( next to normal )

[clearasil]

Are you happy now?

This isn't some joke, you know, just 'cause my brother - [ wince ] - looks like that French dude. We've trekked through this shit before. I don't want to rehash any of it.

[ she folds her arms and glares. then, perhaps, relents a little bit. ]

From this perspective, this is hilarious, though.

[ natalie rubs her eyes. ] Can you just let me rest? We're out of Red Bull.

Comments

i should be sleeping, and yet.

[soalive]

Are you so far gone tonight that you didn't think to check the fridge? [ his chin rests in his hands and he flutters his eyelashes for good measure. ]

!!!!!!!!

[clearasil]

Of course I checked the fridge. [ facing away from him, she rolls her eyes with such flair, you wouldn't think she was exhausted. ]

right back at ya!!!! :')

[soalive]

You say that, and yet, the heart attack in a can nestled aaaall the way in the very back says "eeeeh, I skimmed." [ he remains in this position, only this time his waist sways side to side, methodically, like a feline prepared to pounce. antagonizing, pouncing - close enough, right? ]

hi! I was so not expecting canonmates so soon!

[clearasil]

[ natalie turns her head just enough to shoot him a withering look. ]

Probably for the best. I promised...

i've been looking for a reason to play him for MONTHS. you are my favourite, basically!!

[soalive]

You made a promise to the red bull can? Even by your standards, Nat, that's just downright weird.

[ he returns her look with a bonus grin all too mischievous. ]

sorry for the delay! but i'm so thrilled!

[clearasil]

No, fuck you. I made a promise to m - to Henry.

[ she folds her arms over her chest and continues that glare. ]

please, you're worth the wait! i am also thrilled!

[soalive]

This promise - let me guess - [ he mirrors her glare, arms folded, standing upright now. ] no more caffeine? [ he feigns a wince. ] Clearly our dear little Henry has no idea just how bitchy that makes you.

8Dif you ever need nat, pls don't hesitate to pm!

[clearasil]

I'm nice to him. [ she retorts. indignantly. ]

And I promised I would cut back on caffeine. I'm supposed to try to chill out with tea or something, except no one here drinks tea.

the word 'always' springs to mind! *__*

[soalive]

[ he snorts now. ] Define nice. And before you answer that, no, it doesn't mean only occasionally yelling.

Tea? Tea? Well, no, of course they don't, because they aren't the ones making promises to their boyfriends who just up and suck the fun out of everything.

done and d o n e.

[clearasil]

[ natalie is her nicest to henry, and second nicest to dad. that's just how it is for now. besides, she's talking to a fucking ghost, so she isn't obligated to dignify the question with an answer. :| ]

Please, like you know him.

i feel like that dog from up right now, help.

[soalive]

[ call him what you will, natalie. that doesn't change the fact that he's here, and he's very much in the know. gabriel, he knows his way around. as he eases into a lean against the wall, arms still crossed, it's obvious he always will. ]

I know enough.

I say this with utter humility.

i'm slowly bringing my musical muses to dw. so.

[clearasil]

[ she sinks into a chair and stares at him through narrowed eyes, petulant as ever. and even moreso - and even deservedly so, since he has been an unseen source of her girlhood misery. ]

You don't know everything.

come, bring them to me. /collects them all

[soalive]

[ he points a finger in natalie's direction; it goes round and round in small, clockwise circles. when he speaks now, it's just a little too sing-song. ]

Someone doesn't sound so sure~.

[clearasil]

Someone's being a moron.

[ and a busybody. ] Go mess up someone else's life, why don't you?

[soalive]

[ he glances at his watchless wrist, and releases out a long sigh. ] The night's still young.

[ he practically leaps off of the wall, crouching down in front of her chair. eyes watch his sister almost curiously. ] Whatever it is you're doing can't possibly be more important.

[clearasil]

[ flatly, and hardly lifting her eyes off the page of the book now in her lap. ] More important than what?

I have a lot of shit to do.

[soalive]

[ he puts a hand on the book, covering up the words line by line on the pages like a younger brother might. hey, he never claimed to be the mature one. well, mature by goodman standards, anyway. ] Anything that isn't this.

You're boring me to death here. And considering, well, [ his face contorts into an expression that says, 'ya know'. ] that's almost impressive.

[clearasil]

I like to impress, what can I say?

[ har har har. natalie wiggles her book out of his grasp and carefully moves a post-it from the back of the book to mark her page. ] I'm not here to entertain you, though.

[soalive]

[ he stands up quickly and steps back to admire his good work. natalie, you have no idea what you're doing now, do you? ] Funny how things work out, huh?

[clearasil]

[ natalie eyes him carefully before pulling out her phone to read the news in silence. difficulty, thy name is goodman. ]