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❥ 007 video

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[Daneca comes to easily enough and at first, it doesn't set right in that she's been asleep for all this time. It's not until she picks up the communicator that she notices the disparity in time and covers her mouth in silent shock. Daneca spends time flipping through some of the network posts as she is wont to always do her research/homework.]

[Timidly, she turns the feed on.]

So, um, I obviously missed a few things. I was in one of those comas and from the looks of it for about a month. Sorry if I worried anyone. I think I'm okay though. I don't feel groggy or anything like that, which is weird. I'm glad things were relatively quiet for around here. No zombies or anything like that.

[She smiles faintly.]

Anyway, I guess we also have some new people while I was out. My name's Daneca. Sorry I wasn't able to say hi when you first arrived.

private - cassel.

Are you okay?

[The underlying question being, of course, did you do anything stupid while she was out cold.]

private - scott.

I saw the network. Are you... Do you need anything?

private - bond.

You didn't poison yourself with alcohol while I was asleep, did you?

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[He missed her smile, too, and doesn't quite realize how his smile is growing in response, even after she kills the feed. He takes the time to sniff gingerly under his arm - which is not a simple thing anymore because he can smell everything - and change his shirt before heading out, lacrosse stick in hand.

He shows shortly after, and when he spots her he's smiling again, a little more easily.]

Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty.

[Her smile the moment she sees him is reflexive at this point and the smile he's carrying only serves to make hers just a little wider.]

Sleep Beauty? [Daneca can't help the slight blush, but she ignores it as best she can.] You clearly didn't see the bedhead.

I doubt it was that bad. [His grin widens, until he feels an abrupt twinge of guilt. It falters for a second, and he swings his lacrosse stick in front of the door, pulling it open for her. It lets him school himself. He's okay. It'll be okay.]

Ladies first?

[Daneca doesn't notice the falter. Or maybe she willfully decides to ignore it to avoid pushing too hard again.]

You're such a gentleman.

[She steps through the door and into the forest. She draws a deep breath and looks over her shoulder at him.]

I like the haircut, by the way.

Oh-- [He lifts a hand to his hair and almost stumbles as he steps inside. Almost. He saves it. Very smooth.] Thanks. I like your....not-bedhead.

[He can't tell if that was dumb or funny, so he just smiles and falls in next to her.] I'm just gonna shut up until I stop sounding like an idiot, okay?

[Daneca laughs softly.]

You don't sound like an idiot, Scott.

It's been a year for you. It's hard to know what to say to someone when you haven't seen them in a long time.

[And that's not necessarily including whatever has happened to him in that past year. Daneca can't quite place her finger on it, but something about Scott has changed beyond just his hair and she's sure whatever happened had a hand in that.]

I mean, Cassel and I are fine now, but it was extremely awkward at first. So, it's okay. I'm not going anywhere, so you can take your time.

Okay. [And he means it, smiles and falls into step with her. There's the faint urge to take her hand, so he slides his into his pocket instead, gripping his lacrosse stick with his outside hand.]

At least this is only a little awkward. I mean, [He laughs a little, and something completely different than what he intended slips out.] I missed you.

[Daneca's caught off-guard by the slip and looks up at Scott.]

I missed you, too. I mean, I would have. If you know, I'd been awake and known you'd left at all.

[She looks down with a smile, laughing a little at herself.]

Now it looks like I should stop talking.

[He laughs with her, and his hand is out of his pocket again, pushing her hair back behind her ear. Something almost like guilt turns in his stomach, but he hears the things his mom told him, too: you will fall in love again, and you should say it as often as you feel it.

He's too scared to follow her advice, at least right now. So he holds out his hand instead, because maybe it'll be easier if she decides.] It's going to be a really quiet walk, if we both stop talking.

[Daneca stifles down the blush when he pushes her hair back, biting her lower lip. She glances away for a second as she slips a gloved hand into his.]

That's okay. We don't have to talk. [A beat. Her smile is slow and shy.] I like spending time with you.

[Scott laces his fingers with hers, wishing distantly that she didn't always wear the gloves. Maybe one day she won't. Maybe one day she won't have to.]

I like spending time with you too, Daneca.

[He lapses into silence again; is it wrong, he wonders, that he likes her this much? There's Kira to consider, and the fact that he knew Daneca best when Allison was still...still. He's going to give himself a headache and worse while he chases his thoughts in circles, so he squeezes her hand lightly, and turns his smile on her.]

I'm glad you came.

[Although she can't feel his skin, she likes the warmth and feel of his hand against her own. Although unsurprising, it's a gentle and quiet strength. It feels safe.]

[And yet, at the same time, she feels like they're toeing a dangerous line. Daneca doesn't feel much of anything for Sam anymore, she knows that deep down. Whatever they had died when he get angry at her for not telling him she was a worker. She's forgiven him for getting so angry and turning her away, only wanting her when she began to try and move on, but there was nothing either of them could do to undo the damage that was done. The most they could hope for is friendship.]

[And maybe that's the most she should allow herself to hope for with Scott. But it's hard. It's so hard to remember that when he looks at her the way he does. It's been a year for him. A year that, no doubt, he spent with his girlfriend or maybe someone else or maybe no one at all. Either way a year, to completely forget her or to set her aside and he hasn't done any of that. He's here holding her hand walking with her. He's not afraid of her or what she can do even after what she did on the other Barge.]

[And all Daneca wants is to not be forgotten again. She just wants to be enough.]

[The light squeeze to her hand brings her out of her thoughts and she smiles lightly up at Scott.]

Me, too.

[It feels like the perfect moment to kiss her. He feels lighter than he has in days, and she's as happy to see him as he is to see her. He can almost smell it. But his gut twists, and he tastes something sour in the back of his throat, not blood or bile but that taste that comes when you cry so hard you feel like you're choking. He's not crying now, he's not going to cry in front of her.

He doesn't want to tell her, and he doesn't want to not tell her.]

Daneca...

[He wants to kiss her, and he wants to throw up, and it's one of the worst things he's ever felt. Stopping, facing her and reaching for her other hand, Scott looks down at them, running his thumbs over her covered knuckles.]

I should--

[He's not sure how to say it, any of it, so he bites off his words and turns his head, sniffing the air. He buys some more time.]

I smell water. A lake, probably. Come on, let's check it out. [He manages a smile, turns in the direction he smelled and pulls her gently with her. He can't forget her, and he can't forget who he lost. And he doesn't want to tell her, just to watch her pull away.]

[Daneca was attentive as Scott brought them to a stop. She wasn't sure what he was about to say or do and felt a mixture of anxiety and excitement as he started to speak. But he stopped almost as quickly as he began and Daneca doesn't know what she feels. Disappointed, maybe. But then she feels a little guilty for feeling disappointed.]

[And part of her, if she's honest, feels annoyed. No. Agitated. They need to talk. Whatever it is, they have to talk about it. And it won't resolve itself until they do. But Daneca keeps her smile in-place as she lets Scott pull her along. They'll talk about it. She's not going to let them head back to their separate cabins without talking about it. But she'll let Scott take the time that he needs.]

You're not expecting us to get in it, are you?

[He smiles, grins at the question, and tries to shrug innocently.]

It might be fun.

[Or totally frigid, it might be that too. But it also might be fun to splash her.]

What, don't you like swimming?

[He feels grateful, and guilty, this time for the start and stop, and he knows he needs to tell her all of it. Maybe the lake or pond or stream or whatever it is will be a good spot. He owes it to her not to be a coward about it.]

In frigid lake water?

[Scott, please. Still, Daneca laughs.]

Should I be worried you're going to push me in? Because so help me, Scott, you'll go down with me.

I'm pretty sure werewolves have a way higher core temperature.

[He grins, and makes himself a silent deal: until they reach the lake, everything is fine, and he can enjoy the time with her. When they get there, he has to tell her the truth.

He nudges her side.]

You might be totally screwed, though.

[lbr he'd freeze to keep her warm.]

How chivalrous of you, [she says dryly with a good-humored roll of her eyes.]

If we get a flood where I turn into a knight, I'm blaming you.

[Or thanking her, who knows. But look, you can't be mad at this smile, right?]

[No, she certainly cannot be. u_u This is known, khaleesi.]

I think the only way that could actually be a bad thing is if you couldn't ride a horse. Otherwise, girls like a guy in armor. I think you'll be fine.

...Okay, full disclosure? I've never even seen a horse in person.

[And he's pretty sure it would flip out if it smelled him.]

[She pauses in following him for just a half-second.]

Okay, well, to be fair, neither have I. But I thought you worked for a vet's office. You never had to deal with a horse?

It's not that kind of vet. I mean, Deaton knows about wild animals and stuff, but mostly I do cats and dogs. One time he looked after a rabbit, but you're supposed to have a special license or something for that.

Oh. [She frowns for a second.] What about reptiles?

Technically they're exotic? But I know way more about lizards than I ever wanted to, know.

[This was not typical vet work, Scott....]

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