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[Rin winces in turn when she sees the expression on Natasha's face, and quickly closes the distance between her and her friend and hands off the gift.

Well, she doesn't hand it off, but you know what I mean.]

You should use the chair.

[She says it flatly. It isn't a judgmental tone, and she honestly doesn't really expect Nat to get in it (she probably hasn't used the wheelchair at all since they gave it to her, she realizes).

No, the way she says it is more the tone someone takes when they're saying someone obvious, as if the statement serves no other purpose but to be heard.]

And that's okay. I don't really celebrate christmas anyway. This was just something I saw and thought might help with your changes.

[Inside the box, if Natasha chooses to open it right now, are four pairs of canvas ballet shoes, all light pink in color.]

My birthday's in March, though.

I'm not stopping you.

[ That's a sin by omission, but like he said, there are much worse. ]

Depends. How far down are you willing to go?

Whatever you're comfortable with. I can be patient.

[Another familiar touch, this one at her shoulder.]

And I don't mind taking a raincheck on the other stuff. I mean, you might want to swing by those sex ed classes Doc Spider is offering first.

[Natasha will open it. Among other reasons, because it spares her from having to respond to the comment about using the chair. It's not even that she doesn't know that Rin (and Dick, and the doctor) are right.

But she's stubborn, and she doesn't have it in her to admit weakness.

She doesn't have to pretend long, though. When she sees what's in the box, it's easy to brush other things aside. She covers her smile with one hand, somehow both confused and pleased by the present.

From anyone else the image of a giant spider wearing ballet shoes might feel like a joke, but from Rin...]

You remembered that, huh?

[That moment when remembering you're turning into a monster ruins flirting.]

Well, I don't know. Things might get a little weird down there these days.

I'm not sure sex ed helps much when the problem is that people'd be afraid to touch you.

[She's not unaware of the fact that he's touching her now. There's a far cry between that and having to deal with the fact that her legs seemed to be more or less unmaking themselves.

To say nothing of presumably very poisonous fangs.

And needle sharp claws.

These things didn't leave a girl feeling like she had a lot of options.]

And I figure a couple weeks at the most, and it won't really matter.

[ That's only if you lack imagination, Natasha. I mean, he can definitely hear the strange sound of her breathing, but he also doesn't care if she's visually attractive or what. Blind guy don't curr. ]

It wouldn't exactly scare me away. [ Are you doing this, Matt. You're doing this. ] I mean, I'm more of tactile guy. Plus I've got hooves and my legs are covered in fur. Weird is pretty relative.

[She snorts a little at that, perhaps not entirely convinced. Her life is pretty strange right now; there's still a limit on how strange she can see it becoming.]

Oh, I remember. I didn't expect you to be scared off...

[It might not entirely be fair—but call it trial by fire.

Natasha stands, still holding his hand, and rounds the table to sit in the booth beside him. If he doesn't pull away, she guides his hand under the table and down to her lower leg, so he can feel the way her calf is pulling apart through the fabric of her skirt—like a bundle of four malformed spider legs held together by the remains of her human legs.]

Just maybe not interested.

[ Matt follows her lead, letting her guide his hand until she's seated next to him.

Yikes. Well, that's admittedly pretty strange. He knows she's becoming an arachne, but for a guy like him, a mental picture is just a blur unless he can actually feel it. While he may not be immediately on board for getting frisky, he doesn't pull away. He isn't repulsed, more than anything he's... curious.

But yeah, yikes. Maybe he's more concerned for her than concerned about getting off right at the moment. ]

Does it hurt?

[Maybe she should have given Matt more credit, because his concern surprises her.

Or maybe she's just not very good at letting people worry about her.]

Yeah. It does.

[She draws her hand away, folding both of them on the table in front of her.]

I manage, though. It's not debilitating.

[Which is why no fewer than three people have tried to get her to use a wheelchair.]

Mostly it's fine as long as I'm sitting.

[ "Not debilitating" could mean a lot of things for people like them, but Matt gets it. He never let his legs keep him from walking or doing anything he needed to. Natasha's changes might be coming slowly, but it's the same idea. ]

Well, as long as you're sitting...? I can always wait. [ He smirks, letting his hand rest over hers though his words are mostly joking. If she's not comfortable, he isn't going to try anything. But god forbid he give her something like sympathy, he knows she's not asking for that. He's a worrier, you know how it is. ]

How long have they been like this?

Edited (icon) 2015-12-31 21:21 (UTC)

It started a little before the Christmas party. It's just progressed since then.

[She shrugs a little. Well, he's still willing to touch her at least. Still...]

I was asking for painkillers for a reason. It's fine, though. I can manage with them.

Damn. Didn't realize it was a constant thing.

[ He reaches around on the table with his free hand, finding his glass (well, her glass, technically,) and offering her the rest. ]

Here. Maybe we can get that bottle after all.

It has been, more or less. [She accepts the glass and finishes it in one swallow, then sighs and leans against his shoulder. Might not be exciting, but she finds she wants the contact. Call it mutually comforting.]

That's not a bad idea. Can't say we haven't earned it.

[It's a good thing she doesn't voice that opinion, because that shitty line of thinking would sour Rin's good mood. That wheelchair belongs to her best friend, after all - a very strong person, in Rin's opinion.

Fortunately, that rough bit of conversation is entirely avoided. Instead, Rin smiles, quite pleased with herself at the sight of Natasha's expression. ]

Yeah.

[She pauses for a moment, feeling like she should probably explain her reasoning here.]

I don't remember if I told you or not, but before I came here I went to a school. One for disabled students. [Which, y'know, would explain why she and her best friend have 4 limbs between them.] It's not the same thing, I know, but... I knew a lot of kids who had to do physical therapy exercises.

So um. I thought you could do ballet exercises as your legs come in. It could help you with your balance.

[She gives a small, sheepish grin. She can see that Natasha likes the gift, which reassures her enough that she feel the need to ask if her thought process makes any sense. Honestly, buying so many slippers had turned out to be... kind of expensive... so Rin is relieved to see that her arachne friend seems to like them.]

Plus, I mean. My art helps me deal with other stuff. Not physical stuff, but like... Dealing with everything. Maybe ballet could help in that way for you?

[Dance your problems away, Natasha. Feel the rhythm in you.]

[ Matt leans his head against hers as she presses up to him. It's more for comfort, and he's totally fine with that. Sounds like they both need it right about now. ]

I'll get it. [ They're in a booth and she's technically in his way, but Matt can also tell they're far enough away that no one's paying them much attention. So it wouldn't be weird for him to move their empty glasses aside and kind of just put his weight on the table to pull his legs out a not-flip to get out without bothering her.

Don't worry, he makes sure to adjust his shirt and tie once he's standing again. Is he showing off? He's showing off. But judging by the sounds around him, no one was looking. Or if they were, they probably can't believe that they saw. ]

Be right back.

[At least one person saw it. She might be as impressed as the average spectator though. Not that she's not impressed, but it's tempered by wry humor and the knowledge that he is showing off. That, having seen a superhero or two already.]

You know, I think you've just been waiting to do that.

[She can't actually claim that she minds though. If he wants to show off, he can. She's okay getting comfortable in the booth. She keeps an eye on him as he goes. The bar largely ignores both of them, which is exactly how she likes it.

When he gets back, she comments:]

You know I'm going to have to ask where you learned to do that.

[ Matt smiles. He denies nothing, instead making his way to the bar (without his cane) and returning with a bottle of whiskey. All without bumping into a single person. If he's going to show off, he's gotta do it right. ]

Would you believe me if I said I learned it from an old man named Stick?

[ He joins her on the same side of the booth, sliding the bottle over till it clinks on her glass. He still has to feel around for the other one, but once he's made contact with them he pours them each a drink without turning his gaze towards his hands. Just blind things. ]

You can ask me about the blind thing now, if you want.

[If he was going to offer like that, how could she pass up? She scoots over to make room for him, pouring for both of them as she does.]

I believe it. But I am gonna ask... Tell me about it? The blind thing. [She's intentionally vague, letting him decide what he wants to share.]

Edited 2016-01-01 04:49 (UTC)

Do you need strangers to touch you all that often? [But they're in motion now. His fingers trail away from her then.]

I mean, if there's ever a place where people are okay with some weird additions, it's this joint. And, I mean. If you want spoilers? I've seen you go full spider already. You're every bit as hot.

Lost my vision when I was nine. Car accident-- knocked an old man out of the way and ended up with chemicals splashed in my eyes for the trouble.

[ He sets the bottle down, stirring his drink needlessly. He hasn't told this part of the story to too many people, but she's kind of a superhero. There's really no point in hiding it. ]

That's when I got my senses enhanced too. It's different here-- but back home, I could hear a heartbeat in another room, pick up police chatter from a block away, or tell you what you had for lunch three days ago just by smelling your breath. That sort of thing. Everything from my balance to my heat perception was... well, it was intense.

Heat perception huh? [There's a smirk in her voice when she says that.

His story makes sense. She didn't doubt a blind man could do most things, day to day, as well as most people; fighting crime wasn't most people's day to day life. That was dangerous for anyone.]

So you were enhanced. There's more of that out there than it seems like any of us realized.

[She's quick to sip her drink again.]

Maybe I should amend vigilante and go with superhero.

I'm not sure if you're saying that to make me feel better, or you're just kinkier than I realized, but either way I have a hard time believing that. Either way... you don't know that it will be the same.

[Because she's not the same.]

[It is lucky that Natasha didn't voice that; it would be a shame if her insecurities soured the moment, and it is a sweet moment. While she's not entirely convinced of the practical utility, the thoughtfulness involved is more than enough to make up for it.]

You mentioned your school some, but not all the details.

[Shaking her head a little, she pulls out one pair of slippers. It's nostalgic, at least.]

It makes sense. It's actually—it's very thoughtful.

[Even a little insightful, in its way. At least Natasha's been struggling to come to terms with the changes, and in it's way, Rin's gift takes some of the prospect of changing. Even if it doesn't last, it's a welcome relief for the moment.]

Thank you.

Among other things. I mean, if you want to call a freak accident being enhanced, then yes.

[ He's never heard of other people with powers besides like, the Avengers, but then again he doesn't exactly socialize within their circles, either. If superheroes have circles. ]

Connor called me that too. [ That makes him smile somewhat sadly. He picks up his drink and takes a long sip, continuing; ] I don't think it counts, personally. My senses make perceiving the world easier, but they're not super strength or agility or anything. The rest I got through training-- I really did know an old man named Stick. He trained me, taught me how to use my gifts like I do. Taught me how to fight... besides boxing, anyway. My dad was a boxer; I got that part from him.

[ Good ol' Battlin' Jack. ]

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