002; Video

[maipokerface]

[Okay, now she's not just bored and unhappy. She's bored, unhappy and mildly sick. Or what feels like being a little sick anyhow.]

So this starts off like a cold, right? How bad is it going to end up getting.

Comments

[upholsteredvelvet]

Wh-- But that's not my fault! You're wording it all weirdly!

[maipokerface]

I'm just saying what happens here. Your mind is the one filling in the blanks.

[upholsteredvelvet]

--It's not like that!

[He just feels very intensely about cuddles!!]

[maipokerface]

Why don't you explain it to me then.

[upholsteredvelvet]

[He flails helplessly for a second and then sighs.]

I don't-- I'm not used to-- it's a touchy subject.

[maipokerface]

Obviously.

[upholsteredvelvet]

E-Either way, it's not the point! I was simply trying to be helpful.

[maipokerface]

You do know it would probably just be easier if you offered me a handshake, right?

[upholsteredvelvet]

I wasn't serious about the fires, I was just trying to...

[Be cute? No, he isn't going to say that.]


..To be funny.

[maipokerface]

Color me surprised.

[Said in the flattest voice ever. That said though...]

Thanks, I guess. Some people like to have a sense of humor about these things.

[upholsteredvelvet]

It helps to make things less awkward, ideally. Apparently I'm just rubbish at it.

[maipokerface]

[The woman shrugs casually.]

I thought it was pretty funny.

[Can't you tell by her laugh earlier? C'mon.]

[upholsteredvelvet]

Then maybe I'm not as rubbish as I thought.

[maipokerface]

Maybe not.

[She goes quiet there, studies the video for a while and finally adds:]

I'll make a deal with you.

[upholsteredvelvet]

...A deal? What is it?

[maipokerface]

Meet up with me a couple of times a week. We'll trade hugs or something. I haven't figured out what's more effective yet as far as physical contact goes.

[upholsteredvelvet]

That isn't a deal, it's a favour.

[But he isn't refusing.]

[maipokerface]

It would be a favor if you got nothing from it. Unless I missed something pretty vital, I'm fairly sure you need physical contact as much as I do.

[upholsteredvelvet]

There are perks to being an unwitting teenaged father.

[maipokerface]

[Wait, hold up.]

You have a kid?

[upholsteredvelvet]

Adoptive, adoptive!

[He only realised too late how that sounded...]

[maipokerface]

[Her brows raise up a bit at his reaction. Hey if he had a kid, it wasn't like she really cared. It was more a surprise than anything.]

That works out well then. Kids are always clingy.

[Or well Tom-Tom is.]

[upholsteredvelvet]

I don't know that I'd call her clingy, but more or less. I don't mind doing you a favour, though.

[maipokerface]

[She waves a hand there.]

I'll manage.

[upholsteredvelvet]

Yes, you're doing a terribly good job of that, aren't you?