deercountry | (closed) january catchall

[ He has to think about that for a second, the seasons never on his mind more than the months themselves, but a smile spreads across his lips as he concludes: ]

Spring suits you. All the tiny flowers coming out, and the blossoms too? [ Yeah, that's very Chizuru-looking. He has to wonder now, with that image in his mind: ] Ever thought about planting a flower garden?

[ Tory was tidying the garden into something. Chizuru, she might even know the uses for all the flowers she picks. The girl who read her father's medicine books just because.

But let's be real: she'd pick flowers just because they're pretty, too. ]

Um...

[ Apparently that's something she has to think about right now, after him bringing it up. Though it's not like she's never thought about it before-- it's more just that Chizuru has a faint idea of where it might lead if she says what she's about to say.

But it's Robby, and he's her Honesty Pact Bestie, and he's having a hard time, so she shouldn't lie right now. Even when she can already predict his answer to her honesty. ]

I kind of thought it'd be nice.. But people say that things are so hard to grow here, so I didn't want to take up resources or space with flowers when people could grow more important things like food instead..

[ Did you think that spring was the most Chizuru-like answer, Robby?

Fool. This here is clearly the most Chizuru-like answer to a question. ]

[ ...okay, that is probably the most Chizuru-like answer. Though Robby has to think about what she's saying, since he knows about the blood pollution in the dirt (it was a whole thing about those bracelets when he arrived), but- ]

What about in your and Scorpia's yard? You don't think Scorpia would like them too?

[ He's not sure if Scorpia's a flower power gal, but she does seem like she could be. ]

And bees like flowers.

[ Look.

Look at these two very good reasons of why planting flowers would be a good idea and not just benefit Chizuru. Robby's so dang good at this. (Does this world even have bees??? He should ask Ezra.) ]

[ Does Chizuru realise what Robby is doing here?

.. well, maybe not fully. But something about the way he's driving the point home is enough for her to at least realise a little bit what he's doing here.. though she doesn't find herself minding. She can see the intentions behind it, after all, and that makes her smile into the part of the blanket she's got tightly wrapped around herself.

A soft giggle escapes her, and then she glances back over at Robby. ]

You want me to have flowers that bad?

[ Calling you out, Robby. Sorry.

At least Chizuru looks very happy about it. Bathing in Robby's kindness like this always feels like a privilege, and even more so when he was looking so bad earlier. ]

[ Oh. If this is doing anything, it sure is making him forget about what happened earlier. Not the flowers themselves, but that laugh, the way her eyes smile above the blanket that's cutely hiding half of Chizuru's face.

Robby tilts his head against the pillow, his own smile visible. ]

If you want them, I want them so bad, [ he answers boldly, jokingly, but a thousand percent sincere. You know it. ] Big ones, small ones. Turns out I like every flower you like.

[ Can you believe it, Chizuru? Same tastes. ]

[ An answer like that only draws out more laughter from Chizuru. Irresistible laughter, unstoppable laughter. She tries to smother it into the blankets a little bit, as if even she herself is a little embarrassed by how she can't help but laugh at Robby's reply, but it's very much audible all the same.

And even if it wouldn't be audible, it'd be visible in the way her eyes practically sparkle when she looks back at Robby, a warm energy in them. ]

I guess that means you would have to be my assistant.

[ If he wants flowers so bad! Jokingly! ]

.. you know, if you can find some time in your very busy schedule. [ Look at this growth. Last time she was freaking out about the idea of taking up any time in his schedule, and this time she even manages to joke about taking up extra time in it. ]

[ Her laugh is an infectious one, and Robby's laughing with her, shoulders shaking with the way it tickles through him. He needs a moment to hum, gather himself before he can answer her, voice husky with humour. ]

I suppose I can fit you in somewhere. [ A pause, eyes on her, and it's easy to tell how hard he's holding back on laughing again, showing teeth in his smile. ] Can't turn down a once-in-a-lifetime assistant opportunity with Miss Chizuru herself, can I.

[ He knows of what mind she would usually be, but maybe, just maybe, Robby can trick her into saying something nice about herself.

...or he could just make her feel a little special, even under this joking context. Whatever works. ]

[ Fool! You think you can trick Chizuru into a compliment that easily..?!

Granted, at least she doesn't bother to put herself down in front of that statement, so that's.. at least something, right? Even if she doesn't quite go along with it enough to compliment herself either, instead just focusing a touch more seriously on: ]

.. would you really want to?

[ It's not an uncertain question. It's warmer than that, and Chizuru properly looks at Robby as she asks it, smiling at him - both with her mouth and her eyes.

She doesn't think it'd be bad for Robby, after all. With everything going on with him right now, he might actually have some sudden gaps in his schedule that could use some filling up, rather than leaving them empty and leave him thinking about the reason they're empty in the first place.

Thinking about it that way - it makes it feel a little less daunting to claim some of Robby's time. ]

I think it'd be fun to do together.

[ Spoilers: Chizuru would find anything fun as long as she got to do it together with him. ]

Don't you think so too?

[ Is he interested in flowers? ...not really. He has a fondness for bonsai thanks to Mister LaRusso, and the history behind it, but he wouldn't describe himself as having a green thumb, let alone the rest of his fingers. But when Chizuru asks him that way, seems delighted by the idea--

well, guess it's time to make the bees happy.

(shit, butterflies like flowers too, don't they? He knows wildlife, he swears.) ]

Guess I did ask a guy recent to help a bunch of youngers ones at the dojo learn how to grow radishes. [ So, if he's making them touch dirt... ] Sure. How hard can it be?

...so you know, [ he adds after an international pause, ] I don't have the first clue about flowers.

[ So it could be extraordinarily hard... ]

Me neither.

[ And, you know. This ought to be a problem, but.. it's not like they haven't been able to find books about stuff before. Surely there's also a book out there somewhere about flowers and growing them.. Or maybe Chizuru could ask her friends if any of them have some idea..

But those are thoughts for later. Because it's still February, and that means that - more than anything - Chizuru is still overcome with the need to praise other people even more than she usually does.

And Robby being in a situation that makes him a little vulnerable only gives her even more reason to do so. ]

But I know someone who's really smart, and who always seems capable of figuring things out whenever we're doing something together. [ She's still staring right at him as they're on the bed together, smiling so sweetly.

Sounds like someone familiar, Robby? ]

Someone who's amazing, and never seems to let something like not knowing stuff stop him. I really like that person.

[ Listen to this.

Listen to this.

This praise out of nowhere, sickly sweet. Robby can't help himself: he laughs. Not anything guttural, but one that starts close to giggles, then has his head shaking. Who can handle this much praise? But it's got Robby grinning, especially when he's looking back at her, grin wide with teeth. ]

You know you're inviting yourself into trouble. [ Since, after all: ] A girl who comes all the way out in the middle of the night [ ok, not that late ] to hang out with her moody best friend? Who's getting better at asking for what she wants, but is always thinking about people she don't know, too.

[ Hope you haven't perished under the strength of this smug (pleased) face. ]

She's a pretty cool girl, too.

[ You'd think at this point Chizuru would have learned. She would have realised that this is the inevitable outcome of her complimenting people - the fact that they'll compliment her right back, and that she doesn't know how to deal with that.

Except she does have a way out under these very, very specific circumstances. It's a rare opportunity, but she's taking it--

By pulling the blanket on her side all the way up over her head, that is. S-She's no longer here! You can't see her, so you can't compliment her..!! ]

Robby!

[ Listen to that squeak, half-muffled by the blanket. ]

That's too much..!

[ Apparently calling someone 'pretty cool' now is too much.

Who would've known. ]

[ This isn't going to stop Robby from laughing--to the contrary, he's laughing while trying to voice a very incredulous 'Really?', and wow, we sure hope nobody can hear the commotion these two are making from this room. Robby's sure given up on this whole 'be quiet and considerate late at night' thing.

But for as disbelieving as this whole thing should be, it's not going to stop him from tapping the blanket around where Chizuru's head should be. ]

You started it! I was just doing the same thing you did!

[ You can't get like this with him!!! Unfair! ]

I didn't call you cool!

[ .. apparently that's the protest coming from underneath the blankets. One that's technically true, but.. let's face it, it definitely was not the cool part that pushed it over the edge.

It's just a convenient excuse for a shy girl, who only now pulls the blankets back down just a little bit.

Just enough to show a peek of her face, eyes that are half-curious and half-flustered peering out at Robby. ]

.. besides, I'm pretty sure all your friends would come over in the middle of the night to be with you if you needed it, Robby. You're a kind person, and that sort of thing is surely repaid with more kindness from others..

Called me amaziing.

[ Yes, let him slip that in a low sing-song tone, even if Robby isn't sure Chizuru's one to get embarrassed about her own sap. But it's playful, a small thing, just like the sight of when she finally peeks out from the covers.

Where she can view a very charming smile slip into the grin at the sight of her. Hi there. ]

People's ideas of kindness aren't always the same. [ Could he imagine Ezra showing up in the middle of the night? Absolutely not. ] But it sounds like to me, if you're ever feeling down in the night, I'll have to come over and spend the night with you.

[ He says it thoughtfully, like this is what kindness deserves, the kind of kindness as Chizuru sees it. And good enough -- he can do that. ]

I'll have to make a night bag and leave it at yours, just in case.

[ (Some people would call this flirting.) ]

[ ...

Chizuru is silently staring at him, like she's contemplating something. At least she seems a touch less flustered, the remainder of her blush only lingering because of the boy's sing-song teasing.

Though that's not where her mind is, really. A fact that is made more obvious by what she says once she finally does speak up, her head poking out more now, even though the blanket is still tightly wrapped around the rest of her. ]

You can sleep in my bed too.

[ Clearly this is the important part, right. Clearly what has to be addressed.

B-But, look, it's not like Chizuru is just going to share her bed with anyone, b-but-- she trusts Robby! Look, they're in bed together now, and it's fine. ]

If you ever have to come over like that.

[ Whoa, listen to the permission. Robby had been maybe...serious, half-serious; both knowing he'd do it, and be down for the idea, and also--somehow both understanding this meant sharing Chizuru's bed, but also not considering it seriously.

All words to say, he's a boy with some good idea of how a girl and boy sharing their beds together is probably a lot, especially an old-fashioned girl like Chizuru. Nevermind where they are now and the permission just granted, with Robby's own thoughtful moment taken: ]

I can take the couch too. [ Just so she knows, a pinch to his smile. ] I don't mind. I used to sleep on mine back home a lot.

[ Love to get anxious when your mom disappears for days.... ]

No.

[ It's a soft rejection of that idea. Mostly because Chizuru absolutely hates the idea of inviting a guest over and then making them sleep on the couch - despite her having said literally just today that she would've been fine with taking the floor here herself.

But also-- ]

It's alright. [ She speaks softly, but audibly, her head now fully out of the blankets and instead lying back down regularly on a pillow. ] It's alright because it's you.

[ Because it's Robby. Because she trusts him, and all the kindness he's shown her over the months. Because it's not like he's attempting anything strange right now either - so she trusts him.

It's not a romantic admission by any standard, really, but even such a powerful platonic force of feelings is enough to make the girl blush just a little bit as she stares at him. ]

[ He knows what it means for Chizuru to be okay with it, or can assume; that even if they're doing this right now, there's a difference between having her in his bed, than him being in hers. It's one of those nuanced particulars that Robby will respect for a friend he likes as much as Chizuru. ]

Thanks. [ So his thanks is sincere, his smile with it, and he kind of wants to reach out and take her hand. He won't, since--you know, don't want to be weird in bed. But Robby will take a breath, exhaling it in a way that relaxes his shoulders. ]

You know, I bet Scorpia would love a sleepover. You and a bunch of girl friends getting together? You should ask about it sometime. Learn some more fun future day things.

[ Is that better than saying modern? Less rude? Let's go for it. ]

[ If it wasn't for the fact that Chizuru really doesn't want to remind Robby of the reason she's here with him in the first place, she'd make a light joke about how he's always thinking about people other than himself.

(Even if it'd be the pot calling the kettle black.)

She's tactful enough to swallow any jokes about that right back up though, instead just smiling at Robby. It does feel nice and comfortable, sharing a bed with someone like this.. ]

You think that many girls are going to fit in my bed? [ There, a better joke. Lighter, and actually funny enough to Chizuru - just the mental image alone! - that it even makes her laugh.

Softly.

Don't worry, Daniel, the kids will stop being so loud.. hopefully.. ]

Scorpia'll make it work. I trust her, [ he shoots back with a tune in his voice, the details meaningless. It's funny, fun, and this is exactly the kind of fun distraction he's needed from this entire day. One about to end, but at least it's ending on a good note, with a good friend.

...a really, really good friend.

He's still got a chuckle in his own throat that he's dealing with, but Robby's happy to. Delighting in the fun quiet mood, his chuckling eventually dying away, but not his goofy grin.

But he finally takes a breath, and exhales. ]

Alright. Guess we should finally do the sleeping part if you're ever gonna get that sleepover. And I get a chance to come over and have you make me a dinner, [ he adds, tucking his shoulder more under the cover. ]

Hope Scorp is ready to share.

[ There's a soft breath that almost sounds like a laugh - or amused, at the very least, as Chizuru lets herself relax a little bit, trying to calm down both herself and the mood so they can sleep, rather than continue to lie here giggling to each other. ]

Right.

[ Judging by her smile, Chizuru entirely enjoys this prospect, really.

And, even more than that - it's just nice, seeing Robby so lively again after the way he looked when he initially greeted her. ]

Good night, Robby. Sleep well, okay..?

[ It is a better place to end the night than where he was. Company beside him, the bed more comfortable for it and the silly little smile that keeps tugging on his lips every time he looks at Chizuru. This wasn't where he was expecting to be about an hour ago, but he won't complain. ]

You too, [ he gives back; not really ready to close his eyes, but he will, just with one last: ] ...thanks.

[ Quietly, softly given. Along with one last smile, and then maybe he'll be fine with closing his eyes and closing out this night.

(...but between his and Chizuru's giggling, he might not need to warn Mister LaRusso about their surprise company in the morning, huh....) ]

(closed) january catchall

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