hardwearing | [ MEADOWLARK ] IC Inbox

What time are you getting home?

Still waiting to hear back from ME. I'll let you know when I know.

[ because maine's fighting her on company right now, but carolina is stubborn. wash gets another text a moment later, a very deliberate effort to keep up the flirting. ]

But I do have to ask if I've got any points on record with you.

You have all the points. Did you want to redeem something? I can start keeping track.

"All the points" sounds like a lot to keep track of.

Yeah I lost count ages ago. Let's say you can cash in for whatever you want twice at this point.

Noted.

Is getting naked with you an option?

[ Please hold while he short circuits a little. ]

You don't even need to use points for that.

Wasn't sure you were interested. I assumed it would use up all my points.

Wait you didn't think I'd be interested in... have you looked in a mirror lately?

Yeah. Still mad about my hair.

You're usually the one putting the breaks on though. Sort of gave the signal we weren't getting past kissing.

It's growing back.

Oh.

No I definitely want to... get naked. Sometime.
It just gets a little overwhelming?

I'm sorry. I'm not trying to pressure you into anything. I'm happy with what we have.

I've just been trying to figure out if I was the problem there or not.

You're not! And there's not really a problem, definitely not you. It's more like the feedback loop is hard to keep from getting lost in?

Also it's been like... since the Project...

We're both going to be pretty rusty at sex, don't worry.

We don't have to rush anything anyway. If I know you're interested, I can keep waiting until it feels easier for you.

Maybe we should just go for it. It hasn't felt like rushing, just testing the waters.

Play it by ear? I’m comfortable whenever you are.

Well now I'm thinking about it. We can play it by ear.

Deal.

[ a few minutes later, there's another message, after she's finally heard back from maine and has mapped out the route from her workplace to the location he gave her. ]

Going for a walk with ME after work. You okay for a few more hours?

Absolutely. I'll be here when you get home. Are you guys grabbing dinner or should I have something ready for you?

Don't know yet but don't worry about it. I'll make sure I eat.

Okay. I'll see you when you get home, then. Good luck.

Thanks. Don't know yet if I'll need it or not.

I hope you don't, but Maine can be hard to get a read on.

Anyway I'll see you tonight.

[ Hard for people who aren't him, at least. Wash signs off and goes to make himself something to eat, and then probably idly flick through movies he won't watch until Carolina gets home. He's too distracted by their conversation to really focus on anything in particular, but will be waiting up with something playing for background noise.

He isn't worried for her, though. He doesn't know to be. ]

[ wash doesn't hear from carolina again, which isn't unusual for a few hours. but when she's following anything but a set schedule, she does usually remember to message him on her way home, even if it's just outside their apartment building. it's just a little announcement, a warning that their front door will be opening shortly but it's just her, it's safe.

she's got other things on her mind, though, and she forgets the warning until she's already got their door open, wincing at herself with the realization. ]

Hey, David...

[ it's a guilty sounding greeting, for wherever he is in their tiny apartment, as the door closes behind her. while her tone is familiar, she's more visibly tense than she should be to come home and if he gets a look at her, wash can probably figure out why.

there's a little bit of blood speckled down the front of her favourite light blue sweatshirt, bruising across her nose and one cheek that almost definitely means that blood came from a nosebleed. she hasn't bothered to brush the grass stains off of one knee, legs bare under the running shorts she'd had in her locker at work.

and she very decidedly isn't making eye contact with him on her way to the bathroom. ]

[ Wash is sitting on the couch in their little apartment, in full view of the door, so when he hears it open he perks up. Carolina didn't message him... maybe that means things didn't go well with Maine? He doesn't even have time to think it might be something worse before he hears her voice and knows it's worse.

She's tense, spotted with blood and bruises, generally mussed and clearly not looking at him as she beelines for the bathroom.

Wash stands up, eyes wide and alarmed. ]

Hey. Hey, what the hell happened? Carolina, are you okay?

[ He's following her. ]

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cw some blood + minor injuries

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