medicine man, i'll lay my head in your hands; medicine man, you will clear my mind

[willowed]

Shrugging off her heavy winter coat, Nuriko stands in the middle of the back room to Urahara Kisuke's cat café, giving the nearest feline a suspicious look as it lingers a few paces away. To the side, a seat has been prepared with treats and sweets for Robin, who seems to be examining the contents of his plate with interest, though Nuriko suspects that he's still keeping his ears trained on herself and the shopkeeper, as per his agreement. His presence relaxes Nuriko, allowing her to follow Urahara's steps as he enters the room with careful confidence.

She has very little idea what to expect, but budgeted for the time just in case. As far as Rin knows, she's out running errands all night for the restaurant, only available by phone, and likely only to return until morning.

"So... it feels to me like there are two options. Either I stay in my body, which will let you examine whether or not it acts and behaves like a regular human body, or I step outside of it so that you can see the stone it will revert to," Nuriko says, folding her coat over her arm and resting her hands in front of her person. "Is there something I'm forgetting? What do you want me to do first."

Her hands tighten against the folds of her coat, and Nuriko bites down on her lower lip, looking slightly apprehensive.

Comments

[willowed]

Nuriko pouts at once when Robin laughs, bright and delighted, not unlike the ringing of bells as his eyes shine with merriment. It's the kind of laugh that makes her feel a little bit condescended — but if there's anyone who's probably earned the right to be that to her, it's Robin. Robin, who's lived an eternity and then some.

"I don't know if any of those things feel very accurate to how I feel under Kisuke's watch. Maybe prey is the closest. But I think it's in his best interest to... make sure that I survive and enjoy this test drive he's offering me," she says quietly. "Then again, I can't read his eyes. Just like I can't read yours. I can't even imagine what would change the priorities of someone who's lived and seen so much. Or maybe I'm putting you on too high of a pedestal."

[goodfella]

At the comment that she can't read his eyes, Robin's face quiets, and he stares across at her with quixotic puzzlement. He doesn't always particularly relish what sets him apart.

"Believe me when I say that this is the first and possibly last time these words will ever leave my mouth, Nuriko, but you shouldn't put me on a pedestal at all. It isn't the years that mean as much as what you do with them. Anyway, realistically, no matter what kind of man he is, it's true enough that I can't find any reason that he would benefit from hurting you with this. If there isn't a benefit, there isn't a motivation."

[willowed]

"If you're able to help out a girl like me after only knowing her for a few months, I imagine that at some point, you must have stuck your neck out there. You must have done something good with some of those years," concludes Nuriko, staring contemplatively. For all the good Robin may have done, she wouldn't doubt if he did just as much harm. Maybe more.

But to someone with an eternity ahead of them, shouldn't forgiveness eventually enter the picture?

Nuriko leans forward and presses a kiss to Robin's temple. "I'm less worried about him hurting me. More worried about what this is a first step towards. But I trust your judgment, Robin. Don't let me down."

[goodfella]

"Now you're giving me too much credit," Robin cautions. But the press of warm lips softens his demeanor again, and he gives a soft, wary smile and a huff of exasperation under his breath. She is, honestly, too much.

"Well, there is no way to know without taking a step. That's all I'm betting on. But I won't let you down, sweetheart. Winning bets have got me this far, after all."