EVENT: BLANKET FIC

[trainmasters]

Who: All the lovely Heroes!
When: Day 44, morning
Where: Around the train

[ It may have been only a few days, but did that heatwave feel like it lasted forever to anyone else? No? Either way, it's gone now. Bringing with it a blessed coolness. Actually wait, it's cold-- too cold! Worse yet, not even going into the train seems to really help. Fortunately, someone seems to have been kind enough to leave some nice, fuzzy blankets lying around. Too bad it doesn't seem to help much unless you share them with someone...

Either way, you're in luck because you've got some new teammates on the train! The notification appears cheerfully on everyone's Chains:

WELCOME NEW HEROES

Enjoy the cold...? ]

[[ NOTES: You're welcome to make team posts if you like, or intro directly into this mingle if you haven't already. Until next month's placements, the cold snap will persist-- along with the lovely blankets lying around. Enjoy! ]]

Comments

[nhaamasblessing]

[well, considering he tried to stab her upon first meeting, "so I don't freeze to death" probably isn't high on his list of things he cares about. so...]

Y-you get b-bond p-points for p-physical a-affection, a-and you'll be w-warm.

[firstworldproblem]

Hmmmm.

[Turning back and heading towards the train.]

[nhaamasblessing]

[she has no idea if that's a yes or a no, but she's gonna follow after him because that's where she needs to go anyways, regardless.

though, her movements are slow and stiff and she's shivering quite badly, so she's trailing a few paces behind him.]

[firstworldproblem]

[Good thing he's slow!

Upon arriving back to their little pocket of civilization, and oh is it little, he makes a motion to her carriage.]

I would recommend changing prior. Those wet clothes will do you no favors.

[nhaamasblessing]

[is that a yes to warmth? or is that him just trying to book it while she was occupied? she's not sure, but she's gonna nod stiffly and head inside—]

Y-you can w-wait in here i-if y-you want.

[—keeping the door open for Emet-Selch if he chooses to come inside. she heads to her room and tries to change as quickly as possible with fingertips turning blue and stiff. when she's done she'll head back out, her shivering having only grown worse. the real question of the hour is: is Emet-Selch even still here?]

[firstworldproblem]

[Well, well, well. He did stay.

Emet-Selch is sitting on the edge of one of the couches closest to the fireplace. He's still in his coat with his elbow propped up on the couch arm, chin in hand as he stares at the fire.]

[nhaamasblessing]

[well, that IS a surprise. she even visibly looks surprised, though she's incredibly grateful, especially now that she was having trouble feeling her limbs. still stiff and a little clumsy, she approaches him, scooping up one of the blankets in her arms as she does.]

D-do you m-mind if I...?

[well, she didn't want to PRESUME regardless]

[firstworldproblem]

[He rolls his eyes.]

Now you decide to be shy. Sit. I would not have stayed had I not agreed to your request.

[bond]

[nhaamasblessing]

[oh thank goodness. immediately settling herself down next to him and draping the blanket over the top of them, which is so deliciously warm that she can't help but sigh happily. just to make sure it really counts as physical affection, she leans against him, head against his shoulder. she was still shivering, but it was less aggressive than it was before.]

Thank you.

Re: [bond]

[firstworldproblem]

Would be a waste for both of us to freeze to death all things considered.

[He doesn't move when she sits down next to him. Nor does he tilt his head from where it was resting on his palm when she wraps the blanket around them and tucks in.]

[nhaamasblessing]

[she hadn't expected him to "cuddle", as she had put it — meeting the base requirements was fine by her.]

Certainly so.

[She could feel warmth seeping back into her bones, and her eyes close in contentment. that whole event in the water had been rather stupid, hadn't it? she'd just really not liked him implying that she was less without memories than she had been before, and she wasn't sure what it was, but something about Emet-Selch and the way they had met, knowing she had hurt him, made her want to impress him. he almost definitely didn't have her best interests at heart, but...]

Are you willing to tell me anything else about where we came from?

[firstworldproblem]

[He is warmer and content for it. He's also stubborn and won't admit it. At the question he does tilt his eyes to look at her.]

Willing, yes, but do you truly want to learn about a place you can never return to.

[nhaamasblessing]

Can we truly never return even once we're done saving the universe from Malice?

[firstworldproblem]

'Tis hard to say. How long will it take? How much will have changed? Would you even recognize it, I wonder.

[nhaamasblessing]

...I think I'd still like to know what it was like, all the same.

[firstworldproblem]

Very well. Ask your questions. An attempt I will make to humor you.

[nhaamasblessing]

Well, I suppose first... what was it called?

1/2

[firstworldproblem]

[firstworldproblem]

The Source.