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 Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 9:55 pm
Toby's brain wasn't working quickly enough to respond with a speed he'd have liked.
"No, no--" Well, he was getting somewhere better than guttural grunts at least, but Maia was suddenly gone and retreating. At least she was until the lightning struck again. He saw that flash through his window and even turned to see it. Alright, this was probably not a happy night for people who didn't like storms.
"S'okay, c'mere." He pushed himself up further, almost sitting straight now, and patted the bed beside him. Slowly consciousness was returning. He was shirtless, as per usual come bedtime, but there was really nothing to be done about it now. His shirt was in the hamper and he'd have to cross by Maia again to get it. She'd already seen him this way, of course, twice in the hotel in Oregon and then the other day when he'd forgotten to bring a change of clothes into the bathroom. He hadn't made that mistake again.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 10:10 pm
Maia sat beside him when invited. "My parents died in a storm," she said, after a moment. "I didn't go out much to sea then, I wasn't a strong enough swimmer to stay away from predators. So they went out, and the storm hit." Why was she telling him this? Why was she opening up to him? She hadn't told Dari, nor anyone she'd met.
"I hate them," she glanced out the window, giving a shiver.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 8:59 am
Toby's brows furrowed and he frowned softly. Well, that had come out of nowhere. He was glad to know, of course, glad to be able to help in any way he could, but that didn't make it any less sad. Of course she would be afraid of storms. The trauma had been written a long time ago.
"I'm sorry," Toby said, reaching up to touch her shoulder. The poor thing. "Do you want to stay in here tonight?"
Sleep with clients was, again, fairly frowned-upon, but nobody had to know. Dari had done it himself, he certainly wouldn't tell.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:55 am
Maia nodded, scooting closer in order to hug him. "I'm sorry I woke you," she said. She didn't want Toby to get into trouble though, and people had reacted badly to the idea of a sleep over, if they found out about this... The selkie hesitated, pulling away.
"You'll get in trouble."
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:03 am
Toby stiffened at the affectionate gesture. Sharing a bed was one thing but cuddling was another entirely. Sure, Dari might have done it, but he was a sexless sort of person physically and mentally. It had been a bit weird but nobody questioned it.
Maia released him and logical thought started floating back in. Who had to know? If the three of them just stayed quiet about it, nobody would be any the wiser. Besides, Maia was just a friend. He knew that and she knew that. Regardless of how pretty she might be he had no interest in taking advantage of her or anyone else for that matter. If she made some awkward move he'd just set her back up in her own room and hope for the best, maybe send Dari in after her.
"Not if we don't tell anybody. It's fine. Really." He wanted to go back to sleep, though. Rain made him drowsy, not fearful, but his family had been lost to him on a fine sunny day.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:18 am
The selkie moved to the edge of the bed. She nodded in understanding: if they didn't tell, no one would find out. "I didn't tell anyone about staying here though and they seem to know." The thunder seemed to have moved closer. "I'll try to get some sleep," she promised. laying on her side.
She'd wait out the storm.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:24 am
Toby rose out of bed yawning and retrieved a shirt from the dresser. Just in case there was any more hugging he'd rather not be bare-chested. He climbed back into bed then and lay for a while listening to the thunder. He was tired, yes, but fighting against sleep a short while. He turned to face Maia. Was she alright?
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:55 am
When Toby turned towards her, the selkie put a pillow over head in attempt to drown out the sound of the thunder. She uncovered her face to peer at him. "You don't mind the storm?" She asked. She didn't think she'd be able to sleep, with the storm. "Go to sleep, Toby."
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:02 am
Toby shook his head.
"Nothing bad's ever happened to me during a storm," he admitted. Most children were afraid of the thunder for a while, but he'd grown out of it like anyone else. Maia had just had it solidified in her head by her parents' death. He understood a situation being ruined by trauma.
"I don't want to leave you alone here. Would music help?" Maybe if he could close the curtains and drown out the sounds of the thunder she would be able to sleep.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:12 am
"They're bad omens," she said. "Always be careful in one."
"I don't know," Maia admitted. "Normally when a storm hit I'd go underwater and avoid the surface as much as I could until the storm stopped," she said. "Maybe." She was grateful: she'd woken him up in the middle of the night and here he was, trying to help. "Thank you," she said.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:17 am
"Mm." He could at least agree with her there. Storms rarely brought anything good with them with rain. People were struck by lightning all the time and high winds could tear the roofs off of houses.
Toby rolled out of bed with a yawn and headed downstairs where he had left his iPod. He found Dari lying on the living room floor in the dark, the only illumination being the white orbs of his eyes. The first time he'd seen it he had been worried, but apparently the alien was capable of going into a sort of trance state. He said it was refreshing, like sleep, so Toby chose to not interrupt him. Instead he headed back upstairs with the dock and all.
"Speakers or headphones?" he asked. It would be difficult for him at first to fall asleep with noise in the room, but if that was what it took to ease Maia's anxiety then so be it. He'd live.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:46 am
She watched Toby climb out of bed and head downstairs. Was he going to get his music device? Getting out of bed to make her comfortable? She would have to do some thing for him.
Speakers would probably keep Toby awake, and she didn't want that. "Headphones," She decided. "Thank you," She said.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:02 pm
Toby pulled a pair of earbuds from his side table and plugged them into the mp3 player that was luckily mostly charged.
"Here." He said, sidling up to Maia. "You put these in your ears with the flat part toward the back, and then you can go through music like this." He demonstrated the wheel, how to shuffle or find a particular artist, and how the information showed up. "I don't think I have anything to hide on there? So do what you will." He smiled and slid back between the covers. "Are you good?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:35 pm
Maia did as instructed, sticking the ear buds in her ears and pressed play after placing the iPod on shuffle, nestling into the blanket. No longer able to hear the storm, she seemed much more comfortable. She gave Toby a thumbs up.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 12:49 pm
Toby smiled, eyes hooded with sleep, and gave a thumbs-up in return.
"Good night!" Although if she couldn't hear it, certainly she could read his lips and body language. He thought that is Maia may need him again she would get his attention, especially if she was going to be sleeping beside him. He rolled onto his side with his back to Maia for privacy's sake and soon his breathing became more deep and even.
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