high_seas | Trial of the Spades

*No, Ikki, the listening problem is not with her. Selphie lowers her gaze, feeling a mixture of stupid and...well, just stupid. But then she climbs up onto the chair and stands up on it. She places a hand on Ikki's shoulder, motioning for him to turn around. She's ready to climb onto his back, so if he doesn't turn around she will be clinging to his front instead*

[She definitively has a listening problem. Ikki's 100% sure of it when she climbs up onto the chair and basically asks silently for a piggyback ride. She's not listening. And she's way too drunk.

Ikki complies and turns to let her cling to his back, moving his arms to take hold of her legs and support her weight properly. Fine, whatever, he shouldn't have tried to strike a conversation with a drunk girl in the first place, so Ikki does the most logical thing: he starts walking towards her room to put her to sleep.]

See? I make an awesome koala!

*Selphie giggles and holds herself closer, nuzzling her face against his neck. She's too busy having fun to notice where he's taking her*

And if there's an attack I can be your armour! Or...you can throw me off and dump me sonewhere if that's easier. But I think we're safe for now.

Yeah, yeah. You're also an awesome armour.

[Talking to her like when one talks to a little stubborn child, and they decide to just play along because it's easier. He continues to make his way to her room ignoring everything else.]

Thanks! I'm good and strong, but also super cuddly!

*To prove her point she snuggles herself up against him, rubbinf her nose against his jaw. Selphie seems to like it when he plays along*

Hey! We're nearly at my room! Are you gonna keep me cosy in bed?

[Why do people feel the need to cuddle like that when being carried around. Shun used to do that as well when they were little. Except that back then Ikki cuddled and snuggled back, now, however, he ignores it while battling the memories the action brings back. He hasn't thought that much in the past since ever, but this ship and the people on it seem to have that effect on him.

It's almost as if they are trying to pull out the person he used to be. And he doesn't like that.]

No, I'm putting you to sleep. You're drunk.

[Well, she noticed, but they are basically there so it doesn't matter. Ikki approaches and opens the door of her room with his foot.]

What? I'm not tired and I'm not drunk. And besides... it's rude to reject a woman so coldly.

*She sighs softly against his neck and rests her chin on his shoulder*

Won't you at least stay with me just a little while? Please, Ikki, please. I mean, what're ya gonna do all night? Sit around cold on your own. That's no fun.

[Ikki was about to place her in her bed when she says those words. Reject a woman?]

What the hell are you talking about?

[He ignores everything else, and his tone is low, a mix of confusion and anger, his breathing is heavy but it quickens slightly. She's not talking about what he thinks she's talking, right? She just can't be talking about that.]

*Selphie sits herself on the edge of her bed and tilts her head at him. She blinks her wide eyes up at him, sensing his change in tone and a tension in the room. Even with the alcohol she knows that something is wrong, but where she might have ignored it before, she probes a little further*

Did I say something wrong?

*She reaches up towards him, eyeing him warily, not sure when he might explode*

I'm only playing around, Ikki.

Playing with what?

[He turns and eyes her warily.]

You were freaking out before when I told you to sleep with Ace. Now you say something about how rude it is to reject a woman "so coldly". What are you talking about, Selphie? Or rather, what kind of person do you think I am?

Uhm... playing with...

*Selphie just slowly shakes her head, unsure of what she was going to say. Now she's staring at him, and looks rather frightened, because she's so worried of saying the wrong thing. For a few moments she doesn't answer, just swallows hard and blinks*

I'm just talking about... about things...to do with people and stuff. Like me. Or like you. And - and you're...

*Her head reels somewhat as she tries to think of what she should say in reply to that*

You're a very...good person. And a nice person. Uhm...

Things.

[He pauses and eyes her with a heavy gaze.]

Things.

[He takes a deep breath and for a moment he looks as if he's going to say something. Something not good. But he doesn't, instead he shakes his head as if confused.]

Go to sleep. We will talk tomorrow, when you're sober.

[And after he has had a talk with a certain phoenix bro, because he needs it.]

Ikki, please.. I'm not drunk. I just - I didn't know what to say because...

*Selphie takes a deep breath and stands up again, though she's looking more at her boots than anything else*

And I'm cold... And I'm sorry?

*Though she sighs and bites her lip, because she realises how ridiculous she must seem right now*

It's okay. Forget it. Just... Go to ask Korra or Kairi to share the bed, you will be warm then.

We will talk tomorrow.

[He can't go on, he can't continue talking. And he doesn't want to talk to her about that, he can't talk to her right now, so... He turns and leaves.]

*She stares at the empty space when he leaves, then shuffles forward as she thinks about chasing after him. Instead, she just curses loudly and throws herself into her bed, covering herself completely with the blanket and burying her face hard into her pillow. He said he'd talk to her tomorrow, but she really doesn't believe he wants anything to do with her*

[After his talk with Marco, Ikki will go back to Selphie's room while she's asleep and slip inside the blankets with her. So when she wakes up next morning she will find herself warm and with a body spooning hers from behind, an arm around her waist. And a sleeping phoenix sleeping calmly.]

*When Ikki first enters the room, Selphie is shivering violently in her sleep. Soon though with Ikki beside her, she is sleeping deeply and soundly. After a good long sleep, Selphie slowly begins to wake up. She can feel Ikki beside her, and she's flooded with even more warmth. Smiling, she snuggles closer to him and pulls his arm tighter around her.

But then she remembers the night before and her whole body suddenly tenses. Her voice at first is clipped and sharp*

Ikki.

*Then the tone changes, almost like she's scared*

What are you doing here?

[He stirs awake the moment she moves, but he remains silent, tightening his arm around her. When she speaks he takes a moment before he answers, trying to find the words and failing. Even after his talk with Marco he still isn't sure of why he's there.]

Sleep.

[It's not a lie, really.]

Am I not welcome? If so I will leave.

You... can stay. But... I asked you before. And you refused. I thought..we had a deal.. to help each other...

*Her tone is sad, and her body doesn't relax, despite how much she likes his arm around her*

[His own body tenses at her words.]

In which way is "flirting" with me a way to fulfill that deal?

Ikki, I'm sorry... I never meant to... upset you. I'm sorry if what I said or did was... horrible to you.

*Back still turned to him, she screws her tight as she remembers how repulsed he was the previous night*

[He's silent for a good while, not making any sound or moving. Trying to sort his words.]

The first time I met my father, my mother brought him home, just like that. I don't remember much of her, but I remember thinking that I had never seen her happier than that moment. She snuggled him, cuddled and shooed me to bed quickly, saying there would be time for me to talk with him in the morning. The place was small and the walls thin, I couldn't sleep and the next morning all I found was my mother, crying and broken. Talking to a man who wasn't there anymore, saying that it was rude to reject a woman so coldly.

[The same thing Selphie told him.]

*She turns round to face him, almost alarmed at how close they are. Her eyes are wide and sad as she gazes into his, her voice still soft and timid*

I..meant that as a joke.. I was teasing. And I'm sorry that I said the wrong thing. If - if maybe you'd only said... Ikki, you should know that I would never mean to hurt you like that. I didn't know... and I'm just.. sorry.

[He opens his eyes when she moves, looking at her.]

I know. But it's not easy to react calmly when you feel you're being accused of being like the man you hate the most. He's the reason why I do what I do. He had sex with many women, impregnated them and years later had the kids gathered to send them to become soldiers. Out of all of us only ten survived.

Would you have preferred me yelling at you?

I won't do or say anything like that again if it helps. That deal we had, you can forget about that too...

*At this stage her eyes have lowered to look at his collarbone, unable to look at his chest*

I don't know. Maybe? I just wish... that for once I could spend time with you without you being angry at me. But maybe that's impossible.. I don't know.

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NEXT MORNING

Re: NEXT MORNING

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