The "Take Care" Meme

[promenades]

The "Take Care" Meme
a shipping meme

Life is hard. You can go through rough patches and over bumps, and sometimes it feels as though you're definitely worse for the wear, both physically and mentally. It's nice to have someone - someone more than a friend - there for you in those times...even if you don't think you want them or deserve them. But they're here, and they'll take care of you.

How to Play:
* This is a shipping meme for more tender, soft moments, but a little more serious than your usual "fluff." It's for people who've been broken down by their experience and those who wish to heal them.
* Comment with your character/your preferences. You may also want to specify whether your character will be the one "cared for" or the one doing the "caring" + pertinent information, but for most effectiveness, it's best to be open to both.
* Comment around.


Prompts
1. Know You've Been Hurt By Someone Else: There are scars left on their heart from a past relationship or fling, and you have to let them know you're not the same way.
2. Can Tell By the Way You Carry Yourself: The person you have feelings for is one of those "cold stone wall" types who pushes people away. Can you get past that?
3. I've Asked About You: You've only heard bad things about this person, but you don't believe it.
4. What's a Life with No Fun: Lighten up a bit! You'd do anything to bring a smile to their face.
5. Please Don't Be So Ashamed: You have a big, BIG secret you don't want the other person to find out about, because surely they wouldn't want to even be near you if they did.
6. I've Had Mine, You've Had Yours: You've both had problems, and it could help to compare wounds so they can begin to heal.
7. Those Lies Heal: Protecting your loved one is more important that the truth, isn't it? It's a lie, but there are good intentions here.
8. You Can't Sleep: Because of past trauma, you're having a sleepless night. Luckily, this time you have somebody to help you and give you some comfort.
9. You Cry Still: The obligatory "seeing your significant other/love cry over something and wanting to make them stop at any cost" option.
10. All Get a Little Taste: Your loved one is sick or injured - literally this time - and you're looking out for them and trying to get them better.
11. You Just Don't Know: Either through magic, torture, or blunt trauma to the head, your special person can't remember you! It's up to you to get them to remember what was between you two by showing all the ways you cared for each other.
12. I Give Her Space: Part of being a careful lover is knowing when you need to leave them alone.
13. Tryna Run from That: Uh-oh, you don't want to fall in love, because you've been there, done that! Maybe there's still time to escape from this...or maybe it's too late.
14. I Will Care for You: After a particularly rough day, you're need a little TLC. Your loved one is going to do everything for you - a bath, food, the works.
15. All the Baggage Just Ain't as Heavy: You know it will take a while for this person to mend psychologically and spiritually, and you're willing to wait.
16. Change the Pace: And the smut option. Show you care through sex.
17. We'll Just Go Slow: You're going to take things one step at a time. No need to rush and define things. Just enjoy each other's company and the healing it brings.
18. We All Have Our Nights: Your lover, because of their past experience, is having a complete breakdown. You have to bring them back from the edge.
19. You Don't Say You Love Me: You both know how you feel, but one of you is having problems saying the four letter word. That's okay, though. Your lover understands.
20. To Save You: After months or years, you've both worked on the problems and old scars and you might just be ready to start something resembling a normal love.
21. CHOOSE SOMETHING ELSE

Comments

[talkscrap]

Don't ask me! You're the one getting worked up.

[Not that Noiz is looking any worse than usual, but what else could be the reason he's getting -... Well, the opposite of tired. Right?

Thinking about it like that, Aoba smiles, and lets out a soft sigh.]

I guess some things still hurt, huh?

[noizless]

What are you taking about? [ Aoba don't you act like you know him okay? There's a pause and then he sighs, moving his hand back up to his hair. ]

Rhyme does.

[talkscrap]

[You're not as hard to read as you think, Noiz. Or so Aoba is convinced; there's a good chance that's 90% wishful thinking, though.

That said, there are more kinds of pain than only the physical, and the fact that Noiz gets worked up over silly little things like that -... Well, that means he still feels something, doesn't it?]

Rhyme? [It actually makes sense; that kind of pain isn't related to the body either, after all. At the same time, why would Noiz be so big on Rhyme if -..?

Oh. Maybe that's exactly it, isn't it?] Is that... why you play?

[noizless]

... For the most part. [ it feels very odd giving up this information to Aoba. Even stranger that the other hasn't run away and called him a monster or a freak yet.

He probably wasn't sleeping at all tonight, was he? ]

[talkscrap]

[Probably not. Still, there are worse things than spending the night sitting up talking... though Aoba will probably fall asleep eventually. He's useless that way.]

What's the other part?

[Half teasing, half genuinely curious. Noiz is really into Rhyme, after all.]

[noizless]

I was good at it. I was undefeated until a certain brat and his old model took that away from me.

[ Noiz eyed him with a stern look, though it was more exhausted than angry or scornful. He shrugged and looked back down to his damaged toe. If he was normal it'd be horrible trying to walk like this for the next few days.

and aoba you better not fall asleep before he does, punk. ]

I am so sorry. I can't even. What am I writing? Dumb muse.

[talkscrap]

[Fortunately Noiz probably makes a crappy pillow, being his porcupine self. May just save the day!

.... Or not, since Aoba is champion of picking the worst thing to say even more than usual right now.]

A challenge is good for you. [Conveniently ignoring the fact that Aoba had no idea what he was doing in Rhyme that time. It's sort of funny that Noiz is so focused on that one incident, though - which is probably why Aoba tries to lighten the mood the way he does.] Don't worry, I'm sure you'll grow up to be just as good as me.

[And he reaches out to pat the cute little boy that Noiz is on his head.]

THATS OK it's five am here and I'm reading fic and have no idea what words are

[noizless]

[ that about does it! As if whatever trust and warmth had been forming between them, like friends maybe, suddenly snapped. Noiz reached out on instinct and grabbed Aoba's wrist, quickly pinning it back to the couch cushion behind them.

His eyes shone with a predatory glint. ] Then face me again. I wont lose this time to you and your old technology. [ even fired up he somehow knew better than to insult Ren other than calling him old. Because he was. ]

Unless you're afraid to lose. [ he breathed it out tauntingly, a whisper near Aoba's lips. ]

Words are overrated.

[talkscrap]

[Aoba really should have seen that coming, but between how late it is, and the fact that they seemed to have grown a bit closer, it never even crossed his mind. His wrist is pinned before he even realizes what's going on, and then Noiz is far too close. Aoba should try to get away, but he freezes, heart skipping a beat, before he gets a grip on himself again, trapped hand clenching into a fist.]

It was just a joke! I told you, I didn't even know what I was doing.

[And he tries to yank his wrist free.]

oh babyyyy

[noizless]

Then it should be no problem for me to kick your ass. [ Noiz tightened his hold on Aoba's wrist and chuckled, breath likely able to be felt by aoba. ]

You owe me that rematch. Even if it's in a week.

/waggles eyebrows

[talkscrap]

[The grip on his wrist is starting to hurt - Noiz really is much stronger than he looks - and Aoba gives up on trying to pull free for now, to avoid making it worse.]

No way. If you want me to say you'd beat me: fine. You would.

[Shit, how can he get out of this? His heart is racing, and he's trying not to get angry, but it's getting hard to think. Feeling Noiz' breath against his lips really isn't helping - but Aoba refuses to budge on this.]

[noizless]

[ he's been undefeated before you. Saying it won't be enough. Ughhhh. ]

I don't want you to just say it. [ after a second though he finally lets go and frowns at aoba. He doesn't move away at first, partially able to feel the warmth coming from the other. ] ....

[talkscrap]

[Even when Noiz lets go, Aoba's heart keeps pounding. He refuses to back up, purely on principle - or that's what he's telling himself, anyway.

Be that as it may, he definitely won't give in.]

I'm not doing Rhyme again. [He says it, he means it, he won't change his mind for anything - but his voice is soft, distracted.]

[noizless]

Aoba.

[ Noiz eyes him again for another long moment before he finally shifts back and away, looking away with a blush. ] Ill convince you somehow.

[talkscrap]

[Aoba was maintaining eye contact, before, but when Noiz pulls away, he drops his gaze, feeling oddly rejected. It's ridiculous, of course... He tries to pull himself together, but he can't quite stop himself from sounding a little sad, if anything.]

If you want to try, I can't stop you. But my answer's not going to change.

[noizless]

[ Noiz notices that slight change in Aoba's demeanor. Was he really that riled up over Rhyme? Noiz eyes him for a bit longer and shifts on the couch a bit more. ] Is there a blanket large enough for two people out here? [ this is the closest he will get to an invitation. ]

[talkscrap]

[Aoba immediately looks up again, like the puppy he sometimes is. He's tempted to ask and second-guess, but convinces himself not to; he doesn't want to ruin this chance.]

Yeah... Yeah, hang on, I'll get it.

[He gets up, just a little too quickly, as if he's afraid Noiz can change his mind at any moment. There's a cupboard nearby that contains a fleece blanket for getting comfortable on the couch, and if it's not quite big enough for two people... neither is the couch. It's close enough; they can make do.

Returning to the couch, Aoba folds out the blanket.]

Maybe it's not the perfect size for two, but...

[noizless]

Sit down. [ aoba stop talking and sit down and curl up against him!! He eyes the blanket appreciatively. ]

[talkscrap]

[Well. Okay, yeah. He can do that. And if they're both going to get under it, he can't just put the blanket over Noiz, so... clearly he has to get comfortable against Noiz before he pulls the blanket closer around them.

Only when they're under the blanket, nice and warm, does Aoba realize how tired he is. It really is late...]

... You're warm. [It's not a complaint.]

[noizless]

[ with aoba against him, he feels oddly warm and sleepy, too. ]

So are you. [ his arm maaaaaay be going around Aoba's shoulders. ]

[talkscrap]

[It takes a moment to sink in, the move feeling too natural to even think about it at first, but then Aoba blinks, turning his head to Noiz. It's not that he means to question the touch, but... he can't really help it.]

[noizless]

What? [ Noiz stares at Aoba questioningly, his arm resting securely around Aoba. He seems a bit confused, skeptical at best. He's comfortable and actually starting to feel just a bit tired, so what's the problem here? ]

[talkscrap]

[Called out like that, Aoba gives up almost immediately. It's hardly worth starting an argument over, and it's not like he minds. He can think about it... the next day, maybe.]

Nothing.

[With a quick but sincere smile, he turns into Noiz' touch a little more - only so he can reach out and drape the blanket around him a little better, of course! - resting his head against Noiz' shoulder before closing his eyes.

Maybe it's a dumb idea, taking a chance like that. But it feels too good for Aoba to question it.]

[noizless]

[ Noiz isn't used to anyone getting close, let alone falling asleep on him, but he can risk trusting Aoba, even if it's just for a night. He shifts a bit to make more room for aoba, not once trying to dislodge him. In fact, his hand absently plays with the stray strands of hair now that aoba is resting his head against his shoulder. He's oddly cute... ]

Your neck is going to be stiff if you sleep on the couch. [ nothing about sleeping together, just the couch. No red flags. ]

[talkscrap]

It'll be fine.

[For all that Aoba's hair is sensitive, where Noiz is touching it, there's barely a shade of sensation, more like the first traces of goosebumps than anything. It's kind of nice. Still, that doesn't stop Aoba from mumbling as he starts to drift off.]

Tickles...