Let's Play!

"I am glad you got to exist and be with them. "

He loved it for her so much. She'd slowly been herself in the midst beautiful way.

Willow leaned against the sill, watching the people.

"I've never seen people that looked like monsters too. Not even at the institute when I was a kid."

Ansel paused, watching her closely now. She'd feel his internal battle with himself as he wanted to correct that none of those people, or her, were monsters. He saw y'all as beings worthy of individual assessment based off of their character.

He had to walk himself down from this urge, reminding himself that she saw the word and attached meanings differently... and people had used it unkindly towards her repeatedly over the years.

"I am sorry you did not get to find these people to lift you up sooner. "

Willow glanced his way, just waiting for where he would land on processing.

"I'm not."

She looked back at the street, smiling again.

"If I had seen this sooner, I never would have survived."

Ansel looked at her, brows crinkling.

"Why? Would it not give you hope to know that there's plenty of people out here ?"

With unique differences in the same vein as her?

"exactly because of that. If I knew there was another option, I could have never accepted the things I had to live with. I never could have learned to exist anywhere but here."

At the very least...

"I wouldn't have met you."

Ansel smiled a bit.

"If I recall correctly, my mother pointed me to you. She'd have just pointed another direction."

Willow shrugged a little, sidling up to his side.

"Things are what they are. No point in trying to change things that are already done."

"That's totally fair. Would you like to b stay in town today or make the way back to the cabin? "

"back to the cabin."

She actually had opinions about that this time.

"Everything has been so... big. I would like some quiet."

Ansel smiled, kissing her forehead.

"Anything you'd like to have with you when I head out tonight? "

He asked her, wanting to ensure she was happy the hour or two she'd be solo.

"oh. You're going by yourself?"

A flurry of emotions passed through her. It was nothing negative towards the action of him going on a date itself. Most of it was centered around the anxiety of where they were and her own circumstances. And it was all so new and it would be the first time they were so far apart and... Her insides simmered down to a single instinct: hide. It would all be okay as long as she hid and hid well.

"No, I'll be fine."

Ansel softened, looking over her.

"Do you want to come? It's not a romantic or relationship centered thing.... it's more akin to a meeting. "

He wished she believed him there, cause his feelings were taunt with an unnamably worry. Then her worries about the location and...


"Darling. I'm not going to part from you. We're one. "

Willow did want to come. That felt safer. But...

"I don't want to be in your way."

"You won't be, my love. .... but if we've got tension about something, can we discuss together so that we're on the same page with her? "

He asked, hoping she didn't think he was asking for control. He was just skeptical that a disagreement before Taylor was gonna work in their favor.

"I know you're better at this than me. I wouldn't undermine you."

Somewhat surprisingly, despite the submissive tone she used, Willow wasn't feeling diminutive. She was mildly insulted, covering her annoyance with an appeal to his ego.

Ansel shook his head.

"Better isn't the word I'd use. I value your input greatly. "

He reassured, confused why she'd think anything else.

"don't be silly. Talking to people and handling negotiations is your job. Of course you're better at it."

"Well, I'm not intending to negotiate with her. This is more a casual conversation thing. But... I will take the intended compliment... thank you. But really, I want your input. You see things differently than I and we're a more thorough unit together."

Willow shrugged a little.

"I won't embarrass you. I'll back up whatever you say."

Ansel shifted to kiss her, kissing her nose, forehead, then lips as he hugged her into him.

"Wanna grab a few more clothes before we head back? "

Willow lay her head on his shoulder as her annoyance started to fade.

"Maybe some pants at least?"

She could wear the bralette again, and she had that cardigan she hadn't worn yet, but these pants had dirt and booze on them.

"That's an easy ask. Anything else? I didn't see those chocolate cereals you like online, but we could go in store? "

Willow glanced up at him with a small smile, appreciating his sweetness.

"I'm not hungry. I ate a million chicken nuggets."

"But I don't want you to ever feel hungry again. And you like those....I wanna get you whatever you might need to be comfortable. "

Even if she was tagging along rather than staying at the cabin. All the comforts.

Willow cast him a strange glance.

"But... I have to feel hungry. If I don't, I won't know when it's time to eat."

Ansel looked perplexed.

"Really? Like. .... those ... stomach pains are normal? "

He asked, utterly befuddled.

Willow hesitated.

"Not exactly. That's more from going hungry. Just getting hungry isn't uncomfortable."

"Huh.... so you're not hungry right now? "

He asked curiously, trying his hardest to understand something he had no frame of reference for.

"no. I just ate. My stomach is very full "

She patted her middle and stuck it out a little as though he could see.

Ansel smiled, reaching to run a thumb over her stomach in gentle strokes as his hand splayed wide over her middle. He was distracted a moment before he leaned to kiss her.

"Very good. Then I suppose new clothes and back to the cabin? "

Willow softened and came down to rest in a lull of melancholy before nodding.

"The pants. Then some quiet," she agreed.

Ansel didn't ask, as he anticipated if he did she'd ask him things he wasn't up to discussing this precise moment. He was happy by all means all the same, walking hand on hand with her while the shopped.

"I know you said pants....."


But he was holding item in his hand so the same. It was clearly pajamas. A two piece set in black crushed velvet with faint little shimmering starburst over it.

"I thought you might like wearing something cozy? "

Truth be told he thought it suited her and would make her look snuggly. He also kinda liked petting the fabric.

Willow nodded.

"It's pretty. I'll wear it if you'd prefer?"

She gently brushed a hand over the fabric thoughtfully.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay behind?"

Ansel looked over her, tilting his head.

"What do you mean? "

He asked, smiling as he leaned down to his her. She'd wear the cuddle clothes to bed tonight!

"I mean, if you changed your mind and didn't want to take me into public, that would be okay."

"No. I just thought that these pajamas looked cuddly and that you'd like them.....I still want you with me if you're more comfortable. I don't want you afraid or feeling abandon. I love you. I'm happy to have your company."

He thought she was doubting him because he had found pjs.

Willow took them into her hands.

"I do like them."

She gently rubbed her cheek against the top.

"They kind of almost feel like donut cat... As long as I don't go the wrong way."

Ansel smiled a tiny bit.

"I love you, Willow. I want you. ..... are we ok?"

Willow nodded.

"I think so?"

She carried the pj's to the counter so he could buy them.

"I'm just nervous."

Well,.and sad, but she didn't want to talk bout that part.