Suou Katsuya

There's a long silence while she processes this.

"People are gossiping about that already?" Sigh. Very audible sigh. "I'm just going to stay in bed forever. Clearly I can't go anywhere or do anything."

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"They're not gossiping he literally stalked me to where I was working. I swear I thought someone had kidnapped you with how intense he was." Jim holds in a sigh because he seriously should not be doing this.

He can't keep his own life in line how is he supposed to manage other peoples?

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"He what? Oh, gods." She's going to sound muffled now because she is literally trying to hide under her pillows. "Tell him to leave you alone if you want. I know I screwed up, but I really don't deserve this."

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"Wait. What? Verity. VERITY stop hiding from me." He knows. He knows you Verity.

"You didn't screw up-- he did. I told him to get over himself and go apologize to you. That's why I was calling. I wanted you to know he's probably gonna try to get ahold of you."

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She's trying to hide from everything. Particularly herself. She always knows exactly how terrible she is. Yay curse.

"Thank you for being on my side. But I did. I'm not entirely sure how, but I did. Thanks for the warning."

She's staying under these pillows. It seems safe here. As safe as anything will ever be. "I'm really sorry he bothered you."

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"Verity." Jim's tone has shifted. It's softer now.

"Ver. Listen to me. You both are telling me the same thing here. I didn't let him hide from it, and I don't want you hiding either. You didn't let me run away from my fucked up nightmares. Didn't let me push you away." Can she hear the self depreciating chuckle Jim gives? It's quiet.

"I'm not gonna let you push your friends away either. Come on. Doesn't that sound better than hiding and having to sit with nothing but yourself for company?"

Edited (Wrong icon) Date: 2015-10-23 05:23 am (UTC)

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"That was different," she grumbles. As far as she's concerned, that's the truth.

But then there's a long silence while she thinks about it.

"I'd rather be alone in hating me." It's an ugly, horrible thing to admit. She hopes he doesn't understand. "I've spent most of my life alone with myself. I understand it. This... I don't understand. I don't know what I keep doing wrong, but I know he deserves better."

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"I know how that is. It's the hardest thing to not be able to lie about." Jim runs his free hand through his hair and sighs.

"Look, neither one of you is doing anything wrong. People step on each other's toes, arguments happen. That's life, Ver. I swear to god he was saying he didn't deserve to talk to you right now, so you two are doing the same thing and that's not gonna make anyone happy."

Jim looks around the Nexus, gathers up his PADD finally.

"Look, I'm gonna let you go, okay? You've probably got company coming soon, and I don't think you want to be seen pretending you're a burrito of tears and loathing."

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"I'm always a burrito of self-loathing," she points out. She's trying to make it sound like a joke.

"And I swear to god, if you tell me to be the bigger person, I'm going to find you just so I can hit you. But... I'll try to stay calm. Okay?" That's asking a lot right now. "Thanks for the warning, and the pep talk."

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"Me too, Ver. I'm just better at hiding it from everyone but you." Jim laughs because it's easier to laugh and pretend they're joking.

"How about if I tell you to make sure your makeup isn't running and that you aren't dripping snot out of your nose, sis?"

Oh, family. He won't hold her up for much longer though. Apologies may be needed after the tease, but then Jim is heading back toward his door so if this goes south Verity can find him but not police officers.

"I'll catch you later, okay?"

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"That's what big sisters are for," she reminds him with a fond tone.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll wash my face." The promise is made with a sigh. She doesn't mind the teasing. It's half the reason she loves him so much: he can make her laugh at herself. "Okay. Love you."

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"Right back atcha."

She even gets a text a moment later.

<3

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Aww. That's affectionate, for him. She'll take it.

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Okay. Okay.

Verity hates movies, so no movies. She loves coffee, so chocolate covered espresso beans are purchased first.

Okay. You've got this, Katsuya.

He must have walked back and forth past the same shop in the commercial district five times now. The owner just stepped out to ask if he was lost. Irrelevant.

It's not hard to see why she's so upset. he should have been more understanding. Is it bad if he buys her tissues? She probably has those why did you even go into the drug store.

Wait, wait she likes to cuddle where did that shop he had been passing by go? He's going to get her a stuffed animal. And then ice cream like Kirk told him to. He's got this.

He's been standing in front of the tower for three minutes. He does not have this. Why did he think he had this. What happens if he asks and the tower won't open? Guess he'll have his answer. Oh man.

"I'd...like to see Verity."

He's never going to get used to talking to a door.

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Talking to a door takes some getting used to. But at least it opens?

Verity's washed her face, and is looking... well, not happy, but she's not actively crying anymore. She's curled up on the couch with a lot of yarn in reds and grays, doing something that's neither knitting nor crochet that's turning it into a rather lovely stripey blanket.

There's a fresh pot of coffee and, yes, she's got tissues at hand.

She glances up when he comes inside, not quite meeting his gaze but acknowledging that she knows he's there. A foot pokes out from under her project and nudges some of the yarn she isn't using into the basket on the floor. An invitation to sit, perhaps?

"I'm sorry I ruined things with your friend."

((So many pretty colors!))
bouquet

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He's not sure why the door opening is not much relief. He's...actually Katsuya isn't sure what to expect. Crying, yelling, any number of things would be understandable. But no, she's just sitting there all mature and collected and he is going to throw up he feels so awful about all of this.

"..I" Wait.

Why is she apologizing? He looks rather shellshocked. He's also holding a purple stuffed animal in one arm and a gift bag in the other. He looks ridiculous. He quietly offers both the plush animal and the bag her way. Chocolate covered espresso beans and chocolate cherry ice cream are inside the bag.

He didn't want the condensation to get on her toy.

"...I'm sorry I hurt you, Verity." He'll take a seat, gingerly. "I didn't think that...well. It would be accurate to say simply that I didn't think at all and I should have."

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She threw up already, so, she's just processing things faster is all.

He doesn't look ridiculous. Not to her. She tucks the needle into the blanket and sets it back in her work basket to take the gifts, smiling faintly at the little otter before it and the bag are set on the table. Gifts are nice, but he's important. More yarn is brushed aside, this time sending several balls bouncing and rolling under furniture where she'll have to fish it out later. But it's the yarn's fault for getting in her way because she's scooting across the distance between them to give him a hug.

"You were trying to do something nice, and I appreciate that. I do. I'm sorry I upset you so much."

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She always looks so much more together than he is.

At least to Katsuya anyway. He doesn't know why or how she's forgiving him, but she is and he sinks into the hug before pulling her closer, nearly into his lap.

"It wasn't your thing. I'm sorry I tried to force it. You're going through so much and I keep not helping accidentally and I feel awful." He's kissing the top of her head, her forehead interchangeably in between holding her close.

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Funny, she thinks of it the other way around. He always looks so adult and capable in his suit, and she feels like a complete mess.

"I forgive you. Please don't feel awful. That's my job right now." That's an attempt at a joke. He can pull her as close as he likes, and when it seems like he wants her in his lap she'll slide into it without complaint. "We're still learning about each other, and sometimes there's going to be things one of us is excited about that the other isn't so excited about. And that's okay, right? It's okay if sometimes I want to stand back and watch while you do something I don't understand?"

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"No, no. You don't need to feel worse." He's murmuring into her hair now, so it's a bit muffled.

"Yes, of course. We can't be each other, that's unrealistic in expectations. I'll support your interests even if I don't understand them. And you are welcome to do the same."

He's just so glad she's allowing him into her home, letting him apologize for all of this.

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Muffled, but still understandable. She won't argue because cuddling is better.

"I want to be supportive. I thought I was being supportive... but I must have missed something. I'll try to do better next time. And I'll apologize to your friend if he'll let me." He must think she's such a bitch now. No wonder Katsuya's always been reluctant to introduce her to people.

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"I'm sure he'd just be happy to see that you're alright. Denizens of the Velvet Room are quite receptive to the depth of the collective unconscious. Since they specialize in bringing out the true face of one's soul...well, I hardly think a bereft woman will be too upsetting." He hugs Verity and smiles against her.

"Can we both agree to stop feeling awful and worrying the other? Misunderstandings happen. Please...don't run away from me, Verity." He shifts, tilts he chin up so he can give her a kiss.

"Ah. You should probably put the ice cream I bought somewhere cold, if you don't want it now. Sorry, I should have said what it was right away..."

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She'll let him kiss her, but if he bothers to look at her he'll see she's hurting more now than when he arrived. If he thinks about it, maybe he'll remember he hasn't accepted her apologies or told her she's forgiven.

Or he can let her keep wondering what else she's supposed to apologize for.

Either way she's getting up to put the ice cream away. The whole bag is going to be shoved blindly in the freezer. "Do you want some coffee?"

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He notices pretty quick that this is pretty much the opposite reaction he's expecting from her.

Again.

"Verity. What is it?"

The trouble is, Katsuya doesn't think she's done anything wrong, so there's nothing to forgive. There are aspects of her need to be literal and exact about everything that he really doesn't understand, considering how much of his culture is based around context and indirect social cues.

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