assorted non-canon and AU threads

[aesculapian]

who wants delicious post-forest terribleness

Comments

[rootless]

...Should I not thank you?

[miraculess]

[ muffled ]

Nnno it's fine. I'm getting out now.

[rootless]

Okay...

[finally dunks himself, fighting to get all his hair wet.]

[miraculess]

[ climbing out while he does that—

...or, you know, they could have a bathing suit. there is no reason they can't make a bathing suit exist for this, it would make both life in general and dealing with his hair easier. sometimes being an Arbiter's host is really nice EVEN IF THE ARBITER IN QUESTION IS A STEALTH TROLL.

taking care of that and waiting for him to come up before she starts wading over ]

...I'm occasionally bad at accepting thanks, and she enjoys teasing me for it. It really wasn't anything you said.

[rootless]

[STILL STUDIOUSLY NOT LOOKING.]

I'm not good at accepting thanks, so I think I get it a little. I'm glad I didn't do something wrong.

[miraculess]

You didn't. ...You can look now, by the way.

[ she's acquired a lot of ruffles. (in a particular shade of blue, of course. old habits die hard.) she's just as scarred as he is, at least from what he can see that isn't covered. ]

[rootless]

[he doesn't, yet.]

Y'sure?

[miraculess]

Yes. My partner got me clothes.

[rootless]

Okay.

[turns and. oh. cute.]

Oh. Cute.

[miraculess]

[ —BLUSHES, but. doesn't grump.

(snake knows her partner. and when to make comments about how she shouldn't fuss over comments like that when she specifically wanted to wear a cute thing.) ]

Thank you...?

[rootless]

[just. shrugs. not really sure how to follow up on that.]

[miraculess]

[ we're good at this... rubbing at the flush on her unscarred cheek and then ducking around him to get at his hair ]

...I used to be fairly good at this, but it's been a while, so let me know if I pull too hard or anything like that.

[rootless]

[tips his head cooperatively, letting her at his hair without worry at them being behind him.]

You'll probably have to pull, with the state it's in. But I will.

[miraculess]

[ lets out an almost gleeful sounding soft huff ]

Don't underestimate me. If I pull, I'm doing it wrong.

[ going for a bit near the bottom and starting to pick the knots loose ]

[rootless]

Aah, so it's a challenge now.

[miraculess]

[ matter-of-fact ]

I'm competitive.

[rootless]

Good luck beating my hair.

[miraculess]

[ ...would mentioning her old track record for mauling opponents be an appropriate if awful joke here...

nah, better not. combing intensifies; after about a minute she hums thoughtfully and then snorts a startled sort of laugh ]

Oh, for goodness' sake— mmm, I don't suppose you would be willing to trade a flower crown to the vain lump of bone I call a partner in exchange for a hairbrush and something to help detangle?

[rootless]

--A flower crown?

[miraculess]

A flower crown. She likes to ask for things like that when it comes to smaller trades...

[rootless]

She likes cute things, huh...

I can do a flower crown, easy.

[aesculapian]

I do like cute things ... I accept the terms of your repayment.

[ she sounds really smug. ]

[rootless]

It'll have to wait until after, though. Is that alright?

[aesculapian]

It is. Some things can be paid for after ...

[ still combing through his hair, with no discernible difference between her and when her host was doing it ]

[rootless]

Mmkay. I'll make a good one.