Audience: Yuri Leclerc

[probe]

Comments

[aubins]

[ well he's making coffee, but the kettle can do its thing without being watched and he just moves to sit down in front of her when she sinks to the ground. ]

Hey.

[ ... ]

[probe]

Hi. [she says, pulling her robes close.] What's up.

[her emotions are pretty haywire - frayed and frazzled - but she's outwardly calm.]

[aubins]

[ ...

he shifts himself so he can sit next to her and gives her a little nudge. he is a leaning post now. ]

I feel like I should be asking you that.

[probe]

[she rests her head against his shoulder.]

Everything is up. You'd have to be more specific.

[aubins]

[ he shifts so he can wrap an arm around her shoulder. ]

I don't know where to start. You've been edgy since yesterday evening, like you were waiting for something to happen.

[probe]

Well. You know what happens. [she pulls her knees to her chest.] Hard to uh, not be on edge.

[aubins]

More than usual, Lup.

[ he'll lean his head against hers. ] It's tough not to be on edge, though.

[probe]

[she shifts, and there's a little flicker of pain, something biting and quick, before it eases to nothing.

she doesn't have a lot of energy, so she just makes a noise, curling. she's less warm than normal.]

[aubins]

[ oh. shit. there's a big spike of worry and he'll move so he can look at her. ]

Lup?

[probe]

It's okay. I'm fine. Just tired. [she mutters, trying to sit up straight.] Neck hurts. You know how it is.

[aubins]

[ he shifts so she can lean against him more comfortably. ]

Yeah. I do. [ he bumps his forehead against the side of her head. ]

No time to hop in one of the pods?

[probe]

[she closes her eyes.]

It wouldn't do anything.

[aubins]

... what about some regular painkillers and bandages, or is that a no too?

[ .... hm. he doesn’t like the idea of medical supplies NOT working on her, at all. ]

[probe]

Regular painkillers do fine. It's not a big deal, Yuri, I've been dealing with it since the start.

[aubins]

And now I know, and I'm not a fan of seeing you struggling with it.

[ it's a difference! but he doesn't move, just lets her stay where she is and hopefully not hurt as much by not moving around. ]

[probe]

[a wave of exhaustion.]

Don't worry about me so much. [a little ping of self-loathing? that's weird.]

[aubins]

Don't tell me what to do, Lup.

[ it's soft and not accusatory. ] We don't have to go anywhere. Have a nap if you want, coffee can be heated up again.

[probe]

[a long pause, and then she just wraps her arms around him and hugs him very tightly.]

[aubins]

[ he shifts so he can tuck her against him, avoiding putting pressure on the back of her neck and hugs her back. ]

[probe]

You've been good to me. [she says, muffled.] Thank you. I don't say it enough.

[aubins]

Ha, I'm just a shady guy who plays favourites.

But you're welcome.

[probe]

[there's a curl of affection, and weariness. she actually shifts one more time so she can kiss him? that's necessary.]

Me too. [she's just a shady lady who plays favorites, she guesses.]

[aubins]

[ that's very necessary. he will reciprocate. ]

And there's the answer if anyone asks why we get along like we do. [ they're shady, they play favourites. ]

[probe]

[sniff. she rests her head on his shoulder.]

I'm going to hold you to heating the coffee up later.

[aubins]

[ pat pat ]

That I can promise.