Take My Hand

[Tree]

"He's worth it. "

Marina answered gently eyes closing slowly.

/My dear, darling..... will you stay with me while I nap? /

She then opened her eyes to look up at him.

/ And forgive me? I am having a hard time not sliding back. ... I ... I thought I'd handle his reactions to me better than I am. /

[Sushi]

Ryder pulled her in close.

"Yeah, " he whispered, "I'll stay. "

But all warm and cozy, he ended up falling asleep with her

[Tree]

Marina was happy to still be cuddled and loved by him. She kissed at him a tiny bit, nuzzling and snuggling into nature would wait no more.

She inched out from the bed, opting to shower and relax before pulling on cozy yoga pants and a sheer button down over a little glittery bra.

She just settled to sit by his head, petting his hair.

[Sushi]

"I love you," he mumbled, only half awake.

He pulled her over like a cuddly pillow.

[Tree]

A tiny wrap of warmth filled her at how he held her close, eyes starting to brim with tears.

"I love you, too."

[Sushi]

Ryder smiled.

"You smell nice. "

He burrowed his face into her neck and gave her a couple little kisses there.

[Tree]

Marina blushed and giggled, poking his stomach softly.

"Thanks. It's soap. "

She joked as he did many times with her.

[Sushi]

"Hmmm... "

He playfully nipped her.

"Liar. You taste much better than soap. "

[Tree]

Marina couldn't help but pull him in for more kisses, kissing along his jaw now.

/ Really now? You might need to taste all of me. Just to be sure. /

[Sushi]

"I'm pretty sure. You're so soft and warm. Nothing like soap. "

[Tree]

/Mmmm, but soap is warm and soft in the right circumstances...../

She pointed out, fingers dancing to wonder him.

/ You're much more interesting than me, though. /

[Sushi]

Ryder lowered his head and blew a little raspberry against her collarbone.

/ nonsense. I'm perfectly entertained./

[Tree]

Marina giggled, blushing a bit as she poked him.

"You're cheating. "

She accused, fighting not to laugh as she impishly started to tickle his sides. Two could play this game!

[Sushi]

Ryder laughed and rolled over with her, playing a couple minutes before letting go.

"Mmm... and you started coffee too? Look at you."

Even though neither of them had been in the kitchen yet, the whole house was indeed starting to smell like a fresh brew. It had a sticky note on the side of the machine, just a heart around the message "R2".

[Tree]

Marina softened the moment she found the now, shaking her head a bit.

/I love you, too. Thank you. /

She shared gently, glancing over Ryder as he rummaged in the cabinet.

"I can't take credit for the coffee, precious lover."

She shared as she let her mind wonder off. She wished Ryker wasn't all sneaky away from her. She wanted him with her. She missed his snuggles and kisses.

[Sushi]

Ryder raised a brow, handing her a mug.

"Ghostie? Did she learn how to work the coffee maker? "

[Tree]

Marina shook her head.

"My guess is Ryker. "

She shared, showing him the note.

[Sushi]

"I'm not sure you can call it a guess if you have the answer written down in front of you."

[Tree]

"It's technically a guess. R2 is not officially a name, you know. "

She took the post it right back to herself though, holding it close to her and looking over Ryder.

" I hope .....I wish...."

She sighed, eyes looking off.

/I hope he's OK. /

Whatever she'd wished was already forgotten as she moved to snuggle into Ryder. She even pressed little kisses to him. She hadn't dimmed drastically, but there was a cloud that inched in over her.

[Sushi]

"I mean, he is my little brother, thereby being the second R."

Ryder reached out and closed a hand around hers.

"He stopped by and made you coffee. That's a good sign closer to what you want, isn't it? "

[Tree]

Marina looked up at him, nodding as she leaned up to kiss Ryder now.

/ Yes. /

She agreed simply, giving him the truth without further pushing into all that felt hopelessly lost. She was holding to that tiny piece of paper though, as if it alone could save her from all the hurts and fears hacking away at her heart inside.

" I love you. "

She shared tenderly, kissing the hand holding hers.

/ Let's get that breakfast you came in here for.

She didn't want to dwell on the Ryker complications, ignoring the rock settling to the bottom of her stomach.

[Sushi]

Ryder studied her uncertainly before deciding to let it be for now. He poured himself a bowl of cookie crisp cereal.

"Would you like some? "

[Tree]

Marina nodded a bit, moving to grab a bowl and push it towards him to fill for her, going to go check on the little squeaky meow. She returned in a few moments with Fritz tucked against her, who knew what happened to the note as she sat down in her robe to take the now filled cereal bowl.

"Thank you. "

Fritz looked happy not being alone.

[Sushi]

Ryder poured a little milk onto a saucer and pushed it over.

"You want to try a little? " he cooed at the kitty

[Tree]

Marina glanced at Ryder, unable to get upset at how cute this offer was so precious. He was gonna create a food stealing fat spoiled little diva of a kitty if he was allowed to keep this up..... but she wasn't about to keep him from it. Look how much he loved their little kitty.

Fritz was purring and sniffing at the saucer, but looked less than sure about things, meowing pathetically up at him.

[Sushi]

Ryder patted her head.

"It's okay. You don't have to. "

And he returned to his cereal

[Tree]

Marina normally could have effortlessly wiped out their entire kitchen stock of cereal didn't reach for another bowl. She rinsed her bowl and snuggled into her kitten with little head scratches.

"I think I'm gonna go stare at the closet."

[Sushi]

He let her do that for a while before poking his head in.

"If nothing speaks to you, maybe we should go shopping? "

[Tree]

"I don't know what feels right. Frills feels wrong. Cozy isn't right......"

She was currently holding some seriously distressed jeans and a crop tank.

"And this makes me think of Ryker...."

And while she was holding it together, she felt crumbly.

[Sushi]

"Well, he was the one that picked that up for you, so that makes sense."

Ryder considered her.

"You could wear some shorts and one of my shirts?"

Did that feel better?

[Tree]

Marina nodded slowly.

"That might work. Which shirt? "

She asked, slowly hanging up the outfit and going through her shorts now as she eyed her sports bras. Maybe that would work. Throwback could be a vibe.

[Sushi]

"Whatever one you like is fine with me. "

Ryder eyed the rack

[Tree]

Marina reached to flip through his shirts a while before she pulled out a random rock band t shirt in neon green, tugging on a vibrant blue sports bra and her hot pink shorts. Why not go full on? She'd even get a few neon scrunchies in purple and orange to create an epic side ponytail of fun tight curls.

"Have you seen my hightops?"

She asked, confused where her white converse hightops had gone. She knew they'd been in the closet. ...

[Sushi]

Ryder shook his head.

"I haven't messed with your things recently. "

[Tree]

Marina kinda looked bummed. She pouted at him, looking at her feet.

"But my outfit...."

[Sushi]

"But! Um... socks are best for sliding on floors!"

[Tree]

Marina couldn't help but smile up at him a tiny bit.

" Ok.... you win. What do you wanna do today? "

Aside from avoid talking about his brother. She'd called dibs on that idea. You know, silently.

[Sushi]

"I think we need a mutual hobby for when we want to idly pass time together. You want to try out some options?"

[Tree]

Marina thought about it, nodding slowly.

"One that's new for us both? "

She suggested.

"Or we could try one another's interests? "

[Sushi]

"Shared space - let's go for something we don't usually do together. Any preferences to start? "