open rp/psl/etc

[head_bancho]

Comments

[head_bancho]

[That felt so much better.

His voice wasn't cooperating, so he pulled up a notepad app and wrote in the words with his finger so she could see, having a little difficult time doing it with the cloth occasionally blocking his sight.]

May I have a cough drop?

[In purple script.]

[erbe]

So demanding.

[She teases, but even so Rin hands him the cloth and will leave—

Wait.]

Would you also like some tea sweetened with honey?

[head_bancho]

[A flash of guilt over his face and he responded as if he hadn't just been set on fire from the inside:]

You don't have to.

[erbe]

I'll make some for myself, too.

[That's all the butt-pats he'll get from her over his guilty look. She'll be back in about six minutes with honeyed chamomile tea and a bag of lemon lozenges. With her she has the tea in fancy cups and matching saucers which are placed delicately on the table before she seats herself next to him.]

[head_bancho]

[Twice saving his life and he hadn't done a damned thing for her. Shoving that frustration into the back of his mind, Riki relaxed and waited.

Tea. Usually, they just had the cheap stuff. What would she make?

When she returned, he had already written in 'Thank you' and held up his phone. He stared at the tray for a little while, specifically the expensive-looking cups. He'd have to make sure he didn't break or chip a thing, picking up his cup and blowing on it. It smelled so good, he had to squeeze his eyes shut.]

[erbe]

[She proudly mixed in a little dried vanilla while it was steeping just to offset the herbal taste in case Riki wasn't a fan of tea. Either way, the warmth should relax the muscles of his throat while the honey coats the irritated parts. The lozenge will help, and she feels the lemon flavor will contrast the smooth and mild nature of the chamomile tea quite nicely.]

Thanks? You're letting me experiment on you. And by awakening your full power I might not have to babysit you anymore. Besides, I can't put you through your paces again while you're still worn out. I'll pamper you until you're right as rain, and then I'll break you down all over again.

[head_bancho]

[He drilled the inside of his cheek with his tongue. He didn't have enough space on his screen to argue any of that and even if he switched to written text she could just turn his phone off. Or, throw it.

So, the best he could manage was just writing 'Excuses' with flashing, animated sparkles added in and pushing it her way.]

[And then he immediately burned his tongue on the tea.]

[erbe]

[Reaching out Rin pokes his check with her index finger and twists it just to make a gesture that catches more attention.]

Why complain about it? Don't you like being pampered, Mr. Switch~?

[head_bancho]

[He was too weak to not take it, locking his jaw near to the point of it breaking.]

Changes nothing.

[erbe]

Oh, would you rather I cry? Should I boo-hoo because you won't accept my kindness? Lift up the hem of my camisole and dab away the tears?

[Actually, maybe not. Then she'd be flashing him.]

[head_bancho]

[She nearly had him going, right on the point of cursing and tearing what little was left of his vocal cords.

And then, very calmly...]

Do that last one.

[erbe]

[Tohsaka simply nudges him with her elbow.]

Drink your tea, pervert.

[head_bancho]

Mmmmfff.

[He went back to drinking his tea, wincing each time it went down. A soothing as the taste was, introducing anything milder than warm air was just going to hurt for a while.

After some time, he glanced around the basement, drab and barely touched from time and whatever Rin thought was more important or practical to focus on. He needed a new distraction from the pain once the tea was finished, popping a cough drop in his mouth. He couldn't imagine Rin would be able to surface any training for him when he was still recovering from having the engine in his chest ventilated. She likely wouldn't send him home in that condition, either.]

Want to watch videos with me?

[erbe]

...On your phone? Sure, but let's move to the parlor for that.

[Living room? No, it's definitely a parlor. Furnished decadently with a fire place that never gets used because she doesn't bother cleaning the chimney.]

[head_bancho]

[He followed her up, happy to be out of the dusty basement, insisting on helping with the trays because he wanted to earn his pampering, damn it.

When they got to her parlor, he thought more about the size of it than the criteria. He hadn't seen it in passing but one glance told him... it was bigger than his house. Falling back onto the massive, finely upholstered sofa in front of the ice-cold fireplace, Riki started going through an app looking for something that wouldn't turn Rin off from the internet for good.]]

[erbe]

[While he scrolls through his phone Rin will be in the kitchen. The dishes from before he helped her with, but now she wants a snack. So she'll be grabbing some veggies out of the fridge and using cutesy-shaped cutters to make a small platter for... well, for her if he thinks his throat is too sore to eat. But she'll put a little ramekin of dressing in the middle of the plate before bringing it out and sitting next to him.]

[head_bancho]

[The cushion he shoved against his lower back was perfect. Riki stayed upright that way and simply shut his eyes after he found a video of an old couple water-skiing for the first time under the 'Cute' tag.

His eyes cracked open when Rin sat beside him. Eying the cute spread of veggies, he smiled and held out his phone for her to watch with him. He was already in the video, so he whispered a 'Thanks' in a hoarse and crackling tone.]

[erbe]

[Tohsaka gently hushes him so he stops hurting his throat by trying to be vocal. She watches the video at first, but it's not long before her eyes wander back to Riki. After all, she has little interest in the lives of others. What's most important to Tohsaka is the impact of people immediately within her sphere of influence.

Which includes him. She watches to see if the video makes him laugh or smile, she watches to see if he feels better now than before he had the tea, she watches... just to see his face as the soft glow of the ambient light in the parlor illuminates him.]

[head_bancho]

[He wouldn't say the pain earlier had been worth a 'hush' coming from Rin to calm him down or even the cute snacks she made for them. There were probably less painful ways to earn it but he wouldn't turn it down.

On a day with much less pain to distract him, he would have noticed the way she leaned in and watched with him and when the cute story of the couple began interesting her less over him. He started smiling when he saw the couple laughing and kissing after an accident and it couldn't be written clearer on his face what interested him the most about the story.

Only, he began to notice Rin's reflection in the screen and he started to smile for another reason. If she knew what his plan had been from the start, he didn't think she'd do it any differently but it was nice to know and be there in the moment. So, he turned to look at Rin and smiled, regrettably mute the one time he thought he had the perfect thing to say.]

[erbe]

[When their eyes meet Tohsaka's heart flips. Berating herself internally for getting caught. However that's quick to quiet when she sees just how he looks at her. Stupidly sweet and incredibly romantic. Enough to make any normal girl swoon on the spot. In all honesty she may have been the same if not for the little tick of anxiety underlining all of this.

What she knows she has to protect him from, what she hopes today's session will bring him. She allows their gazes to hold for some time, but she makes sure to lift a hand and press her index finger to his lips.

Don't talk! Don't say anything. Don't kiss her, don't be so sweet. Don't melt her heart, and don't make her fall so hard.]

You can't handle another session. When do you think you'll feel comfortable going home?

[His mom seems like a worrier.]

[head_bancho]

[He didn't need a camera to remember that moment. He wished he felt much less gross. That his throat hadn't felt ripped up and that his head wasn't pounding. He would have kissed her then and there and ruined Rin's chance to catch her breath and recover. So much could be said in a few words but the way her eyes looked before he turned had been so clear, he almost heard it in her voice. For a little while, Rin let herself enjoy his company without making an excuse for it.

Without holding it over her head as something to tease her with, Riki squeezed one eye shut and nodded, deciding he'd just keep the thought close to his chest. No teasing. It was nice just the way it was.

Besides. Just her touching his lips was another memory to hold onto. Just the thought that she could get so comfortable with him that she'd let her guard down was going to tide him over. He'd be a stellar student.

Once he composed himself, realizing he'd been getting close to locking his face into a permanent smile that wouldn't fit a delinquent gang leader, he held up two fingers. Hours. Not knowing a thing about sign language, he drilled his fingers on his head so she could see then mouthed the word 'Shower'.]

[erbe]

[Tohsaka is actually completely dumbfounded until he mouths his words. She may not be as good at reading lips as most people who pride themselves on the skill, but it's easy enough when Riki is so close.]

Sure! You might actually benefit more from a bath. I'll be gracious and let you use my good product.

[Rin stands right up and gestures for him to follow her. Away! They will head to the second floor where a decently sized bathroom is chock full of luxury bath items. Mostly for skin and haircare.

Her body is one of her weapons, after all! And she counts being flawlessly attractive in her arsenal.]

here, a gift

[head_bancho]

[The thought hadn't struck him until he actually set eyes on her bathroom itself. When Rin presented him with a bathroom bigger than two closets, he gaped and lifted his hands over his head as if trying to picture the walls he was used to. Before she left him to it, he pointed his finger at his eyes and then at hers, shaking his head. No peeking.

There was a full tub, too? Once he was left to his own devices with a bathroom he didn't know what to do with, he just decided to stop playing it up in his head and just enjoy it only after inspecting just about every bottle he could find. Hoping her big mansion had a big hot water tank to match, he ran a full bath once he was done with the shower, sinking in and soaking. Warm, humid air filled his lungs and he could feel a few pieces of what he was stripped of left him lighter. The parts that had been cleaned of pollution were still getting used to fresh air and...

He fell asleep on the lip of the tub, arms crossed over it as all that comfort crushed him completely.]

oooooooooooh boy

[erbe]

[For her, 45 minutes is minimum bath time. Add on a rinsing shower so you're not sitting in your own filth? An hour. However when he hits an hour and a half she's concerned. An hour and 45 minutes and she's knocking on the door.]

Samejima? You didn't slip and hit your head, did you?

take that

[head_bancho]

[When she knocked, she'd find he hadn't even fully closed the door and it creaked open to reveal the reason why he hadn't answered. He was peacefully and completely knocked out only to slowly come to, lifting his chin from the edge of the tub and staring blearily in Rin's direction, lifting himself up onto his elbows.

It was all pleasantly fuzzy.]

Muh? Tohsaka?