I have slept beside the winter and the green is growing slow

[weaver_girl]

Characters: Bell (grab_my_bells) and Kagerou (weaver_girl)
Date/Time: [BACKDATED] April 23, after the tiny epidemic of dream-dustings
Location: The House of Ninja and out from there
Rating: G for Kagerou, PG(-13) for Bell?
Summary: Kagerou comes to check up on Gai after some concurrent dream-dusting, and has a follow-up walk with Bell and the dogs. Quicklog format.

Comments

[grab_my_bells]

Sure, no problem. [Bell had left the two to discuss whatever they were going to talk about--their dreams, hugging, whatever--knowing that if it was of grave importance, Gai would fill Bell in on it later. There was no need for Bell to third-wheel his way around their friendly conversation. He had just come inside from sitting on the front step when she found him.

This past week had been stressful, not just for the fiasco on the journals, and Bell was burned-out emotionally. Even knowing that, typically, all ended well after the sand cocoons, it didn't help to lose Gai for any period of time. Gai was a rare something solid in Bell's life, one of few things he had no reason to be suspicious of or unsure about, and Gai was one of the few people who regularly tolerated Bell's socially graceless behavior.

That he was feeling a little raw and vulnerable was the only way Bell could explain agreeing to this outing with Kagerou. It wasn't that he didn't like the girl--he did, very much, and purely platonically--he just...wasn't one for outings. Or that was his preferred excuse.

Bell beckoned his sheepdog over and knelt down to clip the leash to Tenzou's collar. The already excitable dog grew more excited, both at the visitor and the prospect of a walk, and was simply beside himself as to which he wanted more: to say hi to Kagerou with a few licks, or to tug Bell to the door and go for the walk. Bell kept a firm hold on the leash just in case Tenzou decide to take off.] I'm sure you've met, or heard of him, but Kagerou, this is Tenzou.

Usually we just run around housing or the park, but anywhere you would like is fine.

[weaver_girl]

Oh, I know Tenzou! [She knelt down to offer the dog a hand to smell, reaching the other around his neck to try and hold him in place for a bit of scratching.] Though Gai seems to think he's a bit rowdy for visitors.

Around the housing is just fine. At least there's more space for it in Section Three. And this fellow looks like he could use some exercise, I think.

[Laughing, she extricated herself from the dog, got up and held the door open for Bell. There were questions, floating to the surface of her mind, but she kept pushing them back down for now. If nothing came of this but a run with the dog then that was good enough. She'd at least have shown she wasn't averse to his company, no matter what others said.]

[grab_my_bells]

Gai just...has a thing against Tenzou. [He smiled wryly behind his scarf.] He seems to think Tenzou wants to eat everyone. [Bell would have been sure it was just Gai, but after being little himself, he was beginning to think Gai might be right. Just don't tell Gai that.]

[There was a slight sigh in his voice, like the tone he might use to mention that Gai liked sparkles: it was tired and long-suffering, but with an overlay of fondness.] Yeah, he's always up for exercise.

[He thanked her for holding the door, letting Tenzou lead the way out of the house and down the path once she was following. They started off slow, even though Tenzou was eager to run around everywhere.]

[While Bell knew Kagerou wanted to talk, and could guess what about, he wasn't sure about having that discussion and, if not for having agreed to her company and the fact that he enjoyed her company, he might have avoided it all together. But, trying to be polite and friendly (Gai's efforts to get Bell to make friends hadn't worked a whole lot so far, but Bell could still approximate gentlemanly behavior), he led in with something safe. He wasn't much of a casual conversationalist.]

Do you have any pets of your own?

[weaver_girl]

I can't imagine why! He's a sweetheart. Though I suppose he's so big that it's better to have a firm hand with him.

[She settled to walk beside Bell, quite used to finding a pace with people who were taller than her. It had made her a fast walker, but that was useful when she was on a tight schedule, which was often these days.]

We have a cat, a calico one. She goes on adventures a lot, though--it didn't really seem right to keep her inside all the time, and it's not like she can be run over by a car here. She's very small, though. Tenzou could probably eat her in a bite--not that he ever would, of course.

/hopes notifs work from here on out

[grab_my_bells]

Mm, I guess. [A typically unclear Bell response.]

[She did seem to be a busy young lady. There were times when they hardly seemed to see her around the journals. Bell didn't envy a schedule like that in the slightest, even if he did sometimes feel like he should be doing more himself.] Cats seem to be naturally adventurous, not unlike a few people I know. [Kagerou among them.]

Tenzou actually likes cats. [The dog's ears seemed to perk up at the mention, but he was too busy inspecting just about everything with his nose.] They just don't generally like his brand of affection. [The few cats Bell and Tenzou had met around the Sphere on their walks did not seem to appreciate Tenzou's bark of greeting or slobbery and abundant affection.]

[weaver_girl]

I see. I suppose he is a bit big and loud for most cats.

[She walked in silence for a few moments, mostly watching the dog weaving excitedly from one scent trail to the next. It was comfortable enough, just sharing company and the walk, and she almost didn't speak again--or at least was planning on switching the topic to something more neutral.

However, some things needed to be said, and she couldn't very well balk now, could she?]

I... wanted to apologise. Or maybe just check if everything was all right. I hadn't really thought it through, the whole thing with... asking people to go on a date with me, and then it became this big mess and I really didn't mean to do that. So, I'm sorry.

[grab_my_bells]

Just a little.

[Even though he had expected her to bring it up at some point, he was still surprised by the concern and thoughtfulness. He was always surprised by those kinds of gestures when directed at him and Bell shook his head and waved off the apology, not really sure how to handle it. Kagerou was a wonderful girl. She didn't need this; had Bell's pen just not landed on her page, she wouldn't be in a position to apologize for something she didn't do.] It's fine.

[He fell silent a moment.]

Given the reputation I've built up ['Built up', not just 'have,' implying it took some conscious effort on Bell's part to put himself into the role of pervert.] I'm not surprised someone objected to my asking you out. I'd have been surprised if your friends didn't. [He just hadn't anticipated the heatedness of the objections and thus hadn't been prepared to deal with them. It was an off week...month...whatever.]

Your friends are very protective of you, Kagerou. I can't fault them for that.

[weaver_girl]

[Kagerou pursed her mouth thoughtfully. It was true she'd sort of ended up pinned from both sides: she hadn't wanted to upset Bell or Ambassador, but had also understood what Toushi had, in his somewhat overzealous way, been trying to do.]

Is it fine? Really? [That was bold of her. Maybe she needed to be bold, at least for a moment more.]

Yes, my friends are that, that's true. And... I would expect them to interfere if I was doing something that was actually stupid or dangerous. This was neither. I know every person who wrote to me then. Maybe not well, but well enough.

So... I think I should apologise. At least for myself, even if... others won't.