[closed]

[impheired]

Who: Fuyuhiko Kuzuryuu (impheired) & Peko Pekoyama (perfectstrike)
When: IC 12/09, post-carnival
Where: Peko's apartment
What: Yakuza Reunion 2: Electric Boogaloo
Rating/Warning: Heavy spoilers for Super Dangan Ronpa 2 and Kuzuryuu swears like a sailor but that's really about it.

---

[It wasn't until Santa Bot X-3 made his appearance that Kuzuryuu was finally able to make it past the damn snowbots and escape the dreaded hellhole most people call a carnival. How he managed this feat, without getting dragged to sit on Santa Bot's non-existent lap, is surely quite the riveting tale but the details aren't really important to this log so it will just be summed up as "thank god he's tiny."]

[Surely, Peko would be as fortunate as him and manage to make it out with little trouble. So he wastes no time in making his way to her apartment, fully expecting to either run into her along the way, or to get to her apartment and find out she managed to get out much earlier than he did. She's a much more skilled fighter than he is, after all. She could totally take out those robots and not even have to stealth past them like the heir did.]

[Unfortunately, neither of these things is the case. Because when he knocks on the door, there's no answer. When he calls out her name with a second knock, the results are the same. And the third time...]

[Welp.]

[He double checks to make sure he has the right address before leaning against the wall next to her door with a quiet sigh. This is fine. Gives him some more time to sort out what he wants to say, anyway. Depending on how long it takes her to finally make it back, she may find him fiddling with his CEREvice by the time she reaches the door. May as well see what this thing is all about, after all.]

Comments

[perfectstrike]

[Peko, meanwhile, under the impression that Kuzuryuu was still wandering around the carnival somewhere, had gone to sit on said Santa Bot's non-existent lap in the hopes of getting something that she could then turn around and gift to Kuzuryuu. That turned out not to be the case (fortunately she opened them before giving them to him), and the ensuing disposal attempts took up a little more time than she'd anticipated.

Still, once she realized the gates were open and they were free to leave, she was out. No fighting or stealth necessary, she just... left. And intended to make a beeline straight to her apartment, but... she had to stop to get something first. Thus when she does arrive, it's carrying a plastic shopping bag, and wearing a surprised expression. She really hadn't expected him to be here already.

She hadn't missed that look of disappointment earlier when she'd addressed him as "young master," so she bites back her usual greeting and skips straight to,] I... am sorry to have kept you waiting.

[She has her key card in hand, and it's just a moment to unlock the door so she can open it and step inside, holding the door for him. It's... not a large apartment, by any stretch of the imagination, but the lack of extra furnishings and the like makes it seem like it's much more open than something that size has any right to be. There's a small alcove for setting shoes aside next to the door, opening into a hardwood-floored living/dining room. There's a couch pushed against the wall, and a low dining table with a cushion for sitting to eat. Some familiar decorations seem to have made their way there, too; her tiger scroll and kendo uniform are sitting in two different corners, and it seems she found a kamidana in one of the HOLO(gm) settings.]

[impheired]

I haven't been waiting long. [LIES. But Peko doesn't need to know just how long he'd been standing out here. It's kind of sad how he really had nothing else to do other than just stand outside her door like a sad little puppy. He offers the plastic bag a short, yet curious glance. Like maybe he can sense that there's something inside there for him...again, like kind of a sad little puppy. At least he's not jumping all over her leg now that she's home or something.]

[He follows her inside, not really giving the decor much of a glance at all but instead immediately turning to face her. He waits for her to close the door behind them and then all but latches onto her, wrapping his arms around her in an all-too-tight hug. Talk about a delayed reaction here, because this is totally the sort of hug that he should have given her hours ago when they first met up in the park. It's possible that the time spent away from her really solidified that, yes, she's actually here and that he doesn't have to be scared of her disappearing if he tries to touch her.]

...Thank you.

[His voice is barely above a whisper when he speaks, and the fact that it's slightly muffled by Peko herself probably doesn't help things. Nor does the fact that he's not giving any sort of explanation as to what that hank you is. APPARENTLY WE'RE JUST JUMPING IN FEET FIRST HERE. This was it, this was the important thing that he had to say that he couldn't say in the middle of the theme park. Apparently the middle of Peko's inner doorstep is a much better locale.]

[perfectstrike]

Young maste--?!

[That one she can't really stop, the bag slipping from her fingers to hit the floor as she takes a step back to brace herself against the sudden hug so she doesn't topple backward completely. Her back hits the inside of the door with a solid thunk as it's her turn to hesitate, arms slightly raised as if she's about to hug him back.

But there's a longer pause when he speaks, and it's so quiet that she's reflexively opening her mouth to ask for him to repeat it before the words really register. And then, it's a good thing she's pressed against a hard surface, because her knees are starting to feel a little weak -- and not only because he's cutting off some of her air with that hug. She's... not entirely sure why she's being thanked, after everything she'd done. All she can really do is wrap her arms around him, a little numbly, and wait to see if he'll elaborate.]

[impheired]

[Give him another minute or so to hugging before he gets to the elaboration. Because it's definitely coming, it was just a lot harder for him to keep his distance than he thought it would be. So he needs to get this out of his system first. And also he needs a minute to get his composure back in check because he is dangerously close to crying right now. And he still has a lot he wants to say that will have so much more impact if he's not bawling through his words.]

[Once he's managed both these things, Kuzuryuu pulls back away from Peko, wiping his eye on his sleeve in the process. He may have kept himself from crying, but that doesn't mean his eye didn't get a little wet all the same. He straightens up to his full height, which is still really not all that tall but at least he's not slouching for whatever this big important thing he has to say is. Which apparently is just going to be said right here in the entrance way of her apartment.]

[Sitting down would be nice but apparently ain't nobody got time for that.]

It...took me a while to appreciate what you did for me. I didn't think I'd ever get the chance to tell you that but I...I'm really grateful now that you gave me a second life. That you were willing to give your life to save mine. I wasn't worth that, especially not after what I did but...I can say now that I'm glad you didn't let me die.

[Well that sure had some depressing implications in it. But we're trucking right along.]

So...thank you. Again. Twice isn't even enough, really, but I'm not sure that even a lifetime of saying it would be enough either.

[HE'S REALLY, REALLY GRATEFUL PEKO, OKAY DO YOU UNDERSTAND. Like he is in no way glad about the fact that you had to die in order for it to happen, make no mistake about that. If there were a way for him to learn what he did without losing Peko, he would jump on that possibility in a heartbeat but...alas. The past is the past at this point.]

[He'll just...wait to see what her response is to that before moving onto his next point though. Because there's definitely more he needs to say, but this was the most important.]

[perfectstrike]

[SHE UNDERSTANDS. Or thinks she does, anyway.

When he pulls away, her hands linger against his arms for a half-second too long before she draws back, letting her open palms rest back against the door in case he comes in for another hug. Her mouth is open, but there are so many thoughts whirling through her mind that she can't quite put anything into words just yet. It's actually kind of pathetic that being appreciated means just that much to her; all she'd wanted was for him to remember her, but then he hadn't wanted her to leave him. Then he'd charged in after her, against all logic. But even with that, even still, she hadn't really realized until he was here in front of her.

She'd almost started to fear, the more she thought about it, that he might resent her for her actions; that she'd tried to take everything out of his hands to let him survive.

Peko kind of wants to brush it off as if it's not a big deal -- it's what she's supposed to do, after all -- keep him safe, keep him healthy. It's what she's supposed to do, it's what she's wanted to do, more than anything else. But she can't just say, "It's fine," and leave it at that. Not this time.]

I...

[Whoa, whoa, her voice is sounding a little choked up there. When did that happen? When did her eyes start getting misty, she never asked for this. Her fingers press into the door as she takes a deep breath to steady her voice, not quite able to meet his eye.]

T-thank you.

[That's. That's all she's got. Thanks for your thanks, Kuzuryuu. It's more polite to say that he didn't owe her anything, it's more proper to apologize for making him go through that, but that can wait, for the moment. But she has one other thing which may or may not be overstepping boundaries to say.]

If... if you could not leave the island, that-- that you were able to work with the others... is all I could have asked for. And... the chance to see you again.

[So tick off both boxes, there.]

[impheired]

[Well judging by the way his face breaks into this lopsided sort of grin, she's not overstepping her boundaries at all. But then again, at this point the fact that she even thinks he'd think that at all is a mystery. Seriously, Peko. Come on. He laughs a little.]

Are you really thanking me for saying thank you? [PEKO, PLEASE. PLEASE. He knows he's kinda bad at it but COME ON.]

[perfectstrike]

[LOOK HER STANDARDS ARE VERY LOW WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THAT.

But when he laughs, she can't help but look a little tense and defensive for a moment, as if he's laughing at her. Then she figures out that yes, he is laughing at her, but that's okay when it's something like this.]

Yes... I suppose that I am.

[Look at that he's smiling and laughing, prompting a quiet, short huff of her own laughter and a small smile that she wouldn't be able to subdue even if she wanted to. Most of it is thanks to his own smile, but it's also relief. Is this all he had to talk to her about...? This is fine.]

Would you like to come inside?

[OUT OF THE ENTRYWAY...]

[impheired]

[HE'S NOT LAUGHING AT YOkay no he kind of is. But it's a fond laugh, it's a good thing. Promise.]

Ah...right, yeah...

[Oops. Entryway. Here let him just kind of...move over a little so that he's not blocking Peko's way of getting into her own apartment. Since he apparently kind of slammed her into the door there. Double oops. He didn't really mean to do that. This also gives him a chance to slip his shoes off before actually going into the apartment proper.]

[Though apparently he's going to wait for Peko to go first. It's her apartment, after all. WHERE ARE WE SITTING, PEKO. WHAT ARE WE DOING. HE APPARENTLY CAN'T BE THE ONE MAKING DECISIONS BECAUSE YOU END UP AGAINST THE DOOR.]

[perfectstrike]

[She slips her shoes off and sets them aside, waiting until he's finished taking his off before realizing that he's waiting for her to go first. That's... that's weird. She's never really had her own space (not counting the island) that wasn't somehow connected to his before.

Alright, well, if it's up to her... kneeling at the table would probably be the best place for a conversation, really, but it'd make it awkward in case she gets the chance to hug him again. So the couch it is, Peko grabbing the bag from where she'd dropped it and moving insde. A shrug gets her sword bag off her shoulders so she can lean it against the arm of the couch, along with her katana.]

Please, if you would like to sit down...

[And in the vein of her doing things first, she sets the bag near her swords and takes a seat on the couch, tucking her feet beneath her so they can still face each other and talk, if he wants. But also, the bag--]

And I... have something for you, if you would like. It isn't much but--

[Do you dare take the shopping bag with a bag of karintou in it, Kuzuryuu?]

[impheired]

[He's not going to be a total douchebag and pretend he is king of your castle, Peko, okay? He is just visiting. Later he can go be king of his own castle and it will be glorious. You know, once he actually picks out an apartment. Maybe you can help him with that here in a bit, Peko.]

[He takes the bag when she holds it out to hm, however he has yet to sit down for some reason. Because assuredly there IS a reason and he's not just doing it to be difficult. But he's not elaborating just yet, opting instead to peer inside the bag and oh my god Peko you're the best he is going to eat all of these in one sitting here in a bit. IT HAS BEEN A VERY STRESSFUL DAY, DON'T YOU JUDGE HIM. Also a very long one. And he had to fight Junko twice, it was terrible. That alone is enough reason to inhale an entire bag of karintou in one sitting.]

Thanks... [Why is he blushing about karintou, what the hell. What a loser.] You...didn't have to do that.

[perfectstrike]

I wanted to do so.

[If anything, his blush only makes her smile a touch warmer as she shifts to make herself more comfortable on the couch. She didn't have to do anything but show up, which maybe she should have done considering he was apparently waiting outside?? But his blush makes it all worth it.]

You are welcome.

[So sit down and eat it?? She has some things she wants to tell him, too, but she's in no hurry to do so. She'd be happy to just sit with him, honestly.]

[impheired]

[NO HE CAN'T SIT DOWN YET. There's still one more thing he has to do...]

[He makes a vaguely agreeable grunting sort of noise, fiddling with the handle of the shopping bag for a second before putting the whole thing down on the couch. He's glad Peko did something like this for him, but he can't allow himself to be distracted by delicious snacks just yet. After all, there's still one more very important thing he has to say now that he's gotten the gratitude thing out of the way.]

[Peko will probably be able to guess what's coming next in a matter of seconds, because once the bag is set down on the couch, he all but collapses onto the floor. His forehead is pressed against the floor and his legs are curled up underneath him in what is unmistakably as low of an apology bow as you can go. Three guesses what it is he's so deeply sorry about, and the first two don't count.]

I'm sorry, Peko. As grateful as I am for what you did, I'm sorry that I put you in that position in the first place. I'm sorry let myself get so blinded by revenge that I never stopped to think how my actions would affect other people. Especially...especially someone as important to me as you. Please forgive me for being such selfish piece of shit.

[Look, he got down this low to apologize to everybody else, it would be weird if he didn't do the same for Peko. Because, really, she deserves the biggest apology in all this, save for perhaps Koizumi. AT LEAST HE'S NOT CUTTING HIMSELF OPEN THIS TIME, not that he isn't 100% willing and able to do so if it seems like this isn't enough.]

[perfectstrike]

[Bocchan no. Where are you going. That's not where you're supposed to sit. You missed the couch.

But as soon as Peko realizes what he's doing, that smile disappears as she slips off the couch to kneel on the floor in front of him. Of all the things she ever expected of him -- or hoped for from him -- it had never been an apology. The gratitude she had kind of hoped for, the fact that he'd want to see her again, even just being able to smile around her, those were all things she was hoping for.

Not this.

She's still blown away by him calling her important, right to her face (or thereabouts, the floor counts, too), enough that she can't quite protest immediately. And then, she... doesn't want to, either.]

I forgive you.

[There's no hesitation for that, anyway. It had never crossed her mind to resent him or blame him for what had happened. Instead, there's a beat where she wavers there on her knees, then bows her head and hunches her back, fingers gripping tightly into the fabric of her skirt. Her forehead isn't quite pressed to the ground just yet -- and it won't be until/if he decides to raise his head -- but she has something to say too.]

And... I am sorry that I... left you alone. I am glad that you were able to work with our-- with our classmates, but I... regret that I was not able to be at your side for it. And--

[No, wait, no. She shuffles back slightly on her knees, whether or not he's managed to raise his head yet, and instead lowers hers to mirror his position. Bunch of assholes with their foreheads pressed to the floor here.]

I am sorry that I... did not try to think of an alternative. It was my choice to protect you in that way, but... in the future... [Now that she actually has one of those, at least for the moment. Hinata can talk all he wants about bringing them back from comas, but that's something that doesn't affect the here and now.] I want...

I was in such a hurry to protect you and see you return home that I did not consider... anything else. I do not wish to do that anymore. I want to stand at your side as something other than a mere tool.

[That last bit is rushed out, before she can lose her nerve. But hopefully he notices that it's what she wants; not just that he doesn't want her to be a tool, which she finally realizes, but that she doesn't want that anymore. Partially for him, but also for herself.]

[impheired]

[Well maybe he wasn't aiming for the couch, Peko! Did you ever think of that? His true target was the floor and he made a perfect bullseye there. 100 points for bocchan.]

[The "I forgive you" is enough to get him to raise his head a little bit. He's still curled up on the floor, but at least he's looking at Peko instead of the floor now. But once she moves to mirror him, he immediately sits up the whole way. And for a moment, he looks as though he's about to try and stop her. But her words are enough to freeze him in place.]

[Because while he doesn't think there's anything she needs to apologize for, that...is better than the apology he feared he'd get. And truly, what right does he have to stop her from apologizing if she feels like she needs to? That's right: no right.]

[So he just sits back, curling his hands on his knees and listening. Listening and quickly finding himself wishing he'd kept his face against the floor because it's really hard not to get choked up and teary-eyed over each progressive statement that comes from Peko's mouth.]

[So instead of words, the response Peko gets is that cracked sort of choking that accompanies the beginning of tears. That and a pair of hands trying to push her back up into sitting position. Because he can't...really hug her when she's against the floor like that. He's hardly a hugging master, but he's pretty sure that's not how it works.]

[Don't be fooled by the gross sobbing when he finally manages to get his arms around you again. These are the good kind of tears.]

[...mostly.]

[Okay, so they're kinda sad but they're predominantly happy (because congrats Peko, you managed to say one of the things he's pretty much always wanted to hear from you) and that's an improvement over the last time Kuzuryuu was crying this openly, isn't it? We're just going to have to take what we can get here.]

[perfectstrike]

[This is so scary. Peko's actually shaking a little with the force of emotion and nerves as she keeps her forehead against the floor. It's a lot for her to say at once, but Hinata and Tenka had both encouraged her to say what she needed to. But if she didn't tell him now... she's not certain if she would ever be able to.

At that weird choking sound, though, she does glance up without lifting her head much. Is it one of his choking sounds of anger? If she were thinking completely clearly, she'd know that's ridiculous, but she always kind of defaults to the worst possible answer no matter what.

And then oh-- okay. Apparently he wants her to sit up, which she doesn't fight at all. Instead, she looks faintly alarmed, still, at least until he's hugging her. It's a little awkward to shuffle forward to hold him properly since someone decided that his target was the floor instead of the couch, but once she does get her arms around him, she's holding him as tightly as when she'd seen him at the carnival.

But this means she's doing something right by him for once, right? She curls up around him a little, pressing her nose against the top of his head as her own vision is starting to blur. He wouldn't be hugging her if he didn't like what she'd said, she's almost sure of it. Her breath is coming a little ragged as she tries to fight back her own tears of relief, but she doesn't quite succeed. At least she's just getting a few tears in his hair instead of snotting all over it. Unlike what he's probably doing to her blouse, which is fine.]

I...

[Oh, no, wait, give her a second, she's not as ready for talking as she thought she was. A few more deep breaths as she squeezes him a little more, then finally finishes,] It... will be difficult for me, but if you could... please be patient with me... I am trying.

[Trying to be her own person, just like he wanted. She's really been trying, with varying degrees of success. But the attempts have been made!]

[impheired]

[Yeah you're uh...you're probably going to want to change your shirt after this Peko, sorry. But you know he's never exactly been a very neat crier.]

[He squeezes her a little tighter, nodding in response. Yes, he'll be patient. It's far from one of his virtues but...for you, he can do it. He can have the patience of a rock, you'll see.]

Of...of course.

[Wow that was a lot harder to get out than it rightly should have been. It's just two words. WHY IS CRYING SO TERRIBLE. FUCK CRYING, FRANKLY.]

[Okay just...give him a few minutes here. He's trying to regain his composure. He really is. He just needs a little bit of time first. It's been a very emotionally trying day and it's had more ups and downs and corkscrews than the roller coaster he rode earlier this evening. Eventually, he gets enough of it back that he can actually talk again. Though his words are still only barely above a whisper.]

That would...make me very happy. So...however long it takes...

[He'll wait.]

[perfectstrike]

[She's going to have to give Tenka a very nice gift basket after all this. What a great guy, that Tenka, encouraging her to say all these things. He's going to be so happy to hear about her and Kuzuryuu, since they've definitely not met before this. Hinata, too.

All her breath escapes in a rush at his quiet of course, and then she's really crying in earnest, holding him tight. Everything seems to be going too well, enough so that now she's worried this is another 'glitch,' a hallucination that her ideal scenario is playing out right in front of her. But she'd already confirmed earlier that he was real, hadn't she? And there were more than enough things that he'd said even in this conversation alone that would preclude it from just being her own fabrication.]

Thank you, [she manages once she's managed to regain at least a semblance of her composure. Though really he should be the one thanking her?? Or no one should be being thanked at all for something like this?? Peko please.

She has to shift her grip around him, freeing up one hand to tug her glasses off so she can wipe her eyes on her sleeve. They probably look redder and even more intense than usual thanks to her tears, but there's an unmistakably happy smile curving her lips. If she can make him happy by doing what she wants to do... that's the best possible outcome, right?

Peko slips her glasses back on and lets her hand rest against the back of his head, now that she's finally more able to focus on just holding him than trying to keep herself together and not fret herself to death. His hair is the first soft, fluffy thing she's gotten to touch in... way too long, so there's only a beat of hesitation before her fingers curl slightly against the back of his head. Maybe she can justify it as comforting him, moving her fingers slightly against his hair like this? Yes. That's definitely what it's meant to be.

Maybe they should get off the floor soon, though. It can't be all that warm on the hardwood.]

[impheired]

[He sniffles and chuckles a little bit. He's not...really sure why that's funny. But it's kinda funny? Screw making sense of his emotions at this point. It's enough to get him to push back a little so he can also use his sleeve as an improve eye tissue. But once that's as dry as it can be for now, he puts his head right back against her shoulder. Just in time for...hair petting, apparently?]

[Okay well that's...a completely normal thing for people to do when they're trying to be comforting, right? So it's not really worth wondering about. Peko clearly has no other motive there than just being a nice...uh. Peko. What a good Peko she is. Yes.]

[The really need to figure out what words to use to describe each other. Maybe they can talk about that next. Whenever they finally get off the floor.]

Thanks.

[For what, we just don't know because he's not really being specific there. Perhaps the hair petting. Perhaps her decision to be something more than a tool? Or perhaps now it's just his turn to say thank you for being thanked. We just don't know.]

[perfectstrike]

[Thank for thank action continues to heat up in Yakuza Cryfest 2k15!!

She's not sure why he's laughing, but he's still with her, so that's all that matters. Her own laugh is a little quieter, a little harder to hear, but it is there. And if anything, as her fingers return to stroking through his hair, she seems to relax even further. This is definitely for his benefit, not for hers.]

Would you... like a tissue?

[Though he already kind of snotted all over her shirt and wiped his eye on his sleeve, that's the proper thing to offer, right? Maybe she can make him some tea... there should still be some shortbread cookies in the cupboard.

And who is she kidding, from the way her voice sounds, it seems like she needs a tissue, too. Since she didn't get her snot anywhere but her own face.]

[impheired]

[Look just because he snotted on her shirt a little, doesn't mean he still doesn't have snot on his face. Because he definitely didn't use his sleeve on that, this is a nice suit. Tears are one thing, but snot? No. Plus, the eye under his patch is pretty wet too. He couldn't really get that one thanks to said patch.]

[...so yeah, he definitely needs a tissue.]

Tissue might be good, yeah.

[He's chuckling again and even though Peko can't see it, he still has this really stupid smile plastered on his face that isn't strictly appropriate for the situation.]

[Okay but the first step in Peko going to get a tissue is "Kuzuryuu lets go of Peko" and that is kind of not happening. Did he just not get the memo or what. Come on, Kuzuryuu. Get with the damn program. Holding us up here.]

[perfectstrike]

[She almost, almost considers using the edge of her sleeve to dab at the wet skin near the patch, but -- no. She doesn't think she'd be able to keep her composure, for one thing, and for another, she knows how much he hates being treated like a kid and that would ruin the moment right there.

Peko's kind of expecting him to let go so she can retrieve said tissue, maybe change into a shirt that's not coated in snot, so she doesn't pull back just yet. Instead, she just kind of stays there, fingers still gently running through his hair.

It's probably a good minute or two before she realizes that no, okay, apparently it's up to her. And as much as she doesn't want to let go... if he's this insistent about hanging on, surely he wouldn't mind returning to this position after he cleans up his face?]

I'll need to get the box...

[She doesn't normally carry a pack in her pocket, since normally she doesn't have to clean up her own snot. Or anyone else's, for that matter.]

[impheired]

[Look he's not insistent he's just...comfortable. In this position. That they are in right now.]

[But Peko has a point and he knew she couldn't stay there AND get tissues at the same time so he lets go when she speaks up. Lets go and pushes himself up to his feet even because they really should stop sitting on the goddamn floor. What's wrong with them, there's a couch right there. It's like somebody just missed the couch entirely or something.]

Right, yeah.

[He'll just...wait here. On the couch. Not the floor.]

[...maybe pull that grocery bag a little closer.]

[perfectstrike]

[Oh... there he go. She's immediately regretting letting go of him, missing the warmth and the closeness... she'll need to hurry. Fluffy gauge hasn't quite refilled yet, either.]

It will only be a moment, [she promises, then she's disappearing into one of the other rooms in the apartment; likely the bedroom, since the lighting isn't nearly as harsh as what one usually sees in a bathroom. The door is mostly closed, though, so there's not much that can actually be seen.

If it takes a minute or two longer than expected, it's because without his face pressed against her, her shirt is actually getting a little cold from being wet. Best to change that. When she emerges, she's wearing a plain black, long-sleeved shirt instead of the usual sailor-suit top. Now isn't the time for him to have to see her scars. She's also taken some of that minute to blow her own nose and wipe her face, so she at least looks somewhat presentable.

Those eyes are redder than normal, but that's... kind of to be expected. At least the intensity should be somewhat muted by the hint of a smile still curving her lips? At least he made it to the couch this time.]

Here.

[And she's taking her seat next to him on the couch, tucking her feet beneath her, maybe sitting a little closer than strictly necessary as she offers the box of tissues. Maybe sitting a lot closer than necessary, since there's literally no space between them when she sits. Hello Kuzuryuu. Hello.]

[impheired]

[Okay, well why she's away he actually holds off on tearing into the karintou in order to lift up his eyepatch and at least get that eye fully dry. Because uh...yeah.]

[Just seeing the eyepatch was enough for Peko right now, he thinks. She doesn't need to see the actual damage just yet. Or...you know. Ever. That would be fine too.]

[Good thing she was apparently changing though, because Kuzuryuu just barely manages to get his patch back in place before Peko comes out of the room. Doop doop, nothing to see here. Literally He takes a tissue when it's offered, smiling slightly himself.]

Thanks.

[Okay give him a second here to clean himself up so his face isn't all wet and snotty and gross and basically a disgrace. A second, two tissues, and a lot of nose blowing, to be more precise. There. Now he's attained "somewhat presentable" status as well. Hopefully neither of them had plans of going anywhere tonight.]

[...wow she did not waste any time in closing the gap again there, did she. Jeez, Peko. Control your thirst here. Luckily, Kuzuryuu doesn't seem to mind. He just sits there and deals with it, taking the karintou out of the grocery bag so that he can use the latter as a makeshift trashbag for snotrags. Because SOMEONE didn't think to bring a trashcan with her. Wonder who that was. Peko]

So...

[He really wants to ask her what she's been up to here but...he also doesn't want to potentially interrupt anything else she might have wanted to get out of the way first. Dilemma.]

[perfectstrike]

[Thirst too strong. That, and the closer she is to him, the closer she is to petting his head hugging him again if need be. For his sake.

Besides, don't begrudge her wanting to be next to him, Mr. Yeah-Tissues-Are-Great Materialize-Some-Without-Leaving-This-Hug.

She just hums and nods in response to his thanks, though, shifting a little to get more comfortable next to him and glancing toward him, clearly waiting for him to continue. If she does have something further to say, it can wait, apparently. She's more preoccupied trying to figure out how to re-initiate the hug, anyway.]