console; video

[peacefullywreathed]

[The audio comes on first, accompanied by a quiet curse. Then the video appears on Solomon leaning over his console. He's in his apartment, but he's wrapped in his coat and his breath is misting, and he's very pale, as if he's been in the cold for hours on end without having been properly attired. His eyes don't fix on anything, and the observant will notice old scars around them.]

I know there's a number of mechanically-inclined in the city. Our heating's just broken down.

[He hesitates.]

Earlier this morning, actually.

[It's mid-afternoon.]

I don't care if you're Foreigner or kedan, but I'll give you extra if you come now to fix it, and do so before Raine gets home.

[And don't mention the part where his fingers are dangerously blue. Or so he assumes they are, given that they're numb, hence the trouble finding the 'on' switch. She absolutely won't see this before work ends, right? Right?]

Comments

[peacefullywreathed]

If anything's happened to my violin, I'm not likely to forget, believe me.

[It's a wry response, but then he huffs at himself and tugs her closer, so he can wrap his arms around her and rest his head against her belly. He's still colder than his usual, but not by much anymore.]

I'll try.

[It really isn't because of inattention, or a lack of self-preservation. Sometimes he wonders whether his magic is overwriting some vital sensibilities.]

[ruinsprofessor]

Your violin--

[Of course it would be the damage to the violin, not to himself.]

[But the rest takes the wind from Raine's sails neatly. She was expecting greater protest, somehow, and so it takes a moment before she drapes one arm about his shoulders, stroking his hair idly with the other.]

...Thank you. That's all I can ask. Here.

[She's already warm by contrast; gathering mana makes even that a little more pronounced as Raine casts.]

First aid.

[peacefullywreathed]

[Unconsciously Solomon leans into that warmth, like a cat trying to burrow under covers. He hums as the feeling returns properly to his fingers, flexing them against her back.]

Does that mean I'm safe to go near a hot bath, now?

[He turns his head just enough so she can see one eye through the strands of his hair, and a hint of a mischievous smile at the corner of his mouth.]

With supervision, perhaps?

[ruinsprofessor]

[Raine smiles when he holds her closer, genuinely amused now instead of mournful over Solomon's lack of self-preservation. Becoming his own personal space heater does have significant redeeming qualities.]

Hm. With supervision.

[As dry as her tone is in response to his mischief, she's also entirely serious. At this point she doesn't trust him not to scald himself by accident. Absent, Raine smooths the hair back from his face, though functionally it'll make little difference to him.]

Fortunately, I have some spare time, and we did make sure of a spacious bathroom.

this a wrap?

[peacefullywreathed]

Spacious bathrooms have a great many advantages.

[In more ways than one. With mild reluctance Solomon detaches himself from Raine so he can rise, bowing slightly to kiss her knuckles like a gentleman.]

Lead the way.

o7

[ruinsprofessor]

[Such a gentleman. Raine laces her fingers through his and leads the way, as requested. This is, all things considered, the optimal solution.]