uhmani | TDM #2

Throughout the main hub where everyone congregates, a light chiming echoes through the first floor. "Hello, everyone," comes the synthetic voice from when you first arrived. "Based on feedback from current inhabitants, I was able to gather that the drinks at the bar were awful. Also, based on data so far it seems the desire for alcohol correlates to a person's stress levels! Hopefully, making better drinks might help everyone relax."

At the bar on the first floor, a bartender is now assigned to mix drinks rather than The Peacekeeper themselves. The lacquer countertops have been dusted off so that the screens just beneath the surface can be better seen. Soon as someone sits down, the screen will light up and display a menu of featured drinks.

Unfortunately, due to a lack of resources, each person is only allowed one. That isn't to say you can't share, swap, or find other means to get a taste of a different drink though! Each one even comes with a complimentary slice of cake if you'd like.

While The Peacekeeper knows people are likely hesitant after incidents caused by the cake, part of this special offer is that an order of one of the drinks will come with a credit equivalent to a one-stamp reward. And, if you're lucky, the effects of the drink will get you even more stamps! Everyone wins! Especially you!

The featured drinks are as follows and come in alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties:

Firecracker

red

blue

speak a truth

red flames

risqué

blue flames

sadder admission

insecurity

anxiety

Sangria

stamina fruit

energy and libido

cocked

lessened refractory periods

Hot Buttered Rum

freezing cold

will

body heat

desperate

Mojito

make your mouth tingle

oral fixation

If you're feeling especially 'peaceful' after a piece of cake or two and worried about privacy, don't be! The bar's lounge has several secluded spots to hide away in. There are also rooms with beds on the first floor. So long as you don't mind the natural elements taking up some space along the sheets, they're free to use however you'd like. Though you might want to make sure to lock the door since it's doubtful you're the only one looking to get away for a little bit.

WHAT'S YOUR DTF STATUS?

If the party and its cake don't appeal to you, that's perfectly fine. This is the perfect time to configure your Digitized Technical Friend or your DTF status. A DTF is similar to a dæmon from His Dark Materials in that it is connected to and a reflection of a character's soul. These DTFs take shape accordingly and are projections similar to the NPCs. Think of them as your own personal Clippy except less annoying. Hopefully.

Once that's set-up, there are other locations of the main hub to investigate! You can still find an (off-key) instrument to play in the music lounge or check out the (algae-ridden) pool.

You can even visit The Peacekeeper themselves on the second floor. They're always happy to have visitors! They're also conveniently where you might place a complaint about that status of the main hub and its amenities.

WALKING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

Once the celebration has concluded, characters are encouraged to head out of the main hub to either explore the city or take a ride on the railway. It's time to truly begin your new reality! Whatever they choose, The Peacekeeper will explain to them that they are free to take up any housing they so wish. Most dwellings are at least habitable but it's likely that characters will want for more before long.

Especially considering the adjustments made to the weather paradigm recently. The Peacekeeper has been informed that it was far too warm for some of the residents. As a result, the temperature has dropped to appropriately align with winter months and the hours of sunlight have now shortened as a result. While the snow currently isn't more than light dusting now and again, that may be subject to change. (At least those pesky flowers from the Love Bugs appear to be dormant for now as a small blessing.)

In order to apologize for the inconvenient and sudden shift in atmosphere, everyone will get a cute new winter accessory to help acclimate to the chillier conditions. Enjoy the cozy new addition to your wardrobe! Or whatever excuse for a wardrobe you're beginning to assemble.

Additionally, candles will spawn throughout the main hub, houses that are inhabited, and pathways that people have been tracked as walking along often. Isn't that romantic and totally not just a convenient way to encourage one of the kinks of the month! Why would you think that?

If you'd like more lighting or even cozier clothes, simulation inhabitants are reminded that 'peaceful interactions' are very important! It might be a good idea to stick close to someone you know, for now, since even the smallest amounts of intimacy might see subtle changes occurring where they're staying. Perhaps that broken window is now fixed, the grime and dust seem a little less, or the floor doesn't creak quite as loud.

Larger changes, however, will only come after demonstrating the more powerful peaceful interactions. If you want new hardwood floors or a fresh coat of paint on the walls, you're going to have to demonstrate how well you 'get along' with others against them first.

FLY AWAY HOME

After The Creators reconfigured the peace parameters and dropped a Giant Bird on everyone in the simulation, The Peacekeeper has tried to come up with its own solution to keep the beast preoccupied. Although still highly aggressive and dangerous, if it has different prey to chase it might not be as much of an issue between spawn periods.

It takes about one week before The Peacekeeper announces its newest creation to Amani: Bunnerflies! These adorable flying creatures are friendly and uplift the moods of anyone they happen to hop or float by. Yet, they are still supposed to be prey for a Giant Bird and it didn't seem fair to leave them completely defenseless. As many of the simulation inhabitants are beginning to find out, appearances can be deeply deceiving.

As a result, their fur may be soft but the edges of their wings are sharp as razor blades. Careful you don't get caught in the path of one fluttering your way.

They also breathe fire! Thankfully, The Peacekeeper has made simulation inhabitants immune to the flames. Sort of. The only type of heat one will feel is that of passion. Whether that means starting a new project or an intense make-out session, it's up to the individual and how they decide to channel it!

SEXY STAMP CARD

If you're wondering about these 'peaceful interactions' that keep being mentioned or what the kinks of the month are for... Here's your answer! Upon arrival, all characters will receive a digital copy of their very own sexy stamp card.

Sexy Stamp Card

Issued by: The Peacekeeper

1 2 3 4 ♡

6 7 8 9 ♡

❤

<div style="width:100%;padding:10px 10px 0;font-family:garamond, georgia, serif;font-size:20px;font-style:italic;letter-spacing:2px;text-align:left;">Sexy Stamp Card</div>
<div style="width:100%;padding:0 10px 10px;">Issued by: The Peacekeeper</div>

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<div style="max-width:300px;width:100%;margin:-10px auto 0;text-align:right;font-size:10px;"><a title="code credit!" href="http://10billionghosts.dreamwidth.org" style="text-decoration:none;color:#eee;">❤</a></div>

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Completing peaceful interactions (i.e. kinks) will reward characters with stamps that they can turn in for re-gains and many other things! While the example one here is the standard issued card by The Peacekeeper, players are more than welcome to customize it how they see fit. Have fun with it! NOTES

★ The kinks of the month have changed! Be sure to check this post for what the new ones are. Also, give a congratulations to Niles (

cyclopticsadist) as the first person to place on the sexy leaderboard! 🎉

★ The effects of the drinks can be as heavy or light as you'd like! It can be chalked up to differences in alcohol tolerance, non-humanity or not, etc. etc. Also, they can mixed-and-matched! Have fun with that.

★ Have fun with the winter accessories! Pick whatever goofy thing you'd like your character to wear.

★ The flora and fauna page has been updated to include Bunnerflies and the flowers from the Love Bug event. While dormant right now, Spring is just around the corner! There won't be as many as there were during the event but enough that people will be able to play around with them as they see fit in the future.

★ Any questions can be asked right here!

NAVIGATION

F.A.Q. ★ RULES ★ CHARACTER CLAIM ★ LOCATIONS ★ MAIN NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ She's in the middle of fussing with the especially stubborn piano (she swears, it somehow gets re-broken when she leaves) in the music lounge when her DTF beeps. The dog lifts its head and its ears perk up. It gives a flutter of furry wings to lift up onto all four feet and walk over to where Rose is fiddling with some mechanism. ]

Rosie. [ There's a small, muffled 'uh-huh' due to holding a screwdriver between her teeth as she continues to laser focus on this stupid key but doesn't look at the dog DTF just yet. It tilts its head before sitting down and beginning to wag its tail across the dusty floor. ] Seteth has been uploaded to the simulation.

[ There's a loud clang of piano keys in absolute disharmony as the screwdriver drops from her mouth and she sharply inhales. She's up and moving before she even thinks better of it, but has to ask: ] Does he remember?

Unfortunately, I cannot say.

[ Right. Okay. Well, she needs to know either way. And isn't that something on its own that she's willing to face the possibility of being a stranger to another familiar face? Hoo boy. Actually, you know what, she needs a drink before this. Never mind that she's already had her allotted one and filched, like, three others people didn't want- It's fine. Everything's fine.

It's actually not fine because she doesn't even get the stiff drink she absolutely needed before spotting him near the bar and freezing in place. She can do this. She can do this. Okay, like, maybe she could sneak back out and get a drink when he moves on to somewhere else and then find him aga-

No. Ugh.

There are a million things she thinks to say when she finally steps up to greet him but all that actually comes out is a quiet: ] Hey.

[The creature is distracted from their conversation by her approach, tail batting him in the face as it clambers atop his head to peer at her curiously. Seteth brushes it aside, turning to see what's captured his new companion's attention. There's a momentary flicker of confusion, seeing Rosie like this--it's only been what, a day since he'd seen her last? What in the world had happened to her hair?

Far easier to think about something so frivolous, than the dark path his thoughts want to linger on.]

Rose? So you made it, too.....

[ She had wondered, admittedly, what might be worse: him never showing up at all or him not remembering. It would have been the latter, she thinks, thanks to the relief that crashes over her from the sound of her name with familiarity behind it. He remembers, he made it, he-

He's going to have to see her cry again, the blond notes, because it just kind of starts to happen. Stupid alcohol. ] Ah, jeez. Sorry, I just. I didn't think-

[ She shakes her head and tries to wipe away stray tears with the heel of her palm before taking a deep breath. She's torn between wanting to hug him - prove that he's actually here, almost - and knowing that would probably just set her off crying again.

Her hair is much shorter now, she's somehow thinner, and with clear dark circles under her eyes... She probably already looks worse for wear, doesn't she? But she tries to smile and speak lightly of everything rather than make things somehow worse for him. Let's try again. ]

I did. Way before you, too. Been here almost a month now, I think? And only Byleth... Only he's the same one from Erku that I know, so far. So, I- When Felix didn't remember, it- [ It terrified her that he wouldn't either. ] I'm just so glad it's you.

[She looks awful, haggard and miserable as though she's barely scraped by to make it to this place at all. Byleth had made it as well, but Felix--this Felix had come here straight from a Fodlan's destruction, not from the island.

He already feels sick and hollowed out, heavy and numb like the simulation's gravity has been turned up to untenable levels. It's hard to find the strength or energy to care, if he's completely honest with himself. That's just the way things are, isn't it? In strange places like these, it's never guaranteed that anyone will remain with you for any length of time. It's never guaranteed that they'll be the same person you know, or that they'll remember you and what you've been through together. The only guarantee is that you will lose them, sooner or later--through them vanishing from the place you're trapped in, or being put to sleep, or twisted into a monstrous shape, or being killed, or simply succumbing to age and illness.

Everyone leaves you eventually. Everything crumbles to dust and slips through your fingers in the end, no matter how hard you fight to protect it, no matter how many times you rebuild.

But that's not what she wants to hear right now, is it? She's relieved. This is a happy occasion, not just a reprieve to throw the relentless march of time into starker relief. He doesn't have his handkerchief with him to offer anymore; Seteth reaches out to brush Rosie's tears away instead. It's the right thing to do, yes?]

I am sorry to hear it. Forgive me if I worried you.

[ He had. She isn't going to pretend that she wasn't worried. Well- Not anymore, at least. Rose had tried to tell Byleth that she was fine, that it wasn't even the first time someone she cared about probably died while she was whisked away to another place without them so she should just be used to it by now. Her appearance speaks to the ways she wasn't alright though more than she actually could.

It was a hard thing to process despite herself. Guilt that she'd made it and he didn't, knowing he had so much more to live for and get back to than her. Fear that he wouldn't ever make it here or, worse, not remember. And now, she feels bad that she is relieved he's here since she's aware of what that means. Or, at least, what they've been told it does. Like many, she doesn't necessarily believe everything is gone. But being dead? Well- That wasn't anything new for her.

Yet it's selfish, isn't it, to be glad that he's here? She is, that isn't going to change but it feels so loaded and- Ugh. Maybe she should have gotten that other drink after all. ]

It really is you, [ she says, giving a hollow huff of a laugh. ] Apologizing for worrying me like you had any kind of say in it. I feel like I should be the one sorry, I mean... [ She stops short when his fingers brush against her cheek. The care behind the gesture, even now, makes her heart flutter in the strange way it had on the island those couple of times. Unfortunately, it only serves to twist her up that much more as she takes a shaky breath and tries not to undo the help in drying off her face by crying more. ]

I know this can't be easy, [ she finally finishes, leaning just slightly into that touch with a sigh before looking up to him again. ] But hey, I'm here. Byleth is. A lot of people from your world are, I think, even if they're not the same ones you knew. It's not a good situation by any means but... Silver linings, maybe?

It's a start.

[That's..... about all he can say, to be honest. It's better than nothing, realistically, no matter how much it still feels like nothing. Two people he knows for certain, at least. An unspecified handful of familiar people who are not quite strangers, but not quite comrades. All the rest, strangers, united only in tragedy. A simulated world for restless digital spirits, sheltering them from whatever desolate wasteland their AI caretaker's servers were somehow miraculously still functional in.

Silver linings. Better not to think about it. Seteth strokes Rosie's cheek instead, moving to tuck her hair behind her ear, and wonders if he can will himself to stop thinking at all.]

[ It's better than nothing. Both about the situation and him. Rose wishes she were better at this, but- She isn't. And besides that, it's harder still when she's obviously struggling herself.

The brush of hair behind her ear causes her to turn a cute shade of pink though. It's the last thing that should be on her mind, she knows, but his touch is a welcome warmth in the otherwise dark and cold simulated reality. Her own fingers flex as she has to fight the urge to hold his hand in place.

She does tilt her head just a little to be able to press a surprisingly chaste kiss to the inside of his wrist. Her hand goes up to lay atop his, too, but not to try and keep it there, just... The contact is nice. Doing weird things to her, but mostly nice.

What Rose really wants to do beyond the kids, in no actual specific order is: lick and suckle his fingers, kiss him on the lips for the taste of it, trail kisses down his body until she's taking his cock into the heat of her mouth and helping him to stop thinking about anything but her skilled tongue. ]

Mm, [ she hums, equal parts in enjoyment at the idea and acknowledgement for what he said. ] It is. [ Though thinking of warmth, ah- Right. ]

So, uh. I figure you probably have... better options for somewhere to stay longer term but it's been snowy here and after the fuckery in Erku, I. I'd just feel better, maybe, if you wanted to stick with me. Even if just for like a day or whatever. If not, I get it, I just thought it might be like... One less thing to worry about and all.

[It's..... nice, he supposes, still being able to do this. Sweet kisses, soft touches, a charming little blush. If nothing else, at least they have each other to cling to, in this dark hour--they all do, really, no matter what worlds they happen to be from, if they've met each other or not.

Even during such a sweet gesture as that, though..... Seteth can't help but wonder if this is like that simulated Tenebrae Town. He's never died before, after all. If this is a captured recording of his consciousness, their consciousnesses..... What's happened to the rest of them? Have their spirits moved on? What happens if they are somehow recreated, if the Peacekeeper and its creators' reconstruction plans somehow get underway? No sermon in the monastery could ever have prepared him to grapple with theological questions like this.]

I'm not certain what other prospects you imagine I have, but I would be glad to.

[He'd always lived on his own on the island, after all; it's difficult to break the habit of being a private person, even when there's no need to be. But in a place like this..... to be honest, it feels like it would be a relief to not be alone.]

[ It's more of a comfort than she was expecting herself. After so long of moving from place to place, then being stuck somewhere that felt like she didn't have much say or connection anyway outside of Charlie... It's nicer than she'd admit to have others that she knows - or doesn't - in the same situation and having to figure it all out.

But it's best not to go down the theological rabbit hole of what this life after death means right away. If it even is that, anyway. It's impossible to say for right now. He'd told her once about the capabilities of The Augur and she imagines The Peacekeeper is similar. From how little it appears to be able (or want) to actually answer beyond the routine 'you're dead' spiel, she has to wonder.

She almost says something like 'anything better than me' but, actually, how relieved she is that he agrees outweighs any self-depreciation. She actually gives something closest to a genuine smile yet. ] Alright, good- I'm glad, too. It's not much but, y'know, a lot of places here aren't yet.

And I can show you where Byleth lives on the way, maybe. I'm down at the beach but I hang out with him and the others sometimes. Everyone's fairly close by.

Of course. I had plenty of time to polish up my repair and construction skills on the island, before you arrived--I daresay if we can find tools and materials, I might be able to help make everyone's houses more habitable.

[Because of course that would be his first thought to spruce things up, actually fixing what's wrong with the buildings. Too bad Rosie hadn't been around to see him routinely working up a sweat, hmmm? Better to focus on the practical, than let his thoughts run away with him. Survival first, above all else.]

Hey, I'll take all the help I can get. [ Will she ever. She wouldn't mind being an audience to some good ol' fashioned and extremely sexy manual labor. ] I've done my best, but... It's not my area of expertise.

[ Honestly, that's why she'd been coming down to the main hub more since instrument repair she could do. And, hey, maybe getting some music going might liven spirits a bit. It isn't really much, but it's all she could think to do to try and help beyond hunting. ]

Byleth's been doing what he can with their place. Dimitri, too, but I guess he's not the one from Erku. Another guy is with them, real tall and serious and tan. [ She hasn't officially met him yet but she's seen him around while staying at the house. All she knows is that he seems to practically be Dimitri's shadow.

As she talks, she's taking his hand in hers like it's the natural thing to do and leading them presumably out and to where she's staying. ]

By all means. But tall, serious, and tan..... White-haired and only rarely speaks, as well?

[It's almost thoughtless, the way he twines their fingers together. This is how it should be, isn't it? Walking hand in hand with someone, rather than simply following or formally escorting them..... After all this time, it's just instinct, wanting to be so close. It feels right.]

That would be Dedue Molinaro, I presume. He serves as Dimitri's retainer, so you'll likely see more of him.

Dedue, huh? [ It strikes her again how they're all from the same original world. Different timelines, different memories, different- But there was still a commonality there she wasn't a part of.

It's why she didn't linger longer than she felt comfortable around Byleth and the others. He had needed her in Erku, but here? He said he did. It seems like he's fallen back into things as they should be though. She's happy for him, she is, but she worries still there won't be a place for her among them all in the end. ] I guess I will.

[ Best not to dwell on that though. She focuses instead on heading... Well, it wasn't necessarily 'home' but the closest thing to it here yet. A ride on the railway, a point to the lakehouse Byleth and company are staying at, a brief pause due to a stray bundle of bunnerflies, and then to where she's taken up residence in a little (faded) white cottage by the sea all while avoiding the worst patches of snow dusting the ground. ]

The candles are new, [ she notes, surprised they've generated all the way out here ] but this is it. [ Sparse and basic furniture, a kitchenette, and a bundle of cloths on the floor that her DTF immediately waltzes over to and plops down on. Her windows have been fixed so there isn't a draft but it's still decently cold. ] Not the best place I've ever brought someone back to, but also not the worst. It'd probably be a bit nicer if I'd been getting, y'know, 'peaceful' or however they want to put it here but- Had bigger things to worry about.

They are a nice touch, I must admit.

[It's a bit of a hike to make it out this far, isn't it? A fair bit more inconvenient than it would be by wyvern. In a normal, bustling city, that would make this a peaceful retreat--but the people milling about the station seemed..... odd, somehow. He doesn't actually think he saw a single one of them actually get on or off the train. Why were they there, if that's the case?

It's something to ponder more once they're back in Makmur proper, he supposes. Far better to focus on the quaint little cottage she brings him to. It's clearly seen better days, especially once they walk inside--but considering their circumstances, can he really complain? A little elbow grease, and it should be perfectly comfortable, "peace" or none.]

I doubt it will take too much effort to fix up. But has something happened, if you had larger worries than your living situation?

[ They didn't. From her understanding, they aren't... like them. Some of them look vaguely familiar but beyond that there isn't much to them. The Peacekeeper had said it hadn't wanted the simulation to not feel so empty and she didn't ask much beyond that. ]

Ah, just- [ Mm. It's complicated. That's not an actual answer, she knows, and so she searches for something that sounds better. She owes him that much. Hm. Hm. ]

"The Creators" decided to spice things up and drop a Giant Bird from your guys' world on us. Been dealing with that nonsense since it happened, really, and so home improvements took a second seat to all of it. Also- [ Also... ]

Byleth's got all his friends from home to be around, Felix didn't remember, and... [ 'You weren't here.' ] I've just been doing my own thing, mostly.

The Creators..... that would imply at least a few survivors.

[The thought turns his stomach, to be honest. People out there, trapped and alone in whatever Goddess-forsaken apocalyptic conditions had ended their own world, working on The Peacekeeper to save everyone..... It's not the first reaction he should have, is it? He should be angry that they would want to toy with the people they had rescued, should demand an explanation for this treatment. But..... In truth, it's hard not to sympathize with whatever their own plight must be, as well. Who knows why they're doing this? For all any of them know, these Creators may be trying to determine the best way to protect a budding new civilization from massive predators that had caught them all unawares and decimated the population.

They aren't here, though. Rosie is here with him, the only person he can help right now, no matter how ill-prepared he feels to do so. Seteth can only sigh and shake his head, squeezing Rosie's hand; for now, at least..... he doesn't want to let go. Not if nobody else had been there to support her in his absence.]

That's..... quite a lot to deal with all on your own. I'm sorry I couldn't be there to lend a hand.

[ Yeah, she isn't sure yet how to feel about these "Creators" or their strange, apparent tests of everyone's abilities to keep a 'peaceful' environment. ]

It's fine, [ she manages, at first, guiding him to at least sit down on her sad excuse for a couch for right now with her.

But was it fine? Is it? She hardly has anything to hide from Seteth anymore even if this kind of emotional vulnerability is still difficult. ] I mean, it's hardly the first time I've had to deal with a lot on my own. Nothing new.

And, again, you didn't have any say in it so don't be sorry. But I-

[ A lean against him both for comfort and to hide the way her eyes turn glassy. It's so difficult to admit but she knows she should, knows there's no real point in trying to deny it. ] I know it's selfish and awful of me, understanding what it means that you're here, but I still did miss you. A lot.

Edited 2022-02-24 09:41 (UTC)

Just because you can handle it on your own doesn't mean you should need to.

[The couch groans in protest under both their weights. It sounds about how he feels, to be honest--but even so, that doesn't stop his skepticism. Is it really fine, when she looks like she's barely eaten or slept in days? When she's leaning against him of her own accord? Sorry not sorry, she's getting ~~lectured~~ fussed over further.]

Furthermore, you do realize that the heart wants what it wants regardless of the context, yes? And that my absence could have meant that my data was entirely lost, just as easily as it could have meant I escaped these cataclysms?

[Even if they did consider it selfish in one light for some ridiculous reason, her wish could just as easily be construed as noble, given the other possibilities. This time, his grip on her hand tightens, rather than a simple squeeze. He's here, and insistent about that fact.]

There is nothing wrong with being lonely, Rose.

[ It's hard for her still to frame in that context. She had needed to for a long, long time because there was no one but her to rely on. Even with Charlie, well- She was probably on her own more than she wasn't, even at the best of times in their relationship. ]

Of course I do, I- [ She pauses in a futile attempt to will herself to not cry. ] That's exactly what I was scared of when you didn't show up, at first. [ And the guilt then was worse. Why her, and not him? She wasn't important, she wasn't anyone remarkable or necessary for these supposed eventual restoration efforts. ]

And then when Felix didn't remember, I was scared that meant you wouldn't either. And none of it you could control, just- [ She stops. Sniffles. Ugh, feelings suck. ]

It's been a while since I let myself care enough to be scared or lonely, I guess. He always- I was just always told it was better not to or that it was selfish to get attached. [ Protecting her from herself, he'd frame it. But was he really? Ugh. ]

You're right though. The heart wants what it does so I missed you anyway and I'm glad you're here with me even knowing what it could mean. And I- [ 'I don't want to be on my own anymore even if I can be' is what she wants to add but isn't quite able to just yet. At least, not aloud. ]

I can't believe I was supposed to be comforting you and here I am crying. [ Which is emphasized by a damp laugh of disbelief. Look, she had to try to add some levity. ]

.....Mmmnnn.

[If he lets himself speak just yet, all that would come out is extremely uncharitable, so Seteth cuts himself off before he can. This is hardly the time or the place to cut--what was his name, again? Charles?--to ribbons, not while she's still upset. Seteth simply reaches for Rose instead, too distracted to remember to actually ask. His grip may not be as strong or steady as usual, after needing to be reconstructed so completely, but it's still hardly a struggle to pull her into his lap and against his chest.]

There are times when caring may be dangerous or inconvenient, but that doesn't make it wrong.

[There's a difference between being backed into a corner and growing completely callous. Just because he'd spent centuries freezing people out of his own life doesn't mean it had been healthy, let alone noble--only necessary.]

[ While Rose couldn't blame him if he did, she'd be glad to know he refrained. It's not like there won't be ample opportunity to dunk on her awful ex-boyfriend/boss in the future eventually anyway. And isn't that something to worry about on its own, anyway? The future? There's a lot of things to worry about, but-

Oh. He wouldn't need to ask, really, but she admits she wasn't expecting to be pulled in so close without much warning. She wasn't expecting it but, hey, she's certainly not about to complain either. It's a welcome warmth, a comforting familiar scent she'd missed and she lets herself lean into the embrace to take it all in for a quiet moment. ]

Okay, [ she concedes, finally. She's stopped crying, at least, and even gives another little amused huff about... everything. ] Not wrong. I can at least try and keep thinking of it like that. [ A beat. ] But, honestly, look what caring has done to me. Cuddling! And I want to! [ A glance up at him, giving a smile despite herself. ] I never thought I'd see the day.

They do say seeing is believing. It seems you have no choice.

[In spite of it all, Seteth finally finds himself smiling, even as his chin tucks over Rosie's shoulder. It is absurd, isn't it? But if she's in a state to want to cuddle..... Well. Who is he to deny her? This whole wretched situation feels just a little more manageable now, holding her in his arms like this.]

Well, count yourself lucky, it's probably not something anyone else will get to see anytime soon.

[ If nothing else, she takes pride in getting a smile out of him after all. She still wants to be a reason for him to smile and, hey, so far so good. She'll have to actually tell him someday how handsome it makes him look.

For right now though? She is just happy to cuddle, to let her actions speak more than her words could. Rose lets out a small giggle at the brush of hair against her neck before giving a contented hum and nuzzling just a little into the touch. Animal instincts, okay, don't @ her. But after a moment, it comes to mind that: ]

As much as I don't want to move, the bed's probably more comfortable - and less likely to collapse - than this thing. [ But then the realization that, well, she only has one bed. And for once, she isn't actually trying to make a pass. It's just a fact. ] We'll have to share it but- Something tells me that won't be a problem.

I'm honored.

[He's only too happy to accept the nuzzle, to sink into the warmth and (far too slight) weight nestled against him. Still, she is right in her assessment; the poor couch is definitely sagging without their weight at least being distributed across it. His repairs are seldom pretty, but who's going to turn a couch over to check the bottom? Even just one or two boards to brace it and take some of the strain off would be better than nothing.

Even the lingering weakness doesn't do more than leave his hands shaking a bit, as he scoops Rosie up to stand; especially while she's in this condition, her weight hardly poses a problem.]

Luckily, you don't have to. As long as you don't mind sharing, I've no objections.

[ Honored. She can't help but smile just a touch wider at that comment.

They can worry about her weight (or lack thereof) and furniture repairs later. She actually is, at the moment, concerned about him suddenly hoisting her up but can only convey a small peep before clinging to him. ] How kind of you, [ she says, a laugh on her lips as she reaches up to press a kiss to his jawline. ]

Pft, me? You know I'll take any reason I can get to bring you to bed with me. [ She's teasing, in a way, since she does figure he probably needs rest more than anything. But it's hard not to be pretty into a tall, handsome guy literally carrying her to her bedroom. It's also the first time in a while her spirits have been high enough to truly tease, to consider anything but just literally sleeping together. ]

predictably, the alcoholic option.

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