the time after the time that stuff happened

[withoutincident]

Since the last next-step post was getting full.

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[mad_patron]

She stumbles back to her room as quickly as possible about half an hour after Aaron goes inside, reasoning that the discomfort of traversing the main bar pales in comparison to the discomfort of sleeping on the lakeshore. Luckily, everything she was wearing survived the change except her shoes and bra; she silently blesses her tendency towards loose, baggy clothing.

Then she curls up on the floor, because she's not sure if the bed can take her weight right now, and waits for her switch to flip back so she can sleep.

It takes a while.

[nowait_letme]

The next morning, there's a knock at her door.

[mad_patron]

"gnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn."

[nowait_letme]

"Open up; I know you're in there."

[mad_patron]

"nnnnnnnn go fuck a log, Chainsaw."

[nowait_letme]

"I brought pie."

[mad_patron]

...

The door opens.

[nowait_letme]

Chainsaw walks through it, holding a tray on which there is indeed pie. Two plates of delicious, fresh-baked apple pie.

He takes the bigger slice for himself.

Pyth closes the door behind him and follows him to her bed, where she sits (he snags an armchair) and starts eating.

[mad_patron]

"...You're using control to-- mmffffm-- make me eat breakfast," she notes between bites.

"God, you're so domestic."

[nowait_letme]

"I could be using it for something else," he retorts, smirking.

[mad_patron]

Mmm. Pie.

"So what's with the sudden mother-henning?" she asks, trying unsuccessfully to avoid a blush.

[nowait_letme]

"Who, me? Mother-hen? I'd never."

He grins.

"Little bird told me you got on the bad side of Aaron's temper," he says offhandedly. "Figured you could use a little coddling."

The lights in her room are off. He hasn't mentioned it, hasn't asked about the slightly stiff way she moves or the fact that she's chewing her pie a little gingerly.

[mad_patron]

Pyth freezes.

Then she swallows her latest bite and sets down her fork.

"Don't go after him," she says quietly, desperately. "Guy's got enough on his plate."

[nowait_letme]

"Oh, I know. No worries."

He takes a bite of his own, chews, swallows.

"I put your tab on mine," he says casually. "And I got you a little present."

Digging into his pocket, he tosses her a small bottle of pills.

[mad_patron]

In the dark, without her glasses, she reads the label.

"...How'd you know I was off my meds?"

[nowait_letme]

"Magic?" he suggests.