theafflicted | w3 afterparty

( there's something strange going on- or maybe she was more stressed than she thought? but she keeps hearing... bits of the songs she and her friends were writing. even as she cleans up- she promised herself a bath bomb darn it- she hears it. but only briefly, like a passing thought. even as she's out and in her room, its there...

...

huh.

eventually, shizuku wanders down to the common room, her kettle and a nice mint tea in hand. she's mostly content to sit there and vibe, but if a friend comes over? it's cuddle time. )

[Madara's waiting in the room when Shizuku finally comes back from the common room, sitting on the edge of his bed, deep in thought. It's pretty clear that he was primed to launch into the explanation of what he alluded to earlier, but Shizuku was tired, Shizuku was frayed, and he swore to himself he'd just prepare the whole speech in his head for later.

He told himself he'd just go to sleep after his shower, too, but he finds after a good half hour of trying that he can't sleep. So now here he is, sitting on the edge of the bed, in a half-zipped hoodie and shorts, waiting for her to come back.

His head snaps up when Shizuku returns, and he smiles.]

Hey.

[And because he's a gentleman and her hands are mostly full, he gets up to shut the door for her as well. Only... when he does, he also gently crooks a hand around her elbow and eases her back against said door.]

I was waiting for you.

( oh- she figured he might be asleep by now, that's part of why she'd gone out to the common room to begin with: so he could get some rest while she was still a little restless. but it seems she was wrong! when he gets up to help, shizuku smiles and moves to put the kettle and tea onto the nearest desk- and then... ah.

well. she'll need to figure out something else to do with the things in her hands, given that the desks are across the room and all.

shizuku looks up at madara almost bashfully, but she's not complaining, necessarily. (that smile says otherwise anyways.) )

I thought you'd want some rest. Sorry for keeping you waiting, Madara.

[He laughs faintly.]

Turns out all I do when you're not here and I'm trying to sleep is lay there and worry about you.

[He rests a hand against the door and tips her chin up.]

Apology accepted, though!

( oh no, is this what it feels like to have your heart skip a beat? flusting a little, shizuku looks up at him in surprise before smiling, uncharacteristically shy- )

I was just having tea in the common room, silly...

( which... she really should put down, but also she doesn't want to leave this spot. after a moment though, she taps his chest with the kettle. )

I do want to continue, but I really should put this back, don't you think? Unless you want to get it for me.

[He grins, then takes the kettle and mug from her and backs away to set them on her desk.]

So that's not your thing, then? Bad boys don't do much for you, do they.

I didn't say that. But I can't do anything if I'm stuck holding things while you get to do whatever you want!

( if anything, she hasn't moved from where he backed her up, actually. )

... I've never really, um... indulged in anything romantic, you know? I don't really know what I'm doing. But that was exciting.

Well, of course I haven't either, not really. But I have done a little acting.

[He heads right back over and slides a hand behind her waist as he resumes leaning on the door.]

So really, you're not so far behind me. Now, what should I do...

( he can say it's acting all she wants- now he's looking at her like that again and she feels sheepish almost. she's sure her heart's racing in a good way as she rests links her hands around his shoulders. )

Mm... what indeed.

( it's not a position she's ever thought of herself in, but. she's really not complaining. )

If I asked you to kiss me?

[He smirks, looking at her with half-lidded eyes.]

I could do that.

[And he leans down, pulling her close so he can give her a gentle, but lingering kiss.]

( oh that's unfair- is her final thought before she's utterly distracted in his affection, returning the kiss almost shyly. she's stolen a few herself, but this is, in every way, entirely different than innocent kisses in the morning or before bed. case in point: their position.

for now, she'll follow his lead. )

[It's not like he means to be strictly scandalous or anything, but this is just a bit different from those sweet little pecks--no less sweet, but it seems to stretch on much longer. He doesn't do anything at first, just holding the kiss steady and true, but then he decides it might be worth it to try something.

He moves his lips, just a little. Just enough to see if she'll shy away from something new.]

( oh-- that's new. maybe she should expect it, it comes up in media after all. but it does! shizuku gasps ever so slightly, but... well. she can adjust, right? even if it's just in response to his own actions. so she leans into the kiss more, gently twining one hand into his hair. )

[See, that's nice! And yes, it's very forbidden, idols, scandal, all that nonsense that Madara understands on a professional level but still kind of looks sideways at... But it's so nice that he doesn't care. He's just going to stand here and kiss her and the world can get over it!

He does inch things forward just a touch, but it's nothing risque or untoward. It's sweet, despite him leading it a little deeper, giving it just the tiniest touch of heat and intensity. For him this is like a promise, that he's closing off the rest of the world and chasing it away, that he's here and he'll carry her forward, whatever it takes. She's worth it.]

( for all their lack of experience, acting really has given him a one-up on her, huh. he presses on a little further and she feels her heart fluttering. it feels like his kiss is a promise, almost- or maybe that's the romantic in her.

admittedly, she's at a loss for how one's supposed to respond to this though... but she thinks madara's the sort who likes to take care of others like this. so she'll let him, holding on just a little bit tighter. )

[He knows better than to be a horrible person about something like this, and he's really not trying to push his luck or her boundaries at all. So once he's got the general idea of what makes her melt without going too far, he very gently breaks the kiss and presses a kiss to her forehead instead.]

Sorry. I got carried away.

( shizuku is blushing bright pink, looking both bewildered and completely delighted... with a dash of nervousness. )

Ah... it's okay. I wasn't expecting that.... but it wasn't. Bad, either.

[Oh. Oh no she looks adorable. Danger.

He will just carefully back away now, his fingers lingering in her hair.]

Just "not bad," right?

[The devil on his shoulder got the better of him for a few moments, and now he's kind of kicking himself.]

Anyway, are you ready for bed?

( shizuku pouts, trying not to fluster. )

I don't want to say something weird...! I... I really did like it...

( bully!!

... but she sighs a little, smiling if not a bit bashfully. )

Almost. I just need to change.

It's not weird to like kissing somebody. I think...?

[Actually, he's not entirely sure. He's an idol, after all. Despite many adventures across the globe, this is a slightly untrod path.

But she does probably need to get into her pajamas, and he's impeding that. He swears all he wanted was a solid cuddle to take his mind off things. But she was so cute...

Nope. Nope. Error. Not thinking about that.]

I'll be back in a few minutes, then.

[And he moves to zip up the hoodie so he can go make one last round of the common room. Maybe chase some people off to bed.]

[One last little kiss to her forehead.]

No, I just don't want to say something strange. ... I'm probably being silly.

( this is how her shyness manifests- a fear of saying the wrong thing and ruining everything. this does not stop her from jumping a little to meet the kiss with glee, of course, before she steps aside... only to have like. a whole moment when she finally realizes madara didn't have a shirt on under this jacket.

maybe she takes a few minutes to just. continue having a moment when the door closes. she's doing fine though it's fine.

when madara comes back, she'll have changed into an oversized shirt and shorts, hugging her sparrow while she waits. )

You're not being silly. I think I'm actually the one being a little weird!

[And he departs!

But he comes back a little while later, having sufficiently bothered a couple of people in the common room and said some goodnights.

He sees Shizuku being stupidly cute when he gets back, and changing into a shirt from the jacket just does not occur to him at all. Instead, he goes to sit on the bed beside her.]

...Sorry about earlier. I really shouldn't've done that without warning you.

If I didn't like it or want it, I would have said something, Madara.

( she feels painfully shy, and drastically inexperienced since her side career was 'model' and not 'actor', but she was not displeased by anything. )

And I certainly wouldn't mind a second time, either! ( GIRL ) But you're being very sweet.

[He just smiles and gives her a side hug, practically pulling her onto his lap. Then, gently, he presses a kiss to her temple. She's safe and warm and comfortable and he hates that for a hundred reasons, but she's safe and warm and comfortable and he needs that, too. More than he'll ever admit.

His nose stays buried in her hair as he speaks softly.]

Yeah, well. I've got a lot to lose, here. I have to be careful, you know?

I'll speak up if something isn't okay, Madara. Okay?

( shizuku lets herself be pulled, practically nuzzling against him like a cat like this is a normal, natural thing to do. it probably is for her. )

... How are you feeling?

w3 afterparty

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