life and its complications.

[putrefaction]

[It is a laundry day in someone else's mind.

He took extra steps to leave her alone to her task. She has quite a task ahead of her, and Nigel would only be in the way. Thus, he kept to cat naps, to shifting between waking and sleeping states.

Eventually, his throat demands a trip, and he emerges from his room with the intent to go to the kitchen. An intent that cuts short inches from his destination, when he catches sight of white-gold in the laundry room. Of skin he shouldn't be catching, a floral shape etched against the pale. White with a blue edge. Maybe. It's hard to tell with his sight.

Nigel halts, caught in an emotion unnamed. And as with all his awkward steps, he begins with words.]

A tattoo?

Comments

[purificatio]

Aw, Nigel, come on, I'm sorry.

[ The next load was already in, she had just been separating out clothes that could be machine dried and air dried. So she trails after him, hair swishing against her bare back. ]

I just thought it was funny.

[putrefaction]

[The apology is enough to stop him, to settle the pieces of his mind from their initial shock.

He runs a hand over his face as if to steady himself. His green eyes rest on her.]

I-- I must be acting strange. Running away from your-- Running away from panties.

[purificatio]

[ She shakes her head. ]

It's fine. I was being weird myself. Let me borrow some of your clothes and we'll get ice cream or something.

[putrefaction]

Ice cream?

[He breathes, trying desperately for an ounce of calm.]

Yeah, sure. Let me get you one of my shirts.

[purificatio]

[ Cool, cool. The boxers would pass for shorts and an oversized shirt is her style. She follows him into the room. ]

I wish I was a guy. Things would probably be easier.

[putrefaction]

[Opens a drawer and grabs the first shirt he sees: an unassuming gray sweatshirt. This he holds out to her.]

Is it truly suffering to be female?

[purificatio]

[ She tugs it over her head, then reaches into her nearby backpack for her wallet. ]

More than you know sometimes. It made life more difficult. Was a main reason for getting out so early.

[ By which she means her emancipation. ]

[putrefaction]

[The image flashes in his mind, leaving the taste of ashes in his mouth. Not of Alanna, no, young and pale. Of Margaret, of blood and fire.

Nigel blinks. He thinks to apologize, but that seems petty without full knowledge.

So he keeps to something else.]

Was it difficult? To get out?

[purificatio]

[ It's an uncomfortable subject that he wants to let lie. She lets it.

Turns to lead them out the door all five feet of her. ]

Not if you know what you're doing. File the right paperwork, get the right sponsor, show them you're a respectable adult by getting the good grades... It helped I was already enrolled in a boarding school. They didn't have to worry I'd just go out to the streets.

[putrefaction]

Boarding school?

[He wants to tease, to congratulate her for keeping out of thuggery, to make the air lighter for her. He quickly finds how difficult that is and settles for a small smile aimed in her direction.

God, he's never had this sort of problem with anyone before.]

[purificatio]

Boarding school.

[ Another brisk confirmation. It's too easy to see the stagnancy in the air, and the parts of her concerned about how this person views her is becoming quickly uncomfortable. A different topic.

She moves out the front door and waits for him to lock up. ]

You're familiar with the different lotus meanings?

[putrefaction]

[Ah, lotus. He can do lotus.

Nigel locks up his sister's house swiftly as his mind runs through the question. White for purity, blue for knowledge, red for compassion, purple for spirituality, pink for the essence of Buddha...]

I studied a bit. When I was young.

[purificatio]

[ She watches him, then, self-conscious, starts to move off. ]

Do you think it's dumb?

[putrefaction]

[He again turns to the awkward even as he walks evenly beside her.]

...I prefer flowers to most everything.

[So no.]

[purificatio]

[ What a weird boy.

She is going to lean against him. ]

I meant the meaning. And the origin.

[putrefaction]

[What a strange girl. It's enough to make him set aside his misstep.]

It's appropriate. Your choice is fitting, from what I can see.

[purificatio]

Hm.

[ An output of air. She straightens back. And despite her best effort, does not resist the urge to troll. ]

And what exactly did you see?

[putrefaction]

[Why is she so cruel? He takes a breath before responding.]

...I see someone living.

[purificatio]

[ She stops.

It's a beat, one and only, but it's a visible reaction that she can't easily hide. She bites the inside of her lip, annoyed at some part of this interaction. Maybe her weakness. Maybe this boy. ]

Are you coming on to me?

[putrefaction]

[Cue panic, complete with wide eyes.]

No. Never. I meant it in a completely platonic way.

[purificatio]

[ She shrugs, hands palm up coming up to her shoulders. ]

Ah, I see. I'm not good enough for you.

[putrefaction]

[A pounding starts at the base of his skull, the byproduct of trying to calm down around this woman.

He breathes in slowly.]

More like you would be settling for me. You are the more desirable one between us.

[purificatio]

[ She snorts, the least classy thing she has done in his presence. ]

That's an opinion, not a fact. You're normal, relationship-wise. So you have one-up on me there.

[putrefaction]

[Finally, in an act of defeat, he puts both hands over his face.]

I don't think this is a competition...

[purificatio]

Nigel, you're a guy.

[ She says this plainly, so he can understand what she means. ]

You're a guy that's a guy. Relationship-wise, you're normal. I'm neither.

[ And she looks away, because it's so stupidly popular these days to say that. But it's true. ]

I can't be a girl for someone who expects it.