[ oh, the forehead poke makes him reflexively squint both of his eyes shut. they flutter back open after a second, full of their usual warmth. i'll grab it and find it and take it for myself, if i have to. if it's real.
as she keeps talking, some of that warmth shifts over into worry. he really is a good listener - it's one of his better traits, and he mulls over what iris says, thoughts sort of absently repeating some of the details about this strange person, before he puts his finger and thumb on his chin, thinking. ]
...Well... if it was me, I'd say it probably matters a lot, that you're trying. That's always important. [ no matter what, you have to try. even when shit is horrible, you have to try. that's been something he's kept close to his chest his entire life. ] I think I can be pretty bullheaded about shit, too. It's not something that goes away easy, and it definitely gets me in trouble.
[ that and his temper - but those two things definitely go hand in hand. ]
But, yeah. He'd probably be an ass, if he didn't. [ his nose wrinkles, a little. She's pretty nice. He better listen or I'll throw hands. ] How'd he save you? By pushing you?
how he makes her heart ache and fond at the same time is beyond her. she sits with him on this blanket outside their home, in the last remains of daylight with the setting sun, and when she looks at him it is with a gentle amusement and an overwhelming adoration. he doesn't even know and yet -
You are so easy to adore.
and hasn't that been the source of all their problems? where all their problems, and all their hope sand dreams align. like two puzzle pieces that picked an awful time to be put together.]
... by being himself, mostly.
[Never needed to be more, or different.]
And by staying.
I'm a pretty determined person, you know. I can survive anything, I think - as long as he doesn't leave.
[ with those thoughts, with the words that come out of her mouth? it really is pretty shoujo. his smile's pretty genuine - he doesn't really know anything about love, or anything like that, but it's always a nice thing to see. other people's stories have always been a comfort to him.
he's sure gonna have a lot to deal with when his memories come back! that's fine. ] It's... it's good to rely on other people, even if you're strong, you know? It's gotta be. Nice to find strength in others to make yours better.
[ . . . she pauses at that, though she recovers fast.]
... I'm very fond of him, but it's become more complicated than I'd like. I don't know if I want to talk about it though.
[There is an art to pushing one's luck.
even if she doesn't mind chatting with him like this, passing on messages that she wants him to have sooner rather than later, she doesn't think that they should get into the nitty gritty of everything. it would be too cruel, when he doesn't realize what they're talking about him.]
... I've always found that to be scary, though. I'm not used to having people to rely on - not like that. I think it's one of those things I'm actually not very good at... and it was hard to think I could get better.
But... I'm trying not to be so frightened that I stay still, anymore.
[ he just thinks oof and winces a little sympathetically. sorry, iris... sounds complicated, yeah.
but, ichiro is oblivious to the fact this is about him, so he is clearly more than happy to move on as iris is comfortable? (he would be more than happy to move on normally, probably, too, but that is besides the point.) ]
That's good. Gotta try and struggle forward, right? Trying is always better. [ a beat. ] It probably doesn't mean much coming from me since we just met, but I'm proud of you for doing something like that.
[the thought and wince manage to get her to laugh actually.... yeah. yeah! sometimes that is exactly why you try to stop things from getting complicated but -
sometimes it happens anyway, despite all attempts.]
[there is just a brief, slightly tired we can't keep doing this before she smiles. they cannot keep falling into this cycle with each other - even if it's almost funny how easy it is for them to.]
I hope you'll continue to say that.
[a beat]
I'm feeling a little hungry. Do you want to make snacks with me? I've been trying out some Italian recipes lately.
[ that thought just gets projected back is a ??? because he has absolutely no idea what that means. doing what, hanging out? they just met? (it does stir something in the back of his head - something not quite anxious, but like something pacing.) he’s not sure why he wouldn’t continue to say so.
...he ignores it for now, though, and offers her a smile. ] Oh, sure! I can cook an Italian dish or two. [ it immediately conjures the image of a plate of pescatore he made - though, he couldn’t tell you why. later, maybe, he’ll remember it’s saburo’s favorite. ] Long as you can handle the mincing. [ as he wiggles his still pretty fucked up fingers. no motion for you. ]
[she automatically reaching out for his fingers with her own - though it's mostly just so she can get a good look at them and how they're healing. there's a huff.]
You're impossible... Of course I'll handle the mincing - you need to be careful.
[but she'll pull her hand away quickly after, nodding as she moves to her feet]
I was trying my hand at semifreddo and cannoli... ["they both really like Italian flavors" echoes in her head briefly - ] So let's make dinner and dessert?
[ well, he doesn't mind. he lets her take his hand if she wants! it seems his range of motion is still well and truly fucked on his right side. sometimes bad things happen when you almost lose your arm. ]
I am, I am. Learning how to do things with my left hand and everything. [ its been a little weird, but he's better at it than expected, at least? and the pain isn't really bothering him as much anymore. he'd rather not use a heal on himself, especially with people coming back mauled every week.
the thought - he's not sure who they both are, but he returns the smile and starts to get up, too, pushing himself up to his feet and brushing himself off. ] Dinner and dessert. Sounds like a plan.
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as she keeps talking, some of that warmth shifts over into worry. he really is a good listener - it's one of his better traits, and he mulls over what iris says, thoughts sort of absently repeating some of the details about this strange person, before he puts his finger and thumb on his chin, thinking. ]
...Well... if it was me, I'd say it probably matters a lot, that you're trying. That's always important. [ no matter what, you have to try. even when shit is horrible, you have to try. that's been something he's kept close to his chest his entire life. ] I think I can be pretty bullheaded about shit, too. It's not something that goes away easy, and it definitely gets me in trouble.
[ that and his temper - but those two things definitely go hand in hand. ]
But, yeah. He'd probably be an ass, if he didn't. [ his nose wrinkles, a little. She's pretty nice. He better listen or I'll throw hands. ] How'd he save you? By pushing you?
no subject
how he makes her heart ache and fond at the same time is beyond her. she sits with him on this blanket outside their home, in the last remains of daylight with the setting sun, and when she looks at him it is with a gentle amusement and an overwhelming adoration. he doesn't even know and yet -
You are so easy to adore.
and hasn't that been the source of all their problems? where all their problems, and all their hope sand dreams align. like two puzzle pieces that picked an awful time to be put together.]
... by being himself, mostly.
[Never needed to be more, or different.]
And by staying.
I'm a pretty determined person, you know. I can survive anything, I think - as long as he doesn't leave.
I'm starting to believe maybe he won't.
no subject
Sounds like you really like the guy.
[ with those thoughts, with the words that come out of her mouth? it really is pretty shoujo. his smile's pretty genuine - he doesn't really know anything about love, or anything like that, but it's always a nice thing to see. other people's stories have always been a comfort to him.
he's sure gonna have a lot to deal with when his memories come back! that's fine. ] It's... it's good to rely on other people, even if you're strong, you know? It's gotta be. Nice to find strength in others to make yours better.
[ he wouldn't know, but... he can only imagine. ]
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... I'm very fond of him, but it's become more complicated than I'd like. I don't know if I want to talk about it though.
[There is an art to pushing one's luck.
even if she doesn't mind chatting with him like this, passing on messages that she wants him to have sooner rather than later, she doesn't think that they should get into the nitty gritty of everything. it would be too cruel, when he doesn't realize what they're talking about him.]
... I've always found that to be scary, though. I'm not used to having people to rely on - not like that. I think it's one of those things I'm actually not very good at... and it was hard to think I could get better.
But... I'm trying not to be so frightened that I stay still, anymore.
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but, ichiro is oblivious to the fact this is about him, so he is clearly more than happy to move on as iris is comfortable? (he would be more than happy to move on normally, probably, too, but that is besides the point.) ]
That's good. Gotta try and struggle forward, right? Trying is always better. [ a beat. ] It probably doesn't mean much coming from me since we just met, but I'm proud of you for doing something like that.
[ cause... he gets that. what it means to try. ]
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sometimes it happens anyway, despite all attempts.]
... it means more than you think.
Hearing it from you makes me very happy.
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...'m glad, then. [ flustered. ] I'm rooting for you, okay?
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I hope you'll continue to say that.
[a beat]
I'm feeling a little hungry. Do you want to make snacks with me? I've been trying out some Italian recipes lately.
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...he ignores it for now, though, and offers her a smile. ] Oh, sure! I can cook an Italian dish or two. [ it immediately conjures the image of a plate of pescatore he made - though, he couldn’t tell you why. later, maybe, he’ll remember it’s saburo’s favorite. ] Long as you can handle the mincing. [ as he wiggles his still pretty fucked up fingers. no motion for you. ]
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You're impossible... Of course I'll handle the mincing - you need to be careful.
[but she'll pull her hand away quickly after, nodding as she moves to her feet]
I was trying my hand at semifreddo and cannoli... ["they both really like Italian flavors" echoes in her head briefly - ] So let's make dinner and dessert?
no subject
I am, I am. Learning how to do things with my left hand and everything. [ its been a little weird, but he's better at it than expected, at least? and the pain isn't really bothering him as much anymore. he'd rather not use a heal on himself, especially with people coming back mauled every week.
the thought - he's not sure who they both are, but he returns the smile and starts to get up, too, pushing himself up to his feet and brushing himself off. ] Dinner and dessert. Sounds like a plan.