psychedelica | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ so he'd been doing a pretty damn good job avoiding her this week, all things considered, but Hikage does need to go back to their room sooner or later. After the investigation is probably a good time - there will be something to talk about. Something that isn't a moment of passion under the influence. The love potion has long worn off, but the damage to Hikage's pride hasn't.

(Nor have the memories of... actually enjoying it. When you haven't truly experienced love or happiness in so long, it sticks with you...)

But he's not worrying about that right now. He has to concentrate on survival and figuring this out! When Steph enters the room, she'll see him looking through a nightstand where he's been storing some of his few belongings - and she'll also see him jump a mile when the door opens. ]

Oh -- S-Stephanie. Uh...

[ ok, good first play, hikage ]

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[ on one hand, steph completely understands why hikage has been avoiding her. it was to be expected, and she once again regrets actually taking his hand while he was under the influence. on the other, it's kind of annoying that it has been close to impossible to actually talk to him this week.

she raises an eyebrow before closing the door behind her. she's got you now, binch. ]

Hey. You okay?

[ trapped like a rat in a cage... or a butterfly in a net?! whatever. either way, he's not getting out of this again, and he knows it. Honestly, it's about time he just dealt with it. Their lives are tied together, so it'd be detrimental to him to keep her at arms' length. He sighs, composing himself slightly, then turns around more fully, brushing some hair out of his face. ]

... Sorry. About Monday. Jae-ha put something in my tea. [ he sounds less than pleased about this... ] I'm fine now, so just forget that happened.

[ that's probably for the best. thanks to the empathy, it'll be pretty easy for her to tell that he's not as fine as he says he is, in these close quarters especially; the romantic feelings that blotted out mostly everything else are gone, and now it's clear that he's just feeling nervous and confused... and behind that, there's a strange sense of hopelessness and anger just simmering. ]

I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have kissed you.

[ it was just so easy to be swept up in those feelings of love, and the beautiful comment took her so completely off guard that she took his offered hand. he probably doesn't think that she is anymore, and that's kind of sad. she pushes the thought away. ]

So... sorry. For enabling you like that.

[ he wasn't expecting her to apologize; his eyes widen a fraction. She'd be well in her rights to be furious with him, honestly. But even if he knew logically that she wouldn't be angry at him, considering her behavior, he didn't expect her to feel bad about it. And that only makes his other question burn more, though he hadn't intended on asking it. He opens his mouth once, shuts it, then tries again, squaring his shoulders. ]

... Why did you?

[ surely it can't be due to actual interest in him, despite how convinced he'd been of the opposite in that potion-induced moment. ]

... it doesn't matter.

[ it's said with a shrug, like she genuinely isn't sure. stephanie really wants to kick herself right now. ]

But you already have enough to deal with here. So I shouldn't have added to it.

[ yeah he does, thanks for noticing steph!! ]

It matters. Are you attracted to me? [ unlike before, he says this with near-clinical detachment, although one gets the sense it's not entirely genuine - like he's making himself say it. ] Shirasu is a better option if you want that kind of attention.

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