04 → [audio]

[fallforthesky]

[It's been a while since Lenalee has addressed the network. For lack of anything to say that wouldn't be a rehash of what everyone else has already long gone over, maybe. Something like that. There's only so much she can bring up with a group of people she doesn't know or understand, after all

Comments

voice; filter

[looseleafbook]

I didn't get very many responses last time I tried that question myself. Still only know yours, Allen's, and Kanda's. [And Rhode's but she's gone.]

[A soft smile is audible in his voice.] Thanks, Lena. You can come up any time you want.

[looseleafbook]

[Yeah, they all kind of did, except Kanda perhaps seeing as it's part of his personality almost. They've got to pick it up again at least for the sake of being prepared against whatever Libby throws at them.

Grins then chuckles a little, making his way over to her.] Yeah. Who wants a fuzzy one anyway?

[Lavi takes it but doesn't yet open it.] You know I'm good with a hug and a wish. [Unwrapping her coat from around it.]

[fallforthesky]

[It's good reason to- if Libitina ever catches on that some of the stronger people she's yanked over are beginning to lose their touch, who knows what kind of events she'll start throwing at them next.]

I know, but it's your birthday. And I've already said that I'd do my best to make them... birthdays, haven't I? Besides, it's too late now.

[What Lavi will find neatly folded inside the coat is nothing extravagant. It's what appears to be a rather haphazard red muff- only instead of being made of fur, it appears to have been constructed from part of the blanket that Lavi's food and first-aid bundles had come in back in April. She'd stitched it together with a suture and a pragmatic amount of surgical thread. ...It doesn't look very pretty. She imagines he might be concerned with how she'd chosen to use the cloth. But:] I thought it might help once the weather starts getting colder again. So your hands stay warm.

[Because fingerless gloves aren't much help.] I-It sort of matches your scarves.

[looseleafbook]

[(gym) :D We must get back into shape! Absolutely. Because while the walls are creepy they're not the worst she can do.

He recognizes the cloth and runs his fingers over the stitching, an unguarded expression on his face for once. If anything he's surprised and...touched. He's gotten gifts before from others, usually books they think he hasn't read yet (but usually had, he just couldn't bring himself to say he had) or a notebook (like Cross). They all had just gotten lumped in the closet with everything else he couldn't take with him come the day that he and Bookman had to leave the Order. But this... This muffler, however crudely made, was something that had more thought put into it than the other gifts. And it was made with him in mind.

Lavi's eye waters up a little bit and he busies himself with lowering his head, Lenalee's coat draped over his arm as he sticks his hands in it. Still, when he speaks his voice gives him away even as he laughs.] Look, perfect fit, yeah?

[A small and hopefully (but unfortunately not) quiet sniffle

1/2

[fallforthesky]

[Lenalee watches his face carefully as he looks the muffler over, lips parted slightly and eyebrows raised- an expression that's almost childlike in its anticipation. Truth be told, she'd spent the entire time putting it together telling herself that making something for winter would prove to be over-preparation and hoping that Lavi would never find need to actually make use of it, but seeing that look cross his face... as if all his barriers had been laid down... suddenly, achingly, she's glad she'd done it anyway.]

It looks- [a hitch, because she heard that sniffle and she's already so off-guard herself that it practically blindsides her-]

[fallforthesky]

[-and then she's being bundled into a very abrupt hug, which really does blindside her. Oh, Lavi...

Almost instantly, her arms twist around to lock behind his back, tight and solid as they always are. The bubble in her chest expands, expands, and pops, leaving her with a slightly dazed and stretched feeling, as if her skin were several sizes too big for her, but somehow it'd oddly pleasant.

It'll take her a while yet before she realizes that feeling is relief.] You're- you're welcome.

[looseleafbook]

[But while she hopes that he might never need it, it might mean that he's gone while she stays. That he has to go back to whatever it is waiting for him at the end of Fiddler's tongue, whether Lenalee comes home with him or not it's what's waiting. He'd rather stay here, as bad as that is.

He's the unpredictable one in their little family. Some of the time, sometimes Allen gets that hat, rarely the other two.

His fingers grip the light fabric of her shirt as he clings in this hug almost like he did so many months ago when she first arrived. But it's so much happier a hug than that was back then, even with his face hidden in her shoulder. Lavi smiles a little, lifting his head enough to wipe at his eye with his own sleeve, an arm pulled away enough to do so but then back around her.]

Best gift I've ever gotten, yeah?

SLOW AS HELL TAGGING, GO

[fallforthesky]

[Unpredictable is right. Unpredictable, but so sweet (which is funny, mister have-no-heart). Lenalee tights her hold on him when she feels him shifting to dry his eye, tilting her head to rest her cheek on his shoulder. Their hugs always seem to feel so desperate. With weak humour, stilted by how he's holding onto her:] You can't mean that.

/o/

[looseleafbook]

[He's been trying to ignore that heart, but being sweet is just what happens when he's trying to be someone they'll talk to. And at least they're hugging, they could not be at all. Lavi pulls back a bit and looks down at her, grinning.] Of course I mean it, no one has given a thoughtful gift like this to me before. It means a lot to me, Lenalee.

[fallforthesky]

[See, now she's the one tearing up a little.] I'm- I'm glad you like it. Really. [She blinks once or twice, then dabs her eyes with the back of a wrist and sniffles.] I just wish it could have been something- better. Nicer.

[looseleafbook]

I wouldn't have wanted anything else, Lenalee. You made it while you were thinking of me, that's better and nicer than anything store bought. Honest. [Reassuring smile as one of his hands comes up and lightly ruffles her hair.]

[fallforthesky]

[Reaching up to touch his hand as he ruffles her hair.] I'll remember that for next time. Maybe I can make you a scarf next.

[looseleafbook]

[Lets his hand slip down, smiling.] Hopefully I won't need it but you never know.

[fallforthesky]

I think... the chances that you will is higher than the chances that we'll be home before winter.

[looseleafbook]

Still doesn't hurt to dream a little, yeah?

[fallforthesky]

I dream every night, Lavi. [That's a double-entente if she ever made one.]