017 [Voice]

[fabrecation]

[It's rather late at night when the journal clicks on. Luke had waited until he had calmed down from the nightmare he had to make the post, and good thing, too. Otherwise it'd catch the tremor he surely had in his voice.

Instead, he merely sounds subdued, and maybe a little hesitant.]

Does anyone have any good stories to tell?

Or... any advice on how to get back to sleep? [Nothing he usually does is working right now.]

Comments

[action] /swooooon~

[fabrecation]

[The kiss makes Luke's smile grow, and he gives a quiet little chuckle of his own. He then moves his hand from her hip to her shoulder, giving it a nice little rub before he pulls her closer and lowers his voice, like he's telling a secret.]

Don't let Asch know you're here, though. He'll just be madder than he usually is.

[action] ... /dips!

[fourteen]

[ She turns her face into his chest to muffle her next laugh, wanting to keep quiet just in case. ]

As if I'd tell him! He'd just snap at me. [ She tilts her head back up to nuzzle Luke instead, eyes shut, still smiling warmly. ] And I want to stay. If he realized, he'd probably chase me out!

[ A beat, and far more shyly. ] Besides, I'd ... like to stay the rest of the night, anyway.

[action] /squeak! <3

[fabrecation]

[You'd think that by now, Luke would be more used to the idea of sleeping in the same bed together. They've done so several times, after all. But it still makes him blush heavily and glance off to the side, though he leans his cheek on her hair again.]

I-I... Y-Yeah, okay. I might... uh, sleep better with you there.

[action] y so cute

[fourteen]

[ She laughs, out of something like mixed nervousness and relief, and wraps her arms around his waist, loosely. He's letting her stay... that's good. She'd really wanted to... ]

Then ... we should probably try, don't you think? [ It's very late, after all ... she's still tired. ... but really, she just wants to cuddle. ]

[action] NOT CUTE

[fabrecation]

Oh... r-right.

[With that, he scoots out of her grip so that he can slide under the covers, though he pushes them back so that Xion can join him. Luke has several pillows - two at the head and a few lying around with no real use except to lay on or hold on to. So, even when she lays down beside him, she'll have her own pillow instead of having to share with him.]

[action] the cutest :3 /chews

[fourteen]

[ Very happily she crawls in after him, immediately curling up by his side and letting a sigh of contentment escape her. She really doesn't care at all about what pillow she's got... she's with him. All that matters is that she's by his side and it's so warm and safe here, she could fall asleep in an instant.

... if she wanted. She doesn't, at this moment. She wants to just enjoy this, for a while... ] Thanks.

[action] /SCREAM

[fabrecation]

[Luke shifts to his side to face her and to get more comfortable, and he moves one arm to rest over her waist while the other slides under the pillows beneath them. He smiles from her words, and a small blush comes over his cheeks.]

I didn't really... I should thank you for coming.

[action] your screams are delicious.

[fourteen]

[ Aaaaa, this ... this makes her so happy. It feels like it's been so, so long since she's gotten to do this. How long has it been now, since they were kidnapped together? No ... even before that, there'd been the Mu battle, and Luke's time in the clinic... two months ago. Two long, long, long months ago.

And now they're here, and for what will surely be a fleeting moment, everything is okay. ]

You don't have to thank me, silly.

[ One of her arms winds over his chest, while the other slips under his pillow. However, as much as she wants to tuck her head under his chin and fall asleep this instant, she keeps enough space between them so she can see his face, instead. And his blush makes her smile so much. So fondly. ]

Why thank me for something I wanted to do?

[action] ... sadist ):

[fabrecation]

[Even before Xion stopped coming to sleep in his bed at night, Luke wasn't all that used to having another warm person with him. Now he's nervous again, and he isn't even sure if he can sleep tonight thanks to that... but it's pleasant, anyway. It's pleasant and warm and he missed it.

Sometimes, when he thinks of things like this... he wonders how Asch can stand it. To lose someone he loves and be able to sleep at night...

But if he asked, Asch would not answer, and would probably push him away even further. Besides, this isn't about Asch right now. His original is given only a fleeting thought before Luke's attention returns to Xion, and her question makes him duck his head a little, just to break eye contact. His smile fades just slightly, though it still stays since he's still happy to feel her there in front of him.]

I just thought I should. It wasn't just... sleeping problems that kept me up.

[action] and yet you love me... what does this say for you?

[fourteen]

[ ... the arm that's over his chest retracts, so she can bring her hand up to touch his face. There's only just enough space between their bodies to allow this, but she doesn't mind her arm being tucked between them. Her expression is in parts knowing and concerned, and her voice is a gentle question when she speaks. ]

... what was it?

[action] I'm a... masochist?

[fabrecation]

The same old stuff.

[You know. Nightmares of people bleeding and dying and pleading and you can't do anything because you're the one at fault.]

[action] and thus we are a perfect pair. 8D

[fourteen]

[ She doesn't say anything to that, and only smiles a sad smile. She knows. The hand on his cheek gently slides around to curl around the back of his neck instead, and she presses a little closer to him to press a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Then she lays her head back down on the pillow, touching her forehead to his, and cards her fingers slowly through his hair. ]

[action] yes yes I suppose 8|a

[fabrecation]

[His smile grows a little thanks to that. Luke shuts his eyes, just letting her run her fingers through his hair, giving a pleased, quiet hum... That always felt nice, no matter who did it to him. Of course, Xion's pretty much the only one who does.]

So thanks. It's... better when you're around.

[action] your lack of enthusiasm wounds me.

[fourteen]

That's why I came. [ A soft sound almost like a laugh escapes her. ] I sleep better, too. [ She keeps carding her fingers through his hair, and nuzzles him. And ... gently, shyly, tangles their legs together, hooking one of her ankles around one of his. ]

[action] well excuuuuse me, princess!

[fabrecation]

[She's awfully close...

But Luke just gives a soft little laugh of his own, the blush that had faded away returning once more. He tightens his arm around her waist, pulling her a little closer to him, and glances downward shyly for a second before he looks at her again.]

Uh... [And another glance away.] Then we should, um... sleep g-good tonight.

[action] YOU'RE NOT EXCUSED.

[fourteen]

[ That's sort of the point of cuddling, broski. Though a blush comes over her own cheeks when she notices the blush on his. But then it flames, from a pale rose to a noticeable crimson, when he pulls her closer. Her heart skips a beat -- for just a moment. Being so close to him, pressed up against his body, held so firmly ... she feels a lot of different emotions. Mostly, she just feels safe, and loved. But there are other things, too ... things she doesn't really want to think about right now, lest they have a repeat of the beach.

Feeling very shy but elated, she laughs for real and briefly tucks her head under his chin. ] Yeah... definitely. [ Unable to resist, she lifts her head back up to press another kiss to his jaw. ]

[action] YOU HAVE SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS

[fabrecation]

Heh heh...

[He smiles, his blush increasing on his own face. He feels better like this, with the person he loves so close to him, knowing that she loves him as well. But she's even closer than before, and she kissed his jaw... God, if they keep this up they'll never get back to sleep.

Still, it doesn't really stop him from ducking his head and returning that little kiss, though on the corner of her mouth, and chuckle softly as he pulls back. It's part out of nervousness, and part out of genuine humor.]

[action] I ACCEPT ONLY THE BEST OF THE BEST, SOLIDER.

[fourteen]

[ Still laughing herself, she tilts her head up to kiss him for real this time, warm and soft. There's no particular passion behind the kiss, at least -- it's not heated, or charged. It's just fond and sweet and gentle, telling him without words for the millionth time how much she loves him. ]

[action] SADIST ;A;

[fabrecation]

[Mm... This is what he wanted. It's hard not to smile within the kiss, even though it feels weird to do so, though he does bring his hand from her waist to her cheek, to brush his fingers down to her jawbone, then back to her ear.

For Luke, sometimes it's easier to say things with actions rather than words. It's easier, and it creates more of an impact. He's the one who tends to stutter his way through something like words of affection, or the one who can't quite get out the apology needed to someone he's hurt due to his actions. It's better to do something for that person... Or to kiss her, as he's doing now, saying without words how much he appreciate her here, how much he loves her.]

[action] DIDN'T YOU ALREADY SAY THAT?

[fourteen]

[ Gosh, she's been looking forward to this for ages. Curling up in his arms in a warm, comfy bed, trading laughs and quiet words and kisses back and forth...

She deepens the kiss a little -- just a little! -- and finds herself content to just stay like this for a while. When she finally breaks off to breathe -- two or three minutes later! -- she laughs, a little breathlessly. ]

Maybe I found the perfect sleep cure. Kisses. [ She laughs again, more of a very shy giggle this time. ]

[action] I'M JUST MAKING IT EVEN MORE CLEAR

[fabrecation]

[That laugh is echoed by his own, just as shy and just as breathless. He moves one of his legs, tangling both of them further with hers, and shifts his hand under the pillow to find hers. Right now, he's not even thinking of sleep; he just wants to shower her with affection.]

Then we should probably kiss more, huh? [... Aaah, he has to laugh and duck his head.] That was a really stupid way to say that, huh...

[... But he still lifts his head to kiss the tip of her nose.]

[action] /flips

[fourteen]

[ ... did ... did he really just say that .... ?

OH GOD! She turns so bright red it's comical, but laughs again anyway, surprised by his boldness ... even if it was accidental. ] Hehe, that's okay. [ She giggles again when he kisses her nose. He's so sweet. ] I think it's a good idea.

[action] /LANDS ON FEET

[fabrecation]

Heh heh...

[Jeeeeeez, he always says the stupidest things... well, might as well follow what he said and lean in to -

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWN.

...

Although he does have the decency to cover his mouth just as it opens wide and duck his head, but still!]

Re: [action] /LANDS ON FEET

[fourteen]

[ .........

.................... o-oh.

She'd even half-lidded her eyes and tilted her head up towards his, expecting...

And then he yawns like that and she just blinks at him repeatedly, momentarily trying to decide if she should be amused or a little indignant. After a moment of wavering, she settles on the former, giggling quietly. ] Or maybe we should just get some rest instead, sleepyhead. [ She kisses his forehead. ]

[action] FAILURE

[fabrecation]

Ah - s-sorry... I didn't mean to.

[He squeezes his eyes shut, just to get some sleep out of them, before he lifts his head to give her a sheepish smile.] I didn't even feel it coming or anything...