[closed] too cold, too cold, vanilla

[psycholawgy]

Who: Athena Cykes psycholawgy & Simon Buttquill shacklebreaker
When: Backdated to 26 Jan (?), post CERES tours
Where: Medical facility for now
What: Sailor Moon got owned by Jadeite and it's Tuxedo Mask's duty to save her
Rating/Warning: Simon likes to threaten people a lot

---

[ Right after the dumb tour at CERES, Athena heads straight for the medical facility looking like a total hobo. Her hair is wet, and so is her dress, and she has no shoes on. And is that blood? Yeah, that's blood dripping from her ankles. It's painful to walk, but what can she do? Oh, and she also reeks. Like garbage. Have you ever met the personification of garbage? That's Athena.

Eventually, she manages to arrive at the medical facility's ER where she immediately gets tended to. They also make her take a shower, or ten. The robot doctors disinfect her legs to prevent any diseases that might come out of it, and has bandaged both her legs for now. So... Walking isn't exactly an option yet. But at least she's been given some ankle support. It's still going to hurt when she walks, but it'll lessen the pain.

She's still in the ER wondering how to go home... Ryuko is likely busy with Nonon. . . Maybe she can text Simon? He'll be like a prince saving her from trouble. So dreamy. But since her CereVice is busted, she has to wait six hours for it to be back up and running again. Fortunately, the tests she had to undergo to make sure she was healthy. Not to mention they also had to check her psychological state of being. All of this took quite some time. ]

At the medical facility ER. Can you pick me up, pleaaaaaaase?
Also please bring a jacket because my clothes are dirty :(
And maybe some shoes too?

Comments

[shacklebreaker]

[She definitely doesn't need to ask. Even without the noise in his heart to tip her off, his body language makes it clear enough. He's perfectly rigid with restrained fury, jaw set in a grim line, eyes sharp and focused.]

Not with you.

[But he looks like he's perfectly willing to cut down any CERES employee who so much as looks at Athena in the wrong way. Other patients are starting to give them a wide berth as they leave.]

[psycholawgy]

[ That's probably the best answer she's going to get, so she just accepts it and sets it aside. As for something else to talk about? That can be saved for when they're indoors, where no one else can hear them.

But even though he said he wasn't mad at her, she still feels the need to apologise. ]

I'm sorry.

[ And the moment they step out of the hospital- ] And thanks for coming here.

[shacklebreaker]

You don't have to thank me. If you hadn't gotten in contact, I would have come looking for you, regardless.

[He was worried even before she sent him that text message, given how long it was taking her to return from the tour, and the uncharacteristic silence on her end.]

[psycholawgy]

The reception was down... when— [ She lets out a deep breath, clearly in pain from walking. Aside from her sprained ankles, some shards of glass did puncture her feet and legs, and any unnecessary movements could open up those wounds again. ] —when the tour began.

[shacklebreaker]

[He stops walking when he notices she's in pain, moving to brace her in case she falls.]

Don't force yourself to walk if it hurts, Athena.

[psycholawgy]

[ Weakly: ]

... I want to go home and lie down.

[ Really. She'll talk once she's on a comfortable bed or a couch or something. She just wants to feel safe. ]

[shacklebreaker]

Stand still.

[He picks her up without warning, princess-style. Even if she complains, her feet will thank her later... and he's entirely in too bad a mood to go back and ask for a wheelchair.

As if he'd ask CERES for anything, at this point. Adjusting his grip so she doesn't slip, he says dryly:]

You're rather heavier than I recall.

[psycholawgy]

Hey, wai— [ Ah... too late. She pulls the lapels of the jacket closer to her, covering as much as she can. Athena would normally get flustered over something like this, but she's more than flustered right now, even covering her face and squealing in discontent.

But she isn't fighting it.

Until Simon makes a comment about her weight, and she shoves a palm straight up his face, not even caring if her fingers make contact with his teeth or his nose. WHATEVER, he deserves this. ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Athena's palm strikes are just as formidable as her judo flips, apparently, because it's enough to make him reel.] Gnrk--!

[At least he doesn't drop her?]

[psycholawgy]

[ Grnk indeed. Athena harrumphs before folding her arms back together, getting cozy with the jacket around her. ]

Let me down! Let me down!

[ ... no, it looks like she's totally comfortable where she is, despite what she says, though. ]

[shacklebreaker]

I'm of a mind to throw you down, if you keep this up.

[In spite of that, he carries on walking. His main intention was to distract her from hurting, and it seems to have worked well enough.

...Even if his mouth now kind of hurts in return.]

[psycholawgy]

[ Does it hurt when you plan backfires on you, Simon? Just like that time you were sent to jail for seven years to protect someone, and then somebody brings that case back to life and risks Athena's innocence?

Athena remains quiet as Simon walks. She starts at the night sky, then at Simon, then back at the night sky. Her hands are holding on to the jacket, as well as onto Widget, from underneath the cloth. But slowly, she pulls Widget out, and there's... a sound of a camera. ]

You're on candid camera!

[ Too late to say that now, though, Athena... ]

[shacklebreaker]

[He'd been entirely focused on getting her back, and keeping his mouth shut lest he get smacked again, that he doesn't notice her using Widget until it's too late. Enjoy that picture of him looking grim and determined.]

Athena-- Is this really the time for photography?!

[Maybe his plan was a little too effective. She's perking up awfully quickly.]

[psycholawgy]

[ She turns to the side, not looking at Simon. She holds Widget close to her. ]

Not really. But I wanted to take a picture, anyway.

[shacklebreaker]

...

[He can't argue with that face, though he still can't imagine why she'd want to take pictures now, of all times. Maybe she hit her head again, on top of everything else.]

We're not far from the apartments, now.

[psycholawgy]

Hey...

[ Well, she's not sure how else to call for his attention. Calling him by his name just seems so. . . formal, and that's what she's trying to avoid. If she wants to be friends with him, then she has to be casual around him. Or, rather, more casual than they already are. ]

I'm not really heavy, am I?

[ Tread carefully, Simon Blackquill. ]

[shacklebreaker]

[Good luck getting him to relax and act casual in a situation like this. He looks away from her, before replying.]

...No. You've simply grown since I last carried you.

[Which had been what he'd meant from the beginning, although she misinterpreted it.]

[psycholawgy]

[ Then maybe he should have been clearer about it!!!

But that does send relief all over Athena. ]

Well, I was much younger back then. . . [ A pause. ] It's different now.

[ And talking about this has made her slightly uncomfortable. Sure, she may have enjoyed being close to Simon than usual, but... she just wants to be on her own two feet now. By the time they get to the lobby to the apartments, she requests to be put down. ]

I can stay with you for a while tonight, can't I? Ryuko's probably out with her girlfriend.

... it's been that way recently.

[shacklebreaker]

[He puts her down as asked, and heads over to the elevator to call it down. The less time she's on her feet, the better.]

I guessed as much. [He glances back toward her. He doesn't particularly know Ryuko well, but he's observant, and it was hard to miss the pink-haired girl making increasing amounts of visits to their place. Playing third wheel can't be too fun for Athena.]

You know you don't have to ask. Come over whenever you please.

[psycholawgy]

[ She still clings onto him once her feet are on the ground. It's to balance herself, and that's totally the only reason there. And truthfully, just taking to Simon made a bit of the pain subside. It really is like that when you're with friends. ]

Really? I can do that?

You said that I might be-- something. . . [ She's trying to remember Simon's exact words back then, but she can't phrase it the same way he did. ] You said that I might be coming off too strong, or something.

[shacklebreaker]

...It had nothing to do with how you come across. [He helps her inside once the elevator arrives, then presses the button to their floor.]

Understand that I have spent the vast majority of the past seven years in isolation. I am unaccustomed to company. [Or accepting help or concern, of any kind. No matter how much he slowly gets acclimatised to it, it's still a long process.] Even so, if you need me, my door will always be open to you.

[psycholawgy]

[ She lets out a slight "oof" as she takes a few steps into the elevator, one arm still linked to Simon, while the other is making way for the handrails. ]

We can work that out, right?

[ Because gosh darn, Simon Blackquill. If you need saving again, she will dive right in. ]

[shacklebreaker]

It's been a work in progress ever since my arrival here.

[He quirks his lips into the ghost of a smile, still carefully supporting her as the doors close and they go up. The elevator reaches their floor, and he leads her out to his room.]

I'll prepare a bed for you. If you're tired from your ordeal, you should rest before aught else.

[psycholawgy]

[ She walks right by the wall, a hand grazing through it just in case she falls. Of course, Simon's supporting her too, so all is good. ]

It's fine. [ It looks like she's cheered up - and it's not just the fake kind of smile that she puts up when she's upset. ] I want to talk about what happened.

[shacklebreaker]

Very well. [As they reach his apartment, he swipes open the door, ushering her inside. Only when she's safely seated does he let go of her.]

Tell me everything that happened, starting from the beginning.

[She's been in court long enough to know the kind of thoroughness he expects from testimonies. He'll want to know everything, down to the last detail.]