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

[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.

[putrefaction]

[Ah. It is strange, but Nigel thinks he understands. His hands drop from his face to look at her.]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I don't expect anything from you. To me, you're just Alanna.

[purificatio]

[ She looks up at him, expression neutral. ]

And that's why I wouldn't be settling.

[ OH LOOK ICE CREAM PLACE IS NEARBY. =DDD ]

[putrefaction]

[...Wait. What just happened? Well, whatever it is, it is causing his cheeks to burn bright.

He also turns on his heels and heads toward the light. The light meaning the ice cream place.]

[purificatio]

[ ...Oh. Blushing. Wow. Unexpected.

Welp, time to take his hand and pull him toward the ice cream. Hand. In. Hand. ]

[putrefaction]

[And that, as they say, is that. Nigel is done. Done. This girl he has been trying so hard to define just goes and takes his hand. Takes him toward their destination like she really, actually cared.

He tries not to hyperventilate. He would rather avoid embarrassing her by attracting attention. Instead, he ducks his head and keeps to calming methods.]

[purificatio]

[ She stares at the line and its damnable human occupants. Acknowledges the boy's strange reactions at her side. Asks dryly. ]

Do you even want ice cream?

[putrefaction]

[He doesn't even notice the line. Only the girl.]

Not really, no.

[purificatio]

[ Abrupt turn. Linking elbows to drag the boy with. ]

...Home again, home again, gig-a-gig-gig.

[putrefaction]

[Linked arms and pressing sides cause a strange reaction, and the red that was red goes redder. He bursts out his first thought.]

That is the most disturbing thing I have ever heard from you...