[ "Doing better" isn't exactly the way to phrase it, given that denial of ever caring even a smidgen for Hinasaki has gone out the window and he's pretending she never existed. Partly because he hasn't really needed to bring her up, partly because no one else has either.
It's late when he finally caves and breaks into his apartment, closing and locking the door behind himself so no one else will disturb them. By now, he's already asleep and while it's hard to get around his room without a light, he manages well enough.
By the time Saihara wakes up in the morning, he'll find Ouma face down on the bed asleep, with his one hand closest to him clutching at his sleeve, the air around him is dark and heavy, consumed with nightmares and just a general overall sinking feeling. ]
It's late when he finally caves and breaks into his apartment, closing and locking the door behind himself so no one else will disturb them. By now, he's already asleep and while it's hard to get around his room without a light, he manages well enough.
By the time Saihara wakes up in the morning, he'll find Ouma face down on the bed asleep, with his one hand closest to him clutching at his sleeve, the air around him is dark and heavy, consumed with nightmares and just a general overall sinking feeling. ]
[ True to their earlier test, the door is quiet enough that Shuichi doesn't even stir when Ouma comes in, and there still really isn't a lot in the room to trip over or run into.
Still, it's a little earlier than he'd normally wake up when he starts to rise back towards consciousness, shifting a little and feeling like something is strange. He blinks his eyes blearily open to see Ouma's hair, and the oppressive atmosphere looming around him, and then he is much more awake, eyes snapping fully open to make sure he's seeing what he thinks he's seeing.
He doesn't move, though, and after the initial moment of alarm he's not sure if he should. Is it better to just let Ouma sleep...? Probably he wasn't doing a lot of it before, if he was breaking into his room in the middle of the night.
But the dark air is concerning, and so he starts by moving just a little, shifting to put his hand lightly over Ouma's. ]
Still, it's a little earlier than he'd normally wake up when he starts to rise back towards consciousness, shifting a little and feeling like something is strange. He blinks his eyes blearily open to see Ouma's hair, and the oppressive atmosphere looming around him, and then he is much more awake, eyes snapping fully open to make sure he's seeing what he thinks he's seeing.
He doesn't move, though, and after the initial moment of alarm he's not sure if he should. Is it better to just let Ouma sleep...? Probably he wasn't doing a lot of it before, if he was breaking into his room in the middle of the night.
But the dark air is concerning, and so he starts by moving just a little, shifting to put his hand lightly over Ouma's. ]
[ It's harder to mask anything when you're asleep, and have very little conscious will to control it. He's still asleep when Saihara wakes up, breathing through a small gap he's made by having his head tilted down. He doesn't stir until Saihara's hand covers his own. It twitches under the warmth and weight, curling back tentatively (even in his sleep he seems cautious about it) before his grip turns tight.
The contact doesn't fully disperse the oppressive air around him, but it helps a little. Where there hands are connected, the air seems to glow whiter, rather than the darker forms taking over the rest of his body. ]
The contact doesn't fully disperse the oppressive air around him, but it helps a little. Where there hands are connected, the air seems to glow whiter, rather than the darker forms taking over the rest of his body. ]
[ There's another long moment of consideration before an idea occurs to Shuichi, and he tries to push aside his worry for Ouma and instead recall the feeling he'd had when he first saw him, surprise and happiness that he was alive, the emotion swelling in his chest. It's actually pretty easy to feel that way again, when he focuses on the fact that Ouma's here, with him, gripping his hand in a way that is definitely real and definitely genuine.
He gets even more pleased when it works, a warm, humid breeze swirling around them as he otherwise stays still. ]
He gets even more pleased when it works, a warm, humid breeze swirling around them as he otherwise stays still. ]
[ The warmth is almost suffocating. Not because it isn't pleasant, but because it contrasts the state of his mind so much it has to be to break through. He squirms a little, wriggling closer to where the warmth seems to be coming from. It's still taking a little effort to dissolve whatever oppressive air around him he'd made, but it seems to be settling into something lighter now, made so by the attempt Saihara made.
He wriggles closer again, breathing steadier now and curled onto his side. His hand still hasn't let go, but his body has shifted so that while most of him is still about a foot and a half from Saihara, his head has nudged forward until it's against Saihara's chest, bumping and halting there. ]
He wriggles closer again, breathing steadier now and curled onto his side. His hand still hasn't let go, but his body has shifted so that while most of him is still about a foot and a half from Saihara, his head has nudged forward until it's against Saihara's chest, bumping and halting there. ]
[ Shuichi exhales slowly, grateful that seems to have helped some, and then, after another long moment of holding completely still, lifts his free hand to settle, lightly and hesitantly, on the back of Ouma's head. ]
[ If he were awake, he's be embarrassed about the soft, pleased noise that follows the hand resting on his head. His head nudges back, almost like a cat, and a soft smile graces his lips while he slumbers.
It doesn't take long after that (another 5 or 10 minutes) for him to wake. His eyes flutter, fingers twitch and the confused hum in his throat says how confused he is for a moment. ]
It doesn't take long after that (another 5 or 10 minutes) for him to wake. His eyes flutter, fingers twitch and the confused hum in his throat says how confused he is for a moment. ]
[ It's strangely nice, even if it's not particularly relaxing from this side; Shuichi's heart is beating quickly, like he's been making life-or-death decisions or something. He calms down a little eventually, though, settling in.
He panics a little again when Ouma shifts, wondering if he should pull back, or pretend to be asleep or something, but eventually he does neither, instead just petting his head a tiny bit to try to show he is awake. ]
He panics a little again when Ouma shifts, wondering if he should pull back, or pretend to be asleep or something, but eventually he does neither, instead just petting his head a tiny bit to try to show he is awake. ]
[ It's actually more relaxing than he expected when he first came here. He'd woken up in cold sweats again, had already visited Momota's the day before and didn't want to go again because once is enough--it's already showing too much weakness--yet here's already here now.
His eyes flutter again, struggling between waking up and falling back to sleep with how soothing the petting is. All he says in response is a soft mumble of: ] Saihara-chan?
[ It sounds so sleepy though, like even he isn't darting awake for once. ]
His eyes flutter again, struggling between waking up and falling back to sleep with how soothing the petting is. All he says in response is a soft mumble of: ] Saihara-chan?
[ It sounds so sleepy though, like even he isn't darting awake for once. ]
Yeah.
[ It comes out softly, just an acknowledgement. ]
You can sleep more if you want...
[ It comes out softly, just an acknowledgement. ]
You can sleep more if you want...
[ His eyes flutter again, head tilting up as he squints up at him. His breathing is still steady, at least for a moment, until he realises just how close he got.
His eyes go wide, freezing in place, and it's like a cat ready to bolt with the way his entire body tenses like he's ready to dart. ]
His eyes go wide, freezing in place, and it's like a cat ready to bolt with the way his entire body tenses like he's ready to dart. ]
[ Shuichi also freezes, immediately returning to worrying he'd handled this all wrong and ruined everything, but he at least doesn't pull his hand back. ]
I-It's okay. Really.
[ He's not sure that's helpful, or if that's even the right thing to say, but he can't think of anything else. ]
I-It's okay. Really.
[ He's not sure that's helpful, or if that's even the right thing to say, but he can't think of anything else. ]
[ His breathing is all off, faster than it should be but thankfully not heavier. It takes some effort to calm down, his fingers that are still holding Saihara's hand twitching as he tries to decide what to do.
It's a good minute or two before he manages to relax enough to let his eyes flutter half shut again. His breathing starts to slow again. ]
It's warm. [ A soft admission once he finally lets himself feel it again. ]
It's a good minute or two before he manages to relax enough to let his eyes flutter half shut again. His breathing starts to slow again. ]
It's warm. [ A soft admission once he finally lets himself feel it again. ]
[ Shuichi exhales a quiet breath of relief and relaxes a little more himself. ]
Yeah. You seemed like you were... cold.
[ Of course that it not at all what he seemed, but it feels like a good thing to say. ]
Yeah. You seemed like you were... cold.
[ Of course that it not at all what he seemed, but it feels like a good thing to say. ]
[ Shuichi's heart jumps again. He feels like he's driving blind, and every moment he doesn't go careening off a cliff is a success. ]
Then... I'm glad I could help a little.
Then... I'm glad I could help a little.
[ He blinks once, hiding the swallow of saliva as his throat feels dry. He doesn't remember what time he got here anymore, nor does he have any idea what time it is now, but... ]
Is it late already?
[ He uses his free hand to reach up and rub his eyes. ]
Is it late already?
[ He uses his free hand to reach up and rub his eyes. ]
No, it's still pretty early...
[ The morning announcement wouldn't be for another twenty or thirty minutes... if there was a morning announcement. ]
I just woke up too.
[ More or less. ]
[ The morning announcement wouldn't be for another twenty or thirty minutes... if there was a morning announcement. ]
I just woke up too.
[ More or less. ]
dec 26th | sometime late afternoon | action, if you'd like!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
blackwaterchild
2017-12-26 08:16 am (UTC)(link)
[At some point Miu's found where Shuichi lives (hey, part of her abilities DO involve tracking people, so...), and finds herself loitering around his door with a package in hand.
Inside is a deerstalker hat and a pipe that blows bubbles. There's a note on top of it that's just a winky face.
Below that, however, is a leather-bound notebook and another note.]
It's not much, but I figured every great detective should have a place to store their notes and observations, right?
Sorry it's late. I'm not sure what Ouma-kun's told you, but I went home for a while and I'm back now. Sorry if you were worried.
Merry Christmas,
Miu Hinasaki
[Not that she actually thinks Shuichi might've been worried about her, but she's not sure how Kokichi's acted in the wake of her 'betrayal' via being forced back home.
She sighs, gathers her courage and knocks on the door, before setting the package down and preparing to wander off. Maybe he's not home!! She feels a little embarrassed about it as it is]
Inside is a deerstalker hat and a pipe that blows bubbles. There's a note on top of it that's just a winky face.
Below that, however, is a leather-bound notebook and another note.]
It's not much, but I figured every great detective should have a place to store their notes and observations, right?
Sorry it's late. I'm not sure what Ouma-kun's told you, but I went home for a while and I'm back now. Sorry if you were worried.
Merry Christmas,
Miu Hinasaki
[Not that she actually thinks Shuichi might've been worried about her, but she's not sure how Kokichi's acted in the wake of her 'betrayal' via being forced back home.
She sighs, gathers her courage and knocks on the door, before setting the package down and preparing to wander off. Maybe he's not home!! She feels a little embarrassed about it as it is]
[ When Shuichi wakes, he will find that his crystal is glowing! His emotion drops for the month of Ennea have resonated with Empatheias' giant crystal, and a reaction has been formed.
Stuck to one of his feet is a pair of underwear. Oh my! At least it's clean!
(Thank you for submitting to the Emotion Tracker!) ]
Stuck to one of his feet is a pair of underwear. Oh my! At least it's clean!
(Thank you for submitting to the Emotion Tracker!) ]
H-Hey, I wake up early sometimes...
[ ...Probably... ]
[ ...Probably... ]
[ Shuichi was in fact just sitting in his room reading, and he looks up in surprise at the knock. He's not expecting anyone, and Ouma wouldn't knock... But whoever it is came up to the fourth floor of the apartment building, so probably they're looking for him specifically.
By the time he opens the door she's a few steps down the hallway, and he sees the package first before noticing her. But when he does— ]
Ah, Hinasaki-san!
By the time he opens the door she's a few steps down the hallway, and he sees the package first before noticing her. But when he does— ]
Ah, Hinasaki-san!
[Miu jumps like she's been caught and for half a second contemplates running, but... That would look ridiculous right now. She sighs softly at herself and then turns, folding her hands behind her back.]
Saihara-san. Hi. [She pauses, aware that she's wearing Kokichi's signature white outfit, aware that he's certainly going to notice it, but she approaches again anyhow.] Sorry if I disturbed you.
Saihara-san. Hi. [She pauses, aware that she's wearing Kokichi's signature white outfit, aware that he's certainly going to notice it, but she approaches again anyhow.] Sorry if I disturbed you.
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