-| U.M.I.R.A. |-

[SHIVERS]

"So like... bank details? Passwords?"
She rolls her eye.
"If there's anything along those lines, I can't remember it off the top of my head.
As I said, you shouldn't worry so much."

You're still worried, but decide to shift to any other conversation topic.

"...How ...'bout the..."
You glance around, spotting the window. 
"...weather?"

With a single look, you can tell she knows you're having trouble.

"We aren't required to talk, you know.
Sitting in silence is fine, too."
"Nahhh, it's cool!
I'm... enjoying this talk." 

It's not entirely a lie. Technically.
But a twinge of guilt hits you regardless.



Vigil eyeballs you.

Her ability to read you is uncanny.
She doesn't bring it up, though. 

Her shoulders rise and fall in a noiseless sigh.
"I like the rain.
Though, I wish it would escalate into a storm.
I miss thunderstorms."

Memories spring forth into your head.
Of many nights spent huddled in your old neighbor's storm cellar:  
alone and scared, while your family was typically out of town.

Best not to think about it.

"...Yeah rain's good," you answer quickly.
You draw in your X without really paying attention, then pass the tray.





Vigil takes the tray with her claws and glances down at the paper.
"...you lucky--"
She shakes her head as she pouts.
"Well, now it's a draw.
Can't believe you happened to pick a corner."


"...what?"

She scoots a little closer, showing you the paper.
"See, since you picked that spot, we'd end up blocking each other for the rest of the game.
Like this," she taps each spot, scribbling in each move in turn until the game ends in a tie.
"If you went in any other spot besides one of the two corners, I would've won.
I had you all but dead to rights!"



You stare at the page, not really understanding.

"...I'm just that good."
"Oh, shut it." Vigil can't help but snicker despite herself.

She rubs the side of her head.
"Well... at any rate, it's getting late.
Probably good to turn in here.
Don't we have to get up early for work?"



You swivel to check the clock on the microwave.

It's already after midnight.
"Shit, bed, yes. Yep.

Man, I didn't even notice it was getting this late..."

You hop off of the couch and motion to Vigil.
"Here, scoot."
She stands up, folds up her chair and moves out of the way, setting the tray aside.

You toss the cushions and start unfolding the pull-out bed from the couch.
"You were out for a while.
At least you had some extra sleep already."
You don't feel rested at all.
In fact, you feel exhausted, and your head's still throbbing a little from earlier.





When the bed finally flops down, an impending predicament hits you.
You turn your head to find Vigil looking between you and the bed.

"...Don't worry about me, you can--"
"I'll take the floor," you blurt out.
Her brow raises. "You're... sure about that?"
"Yep! 
I'll, uh..." 

You find the couch cushions on the floor.
Scooting them over to what little space there is in your tiny apartment, you line them up.
You toss a few blankets from the closets over the cushions,
finishing it off with an extra pillow for your head.
"Boom.
Easy."

You toss your phone onto the charger nearby and flop atop the makeshift bed.

It is not comfortable.
But you don't really care.
You're tired, and it's less awkward this way.

You turn over to find the TV-headed creature towering over you,
and you bury your instinctive sense of panic.
"...Not going to change into your pajamas?"
"Nah, I'm good."







With the curtains drawn,
your little room of an apartment is nearly pitch-black.

In the pithy bit of light that emanates from your microwave,

you can see Vigil.
A monstrous, looming shadow
making its way closer,
heading for the bed.



You wish the sight didn't scare you so much.

You roll over onto your side and close your eyes.



The cheap bed creaks next to you as she lays atop it, blanket rustling.
"...Goodnight."
"...Night."




















Rain pours down the windows in the dark apartment.





Despite how tired you are, you can't sleep.





Something is nagging at you.








"...seriously, uh...
What d'you know about me?"
"Do you want a list?"
"...No, but, uh..."



"Are you upset with me?
I figure... y'know...

...Probably saw somethin' in my memory that made you...

...not...



...y'know..."



"...Rest assured,
how I feel about you has little to do with your memory."

that does not sound promising



"...So you uh..."
You rub the back of your neck.
"Aren't... a fan."













The rain sounds louder in the silence,

as you wait for a response.











"...It's complicated."




"How's it--"
"We should be asleep already, Herrera."

"Yeah, sounds..." 
You move your claws over to cover your head as you turn away. 
"...good. 


Yup."
















You just can't leave it alone.




"...I know I screw up a lot.

So, if it's... 



anything I..."

"Goodnight, Herrera."














"...G'night."




You sink into the blankets and close your eyes.

It's much colder than you imagined it'd be, 
especially since you used all of the extra blankets to pad the cushions, 
so you have nothing to cover yourself but your clothes.






You drift off anyway.










































Shower's running.
You can hear it.

That's the first thing you think of when your alarm wakes you up.

The second thing you think of
is the ungodly amount to which your back hurts.

You reach over lazily on your terrible little excuse for a bed, 
and snag your phone after a few tries.



With your alarm off,
you grunt and pull yourself up to your feet.

God, you hurt.


...Air mattress.
You have to get one after work today.




Usually, you take a shower the second you get up.
It helps you wake up a little.
But... it's occupied at the moment.

Vigil's in there.








Well, you definitely need to take a quick one before work.
You could knock.
Let her know you need in there fairly soon, before you leave.

...Though, after last night,
you're hesitant to interact at all, really.

Maybe you shouldn't bother her.




You could try and make some breakfast,
to pass the time while you wait.
...You could make her something, maybe.

You have no idea what she likes, though.




Little decisions like this shouldn't be so nerve-wracking, you think.