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[flyingsolos]

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[parttimes]

A bit... this space crud better not last long. How did we even catch something there...? The only living things were robots.

[flyingsolos]

Maybe the plague thing they mentioned was just hanging around underground? We were down there for awhile.

[parttimes]

... What a nice souvenir.

[He just flops back onto his blanket nest.]

[flyingsolos]

I'll say.

-- I mean the boyfriend was the better souvenir.

[ as she flops back onto her back. ]

[parttimes]

[And, dryly, between sips of water:]

So you got your "it's complicated" all worked out? Changing your status on NiAR to "dating" finally?

[flyingsolos]

It might still be a little complicated, but Yours Truly is a taken woman now.

[ ah, love... shapes. ]

[parttimes]

[....?]

Excuse me? What's complicated about that?

[flyingsolos]

... [ this is actually not a fake cough. ]

That's not the complicated part. Anyway, we're giving it a try.

[parttimes]

... Alright, I'll leave it alone.

[He's at least that aware.]

But is "congratulations" still the right thing to say in this case, then?

[flyingsolos]

Yep! I worked hard.

[parttimes]

When you put it like that, it makes it sound like you seduced him.

[flyingsolos]

With my personality.

[parttimes]

Noooot a whole lot better sounding.

[RION...]

[flyingsolos]

Oh, come on! Look, I didn't really do anything flirty until he confessed, okay?

[ SHUT UP, KOU. ]

[parttimes]

Look, I seriously don't want to know.

Just watch how you're saying some things.

[flyingsolos]

I can't believe you're scolding me when we're both holed up and sneezing.

[parttimes]

[And he continues, rolling his eyes:]

And also, make sure you're home by curfew.

[Now he's just joking, obviously.]

[flyingsolos]

[ That's definitely a pillow flying his way. ]

[parttimes]

[He definitely ducks it on automatic.

Huh.]

[flyingsolos]

You deserved to get hit by that.

[parttimes]

[Kou considers that...and then gently tosses the pillow back to her.]

Sorry, that was instinct. You can go again if you want.

[flyingsolos]

... No, I'll pass. All of my strength went into that.

[ She's so tired and she hates it. ]

[parttimes]

Oh well.

[BIG SHRUG.]

You tried. Now get some rest.

[He's just flopping back into his blanket nest instead.]

[flyingsolos]

Yeah, yeah. Try not to sneeze too loudly over there.

[ FRIENDSHIP. ]

[parttimes]

[Kou just snorts--and then they both probably pass out for awhile in their sick misery.

TIMESKIP.

It's... GETTING WORSE.

Kou wakes up in a bleary miserable mess a fair week later, tries to get up to grab some water, and....falls over.

Thump.]