Snap on Snap off

Nitrox might not have believed he’d gotten his message across, but River heard it loud and clear. “I suppose it’ll still take some getting used-to, but think of this as a little learning experience… I’ll consider it a ‘draw’ today darling, but I fully intend to win next time! ”

“But you did apologize, quite a few times. And you stayed too, despite wanting to leave.” The light flicks on, illuminating the bathroom, and River chuckles as she retrieves a roll of bandages from her mirror cupboard, “That shows some ‘progress’.”

“Hm, I suppose it does. You are interesting person to be around though. And good to talk and learn from.” He nodded as he spoke. At least one use from “friendship” was learning more about the strange ways of humans, especially ones who live in cities with foreign tongues.

“Maybe I should just dig out an album and ‘school’ you, darling. They say experience is the best teacher, after all!”

“I-....uh....have to go now.” He promptly skitters off

“I suppose that’s true…” River let’s her words trail off, making a slight, frowning face down at her arm as she pulled it from under the sink to ‘bind’ it with paper towels, “But I also suppose it’s my fault too, for doing whatever it was that set you off.”

She sighs. Paper towels alone would not be able to hold this, made evidenced further as red began to bleed through the thin wrapping. River begins making her way towards the bathroom to get proper bandages, pausing to call over her shoulder to subtly alert Nitrox that he could follow if he wanted. “Friends shouldn’t leave friends if they’re hurt though, especially if it’s by your own hand.”

“I do not know much about ‘friendship,’” he said as he followed. “And it was not your fault so much as I....mmm do not know good control anymore? I haven’t done ah....not clawing for life and food for a long time you know?” He shrugged, not sure if he explained himself well.

“Bee Gees, my dearest Fluffy.”

“And they’re not actual bugs, they’re musicians! Music-makers. The only thing they’ll ‘sting’ you with is the urge to dance to some sweet, sweet groovy disco magnificence.”

#redhemlock #he doesn't gt them new age musics

“I...understand even less now.”

“I don’t trust anyone who says the Bee Gees can’t get them to dance. They’re either horrible liars, or they have no soul.”

“Gimme that night fever, night fever. We know how to show it, darling.”

“I do not know what these ‘gee’ bees are but I do not know how stinging bugs can make me dance.”

#redhemlock #i had to

“We do too, but that’s what armored suits and combat-ready vests are made for!” River huffs, and pouts, and grumbles all the way to the sink, fighting the urge to ‘scowl’ in the purest embarrassment at Nitrox’s laughter.

“Like I said it’s quite alright, dear… I’ve had a lot worse than a couple little scratches.” Though that still doesn’t stop her from hissing under her breath as the water runs lukewarm against the fresh claw marks, “I don’t understand why you’d want to run away, though. Something this small, if you’re sorry, you’re sorry. No harm done, anymore.”

“It did not look, and it does not sound small. And I wans’t suposed to do that ah....is difference between real and fun fight. I took it to real. I feel bad so I thought of leaving.” He shrugged.

That was precisely what she was ‘afraid’ of hearing, and right on cue, she could already imagine the sensation. Feel the abrasiveness of that sandpapery tongue, as it coarsely ‘digs’ into the wound to scour against shredded skin. Scraping, and scraping, and-… “Nope… Nope, nope, nope!”

There’s a horrible ‘zing’ crawling up her spine now, and River shudders physically and vocally. The cringe on her face is nothing short of comedic, as the assassin quickly turns from Nitrox to beeline for the kitchenette sink. She nearly slips across a small blood-smear that’d fallen onto the white tile, “N-oPE, I‘m good, dear!”

Nitrox couldn’t help it, he started laughing. “Ah, you are very funny. It doesn’t hurt! Or maybe people just have softer skin, huh?” He was clearly teasing. “I am sorry I hurt you though.”

“I-…. Guess that’s one way to put it…” River maintains the stare, deadlocked with Nitrox’s gaze. Should she even be having this kind of conversation with him? Not that it bothered her with most people, but the whole ‘naive about almost everything’ air he had just didn’t make it sit right with her, “You know what, Fluffy? Yes. Yes to both. In a way.”

“But honestly? I kiiiind-of imagine your tongue probably feels like sandpaper, and having that rubbing against an open wound doesn’t sound too pleasant right now.”