thoughtformed | (no subject)

Great. One for my friend, too, thanks. [The latter remark is directed at the bartender as a cold bottle of beer is placed down in front of her. She tilts her head to look at it as if it's the most amazing thing she's ever seen, then picks it up and takes a mouthful, swallowing.]

Oh my Godddddd. [Her shoulders drop back and she grins over at R.] I think I'm gonna like it here.

Knew it. [ He's got a smile going at her reaction. She thinks that's good just wait till she eats real food-- not that he's tried any of that but it looks way better than anything he's seen lying around back at the airport. Something like pizza. We should order Julie a pizza. ]

[She looks over at him, pausing with the top of the bottle resting against her lower lip. Her head tips again, and this time she's quietly appraising him, her eyes flicking over his face.]

You know, you look nice when you smile. [Then she's abruptly looking away again, tilting the bottle up to take another sip, another swallow.] ... I keep thinking I'm going to wake up.

[ His head ducks down when she points it out and pulls his shoulders up sheepishly, not even realizing he was doing it till just then. He's looking over at her still and idly turns there hands side to side on the bar.

You're not going to wake up. It's real. He might not be the best person to ask about what's real and what's not but it feels realer than a lot of things. ]

[He's right. He doesn't say a word but she knows what he means and he's right.

Shrugging again.

She presses her lips together, savouring the taste of the beer, then sets the bottle down and pinches the soft part of her hand hard enough to draw up livid red crescents against the skin with her nails.]

I guess not.

Mmhm.

[ Pinching yourself to see if you're dreaming. Does that really prove anything? Can you feel pain in a dream? He wouldn't know. He's only done it the once and hasn't since he got here. ...Not that he feels pain to begin with really. Can you test dream pain if you can't feel a pinch to begin with?

He has to remember to try it if it ever comes up again. ]

Hmm.

[Julie was always taught that you can't feel pain in dreams, and the spot where she pinched herself is still tingling. She's quiet for a little while, soaking in the ambiance of the place and enjoying the company, then a question occurs to her and she turns her attention to R, resting her head against her hand.

The other, still tangled up with his, doesn't appear to be moving any time soon.]

Where did you go..? Afterwards? [After I left you.]

[ R's happy to just sit there and enjoy it. She doesn't have to say anything. He moves the beer he has back and forth across the bar, following it with his eyes, then slowly pulls it over close to him and tilts it to sip it and oh hey that's actually---

--What'd she ask? He puts his attention back on her and then tilts the bottle back into an upright position before it goes pouring all over him. ]

Oh. [ After she left. He frowns. ] Went to go...back.. but cold... rain so had to ...wait. [ He almost forgot about the rain making him feel like he was freezing to a second death after his heart felt like it was stomped on. That sucked. ] Then here.

[Ouch.

As much as she'd known it was the right thing to do, she wishes it could have been different. She'd even left him a note, and pictures trying to explain why she left, not knowing if he'd understand either.

She squeezes his hand again, her voice softening.]

Cold? You felt cold?

[ He's still got the pictures in his pocket. Or. They had been. He put them in a frame back in the apartment. Wonder what she'd think of that one.

He gets it. He understands. He squeezes her hand back very lightly then pauses. Oh yeah. Cold. That's actually weird to feel. Didn't give much thought about it at the time. ]

Yeah. Really cold.

[The girl pauses, parts her lips to speak then second guesses herself and frowns instead, letting out a little huffing breath through her nose.]

How?

[ R leaves his mouth agape, trying to think of an answer to her. That's a change in the 'who even knows' direction. He did dream too. He glances to the side then stares back at her ]

I ...don't know?

You really are changing, aren't you...

[Julie smiles, though she looks distracted, rocking back slightly in her seat.]

My dad would never believe it. Never in a million years.

[ That's a good thing, right? Is he really? He keeps staring at her then slowly uses his free hand and moves it over to the other one, mimicking her motion from earlier and pinching himself.

That...
Didn't do anything. He didn't even feel it. Nice try, R. He's a little disappointed that did nothing but all well. What was he expecting? His skin do show the red under it like hers did?
Le sigh. Or it would be a sigh if he would sigh that was more of an air-y little grunt. You suck at sighing, R. ]

Yeah. [ Her dad would probably shoot him anyway. ]

[It's a good thing, definitely an interesting thing, and maybe it was like R's friend had said - they had changed things. They'd shaken things up enough to have those hellish undead creatures hounding them. Maybe this was just the beginning.

She watches what he does, her eyebrows faintly drawn together, but she's not surprised when he doesn't get the same result.] Hm. [A moment passes, then she lets go of her beer and places her hand over his - the skin of her palm is damp and cold from the bottle.]

[ He's thinking about it. Maybe it did something. Maybe- Oh, who is he kidding. It's not like he has M to ask, 'Hey, do you feel any different or is it just me being weird?'

That moment is spent where he just stares, like he does. Lost in a thought about it. His eyes dart to his hand and makes a very slight motion like he was going to jerk it away before deciding against it. He scrunches his face up slightly. Julie, cold damp hands are not as pleasant as- Wait. Now we're confused. ]

[She's staring at him, intent and curious as her fingers clasp over his.]

Can you feel that?

[He could, couldn't he? Though her voice is a little hushed there's an excitement in it. If he can feel it, then that's new and different and it means something.]

[ It's a fluke and his hand broke. All the nerves just fired off for one last time as the hand reaches it's final stage of decomposition and will now rot off. Goodbye hand. You were a good eating tool. I'll miss you.

Or it's just he's temperature sensitive now. Huh. Way better and explains the rain. And means something. Not sure what exactly but it does. ]

Yes...

[ Oh man. Now what? ]

[Her expression brightens in the instant of his admission, and she lifts her hand up from his, only to press it against his cheek.

Still cold, still a little damp.]

What about this?

[ He's staring at her completely dumbfounded, mouth agape like an idiot. Well fuck. That feels so weird.
Not in a bad way though it's just. Okay. He has no idea what to do here. ]

Uh-huh.

[A giddy sound of triumph escapes her. Quickly, she picks up the bottle from the bar...

... and abruptly puts it against his neck.]

[ Now what is she doin--

-FUCK THAT'S COLD. Oh my god. Why. He pulls his shoulders up completely and makes an uncomfortable face, turning himself to get away from it and---

slips right out of his chair. ]

Uhh...

Shit!

[The bottle is abandoned in favour of her sliding out of her chair to help him and yes, yes she is laughing. She's laughing so hard she can't stop, in fact, and she's definitely going to be no help at all in getting him up off the floor.

There might be some tears there, too, quickly rubbed away with the heel of her hand. Something about it is cathartic in a way she can't explain.]

Oh my God, R...

[ He pushes himself up awkwardly. God. This was going so well too. He's fine. Didn't even feel it.

-Is she laughing at him? Oh my god. She's laughing at him. She's laughing really hard, actually. ...Guess that would be pretty funny. His mouth twitches into a smile. When was the laugh time she laughed that hard? ]

Oops.

[Julie has her face in her hands and she's laughing and her face hurts and it's twisting around her stomach in a good way. The last time she laughed this hard? She couldn't remember.

She looks at him through her fingers and giggles, and doesn't give one single flying fuck if people might be staring. Again.]

Sorry, that was my fault.

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