゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

https://t.co/4Le9qSFzlz

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

right. (she quietly says beneath an exhale after the silence almost dragged on for too long). orthedayafter.

(she pads along the couch cushions for the remote). i think we’re about to miss the new episode of Naked and Afraid—–.

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Hm. ( Concern was clearly visible in the faint furrow to his brows. ) Maybe we'll know more tomorrow. No point in worrying about it now, right?

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

... though he doesn’t seem all too convinced just yet.

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

Watching Jake wave that envelope around, worry settles in the very pit of her stomach. She knows he wouldn’t let go of it, but there’s the mental image of it falling anyways, caught in the air until it would dive into the water to be ...

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Minutes pass during which he remained a silent observer, watching her rearrange files and folders as well as the cash she brought to hand out to those bravest enough to weather the imminent storm. Only when her hand slid back into his own like a puzzle piece that belonged —

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

... than she is, Jake older than he is: it brings them into the right range, and scientists and students both come and go out here. It’s a whole lot better than the US government snooping around. Before she can elaborate, the skipper asks where to, ...

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

(jake earns himself a kiss to his cheek; the smile playing on her lips perhaps felt too). no, 𝘯𝘰.

it’s just my best guess. … only guess—–.

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Nah. You'll be my super girl no matter what. But .. do you really think something's changing?

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

probably. i don’t know. maybe something is changing.

…you’d have to think of a new petname. (playful, yet it's utterly brittle).

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Ah, I get it. ( A sigh, soft and barely audible, escaped him, gaze venturing to linger on the opposite wall. ) There must be something that can be done though, right?

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

i already included them. (the amusement that comes with it is wholly short-lived and so she wrinkles her nose instead). i’m not sure i’d call it specialised when they’ll probably just—– (she trails off with a vague gesture of her hand only).

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Probably not. But doesn't hurt to try. ( He paused, pondering, fingertips absentmindedly drawing random patterns to Sherry's shoulder. ) Don't you have anyone at your work specified for this?

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

you think they’ll have any idea what to do with me? (she asks after a moment; not mocking, but more so just uncertain herself).

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

I know. But it's what you need. ( Tugging her close again, slouching a little further into the cushions. )

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

that doesn’t really sound like a fair trade-off—–. (just a mumble; frowning).

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

( Hints of concern briefly flickering across his features, the smile slightly faltered. ) Promise I won't destroy the kitchen if we're heading for the doctor's office tomorrow.

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

hey. i’ll let you know i— (she unwillingly pauses, coughing again; she briefly tucks her features against her elbow). —picked this apartment just for the kitchen.

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Won't make any promises. Wouldn't be the first time I accidentally blew something up. ( Head dipped further, the tip of his nose brushes through her hair; a kiss in return placed to her forehead. )

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

oh. (a flicker of surprise crosses her features; she might just have the wrong dish in mind).

… i’m sure you’ll do just fine as long as the kitchen survives. (she ghosts a kiss against his jaw).

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Alright, fine. I think I can manage that. ( A soft hum became audible, close to a chuckle. ) Don't expect much from the goulash though, that was always the hardest to do.

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

once or twice a month?

—–i’m not waiting a year for your spaghetti bolognese and then another for the goulash.

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

( One arm draped over her shoulders, the slightest tilt of his head was enough for her to come into view; his own bowl had been long emptied and abandoned. )

If I do it too often, it won't be special anymore though, Sher.

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

... then her hand slips right into Jake’s again. ‘Okay, now—–’

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

When Jake points the man out, she gets it within an instant of successfully following his gaze; the comparison to many of the others hurrying along the harbor is stark. She watches him another moment, and then, before they actually step into the crowd, ...

[ƬHE CHARIӨƬ ; 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗦𝗘𝗗. @immeritacaedis]

Jake remained a silent observer, never one to speak much when it wasn't necessary and instead watching how every single one of Sherry's movement seemed graceful, careful and yet determined. It was different how he himself moved. Rough and forceful; elbowing his way through the —

[゛𝓢𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮.٠࣪⭑ˎˊ˗ @vrIoren]

... usually doesn’t roll with, but with everything considered now, she deems it far from worth picking a fight over.

And with her backpack already there, she gives all the important compartments a quick pad down for her inner peace, ...