[Erika's room is like most other singles on the station. It smells faintly like her, like every room does of its occupant; there's a futon mattress rolled up under the desk, unless it's spread out across the floor for sitting or lounging on, and either way it's completely inculcated with fine blue Digimon fur. Everything is, because of Li, the Wanyamon, who lounges on the desk or the bed or in the shower or wherever it damn well pleases. A spare hoodie jacket hangs like a banner on the wall, the Hudie logo on its back proud white on blue.
It's home, which really sunk in for Erika when Hajime helped her limp through the door and she looked around and felt relief. She should return to the medbay before everyone goes to sleep, but a day here can't hurt. Where her nerves are concerned, it can only help.
Haru's occupation of room 3-17 is a new development and that makes her sort of a guest, though Erika's condition leaves her favoring the bed and not in the best shape to be a graceful host. Then again, she has never in her life been a graceful host. Hospitality in the territory of Erika Mishima is something soft to sit on, a Digimon demanding to be pet, a high tolerance for awkward silences, and a conversational topic that originated somewhere on a screen.
Today it happens to be food, since the last time they talked about anything other than being completely fucked up by a metallizing virus, it was about tea. Have you ever wanted to know the vital role of glucose in brain chemistry, Haru? Because that's where this headed the moment sweets even looked in the direction of being a topic to be raised.]
...An excess actually damages long-term memory, though. It sets off kind of a premature aging effect.
[Leaving the safety of her own room was something pretty hard for Haru. She had been holing herself in there ever since Ryuji carried her back from the Gardens. Unable to walk or move for quite some time... and while the recovery time for her was pretty quick, she still remained with piece of metal and a whole lot of pain.
She comes at the suggestion of Hajime, who would have rathered Haru and Erika not be alone... and Haru takes residence on that Futon on the floor. She didn't want to take space up on a bed where Erika was already in enough pain. Wanyamon did catch her attention pretty quickly. So soft? So nice? She's never seen anything like Wanyamon.
Their conversation about sweets, it was normal as normal could be right now.]
[Li is VERY CUTE and will soak up all the attention you are willing to lavish upon it/them/her/him (Erika keeps it vague; Hajime and Gundam seem to figure it's a girl. Take your pick. The cat orb expresses preference for very little besides snacks and affection.)]
Yeah, like most things about the body. All actions have costs, so it's all about wearing itself out at just the right pace to do what it needs to do. More action means more wear and tear, even when it comes to the brain.
[Haru is already so very much in love with Li, how can this cat orb be so cute? Haru lavishes as much affection on Li as they can handle. Making sure to scritch all the right spots.]
I suppose that is where "overworking" comes from. You wear yourself out too fast and then try to keep going.
[Haru holds Li a little closer.] You haven't been overdoing it, right Erika-chan?
They're fine, [she says quickly, and quietly, folding her hands together primly over her stomach, knowing perfectly well that Haru knows perfectly well that they're not "fine". They are relatively "fine" at best. But you can't just saaaaaay that.] ...It's not like overworking or underworking will change anything. It's just a waiting game.
[They both know they aren't "fine" per say. But Haru is more physically fine at this point. Just sore, and easily tired. She wants to help, but she isn't sure how or if Erika wants to let her do so.
[This is one of those moments where, back home, she'd just abstain. Say nothing, refuse to acknowledge, let someone step in apologetically and pull the conversation away.
Finding something to say instead is like pulling teeth. There's a long, awkward silence. Erika doesn't have to work very hard to avoid eye contact; just stare at the ceiling.]
[She obviously doesn't want to overwhelm Erika in a bad way. If sitting here talking to her about the logistics of sweets is what helps. Then it helps. If sitting here in silence helps, she would do that too.
Haru has long decided that she would stick around for her right now unless she was adamant about Haru going away.]
[She doesn't like quantifying her needs. Being helped. That's - a doctor-patient thing, and to be asked in a personal context makes her feel obtrusive and needy and self-conscious. It's like taking an insult - but the fact that she feels that way isn't Haru's fault - and this is the spiral that always shuts her up.
Erika's face turns red. She nods swiftly, choppily, without looking at Haru.]
The sheer awkward tension demands relief, and Erika convulsively reaches for her comm and pulls her hands back apart, denying her urge to fidget at the last moment.]
I don't need help, [she mumbles very very quietly, gently dying of mortification.]
[Abashed nod. Man, it sounds so placating and....juvenile? Like that?
She should talk to Ryuji later about this. Her choice was based on the one-point-something thing she knew about Haru, and it led here, so obviously it was a flub. Next time, she needs more information.
Li takes advantage of the stretch of silence to direct Haru's attention to a spot behind her ear that needs scratching.]
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branchandroot
post-event~~~
Date: 2018-08-21 04:26 am (UTC)It's home, which really sunk in for Erika when Hajime helped her limp through the door and she looked around and felt relief. She should return to the medbay before everyone goes to sleep, but a day here can't hurt. Where her nerves are concerned, it can only help.
Haru's occupation of room 3-17 is a new development and that makes her sort of a guest, though Erika's condition leaves her favoring the bed and not in the best shape to be a graceful host. Then again, she has never in her life been a graceful host. Hospitality in the territory of Erika Mishima is something soft to sit on, a Digimon demanding to be pet, a high tolerance for awkward silences, and a conversational topic that originated somewhere on a screen.
Today it happens to be food, since the last time they talked about anything other than being completely fucked up by a metallizing virus, it was about tea. Have you ever wanted to know the vital role of glucose in brain chemistry, Haru? Because that's where this headed the moment sweets even looked in the direction of being a topic to be raised.]
...An excess actually damages long-term memory, though. It sets off kind of a premature aging effect.
[N E R D.]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-22 03:40 am (UTC)She comes at the suggestion of Hajime, who would have rathered Haru and Erika not be alone... and Haru takes residence on that Futon on the floor. She didn't want to take space up on a bed where Erika was already in enough pain. Wanyamon did catch her attention pretty quickly. So soft? So nice? She's never seen anything like Wanyamon.
Their conversation about sweets, it was normal as normal could be right now.]
So essentially a double-edged sword?
no subject
Date: 2018-08-22 10:51 am (UTC)Yeah, like most things about the body. All actions have costs, so it's all about wearing itself out at just the right pace to do what it needs to do. More action means more wear and tear, even when it comes to the brain.
no subject
Date: 2018-08-24 06:47 am (UTC)I suppose that is where "overworking" comes from. You wear yourself out too fast and then try to keep going.
[Haru holds Li a little closer.] You haven't been overdoing it, right Erika-chan?
no subject
Date: 2018-08-24 07:59 pm (UTC)Of course not. I've been getting too much sleep. [She wants to be like YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF MEEEEEE but she can't because it's Haru.
"Have you?"
Oh god no she'd die. She frowns at the ceiling instead.]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-28 06:17 pm (UTC)Oh dear.]
How do your legs feel?
[Well, let her worry regardless.]
no subject
Date: 2018-08-30 11:21 pm (UTC)[Grump hrump hfffufh.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-01 05:57 pm (UTC)[They both know they aren't "fine" per say. But Haru is more physically fine at this point. Just sore, and easily tired. She wants to help, but she isn't sure how or if Erika wants to let her do so.
But hey, it really is worth a try to her.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-02 01:35 pm (UTC)Finding something to say instead is like pulling teeth. There's a long, awkward silence. Erika doesn't have to work very hard to avoid eye contact; just stare at the ceiling.]
...I don't - I don't know. [She mumbles it.] You're already here.
no subject
Date: 2018-09-05 04:18 am (UTC)[She obviously doesn't want to overwhelm Erika in a bad way. If sitting here talking to her about the logistics of sweets is what helps. Then it helps. If sitting here in silence helps, she would do that too.
Haru has long decided that she would stick around for her right now unless she was adamant about Haru going away.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-06 03:41 am (UTC)Erika's face turns red. She nods swiftly, choppily, without looking at Haru.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-12 02:12 am (UTC)[Haru is just...inherently a good person. She just wants to do right by her friends. Erika is a friend, right? Right.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-13 06:10 am (UTC)The sheer awkward tension demands relief, and Erika convulsively reaches for her comm and pulls her hands back apart, denying her urge to fidget at the last moment.]
I don't need help, [she mumbles very very quietly, gently dying of mortification.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-13 06:15 am (UTC)I understand.
[She also understands that for some people, asking for help is the hardest thing to do.] We could just keep talking about random things?
no subject
Date: 2018-09-13 07:13 am (UTC)She should talk to Ryuji later about this. Her choice was based on the one-point-something thing she knew about Haru, and it led here, so obviously it was a flub. Next time, she needs more information.
Li takes advantage of the stretch of silence to direct Haru's attention to a spot behind her ear that needs scratching.]
...Like what? [Still kind of mumbling.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-18 04:27 am (UTC)Things that interest you? I want to hear about them!
[There Haru goes, trying to get to know Erika again.]
no subject
Date: 2018-09-21 06:43 pm (UTC)...I haven't worked on the VR system in a while.
[That counts??]