[PCs] team trust no bitch aka team hat aka chuuya & caren

[doublesmall]

[but is it really team hat if only caren has one, though? that's the real question here.

threads in comments!

(there is age difference ship content here but nothing nsfw)]

Comments

[sexorcism]

[Ah, just more sentimentality again. Because it's such a hopeful and illogically emotional thing to say, Caren cracks a slight smile. Because of that.

Caren hasn't been able to understand it her entire life, but she's starting to see why those feelings are so important to people. She doubts that man ever really understood it, and, for just a moment, instead of loathing him, she pities him. It only lasts a second, but it's there.]

Don't read into it too much if I said "thank you," either.

[She continues braiding, careful not to disturb the hand around her wrist.]

...Ah, but, thank you.

[doublesmall]

Me, reading into things? Nah. I know better.

[that slight smile gets one in response, though, and there's barely disguised amusement in his tone-- chuuya shifts to let his head rest on her shoulder, apparently content not to say anything else. that got pretty dangerously close to feelings, after all.]

[sexorcism]

[She's fine with silence; if anything, she's gotten used to them being like this; the times it doesn't feel like idling away limited hours are truly memorable ones. When it's just a state of being, it's fine.

He's loud normally, but that's fine, too.

Caren ties off the braid with some more leather from the bracelet, then stretches out a piece of lace to wrap around it. As she does it, she explains what she's doing.]

This should keep it from fraying so much. You never know who's going to want to harm it, after all.

[doublesmall]

I'll protect it better, this time.

[not that there's anything he could have done about it being taken from his body, but-- well, he could have protected himself better too, couldn't he?]

...but a little extra protection never hurts.

[sexorcism]

I'd be disappointed if you didn't.

[Caren seals the rest of the braid with the various pieces from the deconstructed bracelet, then holds it up in the light from one of the garish love hotel lamps.]

If you tire of carrying it, you are obligated to return it.