Post-shower Joe

[blueondeck]

[You could find him walking from the direction of the showers. Hair wet & washed, new clean clothes, relaxed, and hasn't even gone home yet.]

Comments

[blueondeck]

[Quickly and pointedly answers]

No.

[strooonger]

[Walks up to you to grab your hand and squeeze tightly while smiling.]

Please? I'm worried something might happen.

[blueondeck]

[What the hell is up with her grip?!]

Worried? About him? You're better off letting it happen.

[. . . Should a person be smiling while worried?]

[strooonger]

No, something happened to him recently.

[blueondeck]

Basco can handle himself.

. . .

[Trying to take his hand away ... and back up a comfortable step]

[strooonger]

[Yeah, that's not going to happen.]

But that's the problem. He's not himself right now.

[blueondeck]

[Taking the step anyway and just not going to look at you!]

Not himself now?

[strooonger]

Something happened and now he's changed completely. That's why I want to go look for him to make sure nothing happens to him.

[blueondeck]

[On the one hand... Basco changing. On the other hand ... every sensible reason to let him suffer. ...

placing free hand to forehead in dismay and sighing]

Fine. Fine I'll help you even if it's a terrible idea.

[strooonger]

Why is it so terrible for you to help? You usually are around him.

[blueondeck]

That's no less terrible.

[strooonger]

Then why do you?

[blueondeck]

Do you want to find him or not?

[strooonger]

I still want to know. You can tell me while walking, can't you?

[blueondeck]

Why I do what I do is none of your business.

[looks at you and then away]

Let my hand go.

[strooonger]

[Presuming I'm just holding it too hard and lets go]

[blueondeck]

[Doesn't hold the hand, crosses his arms over his chest instead]

Where are we going to find him?

[strooonger]

[What do I know about Hina to make a guess at where she would go in his body...hygiene might be the biggest issue]

Where do you get clothes around here?

[blueondeck]

[... Basco? Shopping? So it really is bad.]

This way...

[Walking on.]

[strooonger]

[Following. Somewhat surprised you didn't think that a girl would know where to find clothes but, not complaining.

Although it's really hard to follow in these damn girly shoes so, grabbing on to the back of your shirt.]

[blueondeck]

[Jumps and arches away from the touch almost automatically, his arms unfolding from his chest.]

[strooonger]

[.....What the hell was that?]

[blueondeck]

[Why the hell did you touch me!?]

D-don't ... [takes a breath, inching away] don't just do that out of no where.

[strooonger]

You were going too fast. [Noting all your motions and just coming with a possible conclusion, despite how ridiculous it is.]

Are you...scared of girls?

[blueondeck]

No [quickly]

I'm just not use to being so close to them. [i.e touching]