IC CONTACT

[licensetocrane]

 "Hi, this is April.  If you're calling at 3am, you better be someone I know REAL well."

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[semilethal]

[Even knowing he sounds like a broken record Donnie says, helplessly,] I was so sure...

[It's one thing to simply not talk to your family, but it's another one entirely to be so confident that you didn't need to, only to turn out to be wrong.] I'm the fix-it guy, [he continues, almost morosely befuddled,] it's my whole thing. I thought I was just...

[licensetocrane]

It is your whole thing, but you're compromised. [Bluntly.] Like... you're a scientist and you're missin' whole-ass factors to your equations here. You just kinda... tunnel-visioned.

[Which has happened before, but not to this extent.]

People who are super stressed tend to do that. Dee. [She reaches out to tap his hands again.] You wanna make this up to me? The freezin' and the dyin' and stuff?

[semilethal]

[Compromised. Tunnel-vision. Overlooking entire factors- yeah, yeah, she's right. Ugh. God. She's completely, and absolutely right, and it's miserable and he hates it and he feels pathetic and stupid and- And she's talking, and still holding onto his hands. Yes. Push that down. You don't have to feel bad for yourself if you just...stop feeling for a minute.]

Yes. I do. [Because that's an absolute, no matter anything else; he screwed things up for her, she was pure collateral. He needs to make up for that oversight at the very least.]

[licensetocrane]

Okay. [Hand squeeze. And then totally bluntly:] I want you to try therapy.

this may be a serious thread but did u expect any different from me

[semilethal]

[semilethal]

[semilethal]

[semilethal]

...fine.

LMAO NOPE

[licensetocrane]

[You know what, that speedrun of grief stages almost makes her feel better. It brings a touch of a smile to her face, anyway.]

Just try it. I'm not gonna make you keep goin' if it's useless to you. 'kay?

...thank you.

[semilethal]

[Being thanked for agreeing to her terms (which aren't even that high considering he almost killed her) feels wrong somehow, but Donnie has no idea where to begin figuring out why so he just does his usual "I don't understand and that makes me uncomfortable" fidget before answering stiffly,] ...you're welcome.

Did you...want to go back to sleep?

[licensetocrane]

[She can tell he doesn't get it, but April doesn't have the energy to get into why. She was expecting more of an argument, she's glad she didn't get it, and she's exhausted.

But she hesitates.]

If I do, are you gonna leave?

[semilethal]

...to be perfectly frank, I hadn't meant to wake you up at all. I just knew that if you didn't see me first thing after I came back, I'd be turtle soup, and the bed looked like a very nice place to wait... [He is also tired. Maybe. Is it ok if he sleeps in here and there is another person nearby and maybe they can have a sleepover and pretend things are a little normal for a bit.]

[licensetocrane]

[Her relieved-looking smile is probably a sign he's more than welcome tbh.] It is a nice place to wait. Maybe even get some sleep of your own. C'mon, let's get back to somewhere more comfy and warm.

[licensetocrane]

[...

...once she de-wedges herself from between the bed and the wall, whatever.]

[semilethal]

[-yeah actually him too, he's also going to just. Squirm and maybe give her a boost so he has the room to kick out an annoying long leg and right himself (somehow), climbing up onto the bed after her.]

[licensetocrane]

[Oof. Bellyflopping on the bed once she's up there, but once he also manages to right himself (somehow) she peels the covers back.]

C'mon. Beauty sleep or some such. [She thinks she'd like to really pick over Donnie's actions because this conversation doesn't even begin to cover the whole kidnapping thing, but it can wait. She's tired and all emotioned out, and if she's wrung out god knows how Donnie's going.]

[semilethal]

[It is maybe in the way he not just gets under the covers, but snuggles right up to April's side like they're ten-and-eight again, just how rotten he feels about what he did to her, specifically, even by accident. Like how puppies playing will nuzzle in apology, in lieu of the ability to form the right (or any) words.

He didn't mean to. He truly didn't mean to. He'd never, ever meant for her to get hurt, and he has no way to convey the depths of his regret but with agreement to any of her requests, and this.]

[licensetocrane]

[Oh, bb. It's okay. She already knows. The cozying tells her one important thing, and that's that no matter what he did, he can come back from it. He's not lost to them. Just... well. Lost in a different way.

They'll workshop it. She tucks her lil hair poofs in under his chin, and her breath is a little shaky on the inhale. Steady on the out.]

You better be here when I wake up again. I won't brain you this time, promise.

[semilethal]

Mmhmm. [Both that he'll be here, and acknowledgment that this time he won't be brained. Very awesome. Maybe should have tried waking her up the first time instead of skipping right to the cuddles.

This is...nicer.

She's very warm.]