richesse | AQUA

[Up they go, slow and careful. In Room 1, it seems their roommates are busy either showering off viscera or otherwise occupied elsewhere.

Aqua sits on his bunk with relief.]

I feel like an old man.

[Such a banal thing to complain about, after all that.]

[ she laughs a little. ]

You’re too pretty to be an old man. Come on, show me. Is it bad?

No. I could take care of it myself, but I had a feeling you'd protest.

[He unbuttons the bottom couple buttons of his shirt and hikes it up so she can see. (Sadly, he is a pretty boy, nowhere near as shredded as Ed Rothstaylor.) A little blood has seeped through her makeshift bandages, but not so much to be deeply worried.

While his expression remains the same as usual, Aqua has to look away while she looks. He's a little warm around the face, too.]

...Are you sure you're all right, after touching the... blot?

[ hiking up his shirt still gets her, though. give her a sec ]

Then at least let me help you with supplies, Dr. Hoshino. [ she says it teasingly. ]

… I’m fine. At least, I feel fine, after that … outburst. How strange. I just felt … bad.

['Dr. Hoshino,' huh. What a weird blending of identity.]

We don't have enough clothes for you to keep ripping yours up for me. There's a T-shirt of mine that should do if we need more dressing.

[Holding the hem of his shirt up with one hand, he searches for the knot holding the bandages in place with the other.]

...Will you tell someone if it comes back?

[ she laughs. ]

How considerate of you. It would be nice if we had medical supplies…

[ in the midst of going to get his t-shirt, she pauses, glancing at him. ]

… well, if you’re that concerned. I will.

[It's the Aqua T-shirt, of course.]

Of course I'm concerned.

[Ah, there it is. He picks apart the knot and starts carefully unwinding the rags, biting his tongue when it pulls a little on the wound.]

[ oh, stop it, how cute. she almost feels bad tearing it up. ]

… may I ask why? We barely know each other.

[He looks up from his work to give her the most deadpan stare ever.

GIRL YOU BARELY KNEW HIM THREE DAYS AGO AND YET.]

[ LAUGHS ]

I have my reasons. That doesn’t mean I know yours.

...I think it's natural to worry when someone's treated you kindly.

[If there's nothing else they've learned from today's "ritual," it's that, isn't it?

He finishes unwinding the bandages, lets them fall to the floor, then sighs and starts carefully undoing the rest of his shirt, trying to keep it from touching the wound.]

Should've just taken this off all the way to start with.

To worry? Or to care? What an interesting choice of words.

[ GLANCES AT HIS SHIRTLESSNESS

GLANCES AWAY

GLANCES BACK………………

ahem. Brings him strips of t-shirt. ]

I think the original word was 'concern,' which means could mean either.

[He should wash the wound first, he thinks, just to stay on the safe side. So he stands. Wobbles a little bit. No shirt.]

[ oh for the love of.

even though she’s visibly blushing, she goes to him and offers him her hands. ]

Don’t fall, now.

So you’re concerned… and worried. Not for my well-being, I assume. Perhaps my motives?

[After this many days to get used to her help, he's gotten used to swallowing his pride and taking it--and her hands. Once he's steady, he opens his eyes again.]

Can't it be both?

I suppose.

[ what a noncommittal answer. It’s like she doesn’t entirely believe him.

With all the care in the world, she’ll help him to the bathroom. ]

[He does the best he can to clean up with what's available in the bathroom. If only this were a hospital. Then at least he could be a useless sadsack in a more expert kind of way.]

...Human beings get attached easily. You've been the one most constantly at my side.

Why wouldn't I care?