[ Look whose talking, Miss “I’m Gonna Kill You Harumph :T”. He simply huffs, a little amused as he gets up to do what he said he would do earlier. Peering out into the hallway, his wolf-like senses pick up on Panty.
Between listening for her and picking up her scent, he can conclude that the coast was clear. The only time he ever planned on actively trying to sniff someone out. Thanks, Sanguis! ]
All clear. ... Huh. Never thought I’d be using my nose like this.
[ Weiss gets up at the signal, but doesn't start walking just yet because oh god walking is going to be challenging. She's going to have to walk quickly to the bathroom. (It's lucky this isn't her first time being here...) ]
Is it weird that you can smell just about anything? [ She takes a peek out the door too. ] Wait, don't answer that just yet. I promise I'll be back—
[ And off she goes! She just really wants to be clean right now, Cloud. 😫 ]
[ They got quite carried away earlier. When she doesn't immediately start walking, he lifts a brow curiously at her. ...though it doesn't take long for him to clue into why she might have been finding it a bit of a challenge. Don't leave any trails. He steps back some when Weiss does eventually come up him to the door. ]
A lit-- [ "Wait, don't answer that just yet." ] Ah, okay.
[ Peeking out the door after her, Cloud watches as she disappears down the hallway towards the bathroom. She'll find that since it's the only one in the apartment, there's a lot more stuff on top of the bathroom counter. So many beauty products. Like "what the fuck did a Sephora explode in here" levels of stuff. Way too many rubber duckies that Cloud's piled in a corner on the floor. A super soaker, bottles of bubble bath.
Trust him, Weiss. Cloud's been trying to keep up with all the crap Panty buys. At least the bathroom's still clean and usable?
While he waits for her to come back, Cloud takes this time to try and quell his Sanguis side. Though the scent of sex was still prevalent in the air after what they'd just done. Now that he had a clearer head than before, he could think back to what just happened. The fact that she came to help him in the first place was all he could ask for, despite how bad the combination of lost Chroma and the moon was on him. He still hasn't gotten used to the way it ramped up his possessive nature, something he ponders about as he stares out the window, up at the crimson moon.
Whenever she got back, she'd find that he's got a top back on (not his vest, but a comfier t-shirt.) He'll get clean after she did. He wasn't going to join her in the shower a second time. ]
[ Weiss would likely mind this time if Cloud joined her in the bathroom, so it's good he doesn't. How Weiss is when the Cordis moon isn't out isn't much difference; her more cheery side is just a lot more prevalent when it is, and she's a little more honest with people out of her need to be wanted. Okay, maybe there's a huge difference between regular Weiss and Cordis Weiss... but she's learning to loosen up regardless of which moon is out after all that she's experienced in this world.
She leans against the door once she's locked the bathroom and lets out a sigh. She's not really sure what to do at this point, but after cleaning, would she go back to her apartment? It... feels kind of weird to do so, but she doesn't really have any reason to stay. . .
And she mulls over it even more even after the quick shower she takes. She remembers where the towels are, even though the bathroom looks so much different compared to the last time she was here. She also remembers that there's a reason to stay—not overnight, but at least enough for more than just sex.
Raven Branwen.
Once she's out, her hair is down and damp. Weiss isn't exactly keen on putting it up again at this time. She's quick to head back inside Cloud's room so she doesn't end up bumping into anybody else while she's outside. ]
[ He hears the door opening behind him, looking back over his shoulder to her as he notes the way her hair is still down and damp. Note to self? Get a hair dryer for his room. Maybe? ...he might as well with the way that Panty took over the bathroom at this point. He'll just start styling himself in his bedroom. Granted that would also imply he invested in more furniture for his room. But that's neither here or there. ]
Hey. [ Her scent is different this time. The smell of heat and sex wasn't so prevalent to his Sanguis senses. Which in turn, let him calm down further. "Um... It's your turn." ] Right. Be right back.
[ He means it too. There's...honestly a lot less to clean up on his end of things. Gotta wash the sweat off at least. So as Weiss steps inside, Cloud slips past her to peer his head around the corner again, perks his wolf ears atop his head, listens for any 'obstacles' and sniffs it out subtly... And once again, luck is on their side as he quickly makes his way to the bathroom too. Weiss was just in here...
On one hand, being that it was her, he didn't mind that? But on the other hand, he still wished there was a way to turn off this damn nose when the red moon was out. Taking a quick shower of his own, he's mindful not to let himself take those long pauses that he's used to taking while showering. Enough that he's scrubbed shampoo and conditioner through his hair and cleansed his body anyway. By the time he gets back to his room where Weiss was waiting, he's got a couple towels hanging off his shoulder in case she wants to dry her hair some more. ]
I'm back.
[ In his rush to get back to her, he...didn't really dry his hair either. At all. Which meant that spiky hair of his from before? Gone. Super deflated and...nonexistent really. It's just super droopy. His wolf ears are flopping a little too. ]
[ Weiss' attention immediately goes to the door when she hears it open. She'd been keeping quiet all this time, but walking around his room to see what new things he has compared to the last time he was here. She's not one to snoop around or anything, but she's merely observing and taking things in! ]
Oh— sorry. I was just— [ A pause, and she looks at him wide-eyed. ] You have new stuff.
[ This is totally not awkward at all.
But she also decides to head back closer to his bed. Should... she sit down? God, this isn't her room and it's not like he still needs help. She can't just make herself feel at home, even if she does want to relax around him some. It's different when they meet outside... ]
[ It's still less empty than the bare state it was in the first time she came over. Granted, they've had plenty of time to adjust to this world. The birdbox that Cloud picked up a couple or so months back remains in the corner of the bedroom, ready to play whatever music was available from his world at the time. It otherwise is quiet. Standing at the doorway after closing it, Cloud cocks a brow while his ears just...continue to flop, not standing upright.
Why was she apologizing? ...ponders the guy who would have probably done the exact thing that she did even if he did nothing wrong. As he closes the distance between them, he takes a scan of his room with his gaze. ]
Oh, uh, yeah. I picked up one of these birdboxes a while back. A lot more on key than I thought it'd be.
[ Standing with her closer to his bed, he finds his cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red again. With that itch of his scratched, he felt a little bit awkward too. Doing everything in the bedroom was...different. Then again, if he still lived alone, he might have felt more comfortable taking this out to the living room. Or actually going out somewhere with her. But then she breaks the ice ha when she asks about his hair. And this time it's his turn to look at her wide-eyed. ]
Me? [ Under normal circumstances, he might have declined. But...these weren't normal circumstances anymore. They haven't been for the past few months. There's a lot to talk about still. That much he's aware of. As much as they'd enjoyed themselves before, there was still the pressing matter at hand of why he was put into this state in the first place. With a much-needed sigh, the tension leaves his shoulders and his tone softens. He's the first to sit down on the bed, looking up to her again.
...with those damp wolf ears of his and his drooped hair. ]
[ Cloud's response gives her the signal that it's okay to go back to the bed. She does, climbing onto the mattress to get behind him and take one of the towels from his shoulder. She unfolds it before laying it on his head, not enough for it to obscure his vision. Her hands start to squeeze parts of his hair over the towel. It's not painful, in fact, the tips of her fingers even include a gentle massage while she's at it. ]
I got a birdbox, too. It's actually nice to listen to music from home.
[ Because she does love music a lot. Still being connected to Remnant's music while she's running away from the world is nice. ]
Do you sing?
[ She knows he's never seen a play until he watched the one she was in, but that's far from what she's asking. It's nice to talk about something like this. Weiss may be cold and distant and mostly awkward at times, but... she does want to get to know Cloud better. The times they've spent together regardless of intimacy weren't just for nothing. She does see him as someone she likes spending time with. He really would have figured out that she's not interested in even becoming friends that day when they first met, after she'd lost to him. Cloud would have met no one else but the Ice Queen then.
Not to mention... as quiet as he is, and as dorky and dumb as he can be, he's pretty cute. Of course she wants to know more about him. :) ]
[ The towel gives a little 'fwump' of sorts when she lays it on his head. It might not have obscured his vision, but he still couldn't look over his shoulder without risking it falling off his head. His ears twitch a little bit beneath the cover until her hands start to move through parts of his hair. Just so he'd have better balance, Cloud crosses his legs as he sits more upright for her.
He's also very grateful for the fact that he's facing away from her now, so that she didn't have see his slightly flustered cheeks. After the first couple of rubs, he even starts to notice how tender her touch was while still being enough to get the work done.
That...felt really good, actually. It's a different kind of intimacy, one that comes from an honest place as he listens to her talk about her own birdbox. ]
....... [ Cloud? Do you sing? ] Mm? Oh. [ Sorry he, kind of zoned out for a second there. One thing that the huntress would discover was that it wasn't just his lupine ears that were sensitive, but having his hair played with left his head tingling. He perks up a bit, giving a collective hum in thought. ]
Not well. [ Steve Burton raps and Takahiro Sakurai has the voice of a smooth criminal but shhhh. ] I like to listen, though.
[ Speaking of music, that reminds him. He hasn't shared this with many people here yet. ]
[ Oh! He plays the piano. That's a nice surprise, but she decides to keep the bit about how she's also a pianist to herself. She doesn't want to make this about her! ]
Here? You should get a piano.
[ Nevermind that pianos are expensive... That part, she doesn't bring up because it doesn't occur to her at all.
Instead, she focuses on what she's doing—drying Cloud's hair with the towel, a gentle head massage included just because she feels the need to make sure he's okay. He is, and it shows, but it just doesn't feel like she's finished with why she's here in the first place. ]
[ Had she mentioned playing the piano to him, Cloud wouldn't have minded. By his own admittance, it's not like he had too much time to play back home. HIs version of "jamming on it" was probably just above single finger key pressing. ]
Thought about it. But where to put it...
[ As far as Cloud was concerned, it was either spend his Chroma on his training/fighting, or...well. Saving up for the next big thing after he finally gets his motorcycle. Like a piano.
As far as how he felt right now? A little bit spoiled. He feels like being more honest with her. ]
Better. [ "Mm." ] A lot better. [ When her hand moves over the edges of his wolf ears, he lets out a soft, quiet sigh. ]
You're really good at this.
[ His hair. He means that. /// But also lowkey don't stop rubbing his ears? ]
[ He can keep it in his room! That way, he'll be the only one using it? Weiss even looks around for a spot where a piano can fit, pausing in her massage as she visualises how Cloud's room would look with some more furniture to it.
She continues, finally, when he says she's good at what she's doing though. It makes her laugh a little, and she gives his ear a firmer rub... without the towel in the way this time. His hair is still a little damp, but this part is mostly dry now. ]
I guess... it's because I go to the puppy cafe often.
[ So she's had training in how to pet dogs??? She supposes that's it. ]
[ If there's one thing he can thank Panty for (THANKING her? crazy. but listen,) it was giving him a proverbial kick in the ass to actually fill his apartment with more things. Cloud still had a ways to go to give it more of that "lived in" vibe from his end, but...guess he was gonna be scoping out a piano in the near future. ]
Huh? Sounds nice, but...what does..... [ "...a puppy cafe have to do with this?" the question tapers off when he realizes what she means. Not to mention with her delicate fingers playing with his ear directly. He makes a small noise in his throat that almost sounds like a strained whine, but oh-so-quiet. ...his ear twitches, causing the now fluffier appendage to flop a bit beneath her touch. ]
Oh. Real funny.
[ ... what a weak protest. Especially made weaker by the fact that while he doesn't outright press against her hand, Cloud's head is leaning ever so subtly against it without his realizing it. ]
[ If this were most of anyone else or somewhere public, he might have been far more embarrassed. But right now, she's got him pegged. And there's nothing he can do about it. Woe is him. His hair doesn't completely follow some kind of anime/video game logic, so when she pulls the towel off his head, his hair doesn't magically bounce back into place. It's still spiky and soft, but...oh man it lost a lot of volume. ]
I...! [ ... .... ] Yeah...
[ He just sounds. So defeated. But then, he lets out a soft, brief chuckle of his own too. ]
[ Weiss would be embarrassed if she were in his shoes. She really shouldn't be acting like she's got it together... but her mood's gotten a little better. That's why she's able to joke around, to smile a little, and even do so much for another person.
She's not embarrassed right now, though. She feels like she's got Cloud right where she wants him. He's got no reason to complain or say no to her. After all, she did just... "help" him. ]
Even if you did, you don't have to worry.
[ With Cloud's back facing her, he wouldn't really see and expect what happens next. She leans forward to place a soft kiss against one of his ears. ]
[ Easy for her to say she wasn't embarrassed! They didn't have to stare at each other while she was petting the wolf man! Which was making it a lot easier for him to blush up a storm and not get called out for it. Unless he turned around. ...or maybe she knew exactly what this kind of attention was going to do to him anyway.
From the day they met at the tournament, she only continued to surprise him. She was stubborn, determined, and...in her own way, not one to compromise. If there was something that she wanted to do, she was going to carry it out. That's what Cloud had come to understand about her. Nothing would stop her from deciding to thank him with a kiss on the cheek that day in Obscuria. Or make the most out of being chained together. Even now, after coming to him in such dire straits, she's making short work of his composure again.
And there he is, nary a real complaint at the end of it all. ]
Ah-
[ !?! He must have zoned out slightly because the sudden feeling and sound of his ear getting kissed sends a shiver down his spine. His eyes widen and...yup. That's definitely Cloud making a weak little squawk, words failing him as his breath catches in his throat.
...'kay, now his heart is beating a little faster. The Sanguis moon's pull on him has waned a little, so his reaction is...honestly very genuine. And now his face feels all kinds of warm, lifting the back of his hand up to touch one of his cheeks before clearing his throat. It's a good thing that he's got fluffy wolf ears and not human ones right now. Otherwise she'd see how red they've become. It may have caught him off guard, but he... ...no. That was too embarrassing. He wasn't going to ask her to do that again. But what he can do, is finally say something he should have said a while ago. ]
[ She's not sure what he's thanking him for, really, but it makes her smile nonetheless. She thinks she's done good— so, ]
You're welcome.
[ Whether it's being here or helping him or drying his hair, she's... honestly glad to help out. Years of loneliness will get you craving for these kinds of things. Even just a simple thank you gets her chest beating fast, feeling fulfilled, even. It gets her sitting on her feet rather than kneeling on the mattress. She rests her head on his back with a heavy sigh. ]
Aura and Chroma are... sort of the same. If you don't have any left, it's dangerous. You could die.
[ Weiss begins softly, hands playing with the edge of her skirt while she's seated behind him. ]
And having your Aura activated drains all your Chroma. I don't know how many people here know that, but even if Raven knew, I don't think she would have told you. She's not a good person. She left Yang when she was still a baby. She also kidnapped me. As far as I'm concerned, she's an enemy.
... I wouldn't want any of my friends near her.
[ Her voice tapers off until it's silent in the room again. She's not really sure if she should continue, but she thinks she has something to tell him, too. ]
[ Just as Cloud opens his mouth to say something, the light weight of her head resting against his back hits him. Blinking curiously, he looks over his shoulder, unable to see her face as she lets out a heavy sigh. Cloud doesn't speak for the entire time that she explains to him the link between Aura and Chroma. So it was like exerting oneself too far in battle. Like the time he faced the dark titan across the Nothing with Marie and Sanson. Cloud nearly pushed himself to the point of no return in that fight. And that was before he even had access to this newfound ability.
Weiss' voice, soft as it was, reaches him very clearly as he looks straight ahead. He figured out the hard way (though by his own admittance, he was the one who sought this out upon learning about it) what it did to his Chroma reserves. If he'd delayed getting help any longer, chances were he'd wind up flaking with crystalline marks across his body. ]
... .... .....
[ Weiss... Now that he thinks about the way she reacted when he explained both his Aura being unlocked and who did it, it all makes perfect sense to him. The way she suddenly pulled him to her chest and embraced him... Cloud really had her worried, didn't he? Had the shoe been on the other foot somehow, and the prospect of Weiss being left on the brink of death was on the table... God, how would he react? She's caught a glimpse into his past before. He's seen what her supposed fate was to be on Remnant. He was tired. Tired of losing what he cared about. And yet he could run off and do something stupid, even if it was for someone else's sake.
The hypocrisy was real- yet deep down there was a part of him that would still do something risky for someone like her. He has a lot to think about when it comes to Raven, what she did to her daughter and to Weiss. Nothing she says to him has gone to waste. The person he's seen and the person that's being described to him now...
Well, what Cloud does know, is who he can trust. And that was the girl at his back, apologizing for yelling at him earlier. He wants to come back with something self-berating or lighthearted like how he deserved it; fair enough he felt that all things considered, she was 100% in the right. But right now, he has to return the favour- something he decides to do by scooching around on his butt. Not away from her, but so he's halfway facing her, leaning back on one of his hands. ]
And... I'm sorry I made you worry.
[ When their eyes meet, he's all too aware of how close she is to him. Rather than let that silence carry between them however, he leans in before even realizing it, until his lips meet hers with a soft kiss. ]
[ Being this close would really be weird and embarrassing with another person, but when Cloud shifts and turns to face her, it's almost as if it's natural. Whatever she was feeling earlier to the point that she had to apologise for looking around in his room is gone. She's honestly a lot more at ease now.
She doesn't know what Cloud is thinking. There's no way to, without him saying anything, but it feels like her breath's been taken away when he kisses her.
The kiss lingers despite being soft and gentle, and Weiss makes no motion to refuse it, but she also doesn't chase after it. She's perfectly content with it being short. It still packs a lot of meaning, and her lips curl into a small smile against his before she pulls away. ]
You should get some rest soon. I'm sure you need it.
[ Truthfully, Cloud didn't have a reason for why he decided to kiss her again. He might have been emboldened by the ruby glow that spreads across the clouds tonight. But maybe...he just felt like it. The insatiable desire from before was gone, leaving him to pull away just after Weiss does.
...huh. Maybe he could afford to actually show that bravado more often. Maybe.
Cloud felt much better. The only tinge of fatigue he feels came from what they were doing in the first place. If push came to shove, he could honestly stay up. But there's little fight in him on that front anyways. It's just a suggestion from her, and... ]
Mm. It's getting late... [ He's going to take her advice. But when he spares a glance back to his doorway, a hint of a frown crosses his lips. Something about this...doesn't feel right. Like there was still something missing. "Can I stay the night?" Sending her away wasn't right. ...no. He didn't want to. The sheets beneath his hand ball up into a gentle fist. ] Hey... [ He speaks up as he looks back to Weiss. ]
[ Well, Cloud? Is this what the moon wants? ...or what you want? ]
[ "not sure that's appropriate" would have been Weiss' initial response, but. . . at this point, Weiss doesn't really care much. At least, when Cloud is concerned, anyway. She literally came here to moonlace with him because he said he didn't have any Chroma.
Besides, what reason did she have back then when she asked to stay the night? Because the Cordis Moon was out? Yeah... but that's not really a valid reason, is it? Does she need one now?
. . . well, of course she does. It's not like she can be okay with it for no reason!! That would just out her as being comfortable with Cloud. That's embarrassing. ]
I got here past 9... I guess it's gotten late now. [ Thaaaat's a yes. ] You're going to have to lend me a shirt, though.
[ If any sense of relief washes over him, Cloud doesn't show it on the surface. He's just glad that she came to the same conclusion that he did. Sometimes there were things better left unsaid. So they can nag his brain later. 🙃
Speaking of being comfortable though...! ]
Yeah something tells me that's not a sleeping skirt, [ he replies as he slides off the bed to head for his dresser. It's a combat skirt, Cloud. Besides the claws, fangs and lupine ears atop his head, Cloud seems relatively normal now. Relaxed and calm, like her request was second nature to him.
Even for something so little, it was his turn to look after her. A shirt? He'll do her one better. Aaand- ]
Bingo, [ He says quietly to himself, pulling out a cotton pyjama set with matching top and bottom, and a dark flannel pattern that he'll bring over for Weiss. ] Here. This should do the trick.
[ Weiss gets up when Cloud seems ready to hand over clothes to her. She's not really sure if the pants will fit her, but she takes the pyjamas and excuses herself to the bathroom after that.
It doesn't take long for her to come back later on though. It's just the button-down top she's wearing, and it falls on her like a short dress rather than a shirt. It's still too short for an actual dress though, most of her legs exposed and if she bent over just a little bit, her panties, too.
Her dress hangs by her arm, as well as her bra, and the pants that match the top she has on now. No run in with Panty on the way back, too. Good for her. ]
[ There's a brief instance where his brain thinks that she might actually change in the room with him. If she did, he was prepared to turn around and...honestly have a hard time getting that mental image out of his skull anyway. Stripping down or changing clothes in front of someone when it didn't have to do with sex was...well alright. Comfy as the two had become around each other? That's still "u-uh...hoo boy" territory. Just because his Chroma levels were stable again, doesn't mean there's some magical "off" switch for his moon cycle!
So imagine his relief when Weiss excuses herself to change outside again. When she leaves, there's a flickering moment where his head feels like it's throbbing ever so subtly. It wasn't painful or anything- just enough of a reminder for the acerbic swordsman to mentally scold himself. Calm down...calm down... Sanguis wouldn't win again. Not while Cloud was in charge and-- ]
..................
[ Oh. She didn't...wear the pants. There's...nothing on but what he can only imagine is her panties. With her hair down, Weiss catches Cloud like a deer in the headlights. For about a couple seconds before he realizes he's staring. Because. Damn? Maybe asking her to stay the night was tempting fate a little too hard. A couple quick blinks later and he snaps out of it and clears his throat. Don't comment on her legs. Or her hips. Or the fact that one bend in any direction was gonna give him a "sneak peek". ]
Well at least you got the shirt you asked for. [ As he says this, he closes the distance across the room to her. He's got a closet where he can hang her dress in. Better than having it crumpled on the floor or hanging off a bed knob or something, even if she just moonlaced with him while wearing it. ]
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Between listening for her and picking up her scent, he can conclude that the coast was clear. The only time he ever planned on actively trying to sniff someone out. Thanks, Sanguis! ]
All clear. ... Huh. Never thought I’d be using my nose like this.
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Is it weird that you can smell just about anything? [ She takes a peek out the door too. ] Wait, don't answer that just yet. I promise I'll be back—
[ And off she goes! She just really wants to be clean right now, Cloud. 😫 ]
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Don't leave any trails.He steps back some when Weiss does eventually come up him to the door. ]A lit-- [ "Wait, don't answer that just yet." ] Ah, okay.
[ Peeking out the door after her, Cloud watches as she disappears down the hallway towards the bathroom. She'll find that since it's the only one in the apartment, there's a lot more stuff on top of the bathroom counter. So many beauty products. Like "what the fuck did a Sephora explode in here" levels of stuff. Way too many rubber duckies that Cloud's piled in a corner on the floor. A super soaker, bottles of bubble bath.
Trust him, Weiss. Cloud's been trying to keep up with all the crap Panty buys. At least the bathroom's still clean and usable?
While he waits for her to come back, Cloud takes this time to try and quell his Sanguis side. Though the scent of sex was still prevalent in the air after what they'd just done. Now that he had a clearer head than before, he could think back to what just happened. The fact that she came to help him in the first place was all he could ask for, despite how bad the combination of lost Chroma and the moon was on him. He still hasn't gotten used to the way it ramped up his possessive nature, something he ponders about as he stares out the window, up at the crimson moon.
Whenever she got back, she'd find that he's got a top back on (not his vest, but a comfier t-shirt.) He'll get clean after she did.
He wasn't going to join her in the shower a second time.]no subject
She leans against the door once she's locked the bathroom and lets out a sigh. She's not really sure what to do at this point, but after cleaning, would she go back to her apartment? It... feels kind of weird to do so, but she doesn't really have any reason to stay. . .
And she mulls over it even more even after the quick shower she takes. She remembers where the towels are, even though the bathroom looks so much different compared to the last time she was here. She also remembers that there's a reason to stay—not overnight, but at least enough for more than just sex.
Raven Branwen.
Once she's out, her hair is down and damp. Weiss isn't exactly keen on putting it up again at this time. She's quick to head back inside Cloud's room so she doesn't end up bumping into anybody else while she's outside. ]
Um... It's your turn.
[ Or something!! ]
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Hey. [ Her scent is different this time. The smell of heat and sex wasn't so prevalent to his Sanguis senses. Which in turn, let him calm down further. "Um... It's your turn." ] Right. Be right back.
[ He means it too. There's...honestly a lot less to clean up on his end of things. Gotta wash the sweat off at least. So as Weiss steps inside, Cloud slips past her to peer his head around the corner again, perks his wolf ears atop his head, listens for any 'obstacles' and sniffs it out subtly... And once again, luck is on their side as he quickly makes his way to the bathroom too. Weiss was just in here...
On one hand, being that it was her, he didn't mind that? But on the other hand, he still wished there was a way to turn off this damn nose when the red moon was out. Taking a quick shower of his own, he's mindful not to let himself take those long pauses that he's used to taking while showering. Enough that he's scrubbed shampoo and conditioner through his hair and cleansed his body anyway. By the time he gets back to his room where Weiss was waiting, he's got a couple towels hanging off his shoulder in case she wants to dry her hair some more. ]
I'm back.
[ In his rush to get back to her, he...didn't really dry his hair either. At all. Which meant that spiky hair of his from before? Gone. Super deflated and...nonexistent really. It's just super droopy. His wolf ears are flopping a little too. ]
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Oh— sorry. I was just— [ A pause, and she looks at him wide-eyed. ] You have new stuff.
[ This is totally not awkward at all.
But she also decides to head back closer to his bed. Should... she sit down? God, this isn't her room and it's not like he still needs help. She can't just make herself feel at home, even if she does want to relax around him some. It's different when they meet outside... ]
Do you want me to help you dry your hair?
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Why was she apologizing? ...ponders the guy who would have probably done the exact thing that she did even if he did nothing wrong. As he closes the distance between them, he takes a scan of his room with his gaze. ]
Oh, uh, yeah. I picked up one of these birdboxes a while back. A lot more on key than I thought it'd be.
[ Standing with her closer to his bed, he finds his cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red again. With that itch of his scratched, he felt a little bit awkward too. Doing everything in the bedroom was...different. Then again, if he still lived alone, he might have felt more comfortable taking this out to the living room. Or actually going out somewhere with her. But then she breaks the ice
hawhen she asks about his hair. And this time it's his turn to look at her wide-eyed. ]Me? [ Under normal circumstances, he might have declined. But...these weren't normal circumstances anymore. They haven't been for the past few months. There's a lot to talk about still. That much he's aware of. As much as they'd enjoyed themselves before, there was still the pressing matter at hand of why he was put into this state in the first place. With a much-needed sigh, the tension leaves his shoulders and his tone softens. He's the first to sit down on the bed, looking up to her again.
...with those damp wolf ears of his and his drooped hair. ]
Sure. Go for it.
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I got a birdbox, too. It's actually nice to listen to music from home.
[ Because she does love music a lot. Still being connected to Remnant's music while she's running away from the world is nice. ]
Do you sing?
[ She knows he's never seen a play until he watched the one she was in, but that's far from what she's asking. It's nice to talk about something like this. Weiss may be cold and distant and mostly awkward at times, but... she does want to get to know Cloud better. The times they've spent together regardless of intimacy weren't just for nothing. She does see him as someone she likes spending time with. He really would have figured out that she's not interested in even becoming friends that day when they first met, after she'd lost to him. Cloud would have met no one else but the Ice Queen then.
Not to mention... as quiet as he is, and as dorky and dumb as he can be, he's pretty cute. Of course she wants to know more about him. :) ]
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He's also very grateful for the fact that he's facing away from her now, so that she didn't have see his slightly flustered cheeks. After the first couple of rubs, he even starts to notice how tender her touch was while still being enough to get the work done.
That...felt really good, actually. It's a different kind of intimacy, one that comes from an honest place as he listens to her talk about her own birdbox. ]
....... [ Cloud? Do you sing? ] Mm? Oh. [ Sorry he, kind of zoned out for a second there. One thing that the huntress would discover was that it wasn't just his lupine ears that were sensitive, but having his hair played with left his head tingling. He perks up a bit, giving a collective hum in thought. ]
Not well. [
Steve Burton raps and Takahiro Sakurai has the voice of a smooth criminal but shhhh. ] I like to listen, though.[ Speaking of music, that reminds him. He hasn't shared this with many people here yet. ]
But I've been trying to pick up the piano again.
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Here? You should get a piano.
[ Nevermind that pianos are expensive... That part, she doesn't bring up because it doesn't occur to her at all.
Instead, she focuses on what she's doing—drying Cloud's hair with the towel, a gentle head massage included just because she feels the need to make sure he's okay. He is, and it shows, but it just doesn't feel like she's finished with why she's here in the first place. ]
How do you feel, by the way?
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HIs version of "jamming on it" was probably just above single finger key pressing.]Thought about it. But where to put it...
[ As far as Cloud was concerned, it was either spend his Chroma on his training/fighting, or...well. Saving up for the next big thing after he finally gets his motorcycle. Like a piano.
As far as how he felt right now? A little bit spoiled. He feels like being more honest with her. ]
Better. [ "Mm." ] A lot better. [ When her hand moves over the edges of his wolf ears, he lets out a soft, quiet sigh. ]
You're really good at this.
[ His hair. He means that. /// But also lowkey don't stop rubbing his ears? ]
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[ He can keep it in his room! That way, he'll be the only one using it? Weiss even looks around for a spot where a piano can fit, pausing in her massage as she visualises how Cloud's room would look with some more furniture to it.
She continues, finally, when he says she's good at what she's doing though. It makes her laugh a little, and she gives his ear a firmer rub... without the towel in the way this time. His hair is still a little damp, but this part is mostly dry now. ]
I guess... it's because I go to the puppy cafe often.
[ So she's had training in how to pet dogs??? She supposes that's it. ]
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Huh? Sounds nice, but...what does..... [ "...a puppy cafe have to do with this?" the question tapers off when he realizes what she means. Not to mention with her delicate fingers playing with his ear directly. He makes a small noise in his throat that almost sounds like a strained whine, but oh-so-quiet. ...his ear twitches, causing the now fluffier appendage to flop a bit beneath her touch. ]
[ ... what a weak protest. Especially made weaker by the fact that while he doesn't outright press against her hand, Cloud's head is leaning ever so subtly against it without his realizing it. ]
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[ But she is laughing, at least... With Cloud feeling better, she has one less thing to worry about.
And since he seems to be enjoying, she sets the towel down to give his other wolf ear a gentle rub, too. Gotta keep the treatment equal! ]
It looks like you like it. No complaining.
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completelyfollow some kind of anime/video game logic, so when she pulls the towel off his head, his hair doesn't magically bounce back into place. It's still spiky and soft, but...oh man it lost a lot of volume. ]I...! [ ... .... ] Yeah...
[ He just sounds. So defeated. But then, he lets out a soft, brief chuckle of his own too. ]
I ain't thumping my foot this time.
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She's not embarrassed right now, though. She feels like she's got Cloud right where she wants him. He's got no reason to complain or say no to her. After all, she did just... "help" him. ]
Even if you did, you don't have to worry.
[ With Cloud's back facing her, he wouldn't really see and expect what happens next. She leans forward to place a soft kiss against one of his ears. ]
I can keep a secret.
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From the day they met at the tournament, she only continued to surprise him. She was stubborn, determined, and...in her own way, not one to compromise. If there was something that she wanted to do, she was going to carry it out. That's what Cloud had come to understand about her. Nothing would stop her from deciding to thank him with a kiss on the cheek that day in Obscuria. Or make the most out of being chained together. Even now, after coming to him in such dire straits, she's making short work of his composure again.
And there he is, nary a real complaint at the end of it all. ]
Ah-
[ !?! He must have zoned out slightly because the sudden feeling and sound of his ear getting kissed sends a shiver down his spine. His eyes widen and...yup. That's definitely Cloud making a weak little squawk, words failing him as his breath catches in his throat.
...'kay, now his heart is beating a little faster. The Sanguis moon's pull on him has waned a little, so his reaction is...honestly very genuine. And now his face feels all kinds of warm, lifting the back of his hand up to touch one of his cheeks before clearing his throat. It's a good thing that he's got fluffy wolf ears and not human ones right now. Otherwise she'd see how red they've become. It may have caught him off guard, but he... ...no. That was too embarrassing. He wasn't going to ask her to do that again. But what he can do, is finally say something he should have said a while ago. ]
Thank you.
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You're welcome.
[ Whether it's being here or helping him or drying his hair, she's... honestly glad to help out. Years of loneliness will get you craving for these kinds of things. Even just a simple thank you gets her chest beating fast, feeling fulfilled, even. It gets her sitting on her feet rather than kneeling on the mattress. She rests her head on his back with a heavy sigh. ]
Aura and Chroma are... sort of the same. If you don't have any left, it's dangerous. You could die.
[ Weiss begins softly, hands playing with the edge of her skirt while she's seated behind him. ]
And having your Aura activated drains all your Chroma. I don't know how many people here know that, but even if Raven knew, I don't think she would have told you. She's not a good person. She left Yang when she was still a baby. She also kidnapped me. As far as I'm concerned, she's an enemy.
... I wouldn't want any of my friends near her.
[ Her voice tapers off until it's silent in the room again. She's not really sure if she should continue, but she thinks she has something to tell him, too. ]
I'm sorry for yelling at you.
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Weiss' voice, soft as it was, reaches him very clearly as he looks straight ahead. He figured out the hard way (though by his own admittance, he was the one who sought this out upon learning about it) what it did to his Chroma reserves. If he'd delayed getting help any longer, chances were he'd wind up flaking with crystalline marks across his body. ]
... .... .....
[ Weiss... Now that he thinks about the way she reacted when he explained both his Aura being unlocked and who did it, it all makes perfect sense to him. The way she suddenly pulled him to her chest and embraced him... Cloud really had her worried, didn't he? Had the shoe been on the other foot somehow, and the prospect of Weiss being left on the brink of death was on the table... God, how would he react? She's caught a glimpse into his past before. He's seen what her supposed fate was to be on Remnant. He was tired. Tired of losing what he cared about. And yet he could run off and do something stupid, even if it was for someone else's sake.
The hypocrisy was real- yet deep down there was a part of him that would still do something risky for someone like her. He has a lot to think about when it comes to Raven, what she did to her daughter and to Weiss. Nothing she says to him has gone to waste. The person he's seen and the person that's being described to him now...
Well, what Cloud does know, is who he can trust. And that was the girl at his back, apologizing for yelling at him earlier. He wants to come back with something self-berating or lighthearted like how he deserved it; fair enough he felt that all things considered, she was 100% in the right. But right now, he has to return the favour- something he decides to do by scooching around on his butt. Not away from her, but so he's halfway facing her, leaning back on one of his hands. ]
And... I'm sorry I made you worry.
[ When their eyes meet, he's all too aware of how close she is to him. Rather than let that silence carry between them however, he leans in before even realizing it, until his lips meet hers with a soft kiss. ]
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She doesn't know what Cloud is thinking. There's no way to, without him saying anything, but it feels like her breath's been taken away when he kisses her.
The kiss lingers despite being soft and gentle, and Weiss makes no motion to refuse it, but she also doesn't chase after it. She's perfectly content with it being short. It still packs a lot of meaning, and her lips curl into a small smile against his before she pulls away. ]
You should get some rest soon. I'm sure you need it.
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...huh. Maybe he could afford to actually show that bravado more often. Maybe.
Cloud felt much better. The only tinge of fatigue he feels came from what they were doing in the first place. If push came to shove, he could honestly stay up. But there's little fight in him on that front anyways. It's just a suggestion from her, and... ]
Mm. It's getting late... [ He's going to take her advice. But when he spares a glance back to his doorway, a hint of a frown crosses his lips. Something about this...doesn't feel right. Like there was still something missing.
"Can I stay the night?"Sending her away wasn't right. ...no. He didn't want to. The sheets beneath his hand ball up into a gentle fist. ] Hey... [ He speaks up as he looks back to Weiss. ][ Well, Cloud? Is this what the moon wants? ...or what you want? ]
You wanna stay the night?
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[ "not sure that's appropriate" would have been Weiss' initial response, but. . . at this point, Weiss doesn't really care much. At least, when Cloud is concerned, anyway. She literally came here to moonlace with him because he said he didn't have any Chroma.
Besides, what reason did she have back then when she asked to stay the night? Because the Cordis Moon was out? Yeah... but that's not really a valid reason, is it? Does she need one now?
. . . well, of course she does. It's not like she can be okay with it for no reason!! That would just out her as being comfortable with Cloud. That's embarrassing. ]
I got here past 9... I guess it's gotten late now. [ Thaaaat's a yes. ] You're going to have to lend me a shirt, though.
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So they can nag his brain later. 🙃Speaking of being comfortable though...! ]
Yeah something tells me that's not a sleeping skirt, [ he replies as he slides off the bed to head for his dresser.
It's a combat skirt, Cloud.Besides the claws, fangs and lupine ears atop his head, Cloud seems relatively normal now. Relaxed and calm, like her request was second nature to him.Even for something so little, it was his turn to look after her. A shirt? He'll do her one better. Aaand- ]
Bingo, [ He says quietly to himself, pulling out a cotton pyjama set with matching top and bottom, and a dark flannel pattern that he'll bring over for Weiss. ] Here. This should do the trick.
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It doesn't take long for her to come back later on though. It's just the button-down top she's wearing, and it falls on her like a short dress rather than a shirt. It's still too short for an actual dress though, most of her legs exposed and if she bent over just a little bit, her panties, too.
Her dress hangs by her arm, as well as her bra, and the pants that match the top she has on now. No run in with Panty on the way back, too. Good for her. ]
The pants are a little too big for me.
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So imagine his relief when Weiss excuses herself to change outside again. When she leaves, there's a flickering moment where his head feels like it's throbbing ever so subtly. It wasn't painful or anything- just enough of a reminder for the acerbic swordsman to mentally scold himself. Calm down...calm down... Sanguis wouldn't win
again. Not while Cloud was in charge and-- ]..................
[ Oh. She didn't...wear the pants. There's...nothing on but what he can only imagine is her panties. With her hair down, Weiss catches Cloud like a deer in the headlights. For about a couple seconds before he realizes he's staring.
Because. Damn?Maybe asking her to stay the night was tempting fate a little too hard. A couple quick blinks later and he snaps out of it and clears his throat. Don't comment on her legs. Or her hips. Or the fact that one bend in any direction was gonna give him a "sneak peek". ]Well at least you got the shirt you asked for. [ As he says this, he closes the distance across the room to her. He's got a closet where he can hang her dress in. Better than having it crumpled on the floor or hanging off a bed knob or something, even if she just moonlaced with him while wearing it. ]
I can take those for you.
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