"Well..." His eyebrows furrowed. Right. He was thawing something out and got distracted. "Yes, that's probably for the best."

He finally blinked. Once. Twice. Then, he laughed. "Oh, yes! It is!"

"I don't remember." There is. But whatever it was, it's probably not edible anymore.

"Yes." He responded, reaching out to push a button before it beeped. To keep it turning.

"Of course I have." Yet, he doesn't look away. He's not even blinking.

"Hmmm?" He doesn't stop staring at the microwave. He's transfixed.

He doesn't even react to her presence like he normally does. He's staring into the microwave, watching it spin.

He had started to make dinner. But then got distracted by the microwave.

"I will mark it on the calendar." He said, playfully. Stifling a yawn.

That made him laugh. A tired laugh, but a laugh nonetheless. "Oh, I'm glad you have it scheduled. So it won't take either of us by surprise."

"Hm." His eyes closed too, arm lazily draped around her. He usually has a much tighter grip. "I guess we'll see."

He glanced down at her, head tilting to the side. "Are you sure about that?" His tone sounds curious. And some tiredness has crept into his voice.

He wrapped his arm around her. He was also hotter than usual, but he's sure that she's at least used to the unnatural warmth by now. It's just a little bit more intense. "Comfortable?"

"Yes." He admitted, looking over at her. His eyes weren't as bright as normal. Still gold, of course, but they weren't glowing as much. "Please."

"Hm." He smiled. He liked horror films a little too much. "Is it? A classic?"

He turned over enough so that he could see the movie. "What did you pick?"

He got in the bed, pulling the blankets up over him And then he just sort of... went limp. Clearly, he was downplaying his exhaustion.

He nodded. "That sounds wonderful."

"Hm." He seemed to consider her words, hands wrapping around his mug. His had a picture of a cartoon wolf on it with blazing golden eyes that matched his own perfectly. "I agree that any place can be wonderful, but I have also been to some barren planets, devoid of food or company, that I ━

He laughed. A full laugh. Becoming less rare with her, lately. "Well, if I'm resting and you're resting. . . We could rest together." He said with a shrug.

He nodded. "Perhaps you should have been resting too."

He hummed, leaning back in his seat. Signing as he let the tension drain from him. "How are you faring? With the changing of the seasons?"

His head tilted. Seemingly surprised by her words. "Thank you."

"You could put it like that, yes."

"Mainly resting." He said sheepishly.

"That sounds like an enjoyable day to me. And a productive one."

He settled, placing his chin in his hand. "Tell me about your day."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Come sit." Patting the spot beside him.

Her smile was contagious. "Did you need something, Ivy?" She had his full attention. That's one thing about him, his gaze can be intense, even when he has a soft look on his face.

There's a fond look on his face as it does. "You could also have just called my name." He said lightheartedly. "You have two to choose from."

Pats the vine. "This is one way to get my attention."

Scrunches up his nose. Dramatically. "Hello."

There's a magazine? ... Hm. Interesting. But, no. Not the magazine.

Tonight is reserved for one of his favorite activities: People watching.

"Hm." He nodded. He's stopped turning pages and instead just staring at the magazine. Probably planning an outfit.

He nodded, going back to his magazine, fighting his own smile. "So, what does one wear to an aquarium?"

Biiiig stretch. He's groggy. But awake.

"Oh." He looks truly baffled. Fidgeting with the pages again to keep his hands busy. "Well, I do. Like you, that is. That way." That felt juvenile. And he cleared his throat to hide his blush. He's very bad at feelings-talk.

His eyebrows furrowed. "You don't think I. . . ?"

He stared at her as if she just spoke a foreign language. Which is funny, she would be hard pressed to find a language he doesn't speak. ". . . . Only if *I*. . . ?" Blink. Blink.

He hummed, fighting a smile desperately, going back to his magazine so he could allow Ivy to read. This lasts about two minutes. ". . . You said as friends or more. You would want more?"

"We have not." He smiled to himself. He had enjoyed that. "I have never been to an aquarium." He said that quickly. As if it was a horrible secret.

He started fidgeting. Hands playing with the ends of his magazine. Another tell of excitement. He's so unnaturally still 90% of the time. "And you would enjoy it too?"

His head snapped up like a dog that just heard the word 'walk.' His eyes were wide. "I would like that very much."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." He looked sheepish now, blushing a little. Luckily, he could hide his face behind the magazine.

His eyes seemed to glow brighter when he had a particularly strong emotion. It's excitement this time. "Yes! Sea creatures are fascinating. I only wish when I was younger, I had not been too frightened to learn more —" Blink. Blink. He said more than he'd meant to.

His mask has been dropping more and more around her. The more she accepts, the more he reluctantly shows. Like now. He excitedly turns the magazine towards her, pointing to a picture. "*Look* at this!"

Sprawling out on the reader's couch. He's reading a National Geographic magazine.