imeeji_frontstage | (no subject)

Yeah... sure.

[Cobalt still has it, right? He's out of it enough that he doesn't quite remember, and looks over to confirm.]

[yeah, he still has it, here in his hand where Thorn can see.]

Thanks.

I'll go pick them up, then. See you back here after you clean up.

Sounds like a plan.

[He gets off the couch and heads for the door, glancing back once -- perhaps a beat too long -- before heading out.

The door clicks shut behind him.]

[Time to go manage a shower, he guesses.]

[Which is to say, he is bracing something against the door from the inside so that no one can come in, because he is absolutely sitting on the floor for this. It takes him way too long to clean up and get into pajamas, but eventually he reemerges, hair still dripping.]

[...and Cobalt is there, sitting on the couch with several bottles of sleep potion on the nearest cinder block. He looks up when Thorn re-emerges, and the corner of his mouth tugs into something that's almost a smile]

Feel better?

...yeah. Doing better.

Glad to hear it.

Are you hungry at all? Or are you thinking of heading to bed?

I think I'll just call it a night.

[He's aiming for his room already, honestly.]

...

[fidgets with a potion bottle for a moment before he follows after Thorn, taking the one and leaving the rest behind for anyone else who might want them.]

Here's this...

...Would you like to try Cloud Nine...? If not, I can leave you to it and see myself out.

[His room is about as appealing, visually, as the rest of the dorm. The walls are peeling paint, and the bed is a mattress on cinder blocks with a pile of blankets and pillows on it. He's got a block of wood serving as a bedside table; there's a book on it, open facedown to hold his spot, a lamp, the choker he opened with Cobalt on Valentine's Day, and the notebook and pen that he uses for John's first aid class. His other stuff is neatly lined along the walls, waiting for sufficient shelving that he hasn't purchased yet.]

[He takes the potion.]

...let's give it a shot.

[taking in the room a little, but he's more preoccupied with Thorn, at the moment.]

Alright.

May I have your hand?

[holds out his own, inviting.]

[He hesitates - shuts the door behind them.]

[Hesitates longer, and then holds his hand out.]

[As Cobalt takes his hand, Thorn experiences what feels like a rush of clean water through his mind, sweeping out every negative emotion and washing them far away -- much too far to reach him, now. In its place is a feeling of warmth and wellbeing -- even a little happiness where there wasn't any before. His heart will feel lighter, like a weight has been shed.]

[That... oh.]

[Oh.]

[He was not ready for that.]

[Please hold for a second, here. He kind of. Just. Presses a hand to his mouth.]

[His eyes are suspiciously damp.]

[quietly:]

...Is this okay?

[Turns a little, so his face is mostly hidden.]

[Give him a second to figure out the answer to that. This is what happens when a lot of the awful things you've been feeling, the ones you have been firmly denying were there at all, are suddenly proven by their absence.]

[It sure is. Something.

[But he manages to nod, eventually.]

Um.

I'm still haven't completely gotten the hang of using it on other people. One of my unitmates can cast it without physical contact and can make it last an entire day, so I know that's possible... but I haven't quite figured out how to get there yet.

If... you don't mind helping me practice a little, maybe I can get better...? Figure out how to make it last longer.

[He looks up, eventually. His eyes are still a little damp, but he's gotten his expression back under control.]

[He nods, and when he speaks, his voice is a little rough.]

...sure. But not. Not in public.

Ah, I meant here. Tonight.

Are you okay?

I'm okay. I just - wasn't expecting it.

Let me know if you'd like to stop. In the meantime, let's see how long this one lasts. If it starts to wear off, let me know and I'll try again.

...okay. Thanks.

[oh, buddy... ;;

Still holding Thorn's hand, he rubs his thumb over Thorn's knuckles.]

Ah... here... why don't you make yourself comfortable? [pointing at Thorn's bed with his eyes.]

I'll stay with you until you're ready for me to leave.

[Nods, and hesitates - hesitates longer.]

He sits on the edge of his bed and arranges some of the pillow pile so it's up against the wall, then leans against them, still sitting up.]