(Untitled)

[amazonofthe21st]

I was using loneliness and now it's using me.Just after sunset, a girl makes her way carefully down the stairs. Careful, because less than that would mean stumbling, and in her current condition, stumbling would probably lead to falling. She's hardly dressed for the weather either, and the tips of fingers and toes might be an unhealthy shade of

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[tobeclosetohim]

It's actually a lot later when Jo comes over.
She's got a tray with a meal. Still steaming.

The napkin with the orders about this is folded in the middle.
She set it down on table in front of the couch. Crouched near her.
In her sleep, the girl looked exhausted still. Clutching her blanket.

[amazonofthe21st]

She's curled up tight beneath the blanket - with several small exceptions. Her head is clear, though smashed into a pillow, blonde hair everywhere and in danger of tangling. One hand is curled at the edge of the blanket, fingers long and pale but no longer any other color than the usual brown and pink. And at the other end of the blanket, one foot is bare.

Her breathing is deep but not slow. Her eyes don't move beneath closed lids but sleep doesn't look entirely restful.

[tobeclosetohim]

Jo reached out and laid a hand at the corner of her shoulder, shaking her lightly first. In case. Most people didn't sleep too deep out here, but Rachel didn't look all that coherently on edge either.

But she knew how well that could be deceiving.

[amazonofthe21st]

Nothing.

Quite literally - nothing. No change in breathing or the stillness of her eyes.

[mogget_cat]

Some time during her nap, a warm weight might insinuate itself quietly between her back and the back cushions of the couch, wedged there in a position that physically could not be comfortable for anyone not wearing the shape of a cat.

[amazonofthe21st]

Warm is okay. It's all right. Beneath the blanket is warm, if a little itchy. So the added warmth of weight and softness is nice, too.

After a minute or so, Rachel shifts in her sleep, putting her back to the cushions and rubbing her face against the pillow. The cat-shaped warm weight might have to curl on her stomach instead.

[mogget_cat]

The dozing cat just snuggles down more, curled up behind the small of her back, purring faintly.

[amazonofthe21st]

And she sinks back into sleep, all parties situated, warm, and fairly content.

It's another hour - maybe two - before she stirs again. But it's a peaceful sort of waking, movement beneath closed eyelids slow before gently slipping open, blinking a few times in the light, noise, and warmth of the bar.

And the purring, too. The purring is noticed.

A hand worms it's way out from under the blanket and slender fingers comb gently through the soft fur of the cat's back.

"Freeloader."

[jealous_rose]

Rosalie sits down sometime after Rachel has fallen asleep. She doesn't have anything with her-- nothing to read, nothing to eat or drink. She's just sitting there, staring into the fire and thinking. So her gaze may wander to the sleeping girl from time to time, as she loses herself in thought.

[amazonofthe21st]

The girl sleeps heavily. Oddly heavy, for being tucked into a couch in the middle of a bar. But the crowds don't seem to bother her sleep at all.

This is, in fact, the sort that is often referred to as being 'dead to the world.'

Or it was for the first few hours, anyway. This late in the evening she's starting to wake, breathing a little more shallow as she turns beneath the blanket, one arm flopping free.

[jealous_rose]

Rosalie is more distracted by the slight changes than she means to be. It's been a while since she's watched anyone sleep.

[amazonofthe21st]

There are more restful versions of it to watch than this one.

Eyes darting beneath closed lids. Forehead slightly wrinkled. Mouth downturned. Throat working, though no sound emits.

Not a nightmare, exactly. But hardly restful.

[seat_five_girl]

Ako doesn't have anywhere in particular to be, she can wait.

Wait and work at a manga.

[amazonofthe21st]

That's good, 'cause it's a fair few hours before the lump that used to be Rachel looks like it's even considering waking.

Though when it does happen, it's slow, gradual process. Not exactly gently but with slight movements eventually leading to eyes focused up at the ceiling, one foot stuck out of the blanket, the fingers of one hand curled at the edge.

Frowning, too. It takes a minute to remember where and why she is.

[seat_five_girl]

Ako's on her second volume of fighting magical librarians (with demon wings) of the night when Rachel starts to come out of hibernation.

"Hello sleepy head."

[amazonofthe21st]

Hibernation is important. It gets rid of deep eye-circles and excess fat. Priorities, Ako, honestly.

For her part, Rachel simply frowns a little more at the ceiling before glancing over. It takes another moment or two before she says quietly, a little throaty, "...crap, I'm on the couch."