#so you get a lil forced proximity via a very crowded train car!!

[tvrningon]

[pin] - Sender and receiver are caught in a small space, causing their bodies to be close together. // for chiyo from rayo, im just 👁️👁️

seggsual tension | @metrictita's rayo gets close to chiyo!

she's not a fan of crowds.

it isn't just a matter of her social battery running low because chiyo can handle that, tough it out if she has to. it's the fact that her personal space becomes so much smaller when there's so many people nearby; it's the fact that she can't see over her taller neighbors; it's the fact some of them don't seem to notice when they're in the way, and she just wants to get out of the throng and breathe. being in the middle of a crowd makes her feel like she's in a room with the walls all closing in on her.

but it helps that rayo is with her that day, distracting her as he rambles about the game he's recently picked up that he's sure she'd enjoy, too. it's easy to drown out the rumble of the people squeezed into the train that afternoon when he's so excited, a smile stretched across his face that's genuine rather than just for her benefit. it makes chiyo smile, too, and she opens her mouth to ask about the co-op mode when the train comes to a stop.

she glances up at the digital sign. they've got another stop before they need to get off. chiyo readjusts her grip on the metal pole in her hand, turns her attention back to rayo. and then the influx of people comes.

very quickly, chiyo decides there isn't enough room in this stinkin' train car for this many people. strangers shuffle in closer, cramming themselves within the the small space; she stumbles as the train begins to move before the lot of them are quite settled, but rayo stops her from knocking into someone else. his hand is warm upon her bicep, steady and grounding.

" thanks, " chiyo breathes, trying her hardest to not look as agitated as she feels. why do trains have to be the fastest way to travel a city? they suck.

someone brushes against her back, and instantly chiyo's pressing closer to rayo, all tense and glancing over her shoulder. when she's satisfied the touch wasn't intentional, she looks up at her friend to gripe a little and realizes, oh. he's kinda close, close enough that she has to crane her neck to meet his eyes, close enough that their chests brush when chiyo takes a deep breath. heat rises to her cheeks, heart fluttering in a way that it definitely shouldn't. chiyo glances over her shoulder again.

damn. she's got no place to go.

" sorry, there's just-- there's a lotta people. " chiyo tries to smile, but it feels awkward. she tries not to breathe too much, hyperaware of the warmth emanating from rayo ( she's drawn to it like a moth to a flame; she fears she'll burn just the same, too ). " what, uh... what about the co-op mode? have you tried it with niko or gaia yet? " that's right. breathe -- but not too much! just keep talking, act normal. you're fine. he's fine. this is fine.

her grip tightens upon the pole. rayo's smile is back, just as dazzling as before, and again, her heart flutters nervously. this is fine. it's fine.

( ah, so we're lying to ourselves again, are we? )

#metrictita #one day i'll write a response that doesn't require me setting up a whole scene but that's not today ASDFG #my brain initially wanted to shove them in a closet but i couldn't think of a good reason that that would happen asdf #so you get a lil forced proximity via a very crowded train car!! #also i dunno if gaia would be into video games but pls know chiyo would teach her how to play :' ) #and then they'd attempt to crush rayo and niko at competitive games >:) #interactions | chiyoko