chroma | catchall for hot pants

[countermeasures]

Comments

[fleshedout]

[She had been a steel wall for most of the week. She's good at that. Move on. Be strong. Don't let anything show. But week, after week, after week, and its like the steel's eroded, and everything's come leaking out.]

[She shakes her head.]

I'm tired. I'm tired of all of this.

[countermeasures]

...

[she pulls her hairpin out of her hair and reaches over to press the amber stone of it into hot pants's hand.]

...I know. I know you are.

[fleshedout]

[She glances down at it, blinking...and the calm helps a little, but the emotional turmoil is there.]

I have to be strong for everyone, Su. I'm afraid that I can't.

[countermeasures]

You can.

[jiuqing puts her other hand over hot pants's, then, and holds it.]

But you don't have to do it alone. You can lean on me. I will help you.

[fleshedout]

...

[Oh. Her eyes are watering.]

Can I really do that?

[countermeasures]

[she nods, decisively.]

You really can.

[fleshedout]

Thank you.

[....]

[Sorry, Su, she's moving to embrace you. Hug time.]

[countermeasures]

[oh


hug time! jiuqing holds onto her tightly.]

[fleshedout]

[She's actually feeling a little calmer, now. Warm.]

...What did I ever do...to know someone like you?

[countermeasures]

You were here, and you were yourself. That's enough.

[she's not going to deny that knowing someone like her is a good thing. she's a catch and she knows it.]