to my closed self (closed to ~lavidamoca)

[tsuganai]

Moca doesn't live that far away from Ran's home, but it's rather astounding how much further everything seems in a thunderstorm. It's a late spring cloudburst, one that fit the tempestuous fight she'd had with her father. He'd told her that if she didn't want to inherit the Mitaki school of flower arranging, she could leave.

She'd left.

There's only one place she could really go, after a confrontation like that. One place where no matter what, she feels safe.

Soaked to the bone and throughly waterlogged, Ran knocks on the door to Moca's home. She doesn't know if the other girl is even here. Maybe she's out. Maybe she's doing something Moca-y. Maybe she's at work.

But where else can she go?

Comments

[lavidamoca]

Moca chuckles through a shake of her head. It's not like Ran needed an excuse to reject her dumb joke-proposal, but it's kind of cute that she came up with one, anyway.

"Mm, you can just stick it in the dryer while you're there, it'll go faster."

By the time Ran returns, there'll be tea set out atop the kotatsu, and some snacks, too. Those dark chocolate chip cookies Ran likes, and some butter cookies, because Moca doesn't really care for bitter stuff.

Sitting half-sprawled over the wooden surface, she pats the spot beside her under the kotatsu. Not the one opposite to her; the same side. "Go on, get in."

[tsuganai]

It's not the first time she's changed in Moca's bathroom, though it is the first time she's done it in a long time. The last time she remembers, they'd both been much younger, she'd been spending the night, and they'd just taken a bath together.

It's a fond memory of hers, honestly, and she takes a moment midway through changing to stop and smile to herself.

It's weird that Moca had jokingly (?) told her that she could change out there, isn't it? It's a little weird. Then again, Moca is a little weird, but for a moment, Ran starts to let herself wonder... no, she shouldn't. Moca's just being Moca. It doesn't do anyone good to get her hopes up.

She tosses her soaked clothes and underwear in the dryer, enjoying the warm, soft pajamas she's been given. She feels so much more whole like this. When she comes out, she sees the tea, she sees the snacks, and she sees her friend patting the ground. Without a word, Ran moves to sit next to Moca, sliding her legs into the blissful heat under the kotatsu. "These are new pajamas, aren't they? I don't remember seeing you wear them before. They're warm."

"Oh, those are the cookies I like."

Moca can be very thoughtful, when she wants to be.