[ There it was again — the skepticism. Yuri wondered briefly if Byleth had tried before and had sore results, sensitive as his scalp seemed to be. Whatever the case, he offered his companion an easy smile when he was given the go-ahead. ]
Worst case scenario is you simply don't like it, after all. I don't expect it'll hurt; I've done this for kids before.
[ For his mother too, for that matter, whose frail health brought with it certain sensitivities as well.
With that, he stepped around the couch, arranged Byleth's hair, and gently ran the brush over it. Starting with a mess could lead to catching a tangle somewhere. ]
[Byleth was already tense when Yuri started to drag the brush through his hair. From his earlier vigorous shake, it was frizzy and snarled, yet very soft and silky, giving the impression of it being thicker than it appeared. It was also easily tangled and matted, since the brush did hit a few snags, and each time Byleth shifted his weight minutely - a stifled twitch.]
[ Who would have thought the Ashen Demon had such very sensitive scalp? He couldn't help being reminded of some of the children from Abyss who'd shy away from combs and brushes outright. ]
You really are sensitive... Hold on.
[ Yuri set the brush down, opting to carefully tease tangles apart with his fingers instead. It was a slower process, but the point was to not hurt Byleth. Those little twitches suggested he was tolerating discomfort where he didn't necessarily have to.
A distraction might not hurt either. ]
So, during that trip, I came across something I thought you'd like.
[ Though since it didn't cost him anything, Yuri hadn't thought of it in those terms. Did it count as a gift? All he'd thought at the time was that Byleth would like it...
He continued his careful progress untangling Byleth's hair, surprised at just how soft it was despite no particular maintenance routine. ]
Want to have a look at it while I'm doing this?
[ Rather than Byleth just having to stay still for him. ]
A book would've been a fine idea, but with the number you have... I might well have picked up something you've got already.
[ Though that would have been a good idea.
Yuri strolled over to the kitchen and pulled something out he'd stowed under one of the counters. Upon returning, what he deposited on Byleth's lap was, apparently, a black lacquered box shaped like a fish. If he lifted it, rattling would indicate something within. ]
[Of course, Byleth took it entirely at face value.]
A fish box!
[Wow, he sounded so happy for a moment there! He picked up the box, his attention wholly on it as he inspected its shape and the slight grooves on the surface that imitated scales, making it look shiny whenever the light cast on it at a specific angle. As he tilted the box side to side, though, he heard the slight rattling.]
[ Oh, his excitement for the fix box alone... For all his fearsome reputation, Byleth really could be cute.
Tucked within the box were several packages of glow in the dark stars, or so said their labels. Yuri hadn't seen anything like that before their trip to Xanadu, and upon coming across them, he couldn't help but think of their conversation in the park.
Byleth loved stars.
Maybe, he hoped, something like this might make his nights more bearable. ]
Evidently, you can affix those to walls or the ceiling. Maybe we could recreate our constellations that way.
[ With Byleth's hair mostly tamed, Yuri started on the actual braiding. ]
[Byleth's voice was quiet, but not out of disappointment. He was genuinely surprised that Yuri had remembered his love of stars, and their enjoyable conversation where they exchanged their own made-up constellations. He picked up one package, wrapped in a strange, crinkly see-through material, and turned it over to read the label on the back.
They were made of 'plastic', and had an adhesive backing that could be renewed, to allow them to be taken off and on again. To glow, all they needed was at least six hours of light. Easy enough in a place like Springstar.
[ Byleth's reaction was more than Yuri had anticipated, quiet as it was. He'd hoped that his fellow mercenary would like the idea, of course, but it was almost as though he wasn't accustomed to being given little things like that.
Since Byleth had grown up working as a mercenary, Yuri supposed it was as simple as not having the occasion for such things. ]
I just saw them and thought of you, is all. [ He shrugged, as though the weight of unanticipated appreciation might roll off of him. And for good measure, he moved right along— ] ...Also, the box is apparently meant to store meals in. See that strap there? You use it to keep the contents from spilling.
[ His hands worked with practiced ease as he spoke, weaving Byleth's hair into a low braid. It wouldn't be in his way or feel tight, hopefully. ]
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no subject
Worst case scenario is you simply don't like it, after all. I don't expect it'll hurt; I've done this for kids before.
[ For his mother too, for that matter, whose frail health brought with it certain sensitivities as well.
With that, he stepped around the couch, arranged Byleth's hair, and gently ran the brush over it. Starting with a mess could lead to catching a tangle somewhere. ]
But do tell me if I'm wrong.
no subject
[Byleth was already tense when Yuri started to drag the brush through his hair. From his earlier vigorous shake, it was frizzy and snarled, yet very soft and silky, giving the impression of it being thicker than it appeared. It was also easily tangled and matted, since the brush did hit a few snags, and each time Byleth shifted his weight minutely - a stifled twitch.]
no subject
You really are sensitive... Hold on.
[ Yuri set the brush down, opting to carefully tease tangles apart with his fingers instead. It was a slower process, but the point was to not hurt Byleth. Those little twitches suggested he was tolerating discomfort where he didn't necessarily have to.
A distraction might not hurt either. ]
So, during that trip, I came across something I thought you'd like.
no subject
...you got me a gift?
[Byleth sounded genuinely surprised...]
no subject
[ Though since it didn't cost him anything, Yuri hadn't thought of it in those terms. Did it count as a gift? All he'd thought at the time was that Byleth would like it...
He continued his careful progress untangling Byleth's hair, surprised at just how soft it was despite no particular maintenance routine. ]
Want to have a look at it while I'm doing this?
[ Rather than Byleth just having to stay still for him. ]
no subject
If you're offering, yes.
[Hm, if it was something he can look at while Yuri did his hair...]
Is it a book?
no subject
[ Though that would have been a good idea.
Yuri strolled over to the kitchen and pulled something out he'd stowed under one of the counters. Upon returning, what he deposited on Byleth's lap was, apparently, a black lacquered box shaped like a fish. If he lifted it, rattling would indicate something within. ]
But I still think it'll be of interest to you.
no subject
A fish box!
[Wow, he sounded so happy for a moment there! He picked up the box, his attention wholly on it as he inspected its shape and the slight grooves on the surface that imitated scales, making it look shiny whenever the light cast on it at a specific angle. As he tilted the box side to side, though, he heard the slight rattling.]
Oh, something's inside...?
[He carefully opened the box to see-?]
no subject
Tucked within the box were several packages of glow in the dark stars, or so said their labels. Yuri hadn't seen anything like that before their trip to Xanadu, and upon coming across them, he couldn't help but think of their conversation in the park.
Byleth loved stars.
Maybe, he hoped, something like this might make his nights more bearable. ]
Evidently, you can affix those to walls or the ceiling. Maybe we could recreate our constellations that way.
[ With Byleth's hair mostly tamed, Yuri started on the actual braiding. ]
I know it's not exactly the same, but even so.
no subject
[Byleth's voice was quiet, but not out of disappointment. He was genuinely surprised that Yuri had remembered his love of stars, and their enjoyable conversation where they exchanged their own made-up constellations. He picked up one package, wrapped in a strange, crinkly see-through material, and turned it over to read the label on the back.
They were made of 'plastic', and had an adhesive backing that could be renewed, to allow them to be taken off and on again. To glow, all they needed was at least six hours of light. Easy enough in a place like Springstar.
He was touched, genuinely and honestly touched.]
...thank you, Yuri. This is really kind of you.
no subject
Since Byleth had grown up working as a mercenary, Yuri supposed it was as simple as not having the occasion for such things. ]
I just saw them and thought of you, is all. [ He shrugged, as though the weight of unanticipated appreciation might roll off of him. And for good measure, he moved right along— ] ...Also, the box is apparently meant to store meals in. See that strap there? You use it to keep the contents from spilling.
[ His hands worked with practiced ease as he spoke, weaving Byleth's hair into a low braid. It wouldn't be in his way or feel tight, hopefully. ]
Though you could put whatever you want in it.