room 216 ; monday morning

[necroslacker]

Sam hadn't slept much this weekend. After Saturday's near debacle, he'd been tense and unfocused and saddled with an unfamiliar body that made sleeping even harder than it was for him normally. So, he just hadn't slept. He'd spent time holed up in his room before taking off to the mainland, skateboard in hand. He'd stayed there for awhile, skateboarding until his legs ached.

He'd actually changed back at some point during his journey back to the island. He was himself again, familiar and with clothes that once again fit. Exhaling, he'd continued on back to the island and back to his room

And that's where he was now, fresh from a shower, with clean clothes on. He'd changed the bandages on his hand earlier even though they probably didn't really need them. It was more of a way to keep the wound hidden from certain people.

With all that done, he'd put on a record (something classic rock) and started eating the breakfast he'd picked up on his way back (tofu omelettes). He had class in awhile but he could relax now and try to let all the tension seep from his shoulders.

Slowly.

[Door's closed, post is really for one person and posted early because our schedules are hilariously incompatible lately.]

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[whenshewasnice]

Natalie hadn't slept much, either. There was a fair bit of tangled embarrassment and stress that had done that, even though she'd been in her old familiar body. She also hadn't ventured out of her room much.

But it was Monday, and she already knew things were back to Fandom-style normal, so she supposed... They should get back to normal.

So once again, after some hesitation, she knocked on the door.

[necroslacker]

"Yeah?" Sam called out absently, glancing over at the door. "Come in, it's open. I'm here."

And normal. Thankfully.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie drew in a breath before she opened the door and poked her head in. She hadn't bothered to really do things like comb her hair, yet. It was in a careless ponytail. Went well with her well-worn, comfortable clothes.

"Morning."

[necroslacker]

"Morning," he said, raising an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't expected to see her, if he was honest. "What's goin' on?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Nothing much," she said, leaning against the door frame. Like she wasn't a hundred percent sure she should come in. "Common room coffee was bad as ever."

[necroslacker]

Yep, he was noticing the hesitation too and couldn't help trying to read any emotions that might be coming off her to see what might be wrong. He knew he couldn't really count on her telling him.

"Coffee something you need this morning?" he wondered before nodding over to his small refrigerator. "I've got some apple juice in there you can have."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie was tired. That was the most obvious thing. The other stuff (minor embarrassment, for the most part) was getting pushed down underneath that. She had much better a handle on herself this morning than she had on Saturday.

"It's just a habit," she said, but did actually leave the doorway, absently closing the door behind herself before heading for the fridge. "I like coffee in the morning."

[necroslacker]

"Can't help with the coffee but feel free to take whatever's in the fridge," he said, watching her move. "If you want it, take it."

Maybe he meant that about things that just weren't the fridge too but he doubted she'd see it that deeply.

[whenshewasnice]

Oh, he'd be surprised. Coming here was a loaded moment, and Natalie had an analytical mind. She wasn't really looking at things just on the surface right now.

But she didn't say anything, just went to peer into his little fridge.

[necroslacker]

He watched her in silence and thought about saying something. He wanted to ask her how she was, if she needed a hug, or something but he stayed quiet. He stayed quiet and ate his breakfast and watched her carefully.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie took a moment, but eventually decided she didn't feel like taking anything from his fridge. She'd had breakfast already, it'd be enough.

So she closed the door again, and after another moment, crossed the room to quietly take a seat near him. "You look normal."

[necroslacker]

"I feel normal too," he answered, nodding. As normal as a necromancer could ever felt was how Sam felt right now. "Happened at some point this morning so good timing, I guess."

[whenshewasnice]

"Seems to be how these things go," she replied with a little shrug, settling her hands in her lap. "A weekend oddity."

[necroslacker]

"Yep," he said before cutting a piece of his omelet and, at the last second, offering it to her. "Hungry?"

[whenshewasnice]

"Not really," Natalie said, almost automatically. Before changing her mind. "I could have a taste."

Except she couldn't quite decide whether she was supposed to reach for his fork or just the piece of omelet, or maybe do that cutesy thing of leaning closer and snagging it straight from his fork.

So she managed an awkward pause. Maybe things were a little weird.

[necroslacker]

Yeah, no kidding. Sam suppressed a sigh and actually offered her the fork since it seemed to be a dilemma for her. "It's tofu. Thought you might wanna see what I eat sometimes. It's not bad."

[whenshewasnice]

"I've had tofu before."

Or was it sushi?

Look, she was not going to know chicken parmesan wasn't vegan until her twenties. These things were a mystery to her.

She chewed thoughtfully on the piece of omelet. "Tastes okay."

[necroslacker]

"Yeah, it's not bad," Sam said, taking the fork back and sighing down at his plate. He didn't know what to do. It sounded like she was brick walling it up today.

[whenshewasnice]

"Why are you sighing?"

See, she could take some sort of initiative instead ignoring it. It even sounded more curious (though she had guesses) than accusing. And sure, it wasn't exactly opening up but it was something.

[necroslacker]

"No reason, I'm fine." That wasn't exactly true but she tended to do that to him so he could do it to her too. "Just glad to be a guy again."

[whenshewasnice]

"Mm." Yeah, she was going to sigh a little, too. And look down at her hands. Twist her lips. "Sorry about Saturday."

[necroslacker]

"It's fine," Sam said, waving that off. "I doubt it could have been helped. You don't like it when I'm a girl. Or...when I'm just back from raising someone. It's cool."

He understood. Sort of.

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie shook her head, slowly. "I don't think that's really it." The girl thing. She was not touching the necromancy right now. "A little more complicated. I guess."

[necroslacker]

"If you say so," Sam said skeptically. He still just thought she didn't like different things about him and couldn't help that. He had reactions to back him up.

[whenshewasnice]

Well, he had his perceptions, anyway.

"And I do. You don't know everything."