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[personal profile] undonewithout
She's never been a truly deep sleeper, but her time on the Mithraeum forced Harrow into an even shallower cycle, forever anticipating footsteps in the corridor and the feeling of her wards being tripped, alerts over the comm at any hour. Even, occasionally, the cool gaze of the Body from the corner of her room, a presence both soothing and portentous--and with little way of telling one from the other. The habit carried over into Darrow; the deepest sleep she'd had only came that first day, exhaustion and stress sinking her like a stone, leaving her to rise hours later better rested than she'd felt in months.

Tonight, she wakes up in the blackest part of the early morning, the space that's too late and too early all at once. It'll do not good to toss and turn, no good to lie awake and wait for dawn either. Instead, Harrow slips from her room, barefoot and small in her nightgown, and pads across the hall to Gideon's bedroom. Her cavalier doesn't even wake at the creak of her door as it opens, and Harrow lets out a quiet, half-relieved breath. Tiptoeing to the empty side of the bed, she hesitates a moment before sliding beneath the covers.

To touch her is too much, but she moves as close as she dares, pulling the sheets up and turning away, the soft curve of her back only an inch away from Gideon's. Just her presence is enough to soothe, and after only a minute, Harrow slides back into sleep until the morning.

Date: 2021-06-23 10:54 am (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones
The fact that Harrow pulls away from her isn't surprising; she's surprised, honestly, that the other girl stood out for as long as she did is the bigger shock. A smile tugs at the corner of her mouth.

"Hi."

Date: 2021-06-26 06:08 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Nothing," says Gideon, still warm and sleepy, rubbing her cheek against the pillow a little bit. "Just...enjoying you being here. Are you ready for a cup of tea?"

Date: 2021-06-27 11:46 am (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Your wish, my command, bone empress," says Gideon, rolling onto her back and stretching her arms up over her head before she pushes up into a sitting position and swings her legs out of bed. As usual, she's sleeping in boxers and a t-shirt.

"Be right back," she says, padding out of the bedroom.

Date: 2021-06-27 06:15 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

Gideon potters around in the kitchen, absently humming to herself as she makes tea - stewed and sweet for her, weak and lukewarm for Harrow. Once the two cups are ready, she pads back into the bedroom, finding Harrow still curled on her side in her bed. Gideon tries to ignore the thought that Harrow looks like she's meant to be there.

"Here you go. Weak as piss, just like you prefer it." She sets the mug down on Harrow's side of the bed and then steps up onto the mattress, lowering herself back down on her side.

Date: 2021-06-30 07:00 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Because why not, that's why," says Gideon, giving Harrow her best shit-eating grin as she leans back against the pillows, her cup cradled in her hands. "Never had a bed this big before."

Date: 2021-07-01 02:33 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"You fucking love me."

That much, at least, they've established. It doesn't mean that Harrow has to like her all the time. She lifts her cup and blows across the surface of her tea, having learned her lesson with that first ever hot drink in Canaan House. "You can tell me - did you make them as uncomfortable as possible on purpose? Don't mean you personally, obvs. It's got Crux written all over it."

Date: 2021-07-03 09:59 am (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

Gideon notices that blush. She doesn't comment on it, but she does look a little bit smug as she sips her tea.

"Not sure I ever did much contemplating or praying in mine, boo."

Date: 2021-07-03 08:38 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"I think there's a while when they just weren't sure what I was going to be," she says, rolling her shoulder in a shrug. "Although, you'd think that the fact that I screamed the place down going through those bloody doors might have been a clue." She shifts her position, resting her mug on her chest. "It's still the only thing I've ever known."

Date: 2021-07-05 06:48 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Not much use here, though, is it?" says Gideon, sipping her tea again. Her fingers twitch against the bedsheets and she reaches out, brushing her fingers against the fine bones of Harrow's wrist.

Date: 2021-07-06 07:04 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

Harrow doesn't protest, doesn't pull away, so Gideon keeps up the slow, careful touch, tracing the bones of Harrow's hand, one finger at a time. "I guess we'll figure out what we're for, here," she says. "Just like we're figuring out everything else."

Date: 2021-07-09 07:10 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Yeah," she says. Harrow doesn't snap at her, does't pull away, so Gideon keeps up the soft, gentle, searching touch. "Do you want to go out later? I was thinking we could try a date."

Date: 2021-07-11 01:12 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

Harrow retracts, recoils and something in Gideon's belly twists. She takes her own hand away, curling them both around her mug.

"Yeah, you're right," she says. "Stupid idea."

Date: 2021-07-11 05:44 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Yeah, me too," says Gideon, making a concerted effort to pull herself together. "I've got to be at work in..." She glances at her phone. "Like an hour."

Date: 2021-07-11 06:29 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Something like that, yeah," says Gideon, draining the last of her own tea and setting down her mug. "I'll grab stuff for dinner on the way home."

Date: 2021-07-14 01:05 pm (UTC)
wedobones: (Default)
From: [personal profile] wedobones

"Roger that, Gloom Maiden," says Gideon. Harrow scuttles away and Gideon stays sprawled on her bed for a long few minutes, staring at the ceiling, a muscle ticking in her jaw.

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