corrinesbell | 118. Icing

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118. Icing

[With the weather turning colder again, particularly cold today, it would feel like a long walk to anywhere.

It's especially long when you wander far out of your way in a rather sizable arc, because you are so absolutely sure of where you are going when in fact, no, you are wrong. That about sums it up for Sheena, who finally stops right where she is and sits down. Cold and snow be damned, she's sore and tired and not walking anymore.

Which is the wrong way to think. But there's a building through the trees ahead, and stiff fingers (why do her gloves have no fingers in this weather?) pull open the journal and write only:]

C3

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I dunno. A while.

[until she finally had some sense of direction. Doesn't matter, it's cold today and ten minutes would've been enough.]

...I see.

[Well, he had given her the choice, but considering her state, Homura decides that it would be better for her continued well-being if they prioritized haste over bravado. So Sheena will have one warning: the suddenly disappearence of that fire Homura's been making up to this point. Then she'll find herself in the arms of a pretty strong and capable demi-god. The movements are quick and precise, and while Sheena can struggle, Homura's not the sort who is physically overcome easily.

Oh, and he'll also start moving immediately, at a significantly faster pace than before.]

[The fire going out was a surprise and she was just about to protest. Then he picked her up. ...Just this once she can let her pride take the hit, she thinks. It's kind of painful to be carried, in that distant pain-through-cold way, but it's a good sacrifice for speed and getting inside.]

[In Homura's mind, if the woman is so willing to walk in her condition, she has the spirit to put up with the pain of pressure on her bruises. Regardless, he won't make her suffer long, putting Sheena down again once they've made it to the building.]

I'll spare you from having to walk up to the top floor where my room is. [There's still a few empty apartments on the first floor, and Homura will lead Sheena into one of those.]

[...When not a ninjasicle, she may learn to like you, Homura.]

Thanks. Just being...o-out of the cold is good.

[in here, in the light, her hands and feet are sort of frozen-looking. Almost blue. In fact, her lips are kind of blue too]

[Maybe so. If nothing else, they can be snarky at each other? Homura's good at that.

He's also fairly observant, and aware of the fact that blue isn't a good color on most mortals. He frowns, then reaches down to clasp Sheena's hands in his.]

Was it stubbornness that kept you out this long?

[Homura will be sending warmth into her hands as he speaks. He can respect pride and will, certainly, but there's also a point where intelligence has to come into play.]

I got lost.

[that is all the explanation he will get. She just really wants to sit...no, to lie down for a while.

But first she has to tell Zelos what happened. Somehow she'll manage to do that even though he's warming up her hands and she does not want to stop him.]

[Uh huh.]

Then the answer to my question is yes, since you had your journal with you.

[Lucky for Sheena, Homura isn't going to stop. And he's also a powerhouse, so he doesn't tire from minor things like this.]

You are aware how close you might have been to losing a limb, I'll assume.

I didn't- I-I didn't know I was lost.

[and after (1)the Malnosso for a week and (2)being stranded in the cold for who knows how long before she came to her senses, she just wasn't thinking straight in any sense of the word.]

[Though many would likely accept those excuses, Homura's a different breed. He appreciates what little of Sheena's spirit he's seen, but he's also fairly aware of the fact that being dead would serve as a hamper to it.]

You didn't know, or you refused to see? There is a difference between the two that's particularly relevant in this situation.

[Once color has returned to her hands, Homura will motion for the woman to sit somewhere.]

I'll work on your feet next, but I'd rather you not topple over while I do so.

[sitting. Sitting is good. But she looks a little spooked at the idea of...well, of her feet. ...It would just be weird. But look, she still can't form totally coherent thoughts and has frozen edges and he's giving her a lecture.]

I didn't know. [she's quite sure of that one. She was on the right path and then...not.]

[Weird only for her. Homura's got different ideas than most about what constitutes personal space and the invasion thereof. Certainly he doesn't look uncomfortable at all when he moves to warm her feet in much the same manner as he did her hands.]

Hopefully you will should something like this happen again.

[oh. The feeling coming back into those numb feet actually kind of hurts. Thus, there will be no reply, because she can't trust herself not to yelp instead]

[Homura recognizes the pain for what it is, but doesn't let up. He will, however, work in silence for the time being, letting the woman rest some.]

...Who are you anyway?

[because there is a chance she was stupid to trust him. But almost anyone looks friendly after the Malnosso get through with you.]

[Even if it turned out to have been the wrong thing, it's a bit late in the day for the woman to be casting suspicion. Homura grins faintly as he glaces up at her.]

Homura. And you are?

Sheena.

[A bit late, indeed. But he hasn't shown any intent to harm her so far.]

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118. Icing

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[action] more than willing to change anything in this post if you like. just let me know? ^_^

[action] ffff no, goodness, I'm not that rigid.

[action] \o/

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