bakerstreet | Little Steps

Little Steps

little steps

No matter how much they care for the other person and want to be with them, some people simply can't dive head first into relationships. Little things that form intimacy and romance, little acts we take for granted - being close, holding hands, kissing, showing affection in public - they won't or can't do...at least not right off the bat. Something in their past, their experiences, their trauma, or even their personality holds them back. For both them and the person they're "dating," as it were, this can lead to a frustrating experience.

Still, steps can be taken towards letting the walls fall down. Little, tiny steps, but those can mean the world all the same.

The People
One With the help of a partner, one person warms up.
Two Both sides of this couple are learning how to be in a relationship and to be open.

The Actions
Talking → A relationship can't exist if there's not some communication, so either learn to use your words or become so close you can speak without them.
Spending Time → Even such mundane occurrences as watching TV or cooking together is new ground.
Touching → You might just find you enjoy reaching out and touching them.
Kissing → Another kind of touch, when you think about it.
Cuddling → ...at least they're warm and, hopefully, soft.
Sleeping → You're at your absolute weakest when you're asleep. It shows trust to doze off around this person.
Public Display → It's one thing to be in love in private, but showing you care in public is a different story.
Kind Words → Three little words (more or less) are all it takes. Why, then, are they so hard to get out?
Sex → The ultimate stumbling block to some. To be laid blissfully bare is to truly let your guard down.

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Huhhh... [ Mari blinks slowly, glance flickering between Kanan's face and the fingers twirling her hair.

Really? That's why?

Her brow pinches. ]

You're so weird, Kanan. [ It's chiding, but soft. ] Did you think there's any way I wouldn't want to hear it? I mean... [ Her hold around her tightens a moment. ] Would you hug someone you don't like? [ One hand lets go then, taking hold of Kanan's own, lacing their fingers together to still the fidgeting. ] Or hold hands with someone you don't like? Or...

[ Lowering her head, Mari gently presses her lips over Kanan's knuckles. ] Kiss someone you don't like?

[She's chuckling when she makes use of their reversed height difference to kiss the wrinkle between Mari's brows, appeasing, willing it to smooth out.

Of course Mari would find the most straightforward solution.]

Coming from you? Takes one to know one, weirdo.

Have I not been showing enough interest in you to your satisfaction? Hmm?

[ Hmph! It's not about that, and Mari knows Kanan knows it. She sticks out her tongue. ]

Gee, I dunno! But if you keep interrupting our dates to talk to other girls like that, your Mari'll start getting lonely.

[She has to concede, when it's put this way...]

A problem, then.

In that case, how would my Mari [Her Mari. Another thing she can happily get used to.] wish to be compensated for her trouble?

[ Oh. Oh, that is nice. She likes it even better when Kanan says it. It makes her ears all warm again.

This is a problem, though. Mari's so happy right now that she can't think of anything to ask. Of course, such a precious opportunity is not to be wasted! She just needs a minute, is all. ]

Let's see, let's see... mmmmmn...

Well, to start off with, how about--! Tell me "I love you, I'm in love with you" one hundred times over.

[ There we go! ☆ ]

[This face.

Her immediate response was a solid no. Tongue twisters have nothing on saying that for one hundred times.

On second thought, it's an opportunity for her, too --]

Okay.

I'll have to pay it off in instalments, but okay. [Counting on her fingers.] Five years? Ten years?

[Or, how long more does she have until Mari is tired of her?]

!

[ Okay. That's not a comeback Mari saw coming, and now on top of the rising heat in her face, her heart's doing goofy little flips.

And then Kanan protests to being called cool. ]

-- Hey, ten years? That's only ten times a year-- that's not even once for every month! Kanan, you're so stingy!

[Another drawling "ehhhhh".]

It's an instalment plan, what were you expecting? [So proud of herself for keeping a straight face right now. This has to be the most convincing act she's ever pulled off in front of Mari.]

Oh. [FIST TO PALM.] Are you doubting that I will still mean it in ten years?

No! [ Mari Ohara has never had to so much as consider the idea of an installment plan in her life, and she's not going to start now! ] I don't want an installment plan, I wanna hear it every day!!

[ STOMP STOMP. Keep this up and you're well on your way to receiving a tantrum. ]

[ehhhhh.jpg]

It'll lose significance when I say it every day!

[Scarcity is value, see!!] If you put a recording of my voice in a plushie, there's no difference!

That's not true at all! Kanan is way cuddlier than any plushie could ever be!

[ And she buries her face right into the very cuddliest part of Kanan with a majestic plomf. At least that seems to pacify her a little. ] Hmph!

Mari... [Not whining, not quite, but soon. Soon.

What kind of statement are they making here. And couldn't this wait till they reached her place. Mental Image Dia is starting a rant on setting a poor example and public morals and she really, really just wants to sit down to contemplate her life choices.]

Kanaaaaaaaan.

[ This one's definitely whining. Whining all the way, and showing no intention of moving.

Oh, and grumbling, too. ]

... If I told you I loved you every day, it really wouldn't make you happy anymore? Even though I'll mean it just as much every time?

I... [Would like that. A lot. Had, in darker hours, her wildest of dreams, desired nothing more. "Happy" wouldn't begin to describe the emotions Mari stirs within her with the mere suggestion.]

How lousy was I at showing you the way I feel, if you need to ask?

[How much more contact does she have to initiate? How can Mari be content with making her repeat the same words over and over, sincere or otherwise?]

[ Mari glares up at her, cheeks puffed out like one highly dissatisfied hamster. The warmth that pools in her belly at Kanan's response is overshadowed, for the moment, by how utterly dense she's being. ]

See? It'd totally make you happy! It's not gonna lose its value, and it's nothing like putting a voice recording in a plushie at all! Nyeh!

[They weren't on comparable terms from the start. Exactly how did Mari figure she could go from not intending to say anything at all to doing it every day?]

...I'm not fighting with you over this. [Although she already is.] You deserve better than to settle for forcing it, and I can't go promising you what I don't have to give.

... But--

[ She really thought that was a winning argument, there. Things like losing and taking no for an answer have always been difficult for Mari to swallow, and even with all that's happened in those last two years, that still hasn't changed.

She deflates -- physically, visibly -- and buries her face against Kanan again. ]

... mnn.

Hey. [The same level, careful tone, to avoid provoking Mari.]

I can't outtalk you. I understand if you're disappointed. But I'll prove I'm not messing around, and you won't have to ask again.

[Mari won't see, though she's winding her fingers in her hair once more.] It's no secret, after all. Right?

Yeah... [ It's not. It's really not. And to start off with, she only meant to poke fun of Kanan a bit, so it's not like it's anything to get upset about-- but seeing her so genuinely put off by it made Mari feel weird, and then it became a real argument anyway, and...

This is silly. Kanan's right here. Mari's got her, and Kanan loves her.

Yeah... this is good. ]

I'm sorry for teasing. I didn't mean to make it like this. [ She tilts her head up, offering an apologetic kiss to Kanan's cheek. ] Okay?

Okay.

[Kanan wasn't angry -- not at Mari, anyway. While the dispute came about in large part from Mari's instigation, she nevertheless cannot bring herself to be. As usual.]

I'm sorry too. For letting you down. [She closes her eyes, savouring their proximity a little longer.] Too bad, you're stuck with me.

Hey, none of that! [ Bumping nose to nose. ] You didn't.

[ After all, if she really thought making Kanan tell her she likes her a hundred times over was a realistic demand, she wouldn't have made it. Heh. ]

For how long was it again? Five years? Ten?

As long as you want to have me.

[So, for the undefined, indefinite long term. Leaving it to Mari to determine, to end when she has had enough.]

Is that acceptable?

[ Is Kanan aware she just signed up for an entire lifetime? Well-- as they say, you don't look a gift horse in the mouth, and Mari happens to like this gift horse very, very much.

Only time can really tell, right? But for now, it sounds a little like forever, and that's enough to make Mari's eyes light up anew. ]

Yes, I'll take that! Very Good! Your Mari is greatly pleased. ♥

[ But they've lingered here quite some time, haven't they? They should probably get going again soon. With a quick peck to the tip of her nose, Mari takes a hop back, grabbing Kanan's hands in her own. ]

--And no takebacks!

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Little Steps

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