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[myhousemyrules]

Comments

[trustfundee]

since like last night. i thought my drink was spiked for a sec. and yes, all of the above.

where are you rn?

[myhousemyrules]

[ She's a little alarmed at that. He's so cavalier about it. ]

Like roofied you or something??

[trustfundee]

no, no one actually did, but the thought did cross my mind. happens more than you think, you know.

[ but it’s cute, the way she’s reacting. ]

are you worried about me?

[ oh, there goes his door bell. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ That is deeply concerning. ]

You're not feeling well.

[ It's not an answer, but at the same time, it is. ]

[trustfundee]

[ When he opens the door, thinks it’s the burger he ordered, but when he brings the paper bag inside, he’s surprised by its contents. it’s a little while before he texts her again. ]

this delivery will make me feel better. you sent it, didn’t you?

[myhousemyrules]

I'm not sure I know what you mean.

[ That's a little closer to a lie, so it makes her stomach twist a bit. ]

[trustfundee]

aw, don't be shy. you know what i mean.
seriously. literally no one else would do this besides you.
it's good soup.
you know what would be better tho?

[ he sends her a photo of the takeout soup, with a silver spoon sticking out of the plastic container. it's dimly lit, with his spare hand giving her a thumbs up beside the bowl. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ Of course he eats it with a silver spoon instead of the flatware it likely comes with. He's so irritatingly charming and disarming. All she wants is to laugh and be there with him. Someone should be there for him and care for him, but then she's reminded of what he's chosen and the women he's had on his arm as of late. ]

Cold medicine and rest most likely.

[trustfundee]

[ He doesn't have anyone here and caring for him. He doesn't like having anyone near him when he's like this--he doesn't like people seeing him when he's uncomfortable. However, the urge to text her had been overwhelming. The way he misses her is overwhelming. ]

nah. i have cold medicine now, thanks to you. rest is easy to do.[ it'd been there alongside the soup. ]
guess again,

[myhousemyrules]

[ She wants to go to him. Marta wants to be there to check his temperature, make sure he stays hydrated and tuck him into bed. She has to fight so hard against it. It's not her place now. It's not where she belongs. That doesn't mean she stops texting him though. ]

Orange juice?

[trustfundee]

[ He wishes she’d be the one to have made this soup, but at least he’s talking to her. ]

no, silly. i hate orange juice. grapefruit mimosas only.

it’s you. i miss you.

[myhousemyrules]

[ She doesn't answer right away. She reads those words over and over. It's like jamming her finger into an open wound and twisting it. ]

You've been keeping busy.

[trustfundee]

[ He ignores what she says. It’s too complicated to get into. ]

i wish you were here. where are you?

[myhousemyrules]

[ Typical Ransom. She wants to hurt him and say she's at Cameron's, but she can't lie. ]

I'm home.

[trustfundee]

[ She’s home, in her bed, with a book and she’s texting him. That’s good.

He calls her. The line rings. ]

[myhousemyrules]

[ She debates not answering. She debates declining his call. Marta isn't strong enough. She answers instead. Her voice is husky from the late hour and disuse. ]

You shouldn't be calling me.

[trustfundee]

[ He sniffles and wipes his mouth on the linen napkin before he speaks, his voice is croaky, nothing like the smooth timbre she’ll have gotten used to. ]

You always make me feel like such a creep. [ Nevertheless, there’s the note of humour in his voice. ] Hi to you too. Is it a boomer thing to think it’s easier talking than texting?

[myhousemyrules]

[ He sounds terrible. Congested and raspy. He could do with a steam treatment. She keeps avoiding his questions. ]

Judging by the sound of your voice, you also shouldn't be talking much either.

[trustfundee]

I know. I probably sound like shit. [ Another sniffle. He also knows he’s not as sharp as he usually is. His thoughts move like molasses. ] You do the talking, then. I called to hear your voice.

[myhousemyrules]

[ She's quiet for a beat. Her breathing is soft and even on the line. ]

You should make some tea too. [ There's so many other things she wants to say. She focuses on neutral ground. ] Meg came by to see me today. Your mother yesterday.

[trustfundee]

[ He’s quiet when she is. He’s tired, and it feels like he’s under water. Besides, listening to the peaceful rhythm of her breathing is… nice. He made some tea already, but he goes to refill the mug with water from the kettle. ]

No, not that. [ He doesn’t want to talk about his family. ] Tell me about something else.

[myhousemyrules]

[ She clucks her tongue in disapproval. Bossy and picky as always. But he's sick, so she doesn't chide him for it. She can't believe she's entertaining this. ]

I've been looking at new places. I'm trying to find a decent place for us to move into then Harlan's home will be yours.

[trustfundee]

[ No, not that either. He doesn’t want to talk about the inheritance or anything that comes with it. It’s a weight that settles on his already congested chest. He sighs. ]

Tell me how you’ve been. Not what you’re doing. How you’ve been.

[myhousemyrules]

[ She sighs. Marta closes her book and sinks deeper into her bed. How does she tell him how's she'd been? Miserable half the time? Most of the time really with pockets of moments where she feels like she can make it. She's obsessively been looking at his social media and the latest gossip rags about him. It's not healthy, but nothing with Ransom is. ]

I'm tired. I've started a new job. I'm still getting used to the schedule.

[trustfundee]

[ He sips his tea, sighing as he sinks into his sofa. If she's been keeping up with him, then she'll know the media's caught wind of the inheritance being transferred to him. She'll have also seen the various articles speculating about what's happened between them. ]

Yeah? Long hours? [ It's like he can hear the fatigue in her voice that has nothing to do with the hour. ] Did you manage to find something for low-income families? [ See? He listens. He remembers. ]