alsohawkeye | ataraxion inbox

[She laughs--a laugh that's far more real than any of the ones previous.]

Tomorrow. Wow, you really want to tell me that stupid story, huh.

[ She gets a shoulder nudged into her side for her trouble. ]

No, I really want to see the stupid tree house. And not be stuck here in the dark feeling like shit.

[She tries to twist away without trying too hard to twist away, since excessive movement makes her brain feel like it's coming unstuck.]

Really, because I don't want to go anywhere. I didn't come all this way to climb out of your stupid bed and go down to the Gardens.

That's why I said tomorrow. When we feel better.

[ Which they totally will. By then. Whenever then is. ]

Hopefully.

[time is just a construct Kate]

If I want to go tomorrow. Which I might not. If we feel better.

If we feel better.

[ Time is not a flat circle but Kate makes this concession easily anyway. She even rubs idly up and down her back again, idle but sort of soothing. ]

Right now we're not going anywhere except hopefully to sleep. I am so tired.

You can sleep like this?

[Actually--]

Never mind. I'm not impressed or surprised. Just stop talking and go to sleep if you want to so bad.

I haven't yet but I'm going to try.

[ Kate likes to keep the temperature in her room down, especially when she's trying to sleep, but not so much that her hands are chilly when they slip under Johanna's sweatshirt, settling cool palms along her spine. It's an idle sort of intimacy, even innocent, just part of Kate arranging them to her own comfort. ]

You should, too.

[The touch of Kate's hands makes Johanna shiver in a completely different way. Small, probably noticeable, because they're pressed quite close together. Even through the thick layer of pain and settling comfort, she likes the feeling of Kate's hands. On other days, she's more successful at pretending that she doesn't give a damn, like she's unmovable. Today, that would be asking too much.]

Wow. Good suggestion.

[...But she's not so out of it or overwhelmed that she's going to miss out on the chance for sarcasm.]

I'll try it. Make sure you tell me when you come up with your next idea, okay?

Here's an idea, how about you fuck off. Or at least shut up.

[ Kate grumbles, but her hands are still gentle, skimming across muscle and bone, keeping Johanna close. She bumps her forehead against sternum in a tiny little headbutt and then settles again with another yawn. ]

[There's something extra comforting about Kate bitching at her, but also rubbing her back and leaning in against her--something about affection and negativity all tied up together. It's kind of fucked up, but Johanna likes it, so. Who cares.]

Please. I'm trying to sleep, Katie. Stop trying to distract me.

[ Kate snorts. There is something nice about it, not always but definitely now. It's familiar, an easy rhythm to drop back into, and somehow the negativity itself is affectionate, too. ]

You're the worst.

Shut up.

[Maybe it's delirium, maybe a weird premature spill of feelings--whatever it is, Johanna kisses the top of Kate's head. I'll tell you what it's not, though: it's not affectionate. This is a kiss so she shuts up.

(Maybe a tiny bit affectionate.)]

[ Kate shuts up. Positive reinforcement! ]

ataraxion inbox

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject