ic contact.

[...yeah totally legit, he just.

whistles at that, in a most decidedly innocent manner which might as well be him writing NO COMMENT in thick black bold lettering across his head...]

I do miss that hot chocolate, you know... why'd you have to go and bring that up--? I'm practically dying from sweet deprivation in this wretched city, a-- agh...

[a little light-heartedness won't hurt things, right? maybe distract her from her unfortunate condition as snow crunches underfoot and the priest takes great care where he walks, meandering toward her block. he would take her to his -- but he doesn't want to risk her experiencing the negative side effects associated with straying from 'home' for too long if she ends up falling asleep for longer than a few hours.]

[she knows him well. too well...

...]

You're... incorrigible.

[Distract her from what?? She's kind of been fixated on how he's being terribly... well, him, for the last 10+ minutes!! ...Granted, that's. Just a little distracting on its own, already as it is, h-hah...

So can she just "hang up" with a faint and muffled mumble, as she finally DOES close her eyes and sink herself a little deeper into the hold...]

[...there, that's better. relax, rest... it's what her body obvious is crying out for, even if Ciel might be too stubborn to willfully admit it.

he's going quiet as he sees her eyes close, just giving a quiet hum. before long, there is the transition from the bitter cold outside to the slightly lesser-so interiors of the new apartments; Abel is taking Ciel to her room and checking to ensure it isn't occupied. once he's sure they're alone for now and things are quiet, he's beginning to lay her with great care not to jostle her too much down upon the sheets.]

Ciel? ...Hey... Are you still with me?

[look she would've sat at the church and maybe gotten better after passing out for ??? amount of time, okay, if only he wasn't already there to bust her plans!!

...

but it's. Not like she's really actively complaining either, hm. The change of temperature isn't noted. If anything, it's how the wind's whisper in her ears quietening that registers.

She stirs faintly.]

Mm...

[...

Not that it was very strong to begin with, but. Her grip isn't lessening any, if he's paying any attention to that. He can likely... "detach" himself, if he tries even a little. You just can't really put someone down properly if they don't let go, right...?]

[...he does. if only because he begins to try to draw back, only to realize her fingers are still coiled into his clothing, like a clinging child.

...

silly girl...

he's gently brushing the hair from her brow, reassuring smile (reassuring? fond; affectionate) tugging at his lips.]

It's okay. I'll be right back... right back with you. It'll only be a minute, okay?

[she's going to be pointedly ignoring his gaze, okay, but does find herself leaning into his hand a little. ...hnng. there really isn't much in terms of rhyme and reason right now, is there? just...

It's something she knows and trusts, to hang onto. Already what should be a staggeringly costly luxury, is it any wonder in the end, that she's reluctant and maybe a little afraid to let go, despite it all?

...

So she's just keeping her half-lidded gaze firmly lowered, and maintain that questionably accurate impression of a porcupine rolled up over itself - while practically defensively attaching itself to something else, yes. ...Unsightly behaviour either way, right? She'll worry about excuses, later...]

[...ah.

it's hard to deny that he recognizes THAT look. it isn't something he's total stranger to, after all-- especially in his time in Mayfield, then Haven. the sight of someone feeling small and lost and afraid... it's simply particularly striking on this face in particular.]

...

[in the end, he doesn't have the heart to force her to let go. he can wait til she slips out to go and get a few things for her. so, he's sliding down to kneel beside her bed, letting her keep hold of him if she wants, and continuing to brush his fingers over her brow and into blue hair in a soothing pattern.]

Mm... maybe it can wait a bit... Maybe I'll wait here a while. How does that sound...?

[He could've tried ~~coaxing~~ convincing her a little more... or kicked a sick puppy... but thankfully he doesn't share in her occasionally heartless bad habits...

THAT IS

Her eyelids DO slide lower, not wholly closing, and some tension seems to dissipate from her small frame as her hold stays. It'll have to do, as an answer.

...]

I'm... sorry.

["For taking up your time". If her head was clearer, for doing so when he no doubt has countless others to look after would occur to her as well. The sentiment remains the same, however, even if she's still not managing to articulate it coherently.

She just. Knows she shouldn't be clingy now, but. It's hard to help it, alright...? It may be selfish, but it's really unfair too, how he's persistently remained by her side and clawed his way to a unique position that's made letting go, to her of all people, so difficult--!]

[he hesitates at that, an inkling of sobriety entering his expression... and the priest shakes his head, voice dropped to a murmur.]

Don't apologize... you of all people don't need to apologize for this.

[for a moment of weakness? please, she is entitled just the same as everyone else to stumble and fall when times are hard. bearing the world on her shoulders is far more a crime in his eyes than this.]

I'm happy. To take care of you... when you're well, when you're sick... or sad, or happy, or... anything in between. You silly girl...

[W-wow, not allowed to pull that card on her when he traipses around always trying to bear the world on HIS by himself!!

Not that she
1. has enough spoken things to work with and call him out
2. has half a mind to lecture him about hypocrisy right now
3. is ANY well-placed to lecture anyone about hypocrisy to begin with, whether or not he's actually the only one close to her level
4. GOING BACK ON SPOKEN THINGS.

Hnnnnnnnnnng why does he have to go ahead and say something like THAT--

Do you know what a sick AND flustered puppy looks like, Abel? You SHOULDN'T, because actual puppies don't get like that, and also because he lacks the self-awareness to recognize it, because there's no WAY he hasn't shown a similar expression in the past before.

The small noise at her throat could've as well been one of protest as one of effort - or god knows what, but her grip on his shirt does tighten. She proceeds to bury and hide the whole of her face in his chest (not proving his point, REALLY), as he'll feel a small jolt of electricity - no stronger than the byproduct of fabric static, thankfully - courses through him.

--She didn't mean to send sparks flying (literally...), okay, and power fluctuations is definitely something she's witnessed too, during the last few days. PLEASE LET HER KNOW so she doesn't do it again because she doesn't even realize, as things stand. See, the legitimate reasons for apologies just keep growing...!]

ic contact.

.............

slow down on the thunderous reception, huh............

quietly begins tabulating the running total

bolts away...

LOL.............................. damnit...

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