QUINNE: -Whenever Finn is allowed to have visitors and no one else is in the room, Quinne quietly slips into his infirmary room, head sort of ducked and gaze mostly lowered as she approaches his bed. She doesn't give him the chance to speak first.-
QUINNE: )) I'm hoping and maybe also assuming I wasn't among the byproducts of bad decision making lately ((
QUINNE: )) but I care about you anyway so I'm here and also ((
QUINNE: )) I ((
QUINNE: )) brought you a croissant ((
QUINNE: -she holds out the hand previously curled into her chest. Yep. It's a croissant.-
QUINNE: )) I don't know if that's an appropriate offering in this kind of situation, but my models for appropriate behavior include my mother and carnivorous insects so ((
QUINNE: )) take that for what you will ((
QUINNE: )) and on that note let me know if the nurses aren't taking care of you ((
QUINNE: )) so I can inject them with paralytic venom ((
FINN: -he looks over at quinne when she enters and he looks a little guilty, but forces himself to sit up nonetheless. he looks up at the croissant and then back up at her- the nurses are good
FINN: thank you -takes the croissant- this is great
QUINNE: )) okay (( -she shifts on her feet, still looking almost anywhere but his face.-
QUINNE: )) I guess that joke didn't exactly land ((
FINN: no it was good
FINN: you're good i'm just a little out of it
QUINNE: )) no, I ((
QUINNE: )) I know ((
QUINNE: )) sorry ((
FINN: you don't need to be sorry
FINN: i'm glad you're here
QUINNE: -finally, she looks up to his face, half anxious.-
QUINNE: )) are you going to be okay? ((
FINN: -he meets her gaze, expression softening- well yeah
FINN: don't worry this is just some kind of policy requirement
FINN: me being in here
FINN: a safety thing supposedly uh
FINN: also to figure out what's wrong i guess
QUINNE: )) what does that mean? ((
FINN: why i went into the woods and thought i was doing something right without telling anyone
QUINNE: ... )) what were you doing? ((
FINN: i -he shakes his head- it's not something that will make sense
FINN: i was just
FINN: sitting there
QUINNE: )) that's the only part I know ((
QUINNE: )) but ((
QUINNE: ...
QUINNE: )) why? ((
FINN: i
FINN: thought everyone was safe that way
QUINNE: ... )) from you? ((
QUINNE: )) what... would make you think that? ((
FINN: -he looks a little embarrassed- it
FINN: is a thing that i can't validate it in words but how it feels makes sense
FINN: and i know it's wrong
FINN: can't stop myself from worrying until i do something that fixes it but FINN: it doesn't actually do that
FINN: just makes my mind shut up
QUINNE: ... )) your mind told you you had to? ((
QUINNE: ... -she slowly sits on the edge of his bed, staring at the wall.- QUINNE: )) what's going to happen? ((
FINN: what do you mean -looks over at her-
QUINNE: )) with ((
QUINNE: )) this ((
QUINNE: )) with you? ((
FINN: i think they want to do some evaluations to figure out what it was that got me here
FINN: and then treat it i think
QUINNE: )) okay ((
QUINNE: )) that's good ((
QUINNE: ...
QUINNE: )) is there ((
QUINNE: )) something I can do? ((
FINN: -he shakes his head- i don't think so
FINN: do you
FINN: still want to be with me
QUINNE: )) yes (( -There is no hesitation there.-
QUINNE: )) I don't care ((
QUINNE: )) I mean I don't ((
QUINNE: )) it doesn't change anything for me ((
FINN: -he swallows, throat aching, but reaches his hand out to her-
QUINNE: -she doesn't get what he's doing at first, but then she reaches back, gently touching his fingers with hers.-
QUINNE: ... )) I want you to be okay ((
QUINNE: )) whatever that means ((
FINN: thank you -he sighs- it sucks being in here
QUINNE: )) well ((
QUINNE: )) you really pull off the hospital gown look ((
FINN: yeah the whole no back thing is great
QUINNE: )) I'm sure your butt is really comfortable ((
QUINNE: )) if you want a cushion for it just let me know ((
QUINNE: )) I'm sure I could obtain a spare butt cushion ((
QUINNE: )) but actually anything else too ((
FINN: could you hang out with me for a while FINN: that's all i want right now
QUINNE: )) that's weird ((
QUINNE: )) you really must be crazy (( -she's smiling a little-
FINN: a real psycho i know
FINN: -he smiles a little and makes an effort to scoot over if she wants to share this tiny bed with him-
QUINNE: -there's something so relieving about seeing his smile, something that makes her realize how worried she was. The moment she starts scooting closer, she realizes she's started tearing up. She doesn't say anything for a moment, leaning her head against his shoulder.-
QUINNE: )) I'm glad you're okay ((
FINN: me too -he uses his fingers to stroke her hair- i'm sorry for not telling you anything
QUINNE: )) what do you mean? ((
QUINNE: )) you didn't tell anyone ((
QUINNE: )) so why would you tell me? ((
QUINNE: )) I'm not that special ((
QUINNE: )) that I'm more important than whatever is hurting you ((
FINN: but you are
FINN: you're more important than that
QUINNE: )) no, I'm not ((
QUINNE: )) this happened to you, not me ((
QUINNE: )) it doesn't matter how I feel about it ((
QUINNE: )) I just want you to be taken care of ((
FINN: i don't want you to think that your feelings don't matter
FINN: because they do to me
QUINNE: )) that's not what I'm saying ((
QUINNE: )) I just don't think how I feel is important right now ((
QUINNE: )) and I'm okay with that ((
QUINNE: )) so it's okay ((
QUINNE: )) you don't have to be sorry ((
FINN: i'm not okay with that
QUINNE: )) well... you're important ((
QUINNE: )) to me so ((
FINN: but you're important to me so
FINN: it's important to know if and when i hurt you
QUINNE: -she lifts her head and looks up at him, slow and deliberate-
QUINNE: )) I'm okay if you're okay ((
FINN: -he swallows for a moment, looking right back at her and nodding- okay
FINN: i'm going to do my best
QUINNE: )) it's not about doing your best, you know ((
QUINNE: )) just give yourself a chance ((
QUINNE: )) I know you wouldn't hurt me on purpose ((
QUINNE: )) I know you're a good person ((
QUINNE: )) you don't have to try to prove it ((
QUINNE: )) or anything else ((
QUINNE: -her head settles against him again, and she exhales a sigh.- QUINNE: )) I'm just glad you're here ((
FINN: -he moves to kiss her head and puts his arms around her- i'm glad you're here too
FINN: -hugging her is probably the best sense of comfort he's had in a while-
QUINNE: -squirms and snuggles closer- )) I would have brought you a big comforting roach but I figured it might be best to wait ((
FINN: the kind you smoke would be awesome but i don't think the staff here would appreciate it -smiles toward her-
QUINNE: )) did I make the appropriate call? ((
FINN: yeah
FINN: unfortunately
QUINNE: )) not so bad judgement after all ((
QUINNE: -her head tilts up, and she stares at him for a few seconds before pressing her lips to his chin.-
FINN: i missed that -sighs at that kiss like a swooning lady-
QUINNE: -pls...-
QUINNE: -she just laughs a little- )) yeah, you sound really convincing ((
QUINNE: )) I'm sorry, do you get to make that call? ((
FINN: apparently not anymore -he manages to laugh softly-
QUINNE: )) that's right ((
QUINNE: )) my city now ((
QUINNE: )) is that catchy enough? ((
FINN: yeah
FINN: i would live there
QUINNE: )) oh yeah? ((
QUINNE: )) which part? ((
FINN: all over
FINN: but if your city is me
FINN: but it's also you
FINN: yeah the same answer
QUINNE: )) why do we keep coming back to us being each other? ((
QUINNE: )) this is some incredibly strange foreshadowing ((
FINN: it's you coming back to it
FINN: i'm just carrying on the conversation
QUINNE: )) I'm blaming you for this one ((
QUINNE: )) I say, while definitely not planning to set up a person sized cauldron for nefarious purposes anytime soon ((
FINN: hey
FINN: -hugs her tightly- i guess i can live with you devouring me
QUINNE: )) you guess? ((
QUINNE: )) tsk ((
QUINNE: )) rude ((
QUINNE: )) I guess you're going to taste delicious ((
FINN: satisfaction guaranteed
QUINNE: )) see, you can't say that about a person, because ((
QUINNE: )) that implies a slew of other things ((
FINN: or can you because all implications are true
QUINNE: )) mmmmmm ((
QUINNE: )) I know ((
FINN: please let you eat me
FINN: sure why not
QUINNE: )) see, these are the things you shouldn't say to a member of a cannibalistic race ((
QUINNE: )) protip ((
FINN: but because i'm not a troll i'm safe
QUINNE: )) that's what we want you to think ((
QUINNE: -she turns her head again, bestowing him with a little kiss.-
QUINNE: )) tastes good ((
FINN: -kisses her right back- i haven't even had a chance to brush my teeth today
QUINNE: )) I take it back, gross ((
FINN: no you already said my bad breath tastes good
QUINNE: )) am I being forced to go on record as having complimented your nasty unwashed breath? ((
FINN: yeah basically
FINN: : )
QUINNE: )) I guess it's a good thing no one else is going to know the truth about it then ((
QUINNE: )) unless you happen to let other people close enough to taste your breath ((
FINN: fortunately no
FINN: no one is up in my face like you
QUINNE: )) do you want me to bring you some gum? ((
FINN: can you bring me a toothbrush and toothpaste
QUINNE: )) that seems like a more useful set of things ((
QUINNE: )) but then I'll have to miss your gross breath ((
FINN: it'll be back tomorrow probably
FINN: or after some garlic
QUINNE: )) great ((
QUINNE: )) so here's the plan ((
QUINNE: )) I'll break into your room, grab your toothbrush, steal the hair out of your hair brush, make a doll with it, do a few spells ((
QUINNE: )) you get your toothbrush ((
QUINNE: )) everyone's happy ((
FINN: do i ever get to brush my teeth
QUINNE: )) I mean ((
QUINNE: )) eventually ((
FINN: it sounds like you destroyed my tooth brush
QUINNE: )) no, that's your job ((
FINN: is my toothbrush a doll or is my hair brush a doll
QUINNE: )) I'm using your hair with the doll ((
QUINNE: )) you need to keep up with my spells or else I might get carried away ((
FINN: i can't keep up
FINN: there are no brakes with you
QUINNE: )) that's fair ((
QUINNE: )) hey ((
QUINNE: )) when you finish school ((
QUINNE: )) you can say you're a witch doctor ((
FINN: i'll put it on my resume
QUINNE: )) cool ((
QUINNE: )) that's sure to score you some points ((
QUINNE: )) maybe with more cannibals ((
FINN: perfect
FINN: they'll have no choice but to accept me at witch doctor university
QUINNE: )) well now your story sounds suspect ((
QUINNE: )) are you going back for witch doctor grad school? ((
QUINNE: )) grad school isn't something to guess about, Finn ((
QUINNE: )) that's serious business ((
FINN: you're serious business
QUINNE: )) yes, I am ((
QUINNE: )) but you can't go to school for me ((
QUINNE: )) sorry ((
FINN: -kisses her head again- i'll live
FINN: i'll just pretend
FINN: i'll ghost write your reports
QUINNE: )) just what I always wanted ((
QUINNE: )) a haunted school career ((
FINN: -he laughs again and then sighs a little, silent-
QUINNE: ...
QUINNE: -She wriggles a little.-
QUINNE: )) if you ever run off into the woods again (( -She says, quiet.- QUINNE: )) or anywhere ((
QUINNE: )) I will go after you ((
QUINNE: )) and do whatever it takes to make you come home ((
QUINNE: )) because ((
QUINNE: )) I'm not going to let you be alone ((
FINN: -he isn't sure why he's tearing up at this. emotions? relief? it's hard to tell. a part of him thought he would loser her in this process, but here she is, promising to never let him be by himself. he sniffs, listening to her-
QUINNE: )) do you hear me? (( -She tilts her head up a little, trying to find his gaze.-
QUINNE: )) I'm not holding back ((
QUINNE: )) and I'm not letting this slip away ((
QUINNE: )) I'm not letting you slip away ((
QUINNE: -Fuck. She's tearing up, too, because it's so hard not to. It's so hard when for so long she's wanted to be able to feel this way about anything.-
FINN: -tired, brown eyes meet her gaze and it hurts him to see her upset in any capacity- okay
QUINNE: -She watches him closely, quiet for so many painfully tender seconds.-
QUINNE: )) okay (( -She finally breathes in return, reaching up and wiping under one of his eyes.-
FINN: -he allows her to do that and leans his cheek against her hand-