ic contact;

[psycholawgy]

You've reached Athena Cykes. I'm currently unavailable, but leave a message and I'll get back to you pronto. Danke! (voice/call → text → video → action)

Comments

[sortileges]

[ It isn't supposed to fluster her or anything like that, it's more to try and offer reassurance. ]

You've already seen how many times Arthur has nearly gotten me killed-- mind you, he never really put a pillow to my face, you definitely went up and beyond with that one --but I'm still his friend, aren't I?

Though I'm going to have to request that whenever we hang out in future that you aren't equipped with any pillow of any kind now.

[ He tries to soothe her by rubbing her back a little, letting her just slump in place. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she watches the light from widget change from dark blue to sky blue. is she really back to normal now? yeah, she likely is. widget would know, especially, even if she herself hasn't realised it yet.

rather than being back to normal, though, she's just terribly relieved that he said that they're still friends. that's just the most important thing to her right now. ]

I won't even hit you anymore, I promise.

[ countdown to how many days (hours, minutes?!) until athena breaks this promise.

she tries to return the hug, but she's too embarrassed to wrap her hands around him again. so instead, she just puts her hands on his sides. that... counts, doesn't it? ]

[sortileges]

[ At this angle he really can't see, but he can sort of feel it just in how she moves, half returning the hold yet not completely. He manages a soft laugh at her promise. She can't see it like this, but he shakes his head. ]

You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.

[ His hand moves to her head, drawing her in until he can kiss the side of her forehead. Her hair is in the way so it's more of a ghost of a touch, hidden by her vast amounts of hair anyway, just in case Ai is peeking at this show of extreme stupidity. ]

[psycholawgy]

I'm going to do it. [ keep her promise, she means.

her grip on merlin's shirt grows tighter as she says it, too.

now that it seems like they're having their usual conversation, she's hit by a flurry of embarrassment. it shows by how pink her cheeks have flushed, though thankfully, she's looking down for him to be able to see. it's that feeling of something close to intoxication—not that she would know what it's like—and she doesn't know if she's still herself or not. ]

Are you staying for dinner?

kills mai

[sortileges]

Sure you are. [ He sounds amused at least, which is better than the struggle he'd had before with trying to not hold a grudge for this (though that doesn't mean she'll be able to live it down either...)

When her hands tighten on his shirt he shifts to lean back on the couch, pulling her with him. She might need to twist herself a bit but... well, it's more comfortable like this. ]

Ai? [ He looks back over his shoulder, and this is a little bit like payback in itself, even if he might not realise. ] Athena wants to know if I'm staying for dinner.

[ He gives Ai a look as if to say please help me with this baka ]

[emotive]

Hm?

[Ai peeks out of the kitchen (she may or may not have been listening in case things escalated, but there was no need to worry about that).]

Of course you may stay for dinner! We can't just shoo you out so soon.

[Also after being smothered, that'd be kind of rude]

[psycholawgy]

[ she does shift in her seat too, and get comfortable, not letting go. when he has to ask ai that question, she has to hide her face out of embarrassment so she buries her face further on merlin's chest. why did he have to ask... ]

I'll give you all my macarons.

[sortileges]

[ His eyebrows raise at Ai for that, but he resists the urge to ask if it's the reason why. Then again, Ai had asked him to have dinner with them both a week or so ago. He just didn't expect it to be under this circumstance. ]

Do you need any help?

[ Even as he asks it his hand is moving into Athena's hair, smoothing it out from before, but also to try and calm her down. If only he knew it was embarrassment that was the problem. ]

You don't need to give me all your macarons.

[emotive]

Can you help me rinse the vegetables? I'll be taking care of the stir fry.

[Ai is noticing these small gestures and she briefly glances at Athena, with a slight questioning look on her face, but she doesn't say anything. She's sure her friend will catch her up to speed in due time.]

Athena? Can you help by getting the rice ready?

[psycholawgy]

Yes, I can do that.

[ she lets go of merlin and straightens up, fixing her bangs at the same time. what a ride today has been. she feels warm and safe now, though she can't say the same for her heart when it's knocking at her ribs. the movie's still playing, though it seems like it's almost ending since it's at the courtroom scene already. she doesn't say anything about it though. she just gets up and heads to the kitchen. ]

[sortileges]

[ He watches her to ensure she's feeling okay before she goes to prepare the rice, and actually stretching slightly, he stands and heads to the kitchen as well. Whatever Ai has set aside for him to do he'll do with little complaint.

Though he does ask: ] Did I choose alright? [ That's about the pudding, ofc. ]

[emotive]

Oh, yes! The pudding was good! Thank you, Merlin.

[She's chopping up chicken and some plates and utensils float by their heads to be set on the table. Telekinesis is nifty.]

[psycholawgy]

[ she grabs a scrunchie from the counter and ties her hair up before getting some water to put into the rice cooker. let's not have any hairs falling into the food, after all. but she just does what she's told without really saying anything. not that there's much she can comment on, anyway. ]

[sortileges]

[ Telekinesis sure is nifty. He has to duck out of the way at one point due to walking by at the wrong time, but soon enough all of his section is done and by Ai's side instead. ]

When you get bored do you just make them dance to amuse yourself?

[ He really isn't good with silence.......... sorry. ]

[emotive]

Not with plates and utensils. That's a bit dangerous, so I play with origami paper instead. Much safer, but just as fun.

[Yes, Athena and Merlin, think about your life, think about your choices; although Ai will push the bowl of chicken over to Athena so she can season it, thank you friend.]

[psycholawgy]

[ she's excited to eat, and to help out, of course, though her means of helping out might be a bit too much. in this case, she puts a bit too much seasoning on the chicken. not on purpose, though. this woman just has no self-control. though at least the flavour isn't destroyed. it's still there.

just... a bit too much. :)

she's learning ok. give her a break. ]

[sortileges]

[ Ai why did you give her access to the seasoning... ]

...That would make a lot of sense. [ Guess who doesn't do that?? Yeah, this guy. No one invented safety regulations back then okay. ]

[emotive]

[Practice makes perfect and Ai is forgiving!]

If I work with anything heavier, it's for training and I do that outside the apartment as a courtesy to Athena.

[Can't be a bad roommate after all!]

Do you have a roommate, Merlin?

[sortileges]

[ He glances back at Athena, hoping that she isn't still going at it with the seasoning--seems that they're safe for now. ]

Do you know Shigeru? Shigaru Miyata?

[emotive]

The name doesn't ring a bell. I must have not met him yet then.

[Ai will be taking the bowl anyways and taking out cups for drinks too.]

There's a lot of people I've yet to meet even though Athena and I have been here a while. She probably knows more people than I do though.

[psycholawgy]

[ athena suddenly bursts into laughter, but manages to control herself before it gets boisterous. ]

I remember when my goal was to befriend every colonist in this place. Now I know that it's not possible.

[sortileges]

He arrived when I did actually, we just figured we could help each other out. [ Merlin pauses then, unable to stop a smile when Athena bursts into laughter and speaks as well. ]

I'd understand it if both of you knew plenty of people here though, you've been here a while and you're both friendly.

[emotive]

[Yes, yes, get along, good!]

Ah, well, Athena's more outgoing than I am. I still have struggles when it comes to understanding people.

[psycholawgy]

Ai, you're a lot more outgoing now than you were before.

[ she puts the chicken on ai's side of the kitchen then squeezes her best friend's shoulder before she passes and heads to her spot. ]

Got anything else for me to do?

[sortileges]

You mentioned a certain someone was responsible for that when we spoke before, didn't you?

[ Ai don't be weird... they're all friends in here?! ]