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3336 Cream Puff Way

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Then I guess I'll just have to stick around and show you, as many times as it takes, that I don't blame you at all.

[And if that involves tail pulling, so be it.]

[aigue]

[Okay she's starting to get flustered over this threat.]

You're more stubborn than I am.

[advanced]

Then I guess you don't have a choice but to be the one who gives in, huh?

[Because he is going to use all of his stubbornness on this.]

[aigue]

I wish it was that easy.

[If this was some petty argument it would be, but it isn't. This is one of those few times when a tail pull isn't going to change her mind.]

I'm sorry I'm being difficult. This is just... hard.

[Being the reason someone she cared about nearly dying permanently is terrifying, actually.]

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...I get it.

[And he really does, he knows all too well what it's like to have guilt for the actions of others.]

That's why I'm gonna stick around, keep reminding you that I don't blame you, and maybe one day it'll sink in.

[aigue]

[Geez, she can't stop herself from hugging him again. She might also be sniffling a tiny bit.

Shut up, she totally isn't crying.]

You're far too good of a friend. I don't deserve you.

[advanced]

[He stiffens up just a bit when she hugs him, he hopes one day that tensing won't be his natural reaction to something like this, but he doesn't pull away. He gently sets his flesh hand on her head, thumb stroking her hair.]

You're gonna make my head swell.

[aigue]

[This is... nice. Renart finds herself wishing they could be this close under better circumstances.]

Nothing wrong with that.

[She hesitated, then adds in a softer voice:]

I think Steve would be really proud of you.

[advanced]

[He's not so sure of that, and just hearing it from someone else makes his chest ache. This isn't the time to argue that, though, he's here for her and not his own issues.]

You're gonna be okay, Renart.

[He hopes.]

You're too strong to let this pull you down forever.

[aigue]

I hope you're right.

[Because she isn't so sure. If this were a full world she'd be halfway across it by now.]

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I know I am.

[He stays still for a moment before gently disengaging from her, taking a step back.]

Now, come on, I bet you need to eat and sleep.

[aigue]

[She lets go, reluctantly. Very reluctantly.]

I don't need either, technically.

[She hasn't bothered with either, too.]

[advanced]

And I don't need to sleep more than a couple of times a week, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't do me good anyway.

[He glances towards where he thinks her kitchen will be.]

I can make you something, then leave you to sleep.

[aigue]

... Alright.

[She doesn't feel like doing either, but this is the path of least resistance. And she doesn't want him leaving quite yet.

Turning, she heads into the kitchen.]

I don't know what's in the cupboards, I haven't checked.

[advanced]

[He gives her a slightly disapproving look and follows her into the kitchens, where he proceeds to open all the cupboards to see what he's dealing with.]

Do you even know how to make anything?

[aigue]

Beowulf taught me how to cook meat on a spit.

[That... is not helpful. At all.]

He was a bit of a neandertal, sometimes.

[The kitchen is at least stocked with all the typical things found in a Meadous kitchen, and the fridge is full of meat.]

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Okay, well I can't cook much, but I can show you something to make.

[He grabs some meat out of the fridge and starts dicing it.]

If even I can cook better than you, that's not good.

[aigue]

[She makes a bit of a face, but doesn't stop him.]

Cooking is something humans do, not animals.

[advanced]

You like to eat cooked food, don't you?

[He's seen her do it a bunch of times.]

That makes it something you do too.

[aigue]

Every animal will eat cooked food. That doesn't mean we cook it ourselves.

[Still, she leans in.]

What are you going to make?

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Venison stew, it'll last for a few days and it's pretty easy, even I can't mess it up.

[He's not exactly a culinary genius, most of his cooking is self taught on the run.]

And you know that's a stupid argument. If animals had the tools and the thumbs for cooking meat, they'd do it themselves.

[aigue]

[She hesitated a few moments before going and retrieves few vegetables from the fridge. Nothing fancy, an onion and some carrots and celery, but good for stew.]

I'm not very good at it. The last time I tried it didn't work out. It's easier to let humans do it.

[advanced]

You get better by practising, idiot.

[It's affectionate, but just a little bit disbelieving that she's managed to spend this many years without picking up even a few culinary skills.]

Chop everything up and throw it in the pan.

[aigue]

[She makes a bit of a sour face at him, but will do as he says. Chopping vegetables isn't that hard at least, she's used knives for long enough that she can do a good job of that.]

I'm your assistant, now?

[advanced]

No, you're the student, you're gonna have to do this yourself next time. I'm not coming by to cook for you every night.

[He has better things to do with his time, like brooding in dark corners.]