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[setpoint]

This will look pretty later!

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[setpoint]

[Mako relaxes, smiling back.]

I don't know. Do you think you can?

[Even if she can't, this is nice. She doesn't mind staying awake.]

[wentnuclear]

Yeah, maybe. Being warm might help and I'm still tired.

[ Not that it means much -- he's usually tired. What'll help more is the comfort of having her close, if he could just relax about it. ]

Got any bedtime stories?

[setpoint]

[She's quiet for a moment, thinking, trying not to focus too much on her hand in his.]

Maybe. What sort of story?

[wentnuclear]

Dunno... did Stacker ever read to you? My mom mostly just sang lullabies.

[setpoint]

Yes, but my father told me more fairy tales than Sensei did.

[She realizes, suddenly, that she's never actually talked to him about her parents. All he knows is the snatches he's picked up from the Drift.]

[wentnuclear]

[ And those aren't particularly clear -- emotions rather than distinct memories. He navigates these waters gently, not wanting to upset her. ]

Did you have a favorite?

[setpoint]

[She lets out a quiet, thoughtful sound, considering that.]

Kaguya-hime was my favorite, but it can get long.

[Or at least, her father always made it long so that he could spread it out over several nights and she'd hang on his every word.]

[wentnuclear]

A princess? I don't know that one.

[ She doesn't have to tell him, but that's really cute. ]

[setpoint]

An immortal princess from the moon.

[Not just a princess, Raleigh!]

[wentnuclear]

Okay there's no way I could have guessed that just from her name.

How'd she get here from the moon?

[setpoint]

Her family sent her to protect her from a war.

[wentnuclear]

A war on the moon? The enemy didn't think to look for her on Earth?

[setpoint]

I guess not. I don't think they considered Earth very important.

[wentnuclear]

It's bigger, but okay. Did they have to disguise her? What do immortal moon people look like?

[setpoint]

I mean they didn't consider us or our civilization important.

[But also.]

You're taking a fairy tale very seriously.

[wentnuclear]

Well that's just rude. Isn't it important automatically if it's going to save their princess?

[ She can see that he's grinning in the dark, despite trying to keep a straight face. ]

These are very important questions, Mako.

[setpoint]

[This is the worst, because he grins at her and she can't help but smile back.]

They're very silly questions.

[wentnuclear]

You never wondered as a kid what immortal moon people would look like? This is vital.

[ Please just tell him the story he's not gonna stop. ]

[setpoint]

[Her smile widens, and she squeezes his hand without thinking.]

Would you like me to just tell you the story?

[wentnuclear]

[ Oh, she caught on. Or just decided to indulge him after all. Raleigh strokes his thumb over the back of her hand again and snuggles deeper under the covers, settling in. ]

Yes, I'd like that.