closed;

[negativegate]

When; Nov. 1st and Nov. 5th
Rating; PG-13-ish with death and violence.
Characters; Rita (negativegate) and Tyr (blackshadow)
Summary; Rita and Tyr losing their heads. One of these is literal.
Log;

Once the influence of the Halloween curse ended and they were both back to normal, Rita...well, she felt pretty awkward. She'd had no idea the costume she'd worn was some vampire from Tyr's world, and there she'd gone and bitten his neck. Thinking about the fact that she actually drank his blood--it grossed her out. But at least she hadn't hurt him.

But it was exactly that which also struck her as a little weird. Tyr didn't usually like having his neck touched all that much, so it could've been the influence of the curse...

In any case, here it is in the morning, and Rita's still in costume at the house because she hasn't been bothered to change. She should probably apologize to Tyr if he's awake and see how he is.

Comments

[negativegate]

There's no getting rid of the knowledge that it's right there, either. The best either of them can do is just try to focus on cleaning themselves up right now.

She gives a simple agreement and tugs off the red-brown stained clothing, noting vaguely that there's some splatters where the material wasn't completely soaked. In a few moments, she's naked, then realizes Tyr's still dressed. "Aren't you getting cleaned up, too?"

[blackshadow]

Tyr starts; he doesn't even realise he was just standing there, waiting for her to get in. "Ah, right... Hold on."

And he looks down as he pulls off his own stained clothing and crumples them up on the floor like he'll dispose of them for good later. For the first time in a really, really long time, he feels self-conscious and fights the urge to cover himself between where he is now and when he gets in the shower. And his eyes are just on her feet.

"You can get in first..."

[negativegate]

For her part, Rita wonders if the reason he won't look at her is because she's dead... Or is it something else? She isn't sure, but she doesn't ask if he's all right--because they're both far from all right.

"Okay," she just agrees. "I'll do yours after." And with that, she steps softly over to the tub and climbs in, and--it's so warm. She almost wants to just lie right down in the water and pretend she's warm, but it'll cool off eventually...so she simply sits, back towards Tyr so he can wash her hair, and watches little red swirls rise from her submerged skin.

[blackshadow]

He lays down a towel as he leans over the edge of the tub, and for a guy who wouldn't want to see her bloodless form, he's quick to rest his hands on her shoulders, squeezes them gently.

"You can take as long as you want, though... My hair can wait."

Unlike hers, there's not nearly so much blood stuck in it. Or on his shoulders and chest... After that quick touch, he pans some water over her skin with his hands. His eyes, even unconsciously, look for a scar line where she was beheaded... But more than that, touching her like this is really relaxing even while it tugs at his chest to see the water dyed pink and feel her skin so cold to the touch.

[negativegate]

It's one reason she can dismiss the idea that he wasn't looking at her because of that. But if that isn't the case, she doesn't know what else is bothering him, which worries her...

Still, the water feels really nice as he pours it over her, his hands even better. "Mm...We can put fresh water in for you, anyway," she replies, considering the blood. While she hasn't looked in the mirror to see, there is no scar on her neck.

[blackshadow]

"Thanks..." he murmurs. Tyr won't admit that he's glad that they'll change the water. It's horrifying enough seeing all her blood as it is... He doesn't want any more of it on him. And he won't just admit everything that's on his mind. He wants to relax and wash her now.

And he's glad there's no scar. It makes it easier to press little circles below her neck and massage her shoulders. She'll feel better if he does, right? And maybe some of his heat will stay with her...

[negativegate]

"I should be thanking you," she says with a little sigh as she leans into his touch. If she closes her eyes, the heat and Tyr's touch does start to relax her. "That feels really good..."

[blackshadow]

"Thanks," he repeats. Seeing her more relaxed makes him feel better and releases some of that tightness in his chest. He doesn't even think about stopping as he works his thumbs down her spine. "I...I love you, Rita..." he whispers softly,

[negativegate]

That makes her eyes open again, but otherwise, she remains a little relaxed, even staring down at the reddish water. "Thanks... I love you, too..." Even if something like this is happening, it can't change how she feels about him. He means so much to her.

[blackshadow]

She means everything to him, too. Even if she makes him unhappy when she pries at his memories, he loves her. And he'd love her whether he had his entire family or not... She's irreplaceable.

So hearing her say that she loves him makes him smile a little.

"Turn around so you can dip your hair in the water. I don't have anything to pour it onto you with..."

[negativegate]

She just wants him to be all right--nothing tampering with his mind, making him pass out, or putting him in danger. Her Tyr...

"Oh--yeah." She shifts around and lies back, dunking her hair into the water. Her clothing and hair had the worst stains, so the water starts to take on a deeper reddish hue.

[blackshadow]

It's a good thing she's leaning back or she'd see all that blood and his horrified grimace. His heart feels like it's in a vice and he only wonders if she had another injury there...

Still, after a beat, he leans over her and starts combing her hair back with his hands. He doesn't say anything as he does...

[negativegate]

Her eyes are closed, too, so she doesn't see his reaction, but she gives a little sigh as he combs through her hair. It feels a bit soothing...and she hadn't really thought earlier about how matted her hair was with the dried blood. It feels--well, a little better to get all of it out.

[blackshadow]

It's soothing to him, too, to feel her hair. It's so soft still by her hairline, then rougher at the ends where the blood gathered. He focuses on just the softness of her hair as the water turns darker.

He can't stand how she looks like this, though.

"Hey...Open your eyes," he tells her softly, delicately.

[negativegate]

Curious, her eyes open again and she looks up at him. "Tyr?" Her chest still rises and falls slightly; even if she doesn't have to breathe, not doing it would take conscious thought. And even then...she might keep breathing, anyway.

Mostly, she's thinking that she's worried about how Tyr feels with all of this.

[blackshadow]

He can't help but worry when he sees blood swirling in the water when he touches her hair, though. He knows she's alive, but it's hard to ignore how she looks and feels, too.

But when she opens her eyes, he gets rid of that sad look and gives her a little smile. "I didn't want you to fall asleep..." he lies.

[negativegate]

He's a total liar. Even Rita can tell that's not why he asked her to open her eyes, and she thinks she might have an idea what the real reason is. But instead of pointing that out, she gives him a soft reply, keeping her eyes open like he asked. "Don't want to miss your turn to clean up?"

[blackshadow]

"Exactly," he continues. Deep inside, he knows Rita didn't fall for it, but he doesn't want to say anything. He wants things to be normal again...

His fingers keep combing through her hair even after all the knots of blood are gone. "Besides, you'd get pruny if you were in too long..."

[negativegate]

"Then I'd just stay out for a while to make it go away, of course." It's not quite normal yet... Bantering with him is still fun, but right now, it's mostly a distraction from everything else. Eventually, things will get back to normal, she thinks...

When he keeps touching her hair like that, she almost forgets to keep her eyes open and they drift half-closed again. It feels too nice.

[blackshadow]

"So you'll wash my hair and then climb back in?" It is fun to joke around, but it can't be the same. There's always something in his heart that holds him back.

And it still pulls him between being happy and being scared when he sees her eyes start to close again. Maybe they should just change the water now. That would probably make him feel better even if it won't change how her skin is the same lukewarm as the water. He caresses her jaw with the back of his fingers. "I really love your hair..." he confesses quietly.

[negativegate]

"We'd have to keep changing the water," she starts to say, and then trails off at his little confession. It gets her a bit flustered...and it's weird how that makes her feel even more normal. Maybe it's just getting to talk to Tyr that does it...

"Sh...should I grow it...?" She isn't even sure why she's asking that.

[blackshadow]

He doesn't say anything about the water when she mentions her hair. All he does is blink down at her and fan her hair out on the water. For a second, he doesn't even think about the fact the water is dull red with blood.

"Do you want to?" is all he can think to ask. "I like it this way too..."

[negativegate]

Her face flushes (she'll try not to think about how when her heart isn't beating to pump blood) and she glances away. As long as he likes it... "I'll just...see how much of a pain it is," she decides in a mumble. She hadn't really thought much about growing it out before.

[blackshadow]

...She really wants to grow her hair longer, he thinks. For the first time in the past twenty-four hours, he's thinking about something other than death and torture. Did she decide she wanted to because he likes her hair? That though makes him blush, too...

He scratches her scalp as he brushes her hair behind her ear. "Just clip it back if it bothers you..." Without really trying to, he smiles at her.

[negativegate]

He looks cute again--almost normal, if not for the blood on his clothes. "That's what I'd do, or I couldn't do research," she says. A part of her is glad to see him smile again, a smile that's more normal, and she's able to give him a small one in return.