Take My Hand

[Tree]

Marina looked over him, eyes sparking as she tilted her chin up and stealing a slow, adoring kiss.

/ I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it. /

[Sushi]

/ that's a given. /

He was confident if nothing else.

/ it's me, after all. I have excellent taste/

[Tree]

Marina smirked back at him as they finished their evening of walk and shopping.

/ Well, you did pick me after all. /

[Sushi]

/ my point exactly. No one else would do. /

[Tree]

Marina was happy to let the night go by with him, resting in late the next morning, taking extra time to primp and dress up before heading out.

She did leave a little love note, complete with little kiss imprint as she headed home. She was happy to just sit and watch the waves on her front step.

https://pin.it/1Lq2leBs9

https://pin.it/5iawK9phs

[Sushi]

After a bit, a bucket of mop water was tossed out the window, drenching her.

[Tree]

Marina gasp, coughing a bit and sputtering as she reached up to wipe off suds from her face.

"Hey! "

She protested reflexively, looking about to try to see where the dirty offensive water has just come from.

[Sushi]

A second later, Ryder's face poked out through the window.

"Oh no! I didn't know you were out there. And your pretty dress too... I'm sorry. "

[Tree]

Marina looked up at him and smiled a tiny bit.

"It'll dry...... are you wearing a Cinderella house outfit?"

She asked in jest, reaching down to unfasten her heels and glance to the front door.

"Is it just the two of us? "

[Sushi]

"I dropped the jug of vinegar when I was refilling the bottle. "

He pulled the kerchief down from his nose so it fell around his neck loosely.

"I'm the only one here. "

[Tree]

Marina nodded, a mix of relief and heartbreak as she gingerly striped from her gown and laid it out flat to dry.

With nothing but what nature gave her, she headed inside.

"I almost had hoped he'd at least decided to hear me out and come back.... even if it was too double down on is being finished. "

She shared after getting a shower and doning her fluffy robe to snuggle Fritz with a sadness to her.

[Sushi]

"When did you tell him to come by? "

[Tree]

"I didnt... last time he told me to wait. So I'm waiting. "

She answered softly, shrugging as she nuzzled the purring flufster who was more than happy to make biscuits in her two legged mom's robe.

[Sushi]

"Maybe he doesn't feel like you'd be here yet. "

Ryder leaned against the back of the couch.

"What did he tell you to wait for? "

[Tree]

Marina looked up at him now, sadness written all over her face.

"Just talking. ... the last real thing said otherwise was the texts between us on your phone. So it's not like we're in the best spot...."

She just felt worried and hurt. She'd been pinning for Ryker before it had all turned topsy-turby. She was twice as lost feeling now as she fought off self doubt.

[Sushi]

Ryder made a face.

"Maybe he's just playing hard to get?" He suggested hopefully.

"He'll be back. He wouldn't just leave it at that, don't worry. "

[Tree]

"I can't help but worry. .... I always worry about him. ... he's a bit more rash, a tiny bit more impulsive at times.... he's soft and hurting in ways though that I recognize. It worries me. I know how far down those damaged bits can pull you. "

She lived with more than a few bits that were all damaged and broken up. She wanted to spare him that, any of it. She loved him so much that hurting was the last thing she wanted for him.

" I hope he's OK."

She'd make do for herself, but the fact she didn't even know if he was alright was hard on her.

[Sushi]

"We're nearly impossible to kill, if that helps? " he reminded her

[Tree]

"Only sort of.. cause.... living isn't the same as being alright?"

She posed softly in efforts to explain herself.

[Sushi]

"If you stick with the first, the second usually comes with time"

[Tree]

".... I still want to see it for myself....."

She finally admitted in a more direct manner, looking up to him.

" i can handle losing him because I'm an idiot..I just want him ok. "

[Sushi]

"You're not an idiot. And he'll be back. Don't worry. He won't ghost you. "

[Tree]

Marina shrugged a tiny bit.

"I am. .... but I love him a great deal and just want whatever is right for him. "

She wouldn't deny it if he took effort to call a change to her own self worth and thinking in regards to Ryker. She wasn't up to talking about it, but the longer she sat with it all.... the easier past traumas inched in and took hold again.

Marina gingerly placed Fritz into her lap to let the kitten curl up and be a happy ball of purr.

Marina held her palms up to face Ryder. Faint outlines of tall rectangles with rounded edge we're etched there. It almost looked like it had been burned into her flesh.

"Look at this new occurrence that's appeared. "

[Sushi]

Ryder did protest. When she showed her hands, though, he grabbed them, aghast.

"What happened?!"

[Tree]

"I dunno. But look how they're all fanned out. It's almost like they're little business cards or something.. they showed up slowly over the last few days. They don't hurt or anything.

[Sushi]

"But... there's no way that's good for you. Had it happened before? "

[Tree]

"Nope. "

Marina answered without much stress, watching him study her hands.

".... I know it's another thing to figure out with me.... but for now can we just be sad I'm missing your brother together? "

[Sushi]

"Yeah. "

However, he got distracted by a concerning thought.

"They look like tombstones. "

[Tree]

Marina wrinkled her brow.

"I hope not."

She answered softly, heart breaking at the thought.

"Right now I just wish I was not an idiot.... maybe I child be drowning in one of my incubi instead of feeling lost. "

[Sushi]

"You're not an idiot. It really is a shame you don't have one of those around, though. They're great distractions. "

[Tree]

Marina nodded, looking over him thoughtfully.

"They can be. Especially if they're hungry. "

[Sushi]

He glanced around.

"Best I have to offer is me. Think you could make do? "

[Tree]

"That depends.... you hungry? "

[Sushi]

"...I could go for a burger? "

[Tree]

Marina smiled a tiny bit at him.

"You're incredibly innocent for an incubi, mister. "

She slowly laid down, watching the little tidbit of walking fuzz floof up and stretch as long as she could manage before pouncing in Marina's face and lick all over her nose with a cuteness overload of aggressive affection.

/I can't decide if she loves me or wants to eat me. /

[Sushi]

"Probably both. "

He chuckled.

"I understand the dilemma. I deal with it all the time. "

[Tree]

Marina looked up and blushed a bit.

/See, but you could have both if you played your cards just right with me. /

[Sushi]

"If only i could be so lucky, " he sighed wistfully, even as he spared her a wink.

[Tree]

Marina sighed, soft smile on her face now.

/I love you, you know. ..... I miss him. I wanted him so much when he came back and..../

She was trying to not get stuck on it, but still.

[Sushi]

He slid in to sit beside her, wrapping arms around her.

"We could text him again? " he suggested.

"Invite him over? "