live_ringer | ☆019-And how the green grows there.

I could.

ETA 1800.

[Someone is trying to be vague.]

Roger that.

((ooc: Quicklog?))

[After finishing her shifts and checking on the construction site, at approximately 6pm Stellaris reached Section 3. Her house wasn't entirely spared from vine growth, but the few hanging outside her windows seemed benign. She stood at doorstep, digging into her jacket pocket for the key.]

[Just as Stellaris managed to get the door open Lyle rounded a corner and came into clear view of the door of the house. A couple of severed vines were hanging off of the bag of essentials he had tossed together, a testament to how stubborn the little buggers had been.

He raised a hand as he called out a greeting.]

Yo.

Hey.

[She smiled rather nervously. After re-reading her replies to him, she wondered if she had overreacted with the spur-of-the-moment addendum regarding a couch. On the other hand, inking it out after the fact seemed like it would attract more attention.]

So, that persistent? I can't really say I'm surprised.

[Oh, he intends to address the couch comment, but not until they've gotten settled inside. She gets a smile back with the slightest quirk of a brow.]

The little buggers are livelier than I'd expected. Not just on the outside, either, but they've managed to creep there way inside of the place, too. They seemed to have something against me packing to leave, since they kept crawling over and tugging out everything I put in the bag.

[She stepped inside, parked her backpack besides the door and began removing her shoes, then jacket. She glanced behind with a nose-scrunching smile.]

Luckily they didn't resort to hanging you upside down like with one of my coworkers.

[Noting the location of her things, Lyle deposited his work boots beside the door, then moved across the room so he could deposit his bag inside the door of the bedroom.]

I wouldn't put it past them. Did someone at least manage to cut the poor sucker down before too much of the blood rushed to his head?

[Coming back across the living/dining area, he pulled out a chair and parked himself in it.] By the way, thanks for letting me stay for however long. Would you mind if I ask something?

[Stellaris moved her backpack to the not-bedroom, also known as the room where electrical whatevers and secret notes got worked on, then followed into the bedroom to check on Shizuko. It was sniffing on Lyle's bag when she did. She smiled, picked up the sock monster and carried it on her shoulder like a gym towel.]

Hm, I already left for Housekeeping when Bookman wrote that, but I think so. Well, hope so.

[Back in the dining area, she approached Lyle until her knees brushed his calf.]

You don't even need to ask. [She leaned down, intending to give him a peck on the cheek.] What is it?

If he was in good enough shape to write about it he must not have been too bad off.

[Lyle let a hand rest on the small of her back as the kiss made contact with his cheek.]

I know I don't have to. [His lips pursed for a moment and he glanced askance at her, his expression both measuring and hard to read, before saying what was on his mind.] Which is why I'm a little at a loss as to why you would think I'd prefer a couch.

[Hand on her back was a good sign, and she rested a hand on his shoulder in response. Pursed lips weren't so much. The smile on her lips faded as she cast a nervous side glance.]

I didn't think or state you would prefer a couch.

[She just insinuated an assumption of negation. That was completely different.]

[He didn't break contact, but now he was definitely making the effort to turn and look her directly in the eye. His brows drew together and a small frown started tugging at the edges of his mouth.]

All right, then. Why bring up couches at all?

[Her gaze met his for a second before averting again. Rush of blood from the sudden tension began slightly reddening her cheeks. Fair skin sometimes made keeping a poker face physically difficult. She relented.]

Oh, alright... there wasn't a legit reason.

[She took a breath before her volume dropped a notch.]

...she offered hers too fast.

[Now they were getting somewhere. Once she relented his own expression softened a bit.]

And so you thought you'd be beaten to the punch? Or that she was being too hasty in general?

I don't know. Everyone else focused on the vines.

[She pouted, gaze still alternating between him and everywhere but. Of course she wouldn't have been beaten to the punch! If it was such a time-sensitive matter in the first place, then what would be the difference between being in a relationship or not? Or at least that was what she thought should apply. The truth was she felt somewhat insecure and she wasn't used to feeling like that.]

...I just don't like it.

I'm fairly sure nothing was meant by it. She'd have done the same for Gai, Genius, or anyone else she hangs around.

[The pout didn't go unnoticed and he let out a light sigh that was part exasperation and part amused affection. Moving his hand from her back to her hip, Lyle attempted to coax her down to sit on his lap.]

Anyway, I still ended up here, didn't I? Same as I have been and same as I plan on doing in the future. [He really had been spending a lot of time at her place, especially after the she had re-hatched. He had just felt more at ease being where he could see she was okay.]

[Letting herself be coaxed, she sat obliquely on his lap, but still not looking directly in his eyes. At the shift in position, Shizuko crawled down her shoulder and onto her lap. It alternated between staring at Lyle and Stellaris.]

Hmm. [She muttered noncommittally. Not that his words had no weight, but as far as journal interactions were concerned, that notion was testable. And at the end of the day, he was right. He was here, with her, and not with anyone else.] You did.

[She stared at her hands now. Shizuko was playfully gnawing at her fingertips with its button teeth, a sign of impatience. It was last fed three days ago.]

Sorry I overreacted. Should I apologize to Fred, too?

'S all right. [One hand rested on her shoulder and gave it a squeeze.]

As for Fred--[He tilted his head back and forth in a motion that connoted deliberation.]--I honestly don't know that she would have caught it. I kind of know your tones, so it's be easier for me to get. If she brings it up I would. Otherwise. [He shrugged.]

Yes, apologizing without context would be a bit awkward...

[She shifted to land another kiss on his forehead. Her eyes lingered for a while at the small, faint scar at his temple. Meanwhile, feeling forgotten and squished, a small sock monster had had enough.]

Ow! [Stellaris abruptly turned her head and pulled her hand away from Shizuko's mouth. She sighed and got up on her feet, returning the sock monster to her shoulder after a head-tap of reproach.] Yes, yes, feeding time.

[She turned to Lyle before heading to her room to get socks.] It will soon be feeding time for us too... are you hungry yet?

And a little confusing, I'm sure.

[He'd closed his eyes in the wake of the light gesture of affection, so when Stella suddenly jerked and cried out, he practically jumped beneath her from the start.]

Geez. The little guy certainly knows how to catch your attention.

[When she went to go and rummage for socks he stood, stretching just a bit.] A little. Which reminds me, if I'm going to be staying for an extended period, I should pitch in for the food bill.

Okay. Just a moment. [She pulled out a bright green checkered sock from the 'food-socks' drawer and left Shizuko to its own devices in the room.]

Sure. Do you want to go through this week's grocery list to calculate the cost later or—?

[Precision: A Way of Life.]

[Precise, indeed, and he chuckles a little at it.]

That's one way of doing it, sure. [He nodded toward the bedroom where Shizuko was chowing down.] Now I have to wonder, do the socks fall under the food budget or the clothing budget?

Pet food, of course. [Casually, as if he just asked her whether Earth had one moon. Silly Lyle. She walked over to the refrigerator and pulled out ingredients for chicken and corn soup that she had prepared in the morning.] Unless you want to wear it. But the socks I bought for food are usually the kind no one seemed to want to wear.

Of course. I should have known [It was hard to tell whether the matter-of-factness of the pet food budget was a sincere testament to her tendency to plan or one of her straight-faced jokes.]

I suppose I could. With the boots I wear no one would be the wiser. But I think the little guy would hold it against me if I started wearing his meals around for kicks. [He leaned forward to peer into the bedroom.] Your little roommate isn't prone to grudges, is it?

[She put water in a pan and turned on the stove, then went back to the living room.

Seriously, it's pet food budget. :|]

I don't know. [She laughed softly.] I suppose as long as you don't snatch the sock from under its nose, it wouldn't.

☆019-And how the green grows there.

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