dumbshow | probably not depressing

[Thinking isn't supposed to be so noisy. Shoot sighs, aggravated, but after another few seconds the hand dissipates like it was never there. because I guess it's not real I guess I decided that just now]

If you aren't comfortable enough to sleep, then this is pointless. [He's assuming "thinking" means "not going to say the bed is too small but it's much too small," here. What a specific assumption...

But it's one that has him sitting up now, ready to just stand and leave.]

It's not about comfort!

[IDIOT. He refrains from saying that this time, instead just reaching up and hooking an arm around wherever works. Chest, shoulders, waist-- he'll work it what he's got, dragging Shoot back down to the bed.]

Don't try and get out of this now! It's too late! You're the one who came up with this dumb idea.

[Don't worry, he can practically hear the "idiot" on the end there. But before he can insist on just going to lie down on the couch, or something, he's being pulled ungracefully back down.

He lands with a whump (a whump of despair), and it takes a moment after his mind shorts out a bit for him to do anything but boggle at Knuckle in some kind of weak shock.

However, when he reaches up (with his real arm, don't whine) to push at Knuckle, he goes right for his face instead of the arm around him. Excuse you!!]

It- it was you, I didn't-!

Ow, ow, hey! [He pushes his face against that hand, pulling himself closer just to spite. Cut it out, he's making a point here!]

You're the one who wanted me to sleep! I just added rules. [Unfair rules.] Stop trying to run away and just relax! We're partners, aren't we?! Why are you so freaked out all the time!

[No?? That's the opposite of what he wanted to happen! He tries to pull away, until the reality that there's only so much bed here sinks in and he has to recognize that this option is just slightly preferable to the same situation, but collapsed on the floor from falling over the edge.

That doesn't freak him out any less. He looks tragic. He also won't put his hand back down; it's a barrier now, sorry this is kind of rude...]

I can't relax like this. Stop adding rules! [THAT... is the problem, yes.]

Don't be such a stiff! What's wrong with this?!

[IT'S VERY COMFORTABLE, in fact. Knuckle has the benefit of two arms, so while one stays hooked around Shoot, the other moves to grab the one at his face, trying to force it away.]

There's no reason to be all weird about it!

[That is arm privilege and you are oppressing him. With his arm forced out of the way, Knuckle gets the full brunt of his legitimately mortified stare. Too close, this is much too close—]

Do you even realize what you're doing? [He may die here, on the spot. Right here. Lay him to rest with the busted chair.] Knuckle—

Is this supposed to be getting to know each other better?!

[hmm on second thought, that makes it worse]

Huh?

[It takes him a minute to understand what the problem is. It's the last sentence, hilariously, that does it. And it's slow coming in, but Knuckle eventually breaks into laughter. Horrible taunting laughter, because he's a jerk.

But also because he's in denial.]

A-are you seriously that shy?! What's the matter? Afraid I'll hug you too much? Come here! [Ah, he really does take after Morel. He's going to try full on hugging now, brace yourself, Shoot.]

[It's the laughing that finally pushes Shoot over the edge, and he's gone- he's a mess. It's all he can do to weakly cover his face with his hand and try to calm himself down from being red to the ears, which is... not working.

No, not at all. He doesn't even have a rebuttal for any of these accusation-slash-questions, it's hopeless. He's managed to work up to squinting at Knuckle through his fingers when the hugging cometh, and the startled noise he makes is as close to bracing himself as he can get.

The only saving grace of this new tragedy is he can't look him in the eye from here. Will he ever find his ability to speak again...]

... Are you still drunk?

[good one Shoot]

I was never drunk to begin with, fool! I'm helping you get over your shyness!

[Or traumatizing, who really knows which. He's still laughing between words sometimes, squeezing him a little tighter.]

See! This isn't so bad, is it?!

[HELPING, he says. Shoot stares miserably across the room, finds no solace in fighting posters, then angles his head down at a marginally uncomfortable angle just so he can hide his face.

So what if this is uncomfortable and the only thing available to hide his face with is Knuckle's shoulder? He's genuinely more concerned about making sure no one can look at him. Not even posters.

He preferred pretending they weren't in the same bed...]

Knuckle... Now will you go to sleep?

Sure.

[As if it's that easy... Well, but he's a lot more relaxed now!]

You sure you can sleep like this, though? You seem pretty anxious.

[At least someone is. Shoot nearly pushes his face again for that comment, but holds back. He won't be able to sleep at all, he thinks, but...]

I'll be fine when you stop talking about it and go to sleep.

Haha-- fine, fine! Alright! I'm sleeping now, so go to bed!

[With a few last laughs, he finally manages to quiet down. Honestly, this is comfortable. Shoot's sheepishness is funny, this time, instead of just weird. And in a way, he really does want to break him from it. What's so bad about a hug here and there...?

Weird, that he's caring about that now.

This time, he does actually fall asleep, arms still wrapped tight around Shoot. At least his sleeping face is a lot more innocent.]

[Everything is bad about unsolicited hugs in bed!! Shoot thinks, but like the previous time, he lapses into silence instead. For a good while he's perfectly still, completely certain he won't be able to get to sleep and will have to invent a reason to disappear into his own room and lock the door later just so he can.

But once Knuckle is actually asleep, it becomes easier to relax. Ah- relax is a strong word, but Shoot soon finds the steady breathing of someone who happens to be wrapped around him- nice? Or... okay?

He doesn't want to put a word to it for some reason, but whatever it is, it pulls the tension out of his shoulders before too long. He's not sure what to do with his arm squished between them and curls his hand in toward himself, the last indicator of his nerves. It's not much longer after that, when he's looking at a poster instead of Knuckle's face again, that he does fall asleep, despite himself. He's going to blame the headache.]

[This time when Knuckle wakes up, it's not in any loud way. It's comfortably, a lot more warm, and with a slow blink and slight shift before he realizes how he'd fallen asleep. He almost wants to laugh right there, but seeing Shoot actually sleeping makes him feel... touched, in a way. So he could do with hugs, after all!

His head feels a lot less pounding than it did earlier, but he has a feeling it's his own experience in hangovers that has him getting over it so soon. Not wanting to wake up Shoot, and trying not to let his overwhelming emotions on them being Partners and Getting Along Better get in the way of being quiet, he pulls his arms back slowly, and quietly, sitting up on the edge of the bed for a few minutes at first.

Well, that happened. With one last look at the man, he sneaks off to go make some food. Now that he won't be stopped.]

[Shoot expects to be woken up abruptly and loudly, to be honest, so waking up naturally some odd minutes after Knuckle has left the room has him dazedly surprised, looking at that same poster again and wondering what time it even is now...

It takes him a moment to realize he's not looking past Knuckle at the poster and that Knuckle is thoroughly gone in general. That wakes him up all the way and has him sitting up, rubbing his head. Well, he feels better, at least. For a brief moment he assumes Knuckle leaving- leaving his own room, even!- is his fault somehow, like maybe he kicked him in his sleep or something-??

Or he could get up and go find out. He does, shuffling to the door and a little ways down the hall before he calls out,] Knuckle?

[Don't just leave him in the wrong room, he'll get freaked out again.]

Hey, Shoot!

[The minute he hears his name, he calls out cheerfully in response, so hopefully that should ease Shoot. If he finds him in the little half-kitchen they have, he'll find Knuckle in his ridiculous apron over his clothes, cooking up breakfast. Who cares if it's noon?]

I thought I'd make us some breakfast! Since we already slept. [Look at him looking all sly, like he beat the system.] How's your head?

[Ah, there he is. Shoot's bemused shuffling continues to the little kitchen, where he finds exactly what he expected to find from Knuckle in here. Giving him that look.]

It was better to sleep first. [He'll stick by that, as much as he says it rather distractedly. How can Knuckle be so casual?]

My... Better. I feel better. You?

It didn't hurt...

[The sleep, that is, but as he grumbles over the food about that, Shoot continues. And it's eventually enough to get Knuckle grinning and waving his spatula at him from where he is.]

Hahaha, good! Good! See? You just needed to relax! I'm feeling 100% better! [A pause, and he withdraws his spatula.] But I wasn't that bad to begin with, don't forget it!

[Knuckle takes this opportunity to finally sit down and their surely very tiny and lame table, with a Hmm that's very 'Hmm, yes, you sure showed me.' He's a delight.

A pause.]

Uh, how long was I...? [Totally passed out alone in his bed!! That's suddenly a lot stranger than being totally passed out with him there, ah.]

Hm?

[He's just about done now, so he'll turn off the heat and get out some plates from their unbelievably small dish collection. Eggs, bacon, toast, what a hearty breakfast!]

Just a few minutes longer than me! [Why, is he bothered by it? Grinning a little slyly, he looks over, searching for this.] I knew it! You really wanted me to be there when you woke up, right?

[He's just trying to mess with him at this point. Revenge for that hum!!]

[A few minutes - that's not so bad. But then-]

What? [Does he have to say it like that, that's so- he didn't want to be sleeping in someone else's room because it's strange, not - Knuckle!!]

No! [harsh] I just wanted to know. Not- It's your room, so...

What'd I say about getting worked up over it?

[Coming up from behind, he slaps his back with one hand and sets a plate in front of him with the other. There's already silverware set up and everything! What a wife.]

It's not a big deal. I'm just messing with ya. [So chill, dude. He moves back to get his own plate.]

[Don't smack him, he's still confused by all of this... It's probably the most jarring that he can still look Knuckle in the eye after being hugged to sleep - appreciate that.

Still, he'll take up his fork and vaguely consider the eggs without actually digging in. He's waiting... shh.]

Then don't bring it up... [if it's not a big deal!

Oh-] Did you find the books?

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"ash your shipping is so obvious" SHUT UP I DO WHAT I WANT

i'm right here with you

g o o d

descends into ship hell

yes welcome cackles and plays shippy music

aaaaaaaaAAAAA

C:

falls to knees

yes, suffer

i always do

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