[ Although Maika does exactly the opposite of her words, rolling onto her back again to look up at the underside of the bunk bed above them. She can practically still feel the warmth Aerith's smile on her skin like the sun bearing down on the steppes. ]
...No one's been using this bed since I've been here. If you don't want to go back to an empty room tonight, you might as well take it.
[ Would she just run herself in circles with her thoughts if she went back alone? Maika probably would. ]
[ For a moment, Aerith doesn't really know what to do with that, her pulse quickening. Feeling flustered is foreign to her, and that Maika looks away only serves to make her feel... unsure. She's well aware that she isn't the only one who feels that little spark, and she lets it settle between them for now, a slow burning ember that one of them will need to address at some point. ]
Is that an invitation to stay over?
[ Despite her teasing tone, she wears a soft smile. ]
I'll take you up on that offer, then. I think I'd feel better not being alone.
[ Maika had just been opening her mouth to offer to take Aerith's room instead — she didn't know Ushirono well, and she's slept in more haunted places — but that answer gets her to shut it again with a quiet huff.
Is she surprised that Aerith wants her to stay? She's not sure. She hasn't exactly been the comforting type for at least seven years. But sometimes, anyone is better than nothing. She can tell herself it makes sense like that. ]
Take it whenever you want it. It's not like the room is really mine in the first place.
[ Which is a roundabout way of saying Aerith is welcome here when she chooses, really. ]
Then I'll take it tonight, if you don't mind having a guest stay over.
[ She knows Maika wouldn't offer if she didn't mean it. After all, she's the sort of woman who is well aware of this being an intrusion on her space. Yet... Aerith can't help but reach out for that little extra bit of confirmation anyway. ]
[ Maika glances back over, half in surprise again. Maybe she's gotten a little too used to Kippa and Corvin just willfully interpreting right over the things she says with their own positive takes. As positive and resilient as she is, Aerith is a little more delicate, isn't she?
Maika's bad at delicate. But she takes her time trying to dig through her memories for the closest approximation. ]
...I don't mind— the company. It's been a while since I was alone with my thoughts for this long. Probably just a matter of time until I get too restless and set something on fire.
[ She can feel it, Maika's eyes on her, refusing to stray for one, two, three seconds too long. Aerith isn't oblivious—never has been—and she knows what gazes like that mean, the potential that they can hold. She feels particularly sensitive for a moment, like her nerves are firing simultaneously right underneath her skin and it makes her want to shiver.
All at once, she's aware of the atmosphere. The lack of space between them, the late hour, the soft and intimately revealing conversation. Her smile softens for a moment before she shifts to something closer to a grin, trying to ease over some of the tension.
It isn't lost on her, none of it is. That's especially the case as she shrugs off her jacket and lets it hit the floor before falling back against the mattress. ]
You're right about that. I don't think she needs another thing on her plate.
Although, who knows? Maybe one thing too many and she'd finally give up and drop all of it.
[ It's an offhand thought, the words chosen half at random. Her mind isn't on Mina or her predicament at all right now. Unfortunately.
Maybe it's the way Aerith meets her gaze, or the spark of knowing awareness in her eyes. Or maybe it's the little smile — the softness and openness, an inviting gentleness. Maika feels herself swallow, suddenly all too aware of the warmth of the room, the warmth of Aerith's body close to hers. And when Aerith starts shedding her outermost layer—
Well. Maika's complexion doesn't show a blush readily. But she's abruptly aware of it heating her skin, making her feel momentarily dizzy. A little too hurried to be casual, she pushes herself up and swings her legs off the bed. Time to retreat to the upper bunk, unless Aerith is looking for a lot more distraction to get the worries off her mind. And that feels — she's not sure about that. Like taking advantage of her lowered guard from the shock she'd gotten at the meeting, just at this moment. ]
[ The heaviness between them makes it hard for her to even comprehend what Maika says, as simple a statement as it is. Her thoughts are elsewhere entirely, quick-moving and uncertain. It really isn't a question of whether she wants to grab hold of whatever it is that hangs between them, but a matter of whether or not she should.
Despite her tendency to follow along with her own whims, Aerith knows when something could be a bad idea, when it could shift things irreversibly. And this moment, right here? There wouldn't be any going back.
So it's why she lets Maika go in what's an obvious hurry to scramble up to the top bunk. It's like there's air in the room again, cool and breathable even if her heart still races.
This... this is a feeling to look into another time, when she's had ample opportunity to think and her mind isn't a frenzied mess of jumbled thoughts and unearned grief. So, she shifts around, getting comfortable as she lays her head on the pillow. Getting under the sheets doesn't feel right, not at this moment. ]
[ Is she relieved that her escape was so effortless? Mostly... yes, she thinks. Maika rarely does things simply for show — not important things, anyway. This was the better choice. Better for Aerith, better for her. Better for not confounding whatever Aerith is feeling now with anything else.
Still. The quiet sigh she lets out is weighted with complications. She disguises it with the rustle of blankets as she burrows in, too warm but safely hidden again. ]
...Goodnight, little bird.
[ And she's going to fling her arm over her eyes and will herself to sleep, with the experience and determination of someone who's truly learned to get rest whenever and however she can. ]
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linknet2024-07-26 02:53 pm
no subject
[ Although Maika does exactly the opposite of her words, rolling onto her back again to look up at the underside of the bunk bed above them. She can practically still feel the warmth Aerith's smile on her skin like the sun bearing down on the steppes. ]
...No one's been using this bed since I've been here. If you don't want to go back to an empty room tonight, you might as well take it.
[ Would she just run herself in circles with her thoughts if she went back alone? Maika probably would. ]
no subject
Is that an invitation to stay over?
[ Despite her teasing tone, she wears a soft smile. ]
I'll take you up on that offer, then. I think I'd feel better not being alone.
no subject
Is she surprised that Aerith wants her to stay? She's not sure. She hasn't exactly been the comforting type for at least seven years. But sometimes, anyone is better than nothing. She can tell herself it makes sense like that. ]
Take it whenever you want it. It's not like the room is really mine in the first place.
[ Which is a roundabout way of saying Aerith is welcome here when she chooses, really. ]
no subject
[ She knows Maika wouldn't offer if she didn't mean it. After all, she's the sort of woman who is well aware of this being an intrusion on her space. Yet... Aerith can't help but reach out for that little extra bit of confirmation anyway. ]
no subject
Maika's bad at delicate. But she takes her time trying to dig through her memories for the closest approximation. ]
...I don't mind— the company. It's been a while since I was alone with my thoughts for this long. Probably just a matter of time until I get too restless and set something on fire.
no subject
Well, in that case... I better stay so you don't end up doing that.
[ Sure, it's a bit of a contrived reason, but she'll grab it and hold it close anyway. ]
no subject
She doesn't know how to say the right thing, ever. But it'd be nice to make Aerith smile like that again. ]
Good. The little priestess will probably thank you later.
[ Yep, that's the safe deflection. Do it for Mina. ]
no subject
All at once, she's aware of the atmosphere. The lack of space between them, the late hour, the soft and intimately revealing conversation. Her smile softens for a moment before she shifts to something closer to a grin, trying to ease over some of the tension.
It isn't lost on her, none of it is. That's especially the case as she shrugs off her jacket and lets it hit the floor before falling back against the mattress. ]
You're right about that. I don't think she needs another thing on her plate.
no subject
[ It's an offhand thought, the words chosen half at random. Her mind isn't on Mina or her predicament at all right now. Unfortunately.
Maybe it's the way Aerith meets her gaze, or the spark of knowing awareness in her eyes. Or maybe it's the little smile — the softness and openness, an inviting gentleness. Maika feels herself swallow, suddenly all too aware of the warmth of the room, the warmth of Aerith's body close to hers. And when Aerith starts shedding her outermost layer—
Well. Maika's complexion doesn't show a blush readily. But she's abruptly aware of it heating her skin, making her feel momentarily dizzy. A little too hurried to be casual, she pushes herself up and swings her legs off the bed. Time to retreat to the upper bunk, unless Aerith is looking for a lot more distraction to get the worries off her mind. And that feels — she's not sure about that. Like taking advantage of her lowered guard from the shock she'd gotten at the meeting, just at this moment. ]
no subject
Despite her tendency to follow along with her own whims, Aerith knows when something could be a bad idea, when it could shift things irreversibly. And this moment, right here? There wouldn't be any going back.
So it's why she lets Maika go in what's an obvious hurry to scramble up to the top bunk. It's like there's air in the room again, cool and breathable even if her heart still races.
This... this is a feeling to look into another time, when she's had ample opportunity to think and her mind isn't a frenzied mess of jumbled thoughts and unearned grief. So, she shifts around, getting comfortable as she lays her head on the pillow. Getting under the sheets doesn't feel right, not at this moment. ]
Good night.
no subject
Still. The quiet sigh she lets out is weighted with complications. She disguises it with the rustle of blankets as she burrows in, too warm but safely hidden again. ]
...Goodnight, little bird.
[ And she's going to fling her arm over her eyes and will herself to sleep, with the experience and determination of someone who's truly learned to get rest whenever and however she can. ]