Backdated Log #5: What I Cannot Do - Part 3
Characters: Seth, Eirika
Date: July 09
Summary: Sometime far later the evening after her conversation with Balthier and breaking her keyboard, Seth hunts Eirika down in Cerberus. He gives her a talking-to about Marth, and her decision. Calming her down, he takes her back to Takarazuka and stays the night.
Warnings: Absolutely none.


It was several moments later that he had to regretfully end the song, echoing the last words into silence. That song made him... emotional, almost, as he sighed quietly and leaned his head onto hers.

She was careful to relish in the quiet that hung about in the air between them. Ah... Around them, as there was nothing between them, which Eirika began to notice with flushing features. She finally murmured softly, "...If Cerberus wakes up angry, you do realise I'm going to tell everyone it's your fault."

"I do not think my voice was that loud, my love," he mumbled gently in return.

"I said 'if'," was her reply. The hand upon him began to tap anxiously, nervously. "...... S-Seth..." And she attempted to worm away from him. Yes, her nerves were finally fluttering around, as though winged insects.

"Aye?" And he made no move to separate from her.

She stumbled over her words, lending her regal succession to the man who was determined to hold onto her until the end of his days. "...P-p-please let me go...?"

"Aye, of course," he kissed her forehead once before he let her go reluctantly, a gentle look upon his face.

Lifting her free hand, she brushed it over her forehead, unable to hide that blush. "Please warn me the next time you choose to do something of that nature. You nearly gave me a fright."

"You mean, something like... 'Dear Princess, I am about to embrace you. Please ready yourself.', aye?" He quirked an eyebrow in amusement.

"...Quite. Please," she responded in a tone that sounded all-too-serious. She wasn't offended by any means, however, there were reservations that she had about being so close to him, especially when he did something to-- "As with all other motions.”

"As you wish then," the knight replied good naturedly. He paused for a moment, before he asked, "Dear Princess, I wish to breath. Is that acceptable?"

And in that heavy silence, Eirika brought the palm of her right hand full force into her forehead, not for one moment considering it might hurt her. Initially she scoffed and then she very, very quietly whined to herself over doing something so foolish. "............ Seth!" She finally managed to utter before flailing her arms, and a keyboard cord, in his direction.

He did not move as he let the keyboard cord hit him, though he did offer a soft wince before he replied, "Aye?"

And the moment she realised she'd hit him, she very quickly slipped her left hand behind her back, "A-asking me for permission to breathe! Y-you're mad!" Not in the sense of angry...

He did not seem to have breathed at all as he tilted his head curiously, "As with all other motions, you said."

"I-I-I-I meant w-with me!" Eirika protested wildly, turning all variations of rose. "In the name of Divine Providence, do not stop breathing on my account, you fool!"

"Very well then," Seth said as he resumed breathing. He offered a quiet chuckle, "You are adorable when you stutter."

What she might have disliked more than blushing was someone directing attention to it. "Oooh! Enough of that! You'll receive nothing for flattering me or attempting to charm me this evening!" She puffed out her cheeks at him and hastily brought a hand to her cheeks trying to brush away the colour.

"I must inform you that puffing out your cheeks does not make your face look regal, Eirika," he pointed out. Oh how adorable she looked at the moment.

"Seth!" Her jaw dropped for only a moment and then she turned away from him stiffly. In fact, although she had already moved so robotically, her skirts took a moment to catch up around her feet and she nearly stumbled over. She muttered something about 'blasted' grace and began to brush herself off.

He moved quickly to steady her, his hands holding her by the waist.

And she began to brush him off, "I'm fine, I'm fine! See, see? Standing on my feet! Standing in my sandals!" Such juvenile exclamations.

"I do see," he nodded before he let go.

Forcing herself to react somewhat calmly, she carefully turned again, not wishing for a repeat and looked up at him, leaning a little away, "Do you really have to do that? Mocking me is all well and good, but really now... You... are... Sometimes you are so infuriating."

"I do not mock you, Eirika. I just like to banter with you," there, he admitted it out in words. Only a select few had ever seen this side of the Silver Knight. The quietly humorous person.

She knew that. It took all of her restraint not to smack herself again. "...... I imagine your affections are there to make me banter with you as well." He didn't seem to realise exactly how sensitive she was to him. Even his hands simply upon her waist invoked flutters all around, some that were still trying to find a place to settle.

"Not just to make you banter..." And she probably knew that as well, so the knight just shrugged, a little helpless. It seemed he was doing an excellent job of inserting his ground limbs into his own mouth.

"Among other things. Yes, yes. How easily I would fall into your arms if I had no sense of dec.." She trailed off for a moment and looked over him, murmuring softly, "...Strong... very warm arms... With... very warm hands..." Her form shuffled, "...decency."

He blinked at her words, then blushed at her seemingly unintended compliment. He did not quite feel that comfortable with others describing his form in such a way, "A-ah... Thank you.”


Good thing she was the only one who did anything of that nature. Little did Seth know that if she'd overheard anyone else even talk about him that way, she would hastily draw her blade and demand a retraction of the statement. She did have a hold on him, and she did want to maintain it, in a selfish way. "...A-any... You... You cannot..." She was going to try to put this into words, but she needed to be able to breathe again.

"Breath, Eirika, breath," he prompted.

"I'm gonna' pop you one in the mouth real soon if you don't watch it," she shook her right fist at him, hardly intimidating.

He held his hands up towards her in that surrendering gesture as he shushed.

And good. She had his attention. Straightening her posture, she eyed him. "I'm going to say this once. Never again, because it's embarrassing enough that I have to bring it up. You, Seth," she pointed at him. "You cannot simply just place your hands all over me. That isn't fair, because I'll want to do the same, and it causes those flutters I try oh-so-hard to avoid, and yes, you are very charming, very debonair, very chiseled, very much a delectation to peer upon, however, I have a world of difficulty with self-control and self-discipline. I am not a virtuous knight, and I'm not very chivalrous, so... Just... Unless you have intentions of starting anything you finish, don't start anything." She'd spoken rather quickly through the whole thing and it seemed that while rushed, she was remotely well-rehearsed.

He blinked at her.

She tapped her right foot against the ground, "What say you?"

He held a hand out against her, "Just... do not speak for a moment, I need to process this... admission." His other hand reached up to rub at the bridge of his nose as he closed his eyes. That was quite the announcement, and he had to control himself lest he did some things. Things.

Eirika blinked at him and then she thought about all she had said to him and very meekly rose her right hand, as she would have in her tutelage. "...Ah... I do believe I misspoke a line there... I must have gotten so flustered. 'Finishing anything you start,' rather." She personally, didn't see anything wrong with what she'd said. Perhaps he just had difficulty handling it. Or... It was those things. Not that she knew what things were.

Charming, very debonair, very chiseled.... world of difficulty with self-control and self-discipline...finishing anything you start. The words rang in Seth's head for a moment before he finally composed himself. His eyes opened, revealing a hint of lust, of love, of adoration. "Very well then," was his succinct reply.

Really? It was to be so easily taken in? She watched him, her free hand toying with the skirts of her gown. She really had no idea what he was thinking as he stood there. For a moment, she believed he would be somewhat frustrated as she had been so straight forward. Yet when he looked upon her, that temptation to blush all over again arose. "...Ah... Wonderful. That's good! I feel so much better getting that off my breast--chest! Chest! Midsection... Aha... Ha..." She broke into weak laughter.

"Shall we retire back to your room?" Seth asked her quietly, watching her every reaction. The rise and drop of her chest, the movement of her hand. It was very mesmerising.

Both of them? "...We?" she asked curiously, after swallowing softly. She was well aware of his eyes upon her, and there was something about it that made her believe she was not to be so loud and obnoxious.

"Aye, we," he responded softly.

Seth... She thought to herself. He shouldn't. She recalled every tutoring session that had claimed it was improper for a man and a woman to be alone together in a room if they were not wed. Aside from Ephraim. He was the only exception, and that was because he was the Lord Prince and her brother. "...A-as you say," she complied, inclining her head respectfully. Then she turned her gaze onto her keyboard. She would need to test that anyway.

"Let us move then." he nodded quietly as he led the way with paced steps so she could easily match his speed. His arms were positioned just a little away from his torso, so she might hold his hand or entangle her arm into his should she wished it.

The idea that he knew the way back was impressive. She had to give him that much. Eirika followed after her knight, feeling even if a little awkward knot in the pit of her stomach. One that grew every time she looked him over and realised she was better off following behind him rather than at his side. After all, he could protect her better that way.

It was not that hard for him to do so, as he had already made a mental map of the route when he followed after her. It was almost instinct, or perhaps just excellent spartial awareness. Seth would slow down if she did so, in order to pace by her side. It was not too long before they were both on the transit back to their home district.

There was something awkward about sitting in silence for the trip to Takarazuka. Fortunately for her, she didn't feel completely out of the loop. It was simply a trip back to her place, she'd put up her new keyboard and sink into an uneasy slumber, still unsure of how she would progress with her own plans. As for Seth... She'd explain the keyboard process, and most likely offer him some tea and send him home. He'd gone quiet anyway. It seemed unlikely that talk was going to carry them far. And how relieved she was, when they'd gotten to leave the ART station.


He had some things he planned to do when they reached her apartment, and it was just as well that she did not seem inclined to start a conversation. He was both mentally and physically tired from both the exertion and their... conversations. Seth finally spoke once they were at her door, "Here we are." As if she did not know.

Her behaviour with Seth led her to believe that she could act around him however she wished to, and he most likely would not have cared in the least. Turning her attention onto him after looking over her door, she simply stared for a moment. Had she seemed so contemplative that he needed to remind her to step along? Her lips upturned and she nodded once, "Right! Thank you, Seth." Somewhere on that dress of hers, she held the key for the evening, it seemed it was hidden in the front, along her bosom. Withdrawing it by the long silver chain she'd placed it on for safe keeping, she unlocked the door and showed herself in. "I really hope this keyboard will work," she commented as she allowed him to stay or go as he pleased. After all, he'd said he'd wanted to return with her, not necessarily to exactly 'stay'.

Seth followed her in as he commented, "I hope so as well. Reading the journal entry and attempting to understand it was an exercise in futility."

And as though it were the most important thing to her, she was hasty to return to her computer, which was still on and sucking up the energy in Takarazuka, even after everyone else had appeared to gone to bed. She pushed aside her chair at her desk, so that Seth could see what she was doing. Resting the keyboard on its holder she'd obtained previously, she dropped to her knees before her tower and very carefully began to pull it out. "This thing," she began as she pointed to it, "is the tower. That end of the keyboard, the cord gets plugged in." Furrowing her eyebrows, she reached for the cord, threading it around her desk in such a way, that it seemed she truly knew what she was doing. What sort of connection did it have, anyway?

He watched her carefully, observing where and what she pulled out. "Somehow the cord can... transmit what you typed into the computer itself?"

"Uhm..." Oh, by the gods. Like she knew. She tapped her fingertips against the tower thoughtfully. "I have no idea. I'd say talk to that Sir Gippal guy or something. I think there's someone in this building that knows a lot about computers too. Or would. She had the tiniest little contraption, dropped it one day in the corridor, it shattered, she picked it up and put it back together in moments flat! It was all very impressive," Eirika admitted.

The knight nodded, "I see." He fell silent once more as he watched up work on the keyboard. It was fascinating, really, even if it would probably serve him no purpose once he left Ares.

Pleased to find Seth had picked her something compatible, she paused for a moment, reached behind the tower, and shut it off, causing the monitor's screen to explode into an eerie black, leaving only the glow of its power light. Plugging her keyboard into the back, she'd selected one of the rectangular slots as was fitting for the cord, plugged it in, and flipping the back of the tower once more, she lightly pressed on the front's booting button. "And now, we wait for a few moments anyway."

He recognised the need for the computer to power up, "Aye, we shall." His attention turned back to his companion, as he watched her expression and form quietly.

She was still planted on the ground, her ruffling skirts a valid cushion for her rear. Her eyes rested upon the monitor, simply watching the various loading screens, not understanding any of that information and yet, still fascinated, most likely controlled by a juvenile mind set. She might have known he'd placed his eyes upon her. If she did, then she chose not to acknowledge it. As her heartbeat had returned to normal, however, it seemed valid to think that she had truly not noticed at all. When her login appeared, she pushed herself up, supporting herself upon the knees, and in a testing manner, she began to insert what the computer had called her password, a series of rather uninteresting star-like symbols. Her expression brightened at this and she nodded once, "Oh, good! It works!"

He smiled as he nodded at her, "Aye, that is good news. I presume when this part breaks, it does not really cause any form of... chain reaction?"

"No. All I did was hurt the keyboard," Eirika admitted as she pushed herself to her feet. Bringing her right hand to her forehead, she rubbed it gently in thought as she stared at the monitor and watched it load. "Well, since that's done, I guess that's that." Then she reached forward and shut off her monitor. Glancing over to Seth, her lips upturned, "Come on, I'll send you home with some tea and food. Compensation." A sharp nod and she stepped past him in the direction of the kitchen.

Seth inclined his head in affirmation before he followed after her, "Ah, can I see your weapons, Eirika? Whatever blade and daggers that you may be using."

Her eyebrows furrowed and she turned, looking up at him, "...... Seth?" The confusion was well-written across her face. "...I've only used a rapier. My... original broke shortly after my arrival, so there was a special version made for me. That's the one I use when I spar with you." Then she shook her head, "I'm sorry, but I don't lend it to anyone."

The knight nodded, "I see. May I hold it for moment?"

Something about this didn't feel right. She eyed him carefully, "...Why?"

"I wish to estimate its power and balance, Eirika," he explained. Not the whole situation, but at least why he wished to hold her rapier.

The princess still didn't quite understand. In the midst of adjusting her position with her computer, she'd removed it and placed it upon the wall where she'd shelved it when it wasn't in use. Shuffling past him, she retrieved it. Looking over the blade fondly and brushing her fingertips along the hilt, she admired all of the time Marth had put into it crafting it for her. Never before had she wielded something so perfect. Then she carefully offered it to the knight, hilt first. "It's customised for the shape of my hand and may feel awkward to anyone else holding it. Please be careful with it. It's very important to me."

Seth accepted the rapier with a smile before he pulled it out of the scabbard. He eyed the build of the rapier, admiring the excellent craftsmanship. A rapier, one of the best weapon for thrusting, with a flexible and thin blade. He turned away from her, holding the rapier in one hand as his other hand hovered near the wire hilt. He put it through its motions, and for those moments, he was almost like Eirika, utilising her own favored style as he tested the sword out. Finally satisfied, he spun the rapier a few times before neatly sliding it into the scabbard, and handing it back to her. Well made and well balanced. "Excellent weapon."

And as though she'd made it herself, she beamed quite happily. She would hastily return to the blue-haired prince and tell him that his work had been so well-received. She was mesmerized by Seth's movements, finding his grace, his fluid motions most becoming. "...You make that look much better than I do. I'm envious," she commented softly and her expression relaxed into a smile. She took it and with flushing cheeks, she embraced the scabbard to her chest. "...Thank you. I'll pass your compliments to the craftsman."

Her knight offered a soft smile. It was good that she appreciated the weapon, and he had a clue who made it. Still, it did not stop him from continuing, "Would you be adverse to... having a slightly different weapon?"

She looked surprised, "...Hm...? A different one? Oooh... Are you going to train me, Seth? In something aside from my rapier...?" She had a few accusations she could place in his way. After all, Seth would really only train her for one of two reasons. The first, would be if there was a war on the rise. And the second... Her expression fell at the mere thought of it.

"Aye, if you would not be adverse to it, I would wish to further train you in the use of a sword. A thin longsword, perhaps, rather than a rapier. After all, they may be situation where a slashing based weapon would be more appropriate than that of a thrusting one," he explained gently.

"Uhm..." she thought hesitantly and then she nodded. "All right. It's okay with me. My rapier is light, so I don't have nearly enough arm strength. Something a little heavier will make me work harder on my muscle control as well. I need to be able to be as precise as possible." She still didn't know why, but for Seth's sake, she would accept.

He smiled, "It is good then. Being able to wield different weapons efficiently would make you more versatile. Perhaps you will even find a weakness in my swordplay that you were unable to locate before, aye?"

Eirika tilted her head at him. "...Right. I'll work super, super hard." The way she spoke and acted reminded herself so much of when she was younger. She'd said the same thing when Ephraim had begun to teach her to wield the sword she was holding to her chest now. Her form turned and she replaced the scabbard back onto the shelf, admiring her rapier once more. "Was there something else, Seth?"

The knight considered for a moment, and calculated the number of days he had been here, "Aye. Would you be...available to accompany me in the evening? On the first day of next week, that is."

"......?" Once again, she wasn't sure what he was getting at. She tried to think of the conversation she'd had with Marth, and her agreement to see him a week following that announcement. Her hands laced together thoughtfully, "It's unlike you to ask for something in advance. Is there something planned?"

"Aye, it is late in the evening. Or night, if you will. So hopefully it will not clash with any other appointments you may have," Seth said. To be honest, anytime during the night would be fine.

"I don't believe I have any. What sort of plan is this, though?" she prodded him. There was no implication of distrust. She simply wanted to know what was going on.

"A date under the moonlight?" Seth chuckled softly, "A date of some sort, at least."

A date? Seth... was... asking her on a date? Eirika wondered to herself if that was appropriate or not, especially if she was to remain remotely close to Marth. Then again, a date was simply a date. That's all. "Should I dress up?" she asked.

He considered the day, and he nodded, "If you will... Something formal, or perhaps your combat dress."

Something formal? She looked down to her dress and bringing her hands to the skirts, she curtsied vaguely, "Something like this?"

"Aye, this would be acceptable," her companion smiled gently. She looked beautiful and regal in just about everything he had seen her on, though it was probably just his biased perspective speaking.

"Okay. And you said the evening of the first night of the week, right?" she verified. She wanted to make sure she didn't plan anything else for that time.

"Aye, that is so," he confirmed.

The princess nodded and straightened her posture again, "All right. Then consider me yours." She paused and then corrected herself, "My time." She turned and chose to resume her journey to the kitchen to put together some food and drink for him to take to his place.

He did not follow her as he settled down tiredly on her couch. It had been exhausting, and he probably should rest a while before heading back to his own room. At least, that were his thoughts before he drifted off, his expression finally easing up amidst the chaos of the emotions he had experienced.

Shuffling through her refrigerator, she'd found that to keep her mind busy, she'd cooked more often for herself, and a variety of rather simple things: pastas, potatoes, rice pilaf, and other things of that nature. And bringing together some of the tea bags he'd brought for her, she combined a variety on a platter and a series of containers for him. Stepping back into her living room to offer them to him, she paused.

Blue eyes looked over him and for whatever reason in that moment, her expression darkened, not with disapproval, not with distaste, but with something wistful. Fate. And Divine Providence. All of this was so natural. It was only logical... right? She placed aside what she'd retrieved for him and very quietly approached him.

How can you be comfortable in your armour? She sighed to herself. ...I guess you'll be staying here then.

Leaning over to him carefully, her right hand extended and she gently weaved her fingertips into his hair, before turning her attention to his pauldrons. She moved with an extreme caution, at a slow pace, perhaps one that escargot would have gone quicker than her. She had to be as subtle as possible, after all. It wouldn't do to arouse him from his sleep.

Seth was usually a light sleeper. But here, in her home, in his little piece of heaven in this strange place, he was comfortable, and he trusted her so completely that his instincts did nothing to rouse him from his current state.

And fortunately for her, she didn't have to worry so much about that. She was relieved. With nimble fingertips, she removed his gloves, placing them aside, before working upon the armour protecting his upper arms. And fighting the temptation to sit upon his lap, a thought that brought a smile to her face, she moved to sit upon the floor and remove his boots. "...Mm... You wear way too much of this, Seth. No wonder you get so tired," she murmured to herself.

He mumbled something incoherently in his sleep in response to her words.

Her lips upturned and she chuckled. Sitting upon her knees again, she worked her way between his legs and tapped her fingertips against his chestplate. She wasn't comfortable removing that herself, however, so instead, she shook his gently. "Hey, Seth... Wakey, wakey, eggs and bakey~"

The knight blinked and slowly opened his eyes, "Hmmm...?" He was still in that mumbling state.

Eirika smiled and looked up at him, supporting her elbows atop his legs, "Let's put you to bed, shall we?" Her eyes sparkled with that nurturing instinct, the one she'd shown far too many times as of recent.

He blinked at her as his thoughts slowly lumbered along. After a moment, he finally murmured, "You too, 'Rika."

A soft laugh was his reward. "I'll get there in a little bit." She withdrew and offered him her right hand, bracing herself in helping him from the couch.

He took her hand and managed to push himself up without pulling on her too much. "You sleep too?" was his reply. It seemed that Seth, in his current state, was not much of a conversationalist.

And thankful was she that he helped her out some. She brushed him off good-naturedly and tugged him gently behind her to her room. "In a little, Seth," she repeated gently. Of course he most likely wouldn't remember any of this the following morning. And upon entering, she gestured to her bed, "Have a seat, so I can take this--" she prodded his chestplate, "--off."

He took a seat obediently as he gazed at her sleepily, "When sleep?"

Her hands lowered to remove the armour at his chest, and she blinked at him, "I have a couple more things to do." Then she examined the outer wear. That would have to go too. He couldn't sleep in it. And so her hands met his belt and unfastened it, carefully placing aside his sword as well, before returning to his midsection to undress him. She was being surprisingly mature about this, perhaps to say she was forcing herself to look at it from a mother's perspective.

The knight did not stop her, his hands were at his side as he looked at her with gazed eyes. Another murmur, "Thank you."

His eyes upon her, and his tone, Eirika simply stared at him for a moment. Even in a state where he was exhausted, he always looked so perfect. It was up to her to be perfect in this moment, not to destroy it with absurd temptations. His overcoat, as she removed it, she pulled her fingertips up across his chest, before over his left arm, guiding him from it. "...You don't need to do that."

"Do that?" He repeated sleepily.

"Thank me," she responded calmly. Then helping release his other arm, she smiled in a very juvenile manner. "Arms up, please. Like this!" And she demonstrated, reaching her arms high above her head.

He shook his head childishly, but he still maintained his gaze upon her as he raised his arms. "This good?"

And for this time, she wished he wouldn't stare at her so. It made her feel so awkward. Eirika swallowed quietly, and no matter how quiet it was, she was certain the silence of the apartment would still allow even him to hear it. "Yes. Thank you." And she carefully worked his shirt off of him, taking care not to mar his flesh. She made impeccably certain that any touch she placed upon him was gentle. It would not do for him to wake the following morning uncertain as to how he received scratches. As she removed his shirt, she found she'd grown so dangerously close to him, she was certain she could feel his body heat emanate from him. This caused her to draw away hastily.

She was so gentle with him such that his body felt no inclination to wake his higher brain functions up. He simply watched her with a soft smile as she removed his shirt, though he mumbled in disappointment as she pulled away.

Straightening her posture, she stepped back and gestured to his trousers, "You can take care of those on your own, so... I'll take the rest of this..." she gestured to his overcoat, his armour, and his shirt, "...Okay?"

"Sleep soon?" He asked.

"...In a little bit, Seth." She sighed and reached for the items she'd pointed at before. Then she watched him for a moment and turned away, "I won't watch. Just pretend I'm not here. I still have to tuck you in and all."

It took some shuffling, but Seth managed to pull his trousers off easily as he then settled on the bed that he was not entirely a stranger to. "Sleep?"

How many times would he ask her this? When she turned again, she politely averted her gaze from him, reaching down to fold his trousers over her arm, then she placed the items she'd acquired by the laundry basket to the bathroom. "Yes. You are going to sleep," she finally responded with a grin. Returning to him she gestured to the bed, "Up, up. I can't pull back the sheets if you're sitting on them, silly."

He mumbled something like 'aye' before he stood up again.

She edged around him and leaning over, carefully pulled back her comforter, and then the sheets and blankets beneath. Takarazuka had a tendency to be cold, given the weather at times. The days were beautiful and comfortable, and the nights left a little something to be desired the following day. Every time Seth had stayed with her, Eirika had never felt cold... for the obvious reason. He would need those blankets tonight. "There you are, dear," she spoke softly as she turned back to him and moved from his path.

He got onto the bed, easing himself under the layers of fabric she pulled back. He shifted himself to get comfortable, and asked her again, "Sleep soon?"

"You will, yes," she coaxed him to lie down, and as she leaned over, she pulled her teal hair behind her ears. "...I don't know any bedtime stories... At least..." Her gaze stopped on the book resting upon the endtable at his left, "...nothing appropriate. You'll have to make do, all right?"

"You sleep?" The knight made his query a little more clear.

"In a little bit, Seth, " she responded gently with a smile. "Any other questions you have for me, bouncing boy of inquisitive wonder?"

He shook his head obediently.

"Good," she nodded with approval. And as a mother would her son, she placed her lips upon his forehead and allowed it to linger for only a few moments. "Very good. If you should need anything, do not hesitate to notify me." Raising again, she quietly made her way to the closet between her bedroom and the bathroom. It must have been for linens as she withdrew a rather heavy-looking blanket, and draped it over her arm. Stopping in her doorway, she eyed the switch in control of the light.

Seth smiled and nodded at her before he closed his eyes. He murmured, "Night." And then he drifted off again.

"...Good night, Seth," she responded quietly, closing him in darkness. She closed the door and rested her back upon it for a moment. Then she straightened her posture and stopped in the living room. She'd be sleeping on the couch that night. And as she made herself comfortable, her eyes paused on the tupperware on the table by the door. She'd put those away the following morning. For now, it was simply her. And the couch.

And as the night went by, a familiar figure would gently carry her back to her own bed, kissing her forehead just like she did his, before he himself settled upon the couch to sleep.