evocation | ⚡ hadriel

[ Now that Wash is actually standing in front of Kyna's door with a bouquet of painstakingly folded and painted paper flowers, this seems like a stupid idea. A gesture that yes, he spent a fair bit of time on, but is ultimately meaningless. It's not like real gifts are easy to come by in Hadriel, but still. He could have done better. She deserves something better, for putting up with his bullshit especially the past few weeks. This is actually kind of embarrassing... and yet he hadn't thrown them away. Maybe because he did spend so much time on them, endured his team's teasing as he crumpled his way through a ream of paper and went out of his way to borrow Ephemera's paints.

Whatever. Kyna can decide if she likes them or not. He hides them behind his back with one hand and knocks with the other, effectively placing judgment with her. If this was a waste it's on her to call it that now. For someone who technically comes bearing a gift, he looks pretty uncomfortable when she opens the door. ]

[Kyna's been spending a lot of time at Wash's new place, and dragging him back to her apartment when she can't, but after the last few weeks she's just felt drained. It isn't Wash's fault—she doesn't blame him for the stint of paranoia. What really did a number on her was everything else. Lance and Michael, Caedra, and a million other things that seem to pale in comparison. She's been going through cycles of overthinking how she feels for him and then trying to ignore it utterly, neither of which are helping.

She isn't expecting Wash, so she's a little surprised when she opens the door, but that quickly shifts to concern when she sees the look on his face.]

Hey. Are you okay? Did something happen?

[ In his defense, he doesn't know anything about Lance and Michael -- he spoke to Lance just the other day, actually, and the man had seemed fine. And he doesn't dare ask about Caedra, not to anyone involved, lest he seem like a problem himself. He said he'd stay out of it and he meant that. But all that means is what he does know is that she's seemed a little distant, and that he definitely hasn't been helping with whatever she's going through. Even at Tucker's movie night things had felt a bit off, and he's not certain that it was just his usual discomfort around her friends.

As soon as she sees him, she's asking what's wrong which.... is what's wrong. That shouldn't be her reaction. He shouldn't always be a problem that needs solving. Wash shakes his head quickly, then realizes it's ambiguous which question he was answering. ]

I'm fine. I uh... made you something... don't laugh, okay?

[He made her something? She can't even imagine what it is, and her head tilts automatically. It's incredibly tempting to try to peer around him, but she resists the urge.]

What? Why would I laugh?

It's sort of arts-and-crafts.

[ Godddddddd this is mortifying, what was he even thinking? He has to fight not to scrub at his face as his other hand comes around, offering her the bouquet. Each paper flower is precisely folded and primed to hold its shape, carefully painted, and tethered to the rest with wire. They're actually surprisingly pretty, considering what he had to work with, but he's still blushing under his freckles because it's a grade school art project. That's literally when he learned to fold flowers. And frogs and cranes and a few other things that didn't apply to this situation. ]

[Maybe he thinks its silly, but as soon as he pulls out the bouquet, Kyna's eyes widen in surprise.]

Oh.

[She hesitates for a second before reaching out to touch one gently, her fingertip tracing the edge of a petal. They're perfectly folded and delicate, and Kyna has no idea how long this took him, but she imagines it had to be a while. Her lips quirk up into a smile, and before she knows it she's grinning. God, he's blushing, too. This might be the sweetest thing ever.]

You made these?

Yeah. It's not like they grow here, and I thought about making a deal for a real gift but you can magic things yourself, so... it seemed cute until I couldn't find the right paper, then I had to ask for help and they didn't come out great but I'd already used enough paint and wire it would've been a waste to give up...

[ Does she actually like them? Seriously? ]

You're not laughing.

God, why would I laugh? They're amazing.

[She reaches up to cup his face in her hands, standing up on her tiptoes to steal a kiss.]

You're amazing. I love them.

[Did she almost say "I love you" there? She sure did, but she's going to shove that down and pretend it didn't happen.]

[ Well. Okay. He'll certainly take that, cheering her up was the primary goal. His hands settle on her waist to steady her as he leans down for a kiss, not catching the almost-slip. ]

It's not enough, really. They started as a thank you for dealing with me sick, but you've been really stressed out since then, too.

You don't have to give me something for that.

[But she still loves that he did, and she reaches for the bouquet carefully. She's not going to argue about the "stressed" thing, because it's pretty true.]

I wanted to.

[ He lets her claim the bouquet, then uses the hand that was holding it to tuck her hair behind her ear as he glances into the apartment questioningly. ]

Can we talk about the rest of it at least, though?

[Kyna tilts her head into his fingertips, still peering up at him.]

Oh. Um, sure.

[ Okay, inside, then. Wash closes the door softly, heading into Kyna's kitchen for a glass for her to put the flowers in. Without water, obviously, that'd be stupid, they just need to be upright so they don't lose their shape. ]

Do you want to start..? I know there's been a lot going on, but not what I can do.

[Kyna is, apparently, reluctant to give the flowers up, because she hesitates before putting them in the glass.]

Um... I don't know. It's not your fault or anything.

...are you sure? Ever since the flu you've been a little weird.

What? Weird how?

I feel like I've hardly seen you. Like maybe... you need a break?

[Oh. That's what he means. She shakes her head, reaching for his hands automatically.]

No! I never need a break from you.

[It's kind of ironic that, when she's been spending so much time freaking out about how serious her feelings for him have gotten, he feels like she's pulling away.]

It's just... There's been all this shit going on with Caedra. And Lance. I'm sorry.

[ That's reassuring, at least, but still doesn't explain why she's seemed withdrawn. ]

I know, but I still want to know what's going on to make sure you don't get hur-- wait, what happened to Lance? He just interrogated me the other day, he was fine.

Um...

[She sighs, looking down.]

You know Michael's ghost monster thing?

His what now? No. I definitely don't.

Oh. Shit.

[Well, whatever. It's not like it's a secret.]

It's this... Thing. I don't know what it is exactly. It's like... Possessing him, sort of, but he doesn't seem to mind it. It wrecked shop with the Null when they invaded.

[She shrugs awkwardly.]

I guess if it feels threatened or whatever it manifests? Michael passes out when that happens.

And it felt threatened by Lance? No offense to the guy, but I've personally kicked the shit out of Michael and nothing happened.

[ That didn't sound very sensitive, let him try again. ]

I mean. Is he still in danger? This monster doesn't have a grudge or anything, does it?

[That actually gets Kyna to smile a little bit, and she squeezes his hands.]

You're way scarier. But it was because of the paranoia thing. That flu.

Oh.

[ And then it clicks. ]

Is that what he used the last of his ammo on? I just assumed it was the demon summoning but he's not really the demon fighting type.

action; pre april arrivals

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