[n_ll]

　
　
more krakenboxer shenanigans feat. nariko

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[n_ll]

It'll be our own "Beauty and the Beast" story.

[He leaves a few kisses where he mock-bit! But then he relaxes beside her, letting out a relaxed sigh, giving her a sobered sentiment:]

This is the best I've felt in a long time, Nariko.

[gunslingerqueen]

More like Beauty and the Handsome, mister.

[She's starting to catch onto the little hints of self-deprecation, but it's fine. He can tear himself down all he wants, she'll just keep trying to build him up over and over again. It's a sober thought in and of itself, but what he says outweights her sentiment entirely.]

I know what you mean, turns out you're an amazing date.

[And smart, funny, kind, and sexy. It's an unfair combination.]

[n_ll]

Not any better than you, Nariko.

[Jury's out on how much he takes that self-depreciation to heart, but the important part is that he is genuinely happy to be with her right now.]

Was there anything else you wanted to show me...?

[gunslingerqueen]

No, I'm afraid you've seen everything that the tour has to offer.

[She gives into the need for one more kiss, just a little little peck that lands on one corner of his lips.] So I guess that means you're taking me back home again!

[He's really got a thing about bringing in the wayward, single strays.]

[n_ll]

Awesome. Maybe I'll even treat you to some food when we get back, too.

[Enjoy the view of him crawling back into his wheelchair! He's pretty skilled at it by now, hoisting his bulk from one place to another with his upper body more than anything else.

Strays always make the best companions!]

[gunslingerqueen]

Well, there is that saying 'keeping feeding them and they'll always come back'.

[No wonder he has some epic upper body strength, he pretty much needs it to be that smooth about getting in and out of it. She gets up with him, and lets her hand grace over his shoulder as she goes back into her room.] Not that you were in danger of getting rid of me.

Just let me get a few things.

[A change of clothes, her toothbrush and deodorant, stuff like that. It won't be anything more than a little travel bag to suit the overnight stay!]

[n_ll]

[That and he uses it a lot just to swim! His tentacles work too—in fact it’s an exercise he gets his whole body involved in, it’s the only way to swim as fast as he does.]

No problem. I’ll be in the hallway.

[He’s gonna get a head start with getting out of her tiny doorframe while she packs. At least it’s a small bag and not, like, a suitcase. It still weirds him out that he can navigate her apartment just fine despite the door situation…still, it’s no less convenient as some other stuff he has to put up with. When she comes out to join him, he asks:]

Want to take the late train out to Bayside? It’s a gorgeous trip.

[gunslingerqueen]

[She's just visiting for the night, not moving in! In truth a lot of the space is taken up by her computer, the rest is an extra pair of clothes and her travel size bathroom stuff. Which means that by the time Boxer is out in the hallway she's done and pulling out her key to lock the door before they go!]

Sure. Try not to judge me too much but I've maybe taken the train once in all the years I've lived here.

[You'd think she would have tried it out of curiosity if nothing else!]

[n_ll]

Only once?

[Hmm. Disconcerting.]

Do you not have a rail pass?

[gunslingerqueen]

Nope.

[But that's not the worst thing in the world, right? She'll just have to buy entry for a single ride! The station is still a little ways off from her place, though, so she goes ahead and starts wheeling them to the elevator, and eventually out of her building as a whole.]

[n_ll]

That's fine. We can scan mine twice.

[He hopes. Boxer pulls in his tentacles for the ride, letting out a content sigh as they come back to the open air.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[The guy is made for being outside, isn't he? Then again her apartment and the elevator probably felt terribly cramped anyway.] I wouldn't be able to buy one for a day or something?

[She is so ignorant to this whole process.]

[n_ll]

[He's been in worse places.]

They're a third of the price a year pass is!

[He knows she can afford it, but it's just not the frugal choice!]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Boxer ...]

I think I can live with it, since I don't like riding trains alone, and no one wants to come with me on one.

[Is he frugal. Because that was a sign of a frugal man. But she'll refrain from judgement for now.] Besides, you don't know if they'll let you scan your pass twice, and I'd rather pay the money than accidentally mess up yours.

[n_ll]

Suit yourself.

[He scratches at his neck a little, embarrassed.]

I just feel like I owe you for...giving me such a wonderful night.

[gunslingerqueen]

[Boxer!]

You don't owe me anything, especially because we've been sharing the wonderful night.

[She leans down to kiss his cheek.] It's natural chemistry.

[That's not something to be repaid one way or another.] But I always accept kisses, hugs, and food for just about anything. In that order.

[Ideally he wouldn't weigh himself down with all that thinking but it's not her place nor within her abilities to change him in any meaningful way.]

[n_ll]

Well, I've already given you plenty of kisses. I can catch up on hugs on the train. Food, I've already got planned.

[He used to live "on the streets", Nariko. He got in the habit of paying people back, because it strengthened the bonds that got him to where he is today.

Nonetheless, they make it to the train station. Since it's a late train, it's mostly deserted and who is there looks like a bunch of students who pulled off three all-nighters too many and drunks. The exchange with the teller goes quickly enough, because Boxer actually seems kind of antsy to get to a particular place on the shuttle.

The best handicap section.]

Yes.

[He gestures at her to come closer and take a seat on his lap.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[See, it's just difficult for her to understand that when she's fallen into the habit of giving people what they ask for and having it end a little terribly.

When they get into the station she ... Takes a lot of quite deep breathes, which is easier to pull off since she's behind Boxer and she's anxious to get through the process of buying her day pass just because she kind of wants to get in the thing and make it move. Trains are pretty fast, so it won't be very long!

When they get inside, though she ... Actually hesitates a little.]

Is it really okay?

[Boxer's in a wheelchair, and most human individuals would go ahead and say that's a valid enough reason to use the handicap section. But Nariko's perfectly capable of standing up on her own so - isn't that kind of abusing the section? Not that she can't be convinced into it easily enough, she's just an annoying, straight laced citizen.]

[n_ll]

You paid for a seat. That doesn't mean you have to use it.

[If you get what he means.]

No one's gonna mess with a lady sitting on a kraken's lap, Nariko. Best seat in the house. C'mon.

[Pat, pat, pat.]

[gunslingerqueen]

[Isn't this illegal or something ...

She looks around, sees how few people there are, and decides to go for it. She cozies up on his lap rather quickly, in part because the movement of the thing is starting to get to her. If she dies in a sardine can it's going to be the fault of whoever invented trains. At least she and her little takeaway bag can curl up on Boxer.

It's fine, she knows it's fine! Logically, this train is used everyday! But she's going to hold Boxer's hand anyway.]

Is it always this empty at night?

[n_ll]

[Eventually Nariko will come to learn that Boxer likes to selectively bend the rules to have a little bit of fun.

As she curls up on him, he cuddles her tight to his chest. He wishes he had one of his blankets to make her into even more of a kraken-burrito, but she'll have to do with just his arms.]

Yeah. This and the early bird train are the emptiest shuttles. There's a lull after the lunch rush, but it's hard to catch. This time is by far the best.

[He points out of the window as some large, light-dotted buildings pass by in the relative distance. There's a park they go by that is brilliantly lit up by dancing lights along the pond.]

Look, look...

[gunslingerqueen]

[This is a good indication. And his arms are a perfectly suitable for cuddling, who needs a blanket? ]

Wow!

[So ignoring that they're suspended midair in a little box on rails this is really beautiful!] Oh, it's so beautiful! This might be better than standing up at the top of the new rec building!

[In all her excitement she leans forward a bit as if it might bring the whole landscape closer, and not just shift her perspective a little.]

Now I see why you wanted to take it.

[n_ll]

Nah. You can't compare them.

[He plays with her fingers idly as they drive along.]

Every perspective should be cherished, don't you think? If every view in New Cloudbank was the same, well...it wouldn't be New Cloudbank, would it?

[gunslingerqueen]

There's nothing about New Cloudbank that's the same from any angle.

[Literally! The buildings were all at crazy heights and of varying designs ... You probably couldn't find a single building that was exactly like another in this place, even the apartment buildings generally had specific quirks, reliant on which districts they were in!]

You're right, though, that's part of it's beauty.

[But there was something extra special at getting over a little fear of hers to see this view, so she could cherish it all but this still might get a little more love.]

And to think there are people who see this every morning.

[n_ll]

And they don't even notice.

[He plops a little kiss in her hairline as it goes by. Even though she's sitting on his lap, he's still taller than her...]

I'm so glad I found someone that enjoys the city skyline as much as I do.

[Sure, there are plenty of citizens that remark on how beautiful their city is, but do any of them stop to really take it in? Of course there are people who see it every morning--but do they really see it?]