concerned about--and she caught that little alien interruption.
Migi was...several things, to her. Most of them irritating; Kaede almost always felt a prickle of indignant protectiveness whenever she was reminded Migi was still part of Shinichi's hand. Would always be. And if he took anything else of Shinichi for himself, Kaede wasn't...sure what she'd do. Because Migi was still part of an important person. She could shear the parasite from Shinichi's arm. But that would hurt Shinichi. And...did he even want that?
Right now, though, she didn't have to think about such heavy things. Migi was interrupting, and as much as Kaede was glad to feel something more familiar (annoyed), she wished he wouldn't.
Kaede's hand reached past Shinichi's side to cup over the glove where Migi hid, simultaneously a reassuring gesture as much as shut up, hand. There was no fear or revulsion in her expression, just the same disagreeable scowl she usually had when Migi was being annoying.
And now they were holding hands again. Kaede wasn't so flustered this time, so long as she had something else to focus on.]
I'll keep Shinichi safe.
[From hitting a tree and dying, at least. No promises about embarrassing spills off the sled.]
I can do that.
[The diclonius looked around them; this was a flat spot at the top of this hill, without much to grab onto or push off of. But Kaede could make her own handholds. Several handprints appeared in the snow around them as her vectors reached down for the ground, digging in--and pushing them all forwards.
Kind of...fast. While Kaede was gentle around Shinichi, she wasn't quite as mindful of her own strength around other things.]
( It's always been common for Migi to pipe up his thoughts and opinions on things, and while it's always weird and creepy for his hand to suddenly start talking to him, it's become a part of Shinichi's normalcy. But these days.... he's much more aware of it, and wishing it wouldn't happen. He of all people knows Kaede doesn't scare easy, but it's some weird, uncomfortable worry deep down in his gut that never used to be there before. It's stupid, probably, to worry about things like that when there's so much else to worry about here โ in this nightmare place that's so unpredictable and shifting.
...But through everything that's nightmarish and strange and alien to Shinichi's existence now, maybe being worried about Migi is one small, human thing he can still claim, even if it's dumb and no doubt insignificant in the grander scheme of things. Childish, even. What if the girl you've developed romantic feelings towards is creeped out by your alien parasite!
That said, it catches him completely by surprise when Kaede just takes hold of Migi like that. ...Which is also Shinichi's hand. She just took his hand, and everything in him is now focused on that, heart giving yet another fluttery hiccup. It does do the job of shutting Migi up (thankfully he doesn't try getting nippy through the glove and retaliating with a bite or something....) and the parasite goes still. They both do, as the girl says what she does.
'I'll keep Shinichi safe. I can do that.'
Shinichi feels his fingers curling slowly around Kaede's, and he's the one doing it, not Migi. The alien doesn't refute her words, probably because he does know they're true; he's very well aware of just what Kaede's capable of. She can protect his host, and she has before. So he's quiet, waiting, and Shinichi's smiling even if she can't see it from behind him, dipping his head down a little. He's kind of not paying much attention to the start-off now, because his head's swimming with pleasant excited nervous feelings, and so when Kaede pushes them forwards with force, he's giving a sharp little noise of surprise. Not quite a scream, but it's... close.
He's grinning though, through the sharp wind that blows back his bangs, tensing his body backwards, leaning back into her. And then there's a laugh, loud and genuine, his hand clenching hold of Kaede's more tightly. )
We're doing it! It'sโ Oh! Oh wait! We need to go to the left!
( There's a rogue tree branch sticking up out of the snow and it's not big enough to do damage, probably, but they probably should try to avoid it.... In his other hand, Shinichi pulls the rope to the left and pushes one foot down towards the snow to try and steer them more that way. )
[Feeling Shinichi's fingers curl against hers like that made something in her chest feel lighter. A little something, but something nevertheless.
The startled noise that burst out of him brought her focus right back, and Kaede held onto him tightly, chin and cheek pressed against his jacket as she peered over his shoulder to see where they were headed next. Shinichi didn't seem frightened, though--he laughed, a light sound. Kaede had never fully appreciated how nice laughter could sound until now.
Zipping off over the snow instead of crunching in it was nice, too. And Shinichi calling out that turn they had to make kept her focused, kept her thoughts from drifting out of the moment. She leaned into the turn as Shinichi steered the sled to the left, pulling him with her. A vector followed the same motion his foot did, though she wasn't quite sure what to expect. Mostly, she just contributed to a plume of powdery snow kicking up from the ground.
But they did avoid the branch! ...and the sled barreled right through that sheet of snow. Kaede huddled a bit and closed her eyes for the briefest of moments to keep the snow at least out of those--taking her eyes off the path ahead of them could lead to surprises, and she didn't like surprises. It did mean powdery cold stuff got all over the rest of her and down her jacket.]
( Shinichi can feel the sled moving the way he's steering it, easily, too easily to just be him โ Kaede must be helping him โ and there's a triumphant thrill along with a jostled thud of his heart. Really, Shinichi Izumi does not thrive on adrenaline in the very least, and yet... this is fun....!!
He's grinning again, right into that sudden plume of snow, not reacting fast enough to avoid anything but getting a dusting of frost across his face and front. Shinichi sputters a little, eyes widening as he realises he's kind of blinded, glasses opaque and cloudy in front of his eyes, but the boy's turning his head to try and look behind him at Kaede first and foremost. )
Are you all right??
( He calls loudly, over the sound of the sled moving across the snow, the tilt to avoid the branch steering them a bit more towards the incline of the hill, heading towards the bottom of it.
.....And Shinichi's taken his (blind) eyes away from watching where he's going, still trying to look back at Kaede.... At least this ride will probably be over soon, they should reach a landing spot quickly enough, just hopefully.... not forcefully enough to knock either of them off. Shinichi, you should really look where you're going. )
[Kaede still held her focus on the base of the hill, though that small, light something in her chest flickered again when Shinichi looked for her before he even cleared the snow out of his face, his voice concerned. The diclonius didn't answer him in words, squeezing his hand and where she gripped his shoulder tightly before relaxing her grasp. She could see, even if he couldn't quite--and she said she'd keep him safe, because she knew she could.
They stayed on course, arcing down to the bottom of the hill; the sled turned a bit more sharply in the opposite direction to avoid another tree at the base, though the roots hidden beneath the snow still bumped them around. Kaede lurched forwards a little bit, a vector curling around Shinichi's waist to keep him steady. Should she use them to stop, too...? There was just open ground now, mostly flat. She could keep pushing them along, too. But...maybe a moment to collect themselves. Kaede let the sled coast gently to a stop, though she didn't let go of him even when they got there.]
We're at the bottom now.
[Something wiped the snow from Shinichi's glasses when Kaede looked at him, and only now did she shake the snow from her hair and horns.]
( He feels the bumps and jolts as the sled keeps going, and gives soft exhales and a gasp or two along the way, but otherwise... Shinichi seems to still be enjoying himself, even if he can barely see a thing. It's all really not as wild as he thought it might be โ he's staying pretty securely in place despite the sled bumping up and down (unbeknownst to him in the moment, thanks to the vector around his waist.)
His smile's stretching wider as he feels the sled coming to a stop, and he keeps one hand firmly on the rope and the other clenching Kaede's for a few moments as his body tries to come down from the high of it all, too โ heart still giving quick beats, adrenaline fueling his pulse. Finally, he lets go of the rope, a little shaky but not overwhelmed, no, this really was fun.
That's when his glasses clear up as though by magic (but he knows it's something quite different from that), and Shinichi's turning his body more to face Kaede, cheeks flushed from the cold and the excitement. )
That was amazing.....! Ohโ there's snow all over you! ( Seeing Kaede shake her head, he's immediately both fondly amused and fretful, letting go of her hand finally but only so that both of his own can reach up and gently help free some of the snow from her, his gloved fingertips brushing cold dust from the girl's hair (mindful not to get near her horns). But.... she seems to have gotten more of a dose of it than him, and the Concern is quickly overtaking the Fond Amusement as he realises this fact. )
We need to get you inside.... your clothes are going to be getting soaked through at this rate...
( Gently mother-henning.... Shinichi reaches for the girl's hand again as he starts getting up off of the sled, gently pulling her with him, and not letting go of that hand even when they're both up. )
[Kaede felt his hand drawing close before she saw it; even idle, her vectors still felt objects in their range like the trembling of a spider's web. So she didn't have to twitch to get her bearings when Shinichi helped brush the snow away; she even stopped shaking her head, so she didn't bump him. One eye blinked open when he finished with the snow on that side of her head, then the other. And...while she still huffed a little at being fussed over so, it wasn't as exasperated or annoyed of a sound as it could have been. Almost an...amused sound, she realized several long moments later.
And yet it...didn't trouble her at all that Shinichi had heard. He was fretting more about her clothes getting a bit wet, not picking a target based on some perceived weakness. She could let her standoffish armor relax around him.]
I'll be fine, Shinichi. We can go again.
[The diclonius didn't resist being pulled up, curling her fingers with his the moment she felt his open palm. He...didn't seem to be letting go, even if both of them were standing now. But neither was she. The Light Thing bounced a little in Kaede's chest again.]
( He's not at all surprised that Kaede says she's fine โ she's never been one to relent easily from any tough spot, and of course there's also the fact that she does seem to be made of much hardier stuff than a typical human being. She might actually be fine, even after some snow clings to her and some might melt into her hair or clothing, might make her chilled.
But what if she won't be? What if she does get sick? Or just too cold in general? This place is weird, and maybe he can't help always being worried that something could go wrong. The thought of Kaede in discomfort makes an odd twist in his stomach, different from the one that happens whenever she's close to him or when he's holding her hand.
....And he is aware he's still holding her hand now, though it took him a moment or two to remember his shyness; it's at some weird battle with the worry in his mind as he stands there with her. Shinichi flushes again, a soft pink at his cheeks, but he still doesn't let go. Instead, he offers another little squeeze, and lets his palm slide into place against hers, and it feels nice and warm and familiar despite all that's so new lately. )
Reallyโ we should warm you up a little first. I don't want you to catch a cold!
[ He offers a shy smile as he says it โ shy, but insistent in his own way. He's ready to protest, gently, but fortunately (?) he also has some back-up here, as the little voice pipes up again from his hand, the movement of Migi's mouth subtle against the glove separating him and Kaede's palm, but Shinichi's still sure she can feel it, and he gives a startle. ]
I would also advise that we head inside at this time. The temperature is unfavourable out here.[ A pause, and then the alien shares some of his personal grievances.... ]This glove does not provide adequate protection. I am cold.
[The more Shinichi fussed at her, the more she felt a prickling warmth in her ears and on her cheekbones. And the Light Thing was getting more fluttery and distracting by the moment, its movements intensifying whenever Shinichi touched her or otherwise reminded her that they were very much holding hands. And that...he didn't seem bothered. He wasn't finding reasons to let go. They weren't out in the cold long enough for Shinichi's hand to linger in a frozen crab claw shape, he could let go whenever he wished--the same as her. And neither did.
Migi's interjection did make the Light Thing bounce around less, but his presence wasn't otherwise much of an annoyance. Kaede sighed, finally relenting on her stubborn insistence.]
...fine. We can go inside.
[A vector grabbed the rope fastened to the sled, tugging it along. No point leaving it out here to get lost in the snow.
...and. Using her vectors made it so she didn't have to let go of Shinichi's hand. It was quite warm. More than just the contact would explain.]
( Once again, Shinichi's stricken by the fact he'd really prefer Migi not... talk to Kaede while she's holding his hand. It's not quite embarrassment that his flash of upset takes the form of โ something else, something a little harder to pinpoint. Something that makes him flush for a different reason again, one that's much less pleasant.
But, once again, Kaede doesn't seem to flinch back from the horrible little alien that possesses his right hand, and maybe that means it's all okay, but he finds himself wishing he could change hands โ swap his right for his left, only if he pulls away it might seem like he doesn't want to be holding her hand at all, and he doesn't want her to think that...!
It's a dilemma, to be sure. All he can do is hope Migi stays quiet now that they're heading inside. Because it sure would be nice to just be able to concentrate on the way the girl's hand feels in his, warm and secure. As they walk, it does get easier to focus on that โ and his heart goes fluttery for the more pleasant reasons again. Now they're just walking, and it's a little different from when they'd been clasping hands on the sled, in the heat of the moment.
But he's terrified to move his fingers at all, to risk stirring Migi or worse, for her to think it's Migi moving around โ and sometimes it's hard to tell where his movements ends and Migi's begins, at all. So he tries as hard as he can to keep his hand still, unmoving. And... it's still a little bit of a walk back to the cabin, and the silence is growing, and his heart feels like it's in his throat. He should say something but suddenly, being right beside Kaede makes him feel like he can't speak at all. )
...I think I saw hot chocolate mix, inside. ( He blurts. ) Do you like it? Hot chocolate, I mean.
[For Kaede, the quiet was a welcome break in the excitement and fussing and...and feeling. Besides the crunching underfoot, the snow seemed to muffle and soften all other noise. Like this was a soft edged world just for them.
But inevitably she was reminded of where her hand was; whenever she took a bigger step than usual to keep up, or stop her arm from swinging and dislodging Shinichi. Just to make sure, she held on a bit tighter each time she thought about it, which...was a lot. The Warm Thing had grown to an Excitable Thing that made her chest prickle and the cold seem far away; she didn't dare say anything yet, what if her voice trembled? Shinichi wouldn't mind, but--
Kaede was aware Shinichi said something, but it took her a moment to really listen, his words spending a moment in her mind before the gears in her head turned.]
--huh? Oh--yeah. I...do.
[She'd found some occasionally in a...newly vacated house, when she was younger. Kaede doesn't mention that part, though.]
Maybe I could make some for you โ if-if you like.
( The words come out a lot more nervously than he'd wanted them to, and there's an awkward lapse there between his own anxious flare-up and her response, both of them half in some other world thinking thoughts โ although ironically, those thoughts having to do with each other.
Almost subconsciously, he's giving her hand another soft squeeze, trying to keep himself steadied... He's a nervous wreck all of a sudden โ not that such things are exactly atypical for him, but... )
It'd be nice to drink some while we're warming up by the fireplace, ( he adds as he keeps guiding them back towards the large resort cabin, and he manages to find a smile again, even if it's a shy one, and even if he's rambling a little bit on. )
[The Excitable Warm Thing kept buzzing, and buzzing, and buzzed faster when Shinichi talked to her, and squeezed her hand. There was definitely more color to her face than the cold could explain, but it didn't feel like something she heeded to hide now. And...that smile of his was a little infectious. A soft one made it to Kaede's face too, though even smaller and brief. But it was a smile all the same.]
I think--I'd like that.
[Once they'd gotten up onto the porch encircling the main building she stomped the snow off her boots, and left the sled under the shelter of the roof. No point tripping over it when it snowed again. The door wasn't locked--doors tended not to stay that way whenever Kaede was around anyway.]
( The girl's response makes that warmth in his own chest blossom, leaving him feeling light-headed and dumb and happy. Shinichi can't help smiling again, ducking his head as though to conceal the gesture a little, not quite embarrassed, justโ shy.
Once they're at the porch, Shinichi stomps his own boots a little, clearing some of the initial snow, and then opens the door for them, stepping into the lodge. Luckily, nothing's changed, seemingly โ in this strange, nebulous place, their environment is wont to do that every once in awhile. But for the moment, the luxurious lodge stays just that way: sprawling and comfortable, albeit definitely too big for just two people. It gives a lingering eerie feeling if he thinks about it too much. He prefers sticking close to Kaede.
But it's nice and warm inside, with the massive fireplace going in the living room area, and thick, plush rugs padding the wooden floorboards in various place. Shinichi toes out of his boots to leave them by the front door, and peels off his outer jacket to hang up on a hook by the door, so it can dry. )
We can go get changed, and then meet back here? Unless you want to take a hot bath first. I know some people do that when they come back in from the snow... Which is to say โ take your time!
[Kaede did the same, albeit a little less mannerly; her shoes were a bit crooked, and her sodden jacket hanging unevenly on its hook. She listened to Shinichi talk without interruption; while silence was comforting sometimes, just hearing a friendly voice in the air was something she'd become fond of; like sitting beside a bubbling stream.
But, eventually, she...got a silly little impulse, one that didn't have much thought behind it.
As Shinichi kept rambling, Kaede put a finger over his mouth, gently. There was no scolding to it, and the gesture was brief. But her little smile remained, along with the softness around her eyes.]
I'll be back soon, Shinichi.
[Her hand drifted to his shoulder, brushed an imaginary bit of snow from his shirt collar, then pulled away--followed by the rest of her. Kaede went back to the set of rooms they'd claimed earlier--she no longer got flustered and fidgety at the idea of sharing a room with him. But there was a whole lodge to explore, even though she didn't want to be too far away from Shinichi.
Changing in the same room as him was...still a bit much, though. And there were plenty of spare clothes in the other rooms, most of it either a bit too big, oversized, or laughably small--as if there had been people here some time ago. But there were no wrinkles on the blankets, no footprints in dust, no personal belongings. The only shoes by the door were theirs.
For now, Kaede didn't put much thought in it. It wasn't the first time she'd...borrowed, belongings from those who wouldn't be needing them. These clothes were clean and dry, and she found a decent comb to use for her hair. When she returned to the living room, a quilt was bundled around her shoulders too; she still felt a bit cold, though the blush of pink on her nose and cheekbones remained.]
( The gesture immediately shuts him up, in the softest way, and Shinichi flushes all over again. His heart, once more, seems insistent on skipping a beat (or several) and the boy finds that even when Kaede removes her finger again, he's incapable of forming words.
The brush of her hand to his collar only makes him even more stunned into silence, and then she's gone, leaving him standing there frozen for a long moment before he's finally able to remember how to breathe. He clasps one hand to his chest, eyelashes fluttering โ it surprised him, but not in a bad way, not at all, no, if anything it was really nice. ...Really, really nice. Little gestures like that from Kaede are rare and meaningful and it's the first time she's ever touched his mouth like that.
Migi pipes up about how he needs to try and slow his heart rate again, but Shinichi ignores the alien's voice coming from his palm, letting himself drift through waves of pleasant dizziness before he finally moves too, heading to one of the many rooms he knows has clothing in them. His own aren't too bad off, so he just finds a fresh pair of socks to put on that aren't cold and wet from the outdoors, and a fresh sweater, thick and warm. He's finished changing pretty quickly, so he's soon enough going ahead and poking through the expansive kitchen to locate the things he'll need to fix some hot chocolate for them.
The vastly open floor plan means that he can see Kaede returning, and he does a sort of stupid double-take as she does. .....It's certainly not the first time the boy's thought about how cute she looks, but seeing her bundled up all cosy in warm clothes and a quilt makes his heart do those stupid flip-floppy things all over again. (He's also still definitely reeling from one (1) simple finger to his lips.) )
I've uh, just started getting everything out for some hot chocolate. ( He says, stating the obvious as he's holding up a little carton of milk he'd found in the fridge. Weirdly, the exact ingredients he needs are all here, right down to a little bag of plushy white confectioneries that he holds up to show her with a shy smile. )
[The horned girl inclined her head when Shinichi glanced at her twice--was something stuck to her quilt? It was rather soft and fuzzy, she supposed that was just in its nature. But he didn't mention anything of the sort, and so she didn't double check for herself. She shuffled into the kitchen quietly, but stopped when Shinichi started pulling things out of the fridge.]
Yeah. That'd be nice.
[There were many times in her existence when Kaede wondered what life on the other side of the door was like, in that world of bright things where people could laugh and smile so easily.
She didn't need to wonder, here. Not so much. It was a little thing, what Shinichi was doing. But it was a little thing for her, and it already felt like the warmth in her chest was excitedly bouncing around in there.]
( As Kaede moves into the kitchen with him, his heart starts acting all stupid again, bouncing around and making his throat feel tight. But none of it's unpleasant, and he keeps thinking about how it'd felt when she'd taken his hand, squeezed it firmly, no matter what dwelled beneath his glove.
Maybe... she really doesn't think he's that weird, or scary? Of course, he has no reason to believe she does, she's seen Migi plenty of times, interacted with him, she doesn't seem scared of the parasite at all. No, it's not that so much as.... Well.... Would that change for her if Shinichi wanted to hold her hand in a way that went beyond desperation, or in the heat of the moment? Would she think it's weird for someone like him to like her? Is... is that even what he feels? He thinks so, thinks he recognises the hitch of warm nerves in his chest; he's had crushes before, but this is new and different and very much its own thing. He and Kaede have grown into one another like tree roots, become tangled up in each other out of necessity in Deerington and then here, too. They're all each other has; of course they have to rely on each other.
But that's not the only reason why. He'd choose her to be trapped with over anyone else. She'sโ his partner, his friend, his family in a way. And something else, too, something that makes him so dumb and nervous when she gets close, bundled up in her quilt and looking at him. He gets back to preparing the hot chocolate, the saucepan of milk starting to heat up, but it's with another nervous swallow, hands not so steady. )
N-no, I think I have everything I need here.
( That's what she means by asking, right? If he has all the ingredients he needs? Why is there a little voice in his head suddenly thinking of another reply? โ "I need to hold your hand again" โ shut up, shut up. )
Oh, actuallyโ if you don't mind looking to see if there's any cinnamon? We can put it on top, make it really fancy.
( The kitchen has a vast array of cabinets; surely there's at least one dedicated to spices... )
[Shinichi sounded a bit shaky for a moment; Kaede stepped a bit closer, brows furrowing a bit in worry. But the more she lingered at his side, the less she wanted to draw away--not just out of some protective worry, but...because she wanted to. Letting a person into her space after so long of driving them out was exhilarating, addicting even. The longer Kaede lingered, the more giddy and soft she felt.]
Oh? Are you spoiling me?
[She doesn't laugh, at him or the request. But that light thing in her chest was in her voice, too, and an almost-smile curved her mouth before she turned to look where Shinichi asked, without question.
And, because she was still rather short and this seemed quite reasonable, Kaede clambered up onto the empty countertop to get to the top shelves. She was wearing socks! It wasn't near where Shinichi was working or in the way. It was fine.
There also was cinnamon up here.]
Found some.
[The horned girl grabbed the little bottle; a vector carried it down while she rummaged a bit with her physical hands. Some other spices, fancy glasses--but actual glass ones with no handles, most likely not for chocolate. Shinichi would probably appreciate not having to hold hot glass.]
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And...he did. The dreams did, too.
This place was so big two Maple Inns could fit in, with room left over--and with a great vaulted ceiling too, one that never seemed to trap cold air or steal warmth from that always-lit fireplace. The hills and snow-covered trees hemming the place in made the lodge feel protected, not claustrophobic. And the snow was so deep the drifts came up to well above her knees; if she stepped off a path she'd be in soft powder over her ankles. Kaede's vectors were rather useful when it came to sweeping the snow out of the way, but it hardly seemed much an impediment to Shinichi. He'd been flitting around the lodge like a quiet, but giddy moth; Kaede followed him sometimes, mostly to ensure there was not, in fact, something dreadful hidden in one of the rooms, but she just as often left him to his devices. Shinichi seemed to be planning something; at least some of them could be surprises. It gave her time to rest on a couch in the main lounge, and wonder at the warm feeling in her chest that didn't come from the fireplace.
The diclonius didn't stay put long, though, especially when Shinichi wanted to go outside. After wiggling into a long coat that was thinking about being too long, Kaede's knees were still a bit cold despite the long skirt and leggings--but nevermind that. She drew close to the bespectacled boy in a few steps, like some part of herself needed reassurance he was still there, still here. And she inevitably noticed him flushing when she did, which made a blush of pink appear on her ears while she pretended not to notice. She did notice how his hand seemed to be troubling him in the cold--was Migi being a problem again? Something indignant and possessive joined the Warm Thing in her chest, but before she could get too far into that spiral, Shinichi came to a stop.
Kaede's head tilted a bit at him; her voice was level, the better to hide the complex bundle of things underneath, but there was a bit more lightness in her expression than before. Almost like amusement.]
You're more experienced than I am, then.
[She'd seen snow before, of course--but never this much, let alone used a sled in her life.]
I'll go with you.
[It was out of her mouth before Kaede thought too much about it; there was only one sled, and a lot of trees Shinichi could run into. And--the way he smiled, it made the Warm Thing flutter a little.]
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And it fuels him, makes the waves of his own shyness and even the lingering nerves feel less sweeping, more like pleasant little ripples in his stomach. He wants to make her happy, and he's smiling wider, perking up. She wants to go with him.....! He's excited... )
Okay...! We can go together.
( Gloved hands reach for the thick line of rope connected to the thing and he's pausing for a moment, thinking about it... Should she sit in front or back...? Clearly, he's never done this with two people before. In the movies, it seems like the girl is always in the front, but... what if they go over a bump or something and his weight hurts her from behind...? (He has literally seen Kaede kill a man and yet Shinichi is worried about her being squishy, okay....) )
I can sit in the front. That way I won't squash you.
( He gives a soft laugh, moving to sit on the wood with his knees bent. Of course, that flush to his cheeks is only growing as he realises it means Kaede will be behind him.... and he's sure she'd think to hold on, but he needs to clarify just how tightly.... If this were anyone else, he might be in danger of sounding cringey or smooth or flirtatious or a number of things, but judging by how red the tips of his ears are... it comes out sounding considerably uncool. )
Ahโ you should probably hold onto me pretty tight. So you don't fall off....
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Around Shinichi, she didn't feel like she needed to hold that armor so close. He wouldn't spring to attack some fleeting weakness in her demeanor, he'd just make a little worried frown, or...or that wobbly smile.
So she wasn't prepared when he mentioned where to sit on the sled, or how. The sound of the metal runners gliding over the snow was only a passing detail to distract herself with. The rest of Kaede's mind was distracted by the Warm Thing's fluster, and how nice it was to hear Shinichi laugh.]
Uh-
[Set a bit off balance, her response was embarrassingly close to an awkward stammer.]
R-right.
[Shinichi didn't see that, right. Or hear. Surely he wasn't a witness or anything even though she was saying this right next to him. Kaede carried on straightaway as if her ears weren't feeling unusually warm, kneeling on the sled the same way Shinichi had. And she held onto his shoulders, like he asked, fingers curled tight on the young man's jacket.]
Like this?
[Kaede's voice still hadn't fully recovered, sounding quiet and almost uncertain.]
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It's not the first time Shinichi's thought this, but it reels him sideways all over again, gently โ Kaede is extremely cute.
He may be oblivious to many things (at least, Migi would claim as such).... but not even he could possibly miss the fact that his suggestion has caused that little bit of fluster in the girl. And Shinichi can barely stand it, pleased in a way that's new for him, stupidly happy, giddy, maybe. He can't remember the last time he ever felt that way. Migi happened, and then Deerington, and then another dreamscape, and things have been frightening and upsetting and weird, but somehow he's able to feel nervously happy and it's.... nice. He's biting down on his lip a little to stop from smiling too much, only as soon as he feels Kaede grasp onto his shoulders, his heart's going crazy all over again and the butterflies in his stomach have either multiplied in number or are having a dance party. )
I think that's good. Unless you feel safer holding onto my waist, eitheโ ( Aaaand his own voice cuts off from the mix of pleasant nerves and blood-flushed ears and cheeks and he's clearing his throat immediately. A little embarrassed by his own verbal slip-up, but he knows he's not cool.... ) โEither one.
( Still, he's buzzing with those happy nerves as he adjusts his grasp on the rope and glances down at the slope they're on the precipice of. Of course, it's at that moment that a soft voice pipes up from his palm, muffled by woolen glove, the fabric moving slightly as Migi speaks in his usual robotic tone. )
Shinichi. I have calculated the slope's angle and determined that the safest velocity when traveling down it would beโ
It's fine! ( The boy's voice, lowered almost to a hush, comes quickly and with a desperation. Please be quiet.... He doesn't want to be reminded about his talking alien hand right now, okay.... )
Shinichi. Steering a wooden sled is not so simple. It requiresโ
Migi, it's fine. I'll be careful, don't worry.
( ....Silence. It doesn't alleviate his dose of discomfort, and he's wincing a little as he turns his head back towards Kaede, giving an awkward breath of a laugh. )
Sorry about that.... Are you ready? We just have to umโ kind of scoot over the edge.
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Migi was...several things, to her. Most of them irritating; Kaede almost always felt a prickle of indignant protectiveness whenever she was reminded Migi was still part of Shinichi's hand. Would always be. And if he took anything else of Shinichi for himself, Kaede wasn't...sure what she'd do. Because Migi was still part of an important person. She could shear the parasite from Shinichi's arm. But that would hurt Shinichi. And...did he even want that?
Right now, though, she didn't have to think about such heavy things. Migi was interrupting, and as much as Kaede was glad to feel something more familiar (annoyed), she wished he wouldn't.
Kaede's hand reached past Shinichi's side to cup over the glove where Migi hid, simultaneously a reassuring gesture as much as shut up, hand. There was no fear or revulsion in her expression, just the same disagreeable scowl she usually had when Migi was being annoying.
And now they were holding hands again. Kaede wasn't so flustered this time, so long as she had something else to focus on.]
I'll keep Shinichi safe.
[From hitting a tree and dying, at least. No promises about embarrassing spills off the sled.]
I can do that.
[The diclonius looked around them; this was a flat spot at the top of this hill, without much to grab onto or push off of. But Kaede could make her own handholds. Several handprints appeared in the snow around them as her vectors reached down for the ground, digging in--and pushing them all forwards.
Kind of...fast. While Kaede was gentle around Shinichi, she wasn't quite as mindful of her own strength around other things.]
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...But through everything that's nightmarish and strange and alien to Shinichi's existence now, maybe being worried about Migi is one small, human thing he can still claim, even if it's dumb and no doubt insignificant in the grander scheme of things. Childish, even. What if the girl you've developed romantic feelings towards is creeped out by your alien parasite!
That said, it catches him completely by surprise when Kaede just takes hold of Migi like that. ...Which is also Shinichi's hand. She just took his hand, and everything in him is now focused on that, heart giving yet another fluttery hiccup. It does do the job of shutting Migi up (thankfully he doesn't try getting nippy through the glove and retaliating with a bite or something....) and the parasite goes still. They both do, as the girl says what she does.
'I'll keep Shinichi safe. I can do that.'
Shinichi feels his fingers curling slowly around Kaede's, and he's the one doing it, not Migi. The alien doesn't refute her words, probably because he does know they're true; he's very well aware of just what Kaede's capable of. She can protect his host, and she has before. So he's quiet, waiting, and Shinichi's smiling even if she can't see it from behind him, dipping his head down a little. He's kind of not paying much attention to the start-off now, because his head's swimming with pleasant excited nervous feelings, and so when Kaede pushes them forwards with force, he's giving a sharp little noise of surprise. Not quite a scream, but it's... close.
He's grinning though, through the sharp wind that blows back his bangs, tensing his body backwards, leaning back into her. And then there's a laugh, loud and genuine, his hand clenching hold of Kaede's more tightly. )
We're doing it! It'sโ Oh! Oh wait! We need to go to the left!
( There's a rogue tree branch sticking up out of the snow and it's not big enough to do damage, probably, but they probably should try to avoid it.... In his other hand, Shinichi pulls the rope to the left and pushes one foot down towards the snow to try and steer them more that way. )
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The startled noise that burst out of him brought her focus right back, and Kaede held onto him tightly, chin and cheek pressed against his jacket as she peered over his shoulder to see where they were headed next. Shinichi didn't seem frightened, though--he laughed, a light sound. Kaede had never fully appreciated how nice laughter could sound until now.
Zipping off over the snow instead of crunching in it was nice, too. And Shinichi calling out that turn they had to make kept her focused, kept her thoughts from drifting out of the moment. She leaned into the turn as Shinichi steered the sled to the left, pulling him with her. A vector followed the same motion his foot did, though she wasn't quite sure what to expect. Mostly, she just contributed to a plume of powdery snow kicking up from the ground.
But they did avoid the branch! ...and the sled barreled right through that sheet of snow. Kaede huddled a bit and closed her eyes for the briefest of moments to keep the snow at least out of those--taking her eyes off the path ahead of them could lead to surprises, and she didn't like surprises. It did mean powdery cold stuff got all over the rest of her and down her jacket.]
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He's grinning again, right into that sudden plume of snow, not reacting fast enough to avoid anything but getting a dusting of frost across his face and front. Shinichi sputters a little, eyes widening as he realises he's kind of blinded, glasses opaque and cloudy in front of his eyes, but the boy's turning his head to try and look behind him at Kaede first and foremost. )
Are you all right??
( He calls loudly, over the sound of the sled moving across the snow, the tilt to avoid the branch steering them a bit more towards the incline of the hill, heading towards the bottom of it.
.....And Shinichi's taken his (blind) eyes away from watching where he's going, still trying to look back at Kaede.... At least this ride will probably be over soon, they should reach a landing spot quickly enough, just hopefully.... not forcefully enough to knock either of them off. Shinichi, you should really look where you're going. )
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[Kaede still held her focus on the base of the hill, though that small, light something in her chest flickered again when Shinichi looked for her before he even cleared the snow out of his face, his voice concerned. The diclonius didn't answer him in words, squeezing his hand and where she gripped his shoulder tightly before relaxing her grasp. She could see, even if he couldn't quite--and she said she'd keep him safe, because she knew she could.
They stayed on course, arcing down to the bottom of the hill; the sled turned a bit more sharply in the opposite direction to avoid another tree at the base, though the roots hidden beneath the snow still bumped them around. Kaede lurched forwards a little bit, a vector curling around Shinichi's waist to keep him steady. Should she use them to stop, too...? There was just open ground now, mostly flat. She could keep pushing them along, too. But...maybe a moment to collect themselves. Kaede let the sled coast gently to a stop, though she didn't let go of him even when they got there.]
We're at the bottom now.
[Something wiped the snow from Shinichi's glasses when Kaede looked at him, and only now did she shake the snow from her hair and horns.]
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His smile's stretching wider as he feels the sled coming to a stop, and he keeps one hand firmly on the rope and the other clenching Kaede's for a few moments as his body tries to come down from the high of it all, too โ heart still giving quick beats, adrenaline fueling his pulse. Finally, he lets go of the rope, a little shaky but not
overwhelmed, no, this really was fun.
That's when his glasses clear up as though by magic (but he knows it's something quite different from that), and Shinichi's turning his body more to face Kaede, cheeks flushed from the cold and the excitement. )
That was amazing.....! Ohโ there's snow all over you! ( Seeing Kaede shake her head, he's immediately both fondly amused and fretful, letting go of her hand finally but only so that both of his own can reach up and gently help free some of the snow from her, his gloved fingertips brushing cold dust from the girl's hair (mindful not to get near her horns). But.... she seems to have gotten more of a dose of it than him, and the Concern is quickly overtaking the Fond Amusement as he realises this fact. )
We need to get you inside.... your clothes are going to be getting soaked through at this rate...
( Gently mother-henning.... Shinichi reaches for the girl's hand again as he starts getting up off of the sled, gently pulling her with him, and not letting go of that hand even when they're both up. )
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[Kaede felt his hand drawing close before she saw it; even idle, her vectors still felt objects in their range like the trembling of a spider's web. So she didn't have to twitch to get her bearings when Shinichi helped brush the snow away; she even stopped shaking her head, so she didn't bump him. One eye blinked open when he finished with the snow on that side of her head, then the other. And...while she still huffed a little at being fussed over so, it wasn't as exasperated or annoyed of a sound as it could have been. Almost an...amused sound, she realized several long moments later.
And yet it...didn't trouble her at all that Shinichi had heard. He was fretting more about her clothes getting a bit wet, not picking a target based on some perceived weakness. She could let her standoffish armor relax around him.]
I'll be fine, Shinichi. We can go again.
[The diclonius didn't resist being pulled up, curling her fingers with his the moment she felt his open palm. He...didn't seem to be letting go, even if both of them were standing now. But neither was she. The Light Thing bounced a little in Kaede's chest again.]
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( He's not at all surprised that Kaede says she's fine โ she's never been one to relent easily from any tough spot, and of course there's also the fact that she does seem to be made of much hardier stuff than a typical human being. She might actually be fine, even after some snow clings to her and some might melt into her hair or clothing, might make her chilled.
But what if she won't be? What if she does get sick? Or just too cold in general? This place is weird, and maybe he can't help always being worried that something could go wrong. The thought of Kaede in discomfort makes an odd twist in his stomach, different from the one that happens whenever she's close to him or when he's holding her hand.
....And he is aware he's still holding her hand now, though it took him a moment or two to remember his shyness; it's at some weird battle with the worry in his mind as he stands there with her. Shinichi flushes again, a soft pink at his cheeks, but he still doesn't let go. Instead, he offers another little squeeze, and lets his palm slide into place against hers, and it feels nice and warm and familiar despite all that's so new lately. )
Reallyโ we should warm you up a little first. I don't want you to catch a cold!
[ He offers a shy smile as he says it โ shy, but insistent in his own way. He's ready to protest, gently, but fortunately (?) he also has some back-up here, as the little voice pipes up again from his hand, the movement of Migi's mouth subtle against the glove separating him and Kaede's palm, but Shinichi's still sure she can feel it, and he gives a startle. ]
I would also advise that we head inside at this time. The temperature is unfavourable out here. [ A pause, and then the alien shares some of his personal grievances.... ] This glove does not provide adequate protection. I am cold.
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[The more Shinichi fussed at her, the more she felt a prickling warmth in her ears and on her cheekbones. And the Light Thing was getting more fluttery and distracting by the moment, its movements intensifying whenever Shinichi touched her or otherwise reminded her that they were very much holding hands. And that...he didn't seem bothered. He wasn't finding reasons to let go. They weren't out in the cold long enough for Shinichi's hand to linger in a frozen crab claw shape, he could let go whenever he wished--the same as her. And neither did.
Migi's interjection did make the Light Thing bounce around less, but his presence wasn't otherwise much of an annoyance. Kaede sighed, finally relenting on her stubborn insistence.]
...fine. We can go inside.
[A vector grabbed the rope fastened to the sled, tugging it along. No point leaving it out here to get lost in the snow.
...and. Using her vectors made it so she didn't have to let go of Shinichi's hand. It was quite warm. More than just the contact would explain.]
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( Once again, Shinichi's stricken by the fact he'd really prefer Migi not... talk to Kaede while she's holding his hand. It's not quite embarrassment that his flash of upset takes the form of โ something else, something a little harder to pinpoint. Something that makes him flush for a different reason again, one that's much less pleasant.
But, once again, Kaede doesn't seem to flinch back from the horrible little alien that possesses his right hand, and maybe that means it's all okay, but he finds himself wishing he could change hands โ swap his right for his left, only if he pulls away it might seem like he doesn't want to be holding her hand at all, and he doesn't want her to think that...!
It's a dilemma, to be sure. All he can do is hope Migi stays quiet now that they're heading inside. Because it sure would be nice to just be able to concentrate on the way the girl's hand feels in his, warm and secure. As they walk, it does get easier to focus on that โ and his heart goes fluttery for the more pleasant reasons again. Now they're just walking, and it's a little different from when they'd been clasping hands on the sled, in the heat of the moment.
But he's terrified to move his fingers at all, to risk stirring Migi or worse, for her to think it's Migi moving around โ and sometimes it's hard to tell where his movements ends and Migi's begins, at all. So he tries as hard as he can to keep his hand still, unmoving. And... it's still a little bit of a walk back to the cabin, and the silence is growing, and his heart feels like it's in his throat. He should say something but suddenly, being right beside Kaede makes him feel like he can't speak at all. )
...I think I saw hot chocolate mix, inside. ( He blurts. ) Do you like it? Hot chocolate, I mean.
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[For Kaede, the quiet was a welcome break in the excitement and fussing and...and feeling. Besides the crunching underfoot, the snow seemed to muffle and soften all other noise. Like this was a soft edged world just for them.
But inevitably she was reminded of where her hand was; whenever she took a bigger step than usual to keep up, or stop her arm from swinging and dislodging Shinichi. Just to make sure, she held on a bit tighter each time she thought about it, which...was a lot. The Warm Thing had grown to an Excitable Thing that made her chest prickle and the cold seem far away; she didn't dare say anything yet, what if her voice trembled? Shinichi wouldn't mind, but--
Kaede was aware Shinichi said something, but it took her a moment to really listen, his words spending a moment in her mind before the gears in her head turned.]
--huh? Oh--yeah. I...do.
[She'd found some occasionally in a...newly vacated house, when she was younger. Kaede doesn't mention that part, though.]
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( The words come out a lot more nervously than he'd wanted them to, and there's an awkward lapse there between his own anxious flare-up and her response, both of them half in some other world thinking thoughts โ although ironically, those thoughts having to do with each other.
Almost subconsciously, he's giving her hand another soft squeeze, trying to keep himself steadied... He's a nervous wreck all of a sudden โ not that such things are exactly atypical for him, but... )
It'd be nice to drink some while we're warming up by the fireplace, ( he adds as he keeps guiding them back towards the large resort cabin, and he manages to find a smile again, even if it's a shy one, and even if he's rambling a little bit on. )
After we change clothes and everything, that is.
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I think--I'd like that.
[Once they'd gotten up onto the porch encircling the main building she stomped the snow off her boots, and left the sled under the shelter of the roof. No point tripping over it when it snowed again. The door wasn't locked--doors tended not to stay that way whenever Kaede was around anyway.]
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Once they're at the porch, Shinichi stomps his own boots a little, clearing some of the initial snow, and then opens the door for them, stepping into the lodge. Luckily, nothing's changed, seemingly โ in this strange, nebulous place, their environment is wont to do that every once in awhile. But for the moment, the luxurious lodge stays just that way: sprawling and comfortable, albeit definitely too big for just two people. It gives a lingering eerie feeling if he thinks about it too much. He prefers sticking close to Kaede.
But it's nice and warm inside, with the massive fireplace going in the living room area, and thick, plush rugs padding the wooden floorboards in various place. Shinichi toes out of his boots to leave them by the front door, and peels off his outer jacket to hang up on a hook by the door, so it can dry. )
We can go get changed, and then meet back here? Unless you want to take a hot bath first. I know some people do that when they come back in from the snow... Which is to say โ take your time!
( He's rambling a little again... )
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But, eventually, she...got a silly little impulse, one that didn't have much thought behind it.
As Shinichi kept rambling, Kaede put a finger over his mouth, gently. There was no scolding to it, and the gesture was brief. But her little smile remained, along with the softness around her eyes.]
I'll be back soon, Shinichi.
[Her hand drifted to his shoulder, brushed an imaginary bit of snow from his shirt collar, then pulled away--followed by the rest of her. Kaede went back to the set of rooms they'd claimed earlier--she no longer got flustered and fidgety at the idea of sharing a room with him. But there was a whole lodge to explore, even though she didn't want to be too far away from Shinichi.
Changing in the same room as him was...still a bit much, though. And there were plenty of spare clothes in the other rooms, most of it either a bit too big, oversized, or laughably small--as if there had been people here some time ago. But there were no wrinkles on the blankets, no footprints in dust, no personal belongings. The only shoes by the door were theirs.
For now, Kaede didn't put much thought in it. It wasn't the first time she'd...borrowed, belongings from those who wouldn't be needing them. These clothes were clean and dry, and she found a decent comb to use for her hair. When she returned to the living room, a quilt was bundled around her shoulders too; she still felt a bit cold, though the blush of pink on her nose and cheekbones remained.]
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The brush of her hand to his collar only makes him even more stunned into silence, and then she's gone, leaving him standing there frozen for a long moment before he's finally able to remember how to breathe. He clasps one hand to his chest, eyelashes fluttering โ it surprised him, but not in a bad way, not at all, no, if anything it was really nice. ...Really, really nice. Little gestures like that from Kaede are rare and meaningful and it's the first time she's ever touched his mouth like that.
Migi pipes up about how he needs to try and slow his heart rate again, but Shinichi ignores the alien's voice coming from his palm, letting himself drift through waves of pleasant dizziness before he finally moves too, heading to one of the many rooms he knows has clothing in them. His own aren't too bad off, so he just finds a fresh pair of socks to put on that aren't cold and wet from the outdoors, and a fresh sweater, thick and warm. He's finished changing pretty quickly, so he's soon enough going ahead and poking through the expansive kitchen to locate the things he'll need to fix some hot chocolate for them.
The vastly open floor plan means that he can see Kaede returning, and he does a sort of stupid double-take as she does. .....It's certainly not the first time the boy's thought about how cute she looks, but seeing her bundled up all cosy in warm clothes and a quilt makes his heart do those stupid flip-floppy things all over again. (He's also still definitely reeling from one (1) simple finger to his lips.) )
I've uh, just started getting everything out for some hot chocolate. ( He says, stating the obvious as he's holding up a little carton of milk he'd found in the fridge. Weirdly, the exact ingredients he needs are all here, right down to a little bag of plushy white confectioneries that he holds up to show her with a shy smile. )
Do you want marshmallows with yours?
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Yeah. That'd be nice.
[There were many times in her existence when Kaede wondered what life on the other side of the door was like, in that world of bright things where people could laugh and smile so easily.
She didn't need to wonder, here. Not so much. It was a little thing, what Shinichi was doing. But it was a little thing for her, and it already felt like the warmth in her chest was excitedly bouncing around in there.]
Did you need anything?
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Maybe... she really doesn't think he's that weird, or scary? Of course, he has no reason to believe she does, she's seen Migi plenty of times, interacted with him, she doesn't seem scared of the parasite at all. No, it's not that so much as.... Well.... Would that change for her if Shinichi wanted to hold her hand in a way that went beyond desperation, or in the heat of the moment? Would she think it's weird for someone like him to like her? Is... is that even what he feels? He thinks so, thinks he recognises the hitch of warm nerves in his chest; he's had crushes before, but this is new and different and very much its own thing. He and Kaede have grown into one another like tree roots, become tangled up in each other out of necessity in Deerington and then here, too. They're all each other has; of course they have to rely on each other.
But that's not the only reason why. He'd choose her to be trapped with over anyone else. She'sโ his partner, his friend, his family in a way. And something else, too, something that makes him so dumb and nervous when she gets close, bundled up in her quilt and looking at him. He gets back to preparing the hot chocolate, the saucepan of milk starting to heat up, but it's with another nervous swallow, hands not so steady. )
N-no, I think I have everything I need here.
( That's what she means by asking, right? If he has all the ingredients he needs? Why is there a little voice in his head suddenly thinking of another reply? โ "I need to hold your hand again" โ shut up, shut up. )
Oh, actuallyโ if you don't mind looking to see if there's any cinnamon? We can put it on top, make it really fancy.
( The kitchen has a vast array of cabinets; surely there's at least one dedicated to spices... )
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Oh? Are you spoiling me?
[She doesn't laugh, at him or the request. But that light thing in her chest was in her voice, too, and an almost-smile curved her mouth before she turned to look where Shinichi asked, without question.
And, because she was still rather short and this seemed quite reasonable, Kaede clambered up onto the empty countertop to get to the top shelves. She was wearing socks! It wasn't near where Shinichi was working or in the way. It was fine.
There also was cinnamon up here.]
Found some.
[The horned girl grabbed the little bottle; a vector carried it down while she rummaged a bit with her physical hands. Some other spices, fancy glasses--but actual glass ones with no handles, most likely not for chocolate. Shinichi would probably appreciate not having to hold hot glass.]