retroductions | reverie inbox.

Yeah. It really is.

[ Despite himself, his fingers curl tight into the fabric of Sholmes' clothes. He's mindful of his strength, always, but perhaps he just needs to hold onto something right now. ]

... I'm glad you're here.

[ Still here. He doesn't give voice to that. Sholmes likely knows what he means anyway. ]

[Still here. Yes, he does. It rings loudly between them, though it remains unspoken.

His own fingers curl into the fabric of Juzo's clothes; like this, they keep each other steady.]

And I, you. Tell me, what is it I can do for you...?

[To help. To make the ache of loss dissipate, even if for just a moment.]

This helps.

[ And it does. Sholmes, warm and solid in his arms. Still here. He takes a deep breath, something to steady himself after the reality of Marianne's disappearance took the floor right out from under him. ]

Stay with me a while?

Of course. For as long as you like.

[He pulls away only far enough to chance a glance up at Juzo.]

Sit with me at the counter for a bit? I am trying my hand again at coffee... if you are bold enough to try it.

[Sholmes tries at a middling smile. Best to do his experimentations outside of the dorm and in the diner, he figures.]

[ Juzo glances down to meet Sholmes' gaze. There's something of a smile in his expression. Muted, but fond all the same. ]

Depends entirely on your methods.

[Makes weakly amused sound.]

I assure you that today, I have defaulted to something more "normal". I am told that the consistency I often go for is too... ah, sludge-liike. Adjustments must be made accordingly.

That mean you're usin' an actual coffee pot instead of a chemistry set?

Precisely. Not nearly as interesting, but you may find the results passable.

[ A small smile, and before they part, he dips down to brush his muzzle against Sholmes' temple, as he so often does in place of a kiss. ]

Yeah, alright. Show me what you got.

[The gesture, today especially, makes him linger. Makes the faint smile across his features widen just a little, before he turns to lead Juzo to the counter, hand grasping his arm. The touch is unnecessary, of course, but it's nice.]

Come, come.

[When they near, he finally releases him and makes his way around the counter. He reaches for a pot of coffee and turns around to present it to the other man.]

See! Here it is.

[It looks... suspiciously normal.]

[ Even without Sholmes' hand on his arm, he'd follow. But right now, the contact is welcome. It almost seems a shame when he lets go, but then there's a pot of coffee being shoved in his face anyway.

He looks it over, from top to bottom. ]

Well, it looks normal. You didn't put anything weird in it, did you?

[Smiles widely, which is generally not promising, but-]

Not at all. It is the most mundane, the most boring coffee I have ever tried my hand at. [But the timing is probably ideal. This is not the time to be, ah, testing out Sholmes' questionable experimentation in coffee brewing.] I might even be ashamed of it, but should I earn your approval, I could be proud, instead.

Should I pour you a cup?

[ Honestly, either way, it would be a good distraction. Though it is kind of nice to know he won't be ingesting sludge or something brewed with soap in it. ]

Sure, go ahead.

[ Surely it can't be any worse than the swill he's had to brew himself back in the slums. Surely. He moves back around the counter to take a seat at one of the stools there. ]

[No sludge with a hint of soap... This Time.

Sholmes hums in approval and pours Juzo a generous mug of coffee. The scent is pleasant, at least, and not strange or burnt -- as would be the norm. He gently slides it across the counter (without spilling!) in his direction.]

Give it a go.

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