sweethymns | Pictures in the Dark

[Oren silently glides in, looking for a stove to set the chicken soup on. Iona sets her tote aside and then moves her palm up to feel Michael's temperature.]

Nothing wrong with bringing in an arsenal to fight a cold. Wow, you're flushed! Have you been drinking enough water? Got enough blankets?

[iona, you're a bit much...]

[He lets Oren do his thing; he'll find the stove pretty easily, as the kitchen area isn't that hard to locate.

...He also just lets Iona do her thing, letting her put a palm on him even as he moves to close the door behind them both.

He has to admit he kind of like the way she fusses about him, even though it's unnecessary. (Maybe.)]

I've been drinking water, and I mean, I guess I have enough blankets on my bed? [That counts right?] I'm fine, really, I don't want you to worry too much. It's kind of like you said, I just need the rest, right?

[Oren silently puts the pot on the stove and turns it on. Iona picks up her tote bag and pats Michael on the shoulder.]

Well, get back into bed then! I'll stick around to help Oren out and you should get some more sleep.

[But Michael feels kind of like a bad host, living them alone while he trounces off to bed. He crosses to his sofa and moves aside some of the shirts strewn on one cushion.]

Um, make yourself comfortable? [He has to admit, this is not how he envisioned her first visiting his apartment.] If either of you guys wanna watch TV or listen to music or read-

[Uh oh. Incoming sneeze interrupting his sentence.]

[And Iona grabs a tea towel from her bag and hands it to Michael]

Here you go!

[She glances around the apartment in the meanwhile humming.]

Hm. You really do keep yourself busy huh? Can't be the most organized.

[It's just an observation on her part and in no way a knock on Michael. She follows up with...]

If I was just by myself, I'd definitely let clutter pile up. Oren lectures me all the time for leaving laundry around.

[Oren is ever suffering]

[He takes the tea towel with gratitude, and makes sure he isn't sniffling too badly before he responds.]

I don't... think it's that bad. [Single guy mindset. It's just a little bit of a clutter, and at least this way he remembers where things are.] Maybe I should have cleaned up a little before you guys came over, though.

[It didn't even cross his mind. Oops.]

[Ah, but not so single anymore... Iona snaps her fingers and smiles at her own idea.]

Today you're sick and I want to treat you! If you're okay with it, Oren can tidy things up while you rest! He doesn't mind. If anything, he's bothered if he allows a mess to go uncleaned.

[It's true, Oren really loves cleaning...]

[That's a little embarrassing, letting Oren clean up his mess for him. But Michael really doesn't have the energy to take care of it himself, and he'd hate for the golem just to feel bothered the whole time while he was here.]

Sure, if it'll make him feel better. Tell him he doesn't have to go overboard for my sake or anything though.

And... thanks for this, by the way. You didn't have to take time out of your day, but I'm glad that you did. [Despite the fogginess of his head, he can't help but feel a bit warm thinking about it.]

We'll see! Oren goes above and beyond sometimes.

Meanwhile, you really should rest in bed. I'll help him out, but you really should get some sleep.

[She pauses. And then shyly adds, while fidgeting with her fingers.]

And then we can spend some time with each other. You're fine with that right?

[Oh, her asking him that nearly makes him blush, despite everything -- but of course, he could pretend it's just the cold.

He's more than fine with it, though a part of him can't possibly comprehend why she'd want to get even near him when he feels so gross and unattractive right now. Stupid cold. Stupid sinuses.]

Of course I am. The best part of you coming over.

[He lingers in his spot just a little longer, before deciding to turn to go to his bedroom. On the way out, he makes sure to offer:] Just let me know if you guys need anything, okay?

Will do! We'll be quiet on our end though.

[The smell of the porridge Oren's made is already filling the apartment, savory, but soothing and not overwhelming. Iona waves to Michael before joining her golem in prepping.]

[It doesn't take Michael very long to fall asleep once he allows the drowsiness of his medicine to morph into full-blown sleep. It's a sound sleep, and the young man barely moves from his initial position, his comforter strewn across him haphazardly.

It's a lengthy nap, too, the kind where when he wakes up, he has to blink away his sleep for a few minutes before he can awaken fully. He rubs at his eyes, heaving a sigh; it takes him a moment to remember that Iona and Oren were here as well, when he hears faint footfalls coming from the main living area.

At least he feels a bit better. He has more energy, too.

He plans on getting up to see how they're doing, but right now he's just gonna sit up and stretch out his arms.]

[It doesn't take long for Iona to poke her head in with a tray with a small bowl of the porridge, napkins, and a cup of hot tea.]

Hey there, Sunshine! Just woke up?

[Oh, hi Iona. Michael looks over at the doorway, seeing her smiling face. He gives a lopsided grin in return.]

Yeah. I'm feeling a little better now. Though I probably could have slept for 12 more hours if I really wanted to.

What you got there?

Some chicken rice porridge and some tea that will hopefully lessen that cold of yours. [She's also dragging in a chair with her other hand so that she can put it next to Michael's bed before she sets down the tray on a flat surface, such as the dresser table.]

It should be easy for you to eat since it's nothing complicated or solid. But it'll make you feel better.

[He sits up straighter, resting his back against the headboard as she draws closer. Now that his sense of smell isn't so clogged, the tea and porridge wafting in his direction is beyond inviting.]

Hey, thanks... [He offers, though it feels like the word isn't enough to really show how much gratitude he's feeling. Maybe it's the newness of the relationship, but he can't help but feel eternally lucky every time he so much as gazes at her.]

I struck the cosmic lottery jackpot, you know that? [It's a random statement if you're not following his line of thinking, but the exclamation is related to his previous thoughts of being a very fortunate young man right now.]

You're welcome!

[Her brand of kindness was directed towards everyone and it could be overwhelming; Oren has said as much to Iona. Sometimes it made her wonder if she does try too hard seeing as how she's expressed this insecurity towards Michael already.

But now she and Michael are something else. And Iona, like with everything else in her life, wants to put effort into this, to show that it really is serious and that it matters.

So when he makes that remark, Iona blinks at him and lightly chuckles as she seats herself next to him.]

You think so too huh?

[They really are lucky. She feels so fortunate to have met him.]

[If his heart skips a beat at hearing those words, he's totally ignoring it. Instead he jokes lightly, scooting a little closer:]

Yeah, I'm sure you feel really lucky having to take care of me like this. I'm real exciting, taking long naps and breaking a world record in how many tissues I'm using to blow my nose.

[She rolls her eyes playfully and pokes his cheek with her left finger.]

Don't get too fired up now. I'm sure there's only so many tissue boxes in the world to keep up with you.

And besides, I don't mind. It's a good first step as any!

[He gives a scoff, but it's good-natured.]

Maybe, but I still owe you one for this. Take a raincheck on whatever you want to do in the future, once I'm over this cold. [He has to show his appreciation somehow.]

Edited 2016-06-16 20:24 (UTC)

You know, we're always doing whatever I happen to come up with. So I could say the same to you.

[She hands him a cup of tea, green with a touch of honey and lemon, first.]

And considering we just started... Checking up on you is the least I could do.

Everything you've come up with so far has turned out just fine in the end. [How can he complain about the Ferris wheel, after all? Still, he acquiesces, nodding.] But maybe I'll figure out some kind of outing just for us, soon.

[But for now, he takes the tea, sipping at it. The warmth is comforting and also seems to clear up his sinuses enough to help him breathe properly.]

How's Oren doing out there?

[Speaking of which, the both receive a text from the golem at the same time.]

Went back.

[Iona stares at the text on her phone screen. And then looks up at Michael. Back at the screen. Vice versa.

Ah.]

Oh. So. Just us!

[He hears his phone buzz and leans over to grab at it, since it's nearby on the nightstand. He blinks down at the text, and comes to the realization around the same time as Iona does.]

...Oh. Yeah, just us.

[Suddenly knowing that it's just him and Iona, in his bedroom no less, and no Oren wandering around outside of his room makes him a little more self-conscious of the situation. He's totally casually taking another sip of his tea before putting his phone down, not shy at all, nope.]

Hope.... that he didn't get bored cleaning...?

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