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[pancakeboy]

[Text him! Or do whatever, I'm not the police, and neither is he, thank God. Just specify if you want the more-fun-but-less-stable pre-11/20 guy or the grumpy third semester/postcanon guy. Pancake only for VRDR guys please, he's not third semester yet]

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[fogbornphantom]

"Well, I do know one thing I... might want, but ha." He looks away, suddenly oh so sheepish. "It's not something to prioritize now, when Crow and I have to be in top form for tomorrow."

Well, not just them.

"I suppose we all do. Which means allowing ourselves to rest our bodies and minds."

[pancakeboy]

"You're not wrong." Shit, is this going to be the gay chicken thing again? But no, he said Crow. Which Magpie is fine with.

He clears his throat, pulling away. "You can stay. If you like. Crow has done it often enough."

[fogbornphantom]

"I know. Even when I'm not physically here, I'm still present in his mind." Well, if Magpie needs to pull back, that's fine. He, perhaps a tad reluctantly releases his hold. "We don't have to, but if you need me to hold you, that's fine."

Whatever's comfortable, really.

"But... thanks, for trusting me enough to be here."

[pancakeboy]

A bit awkwardly, with a bit of a frown, he reaches out to briefly squeeze the Shadow's hand. "It's nothing. If you Hamaon me in the night, at least I won't have to go to that damned Palace tomorrow."

[fogbornphantom]

Aw. He accepts the hand squeeze with a smile before settling onto his side. "Sorry, but I've no intention to kill anyone. I will, however, do what I can to offer emotional support tomorrow."

[pancakeboy]

"Just don't be too public about it." He gets up, turning away to peel off his own shirt, trousers and socks, and slip on a far less battered, far more boring white tee. "I don't want the rest of them to know anything is going on."

[fogbornphantom]

"Fair enough. I'm not expecting you to be vulnerable with everyone. Simply having a select few you trust is still a healthy option." Ah, don't mind him as he stretches a little. "But do you feel any better?"

[pancakeboy]

And as the shirt drops over his head, he turns, regarding the Shadow for a moment before lifting the quilt to drop into bed. "Of course."

[fogbornphantom]

"You know you can be honest with me, right?" Sorry, Magpie. He's not so easily fooled.

[pancakeboy]

But he folds his hand over the pillow, wide-eyed in the eerie yellow half-light. "Force of habit."

[fogbornphantom]

"Well, I know we haven't gotten to know each other nearly as well." It makes sense that he'd fall into old habits. "But I meant what I said, and I know that feeling better isn't as simple as exchanging a few inspiring words and flipping a switch."

[pancakeboy]

Instead of talking any more, Magpie reaches over the space between them, for the Shadow's hand.

[fogbornphantom]

And of course Crow's Shadow accepts it, easily surrendering his hand. "Tired of talking?" They probably are due for some rest.

[pancakeboy]

"You could say that. Turn the lights out, so we can get some sleep." That is, close your eyes, Hiro.

[fogbornphantom]

"All right." With a whisper of a chuckle, he shuts his eyes. "Goodnight, Magpie."

[pancakeboy]

But Magpie's hand is oddly gentle on the Shadow's, and his voice is strangely soft. Perhaps he'll even sleep. "Goodnight."

[fogbornphantom]

For Magpie, that's more than enough. Crow's Shadow knows him well enough to know that even subtle softness is a big step for him.

So he drifts off with ease, finally settling after such an arduous day. With luck, tomorrow won't be so bad.

[pancakeboy]

And, as Magpie is finally drifting off, a voice sounds somewhere he can't hear. Magician, rank one. We're going to need a bigger book....