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[He feels bad about it, too. Which is why, despite his hunger, he puts the pizza away in the oven to stay warm while she bathes, because he's not going to eat without her. Instead, he picks up an extra towel for her hair and her aforementioned pajamas--figuring she's going to stay the night--and leaves them on a plastic tray just outside of the bathroom door for her to pick up at her leisure.

When he does, though, he peeks his head in.]

Want me to mix a drink for you?

[She should be pretty familiar with what he keeps in inventory by now!]

[Frankly the privacy does her good - it keeps her from snapping at him for reasons that aren't his fault, it gives her time to decompress a little. It's a strange thing, to need to be near him without immediately talking, to be comforted by his presence without the physicality that often goes with it. Maybe it's actually a good thing and she'll put better words to it later on, but when he sticks his head the smile she gives him is far more genuine. It might also look a bit funny since she's got her sudsy fingers in her hair.]

I think I'm supposed to be taking care of you. [Not the other way around. But, still.] Vodka hiding in the form of a White Russian?

[Hell she might just drink the whole bottle of vodka and leave it at that.]

[Boxer kinda gets the feeling that he shouldn't impose on her right now. He couldn't articulate why, specifically, just a feeling in his gut.]

Coming right up.

[And with that, he leaves her alone to process, whatever that might actually entail. Funny or not, he's not laughing.

He has a heavy hand, after all, and not just in a literal sense; he mixes just the right drink for her in a tall glass, and he keeps it by his bottle of rum next to the couch for her to pick up when she wants it.]

[When she's pretty damn positive that the entirety of the smell is off of her body and hair she turns the water off and ... The sight of her pajamas and the extra towel is nice. She has a really nice boyfriend. Given another few minutes Nariko comes back, and though she doesn't want to be she's a little cautious about stepping near him.]

Better?

[She washed six times as opposed to the usual three, it has to be gone.]

[He leans in and gives her a sniff sniff sniff. All she smells like is shampoo and conditioner now!]

Yeah. You smell great.

[He holds out his hands, gesturing for a hug.]

Thanks, Nariko. It means a lot that you'd do that for me.

[... She really wants that hug so before anything else she goes right into his arms, more than happy to sidle right up onto him now that there's no breathing hazard. If he lets her she'll practically curl herself up on him.]

You don't have to thank me, I kind of want you to breathe! Turns out I really like your voice, and your ability to live.

[She kisses the base of his neck.] I'm sorry, I got a little stupid about it, to be honest.

[And they both know that she did, so he won't do himself any favors pretending it isn't true.] It's just been a weird few days. [But it was more than that, really.] I wanted to be here for you. I know it probably wouldn't have mattered, they make you talk to five million people, the rooms are cramped, everyone's always buzzing around - I swear, there's nothing more mentally exhausting than a police station, or the ME's office. [Although that was more emotionally taxing than anything else.]

But I still wish I'd been here every time you got home. [Just so - just so that he wasn't alone. So she could magically take care of him somehow. This is almost the full extent of her mother henning but she's so tired and done with her own emotional smoke and mirrors that she doesn't care how it makes her look right now.]

[Curl away, Nariko. He'll reciprocate by blanketing her legs with his tentacles, supporting her back with a massive arm, wrapping it around her upper back and resting his hand against her thigh. With two free tentacles, he wheels the both of them back into the kitchen to fetch the flatbread while keeping her in his embrace.]

It's not that big of a mistake when you're willing to make up for it.

[He gives her a little kiss in her damp crown.]

You're here now, and that's what matters.

[And because of it, he already feels a lot better. Less lonely, less objectified in the sense that it felt like all he was really good for was regurgitating the same information over and over again.

He'll let go of his hug around her, but not the tentacles, as he pulls the flatbread from the oven and brings it to the kitchen table. She doesn't even have to get out of his lap, they can just cuddle and eat just like this.

He's not making it easy for an alternative, anyway.]

[For once she isn't particularly hungry, but she also can't remember the last time she ingested something that wasn't nicotine based or coffee, so even though looking at food gives her that weird nauseous feeling she gets a piece anyway. It's an incredible shame that she can't appreciate Jan's right now because it really is great.]

Can I stay here for a little while?

[It might be strange that she's asking at all, she's not above staying for a weekend or a night or two during the week, but there's something a little more resolute, definitive to the question.]

[Yeah, you should probably eat, Nariko. Just take it slowly, and don't touch your drink yet.]

As long as you don't mind me getting flatbread crumbs on your boobs.

[He, uh, missed the intent of her question, but it's hard to argue when he gives her a teasing little nudge in the temple with his nose.]

[That gets a snort out of her - and it quickly becomes a full blown laugh. It's not even that funny but she just needed to laugh, positivity is addicting when you haven't felt it in a little while.]

When have I ever minded that? [As long as she isn't in her work clothes or something fancy it's not really a problem! But he obviously didn't get her meaning, so she tries again, this time being a little more careful with her wording.]

I mean, for a while. Like. A week. [And then a little quieter, and also around her food:] Or two.

[Her laugh gets a big smile on his face at least!]

Oh! Sure, sure. The boob crumb clause is still in effect, though. Everything okay over at your place, or do you just feel like spending more time with li'l old me?

[Oh yeah. He feels a lot better now that she's around.]

[It's a weird moment to want to tell him everything from beginning to end, but she does. The words crawl up in her throat like a physical thing but this isn't the right moment. She can tell him later. ... Never mind that she's been telling herself that for months now.]

I think I'd just feel better if I was with you for now.

[And that's not a weird or off kilter response at all.] Not that I don't always want to spend more time with you, but still!

[She leans back to kiss him somewhere or another, it's a very wayward sort of kiss that is full of love.]

More than fine by me.

[It'll do them both good.]

You've got all your daily stuff set up, right?

[He means things like toothbrush, toothpaste, whatever products she wants, etc. He can't really kiss her back from this angle without choking on his food, but he gives her a gentle all-around squeeze with his tentacles. Tentahug!]

[Tentahugs are second best hugs, and also incredibly perfect and appropriately comforting for the moment. She rubs a tentacle or two, just because she's never gotten tired of occasionally showing that whole part of him affection.]

There's some stuff I'd have to grab, but I can do that tomorrow on my way back.

[She still has to go to work, but at the rate she's going Nariko might call in for the first time in years. At least her appetite seems to be returning, that's always a good sign.]

[The end of a tentacle digs its way out of the mass to seek out her rubbing hand, affectionately wrapping around her wrist and giving her tiny sucker-kisses.]

Sounds good.

[And she's commuted to work from his place before, so she knows what she's in for in regards to that. Does she drive or use public transportation? Because he might have to straighten out her parking situation.]

[Man, she loves these lil' boxers and who knows why, they just seem to have a mind of their own in a strangely real sense, so maybe they're kind of endearing as a result. That, or she's just self-absorbed enough to adore any kind of positive reception, no matter the source. ... It's probably both. The one around her wrist gets a few kisses, though, before she strokes it kind of idly.]

It's not with me right now, but do they have guest parking here?

[Since he's farther away from her job she doesn't want to rely on the bus so she's gonna need it. She moves onto her second piece of flatbread pretty excitedly - yeah, she's in a way better mood now.]

They have guest parking, but since you want to stay longer than twenty-four hours, you'll want a long-term parking pass. Just have to fill out some paperwork for you.

[He turns his head and unravels a tentacle from her to reach across the kitchen and pull open a drawer, rifling through it a little before pulling out a notepad and a pen. Boxer brings it back and "hands" them out to her.]

I'll need the number and make-model of your car.

[He's so glad to see her feeling a little bit better. They really do feed off of each other, don't they?]

The complications of apartment living. If it costs anything just let me know, okay?

[But she isn't really upset about it, and she holds her last bite of flatbread in her mouth while she writes, she's got all the details memorized anyway, so might as well get it over with.] I almost feel like this is a step beneath buying a dog.

[It's kind of an idle joke to make as she hands the pad and pen back, and then shifts a little to sit sideways, that makes it a lot easier to kiss him.] You do realize that as soon as you're done, we're putting that couch to use and laying on it, right?

Pfft. It's, like, two bucks. Covers printing the damn thing, probably.

[He stares at the notepad for a second when he takes it back from her, trying to decide where he wants to keep it so he'll remember where it is. In the end, though, he just places it on the kitchen table. Good enough place as any.]

I do like dogs. [Don't even suggest it, Nariko.

He starts on his third piece of flatbread.]

Oh, that's good. I was starting to think the only reason I bought that couch was to have sex on it. [Not...really.] You wanna watch or play anything?

I'll give you two dollars worth of kisses on top of the usual, then! [So basically she has a conveniently thin excuse to her usual, affectionate self. And ... Huh, she's not entirely sure why but she kind of thought he might not like having a pet all that much, so it's a surprise to hear. But they're both incredibly busy and don't have time for something like that sooo, yeah! Not going to happen even if she'd really love to have one.]

Look, to be fair that's still a magic sex couch, let's not rule that out entirely. [She'll never get over how big it is, if she sits on it by herself she'd probably get lost in the thing!]

You were playing something when I got here, right? Don't let me interrupt you.

[He seemed like he was having fun, and while she doesn't enjoy video games too much she's perfectly fine with watching and enjoying her drink.

She might actually get around to talking about something important, too, once they're both moderately relaxed.]

Ah, jeez. How many is that? What's the going rate for kisses these days?

[He has pets! His fish are pets!

He has another slice of Jan's--it'll probably be a while until they make it to the couch, given how much he eats and the rate at which he eats it. But he's super comfy for her, a big muscle and tentacle seat that she has plenty of room to stretch out.]

Yeah, just--an older Legend of Zaida game that I never got around to beating...

[He's no professional gamer but if she really doesn't mind watching...]

Three small ones to last no longer than eight seconds, and one big one that either includes tongue or a full minute.

[At least she's specific. And he is very, very comfy, pretty much always has been.] I never imagined you were the gaming type.

[She hums a little pleasantly and tucks her head under his chin, carefully though, she's got a much better understanding of his sensitive anatomy and all that.] Hey.

[There's no easy way to get into it.] You're really great, you know that?

[Because he is.] I don't think I've known anyone who can cheer me up so damn easily, just by existing.

Man. Inflation's been rough on the kissing industry.

[Very specific.]

I...happen to play games every so often. Does that make me a 'type'?

[Is this a good thing or a bad thi---oh, apparently it's a good thing. In response to her display of affection, his tentacles squeeze her legs gently. Boxer's all smiles.]

And here I thought you were here to cheer me up! [He leans in and gives her a few kisses in her hairline.]

Is there something you want to talk about?

[She laughs, but it's a little thin.]

That's the thing, I am supposed to be here cheering you up.

[So, yes, she does. But it feels incredibly selfish to get into right now, and this isn't a quiet way of asking for validation to talk about it anyway. Boxer's got enough on his plate.]

Come on.

[He gives her a gentle, affectionate nudge.]

Out with it. Didn't get you pregnant, did I?

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