(1:21:41 PM) mislaidLullaby [[email protected]] entered the room.
(1:34:24 PM) You are now known as ventricularPipefitter
(1:37:27 PM) You are now known as ontologyExpunged
(2:10:47 PM) You are now known as ventricularPipefitter
(2:16:12 PM) lucidChthonia [[email protected]] entered the room.
(2:22:20 PM) genesisArtificer [[email protected]] entered the room.
(2:23:41 PM) serpentLinguist: [ >Echo: Be at Ross' spire. 37.4 seconds until he ends up showing up. You can just turn back the time and /leave/, right now, before he's aware of your having almost talked to him. Again. This is the fourth time you've been here, standing outside, /waiting/ to tell him. Your heart is racing. And you are /so/ tempted to just run again. ]
(2:25:01 PM) serpentLinguist: "Okay. Okay. I can... I can do this. I. Oh gods."
(2:28:16 PM) ventricularPipefitter: [ >Ross: 37.4 seconds later, appears to the fading chords of an accordion. He startles, to see Echo there on the landing balcony. ]
(2:29:21 PM) ***serpentLinguist takes a steadying breath. "I... sorry for...for running out on you the other day. I could have... handled things more tactfully."
(2:29:48 PM) ventricularPipefitter: "'Cho? Frog and Ring, woman, where have you been?" He sweeps her into a tight hug. Ribsqueezing.
(2:30:34 PM) ventricularPipefitter: "Sure as angels scream you coulda been more tactful. Pissed at you for running, I am."
(2:33:03 PM) serpentLinguist: "I..." she lets him hug her, trying to hug back, as much as she can with his arms pinning hers to her sides. "I was either going to break down in front of you in the middle of that dungeon and be a useless wreck, or by myself, in the safety of my own spire. So. I. Well. I'm sorry."
(2:37:59 PM) ventricularPipefitter: "Well." He looks up at her, aching with concern. "You're better, a little, now?"
(2:41:09 PM) ***serpentLinguist curves her lips upward into a bit of a smile. "I. Well. Yeah." She shifts her shoulders, and the little chain around her throat clinks dully. "I am. And I..." she lets the expression fall. "I, uh. Came here to talk."
(2:45:39 PM) ***ventricularPipefitter frowns, reaching up to finger the previously-unnoticed chain at her neck. "C'mon in." He releases the hug further, but keeps a hand on her back, rubbing reassuringly between the shoulder-blades. "I'll make coffee."
(2:51:54 PM) ***serpentLinguist stands still as he feels at her new choker, and invites her in. They tension goes out of her shoulders as he rubs her back. "Mmm. Extra sugar in mine?"
(2:58:24 PM) ventricularPipefitter: "Know how you like it, yeah." They go in, and Ross doesn't even bother heading for the kitchen. Flop on the couch, de-captcha the alchemized self-powered french press, milk, sugar, and mugs, and start fussing. Keeps his hands busy. Gives a reason to break eye-contact for a while. "Do I ask questions?"
(2:58:29 PM) ventricularPipefitter: "Or do you start when you're ready?"
(3:01:54 PM) serpentLinguist: "Uh. I." She bites her lip as she comes to perch on the couch, shoulders curved in and hands on her lap, perfectly and uncharacteristically still. "I should start, I guess."