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Back when I arrived (the first time), someone posted this. It was a lot of fun, so I thought I'd do it tonight. It's better than staring at this data and willing it to change.

Word association. Reply with the first word that comes to mind. No cheating.

To start us off: help.

[ ooc: threadjacking is not only allowed, but fully encouraged! go nuts, people. ]

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Like I said, we have to make sure this isn't making you anemic. You should eat more red meat, maybe take iron supplements. Pills.

[That's the first step, but if that doesn't work...]

But if you start feeling really tired all the time, get headaches, feel dizzy or weak, or just generally off, you need to tell me. I'll have to...add something to the mix. Animals or...something.

[She was beginning to see that they'd been existing in this kind of, magical bubble in which they were pretending like all of this was normal, Kate, for her part was as much to blame as Richie. He might not have shared with her how complicated all this would be until now but she hadn't asked and if she were being honest, she hadn't because she hadn't wanted to know.

Her expression remains guarded, Kate not wanting to see how this is twisting her up inside, trying to keep the worry lines from wrinkling her features as she shifts on the couch, pulling up a leg to tuck it close to her chest, almost like a physical shield.]

I mean... I haven't? Not since... the caves. [Then she'd felt awful, far worse than she'd actually let on to Richie.] Would... animals be enough?

I took a lot from you that day, between the cold and the fact that it had been a long time.

[He'd noticed, though. It was hard not to.]

No. Not by themselves.

[He could survive, but he would suffer. And he would slip. And he simply doesn't want to.]

[Kate nods slowly, absorbing every piece of information, filing it away and knowing full well that this was not something she could ignore. She needed time, though. Time to figure out how she felt and time to adjust to the idea that maybe her way, wasn't the right way.

The hardest part was knowing that Richie would suffer if it meant keeping her happy and that she could be all that stood between innocent people living and dying.]

We don't have to figure any of that out right away though. [Part question, part statement. She had a lot of thinking to d, it seemed.]

No, not yet. [He shrugs slightly.] We may never have to if you never feel sick.

[His expression changes and he watches her intensely then, that gaze that she would know well by now.]

So if anything changes, you can't keep it from me. Do you understand?

[She shrinks back under his scrutiny, in part because she had in fact been considering doing just that; trying to handle it on her own rather than tell him if there was a problem so they could prolong how long this would work.

She could not. however, look him in the face, and tell a bold-faced lie. He'd see her struggle with it, as if she'd rather just not react than give him her word but she didn't really think that this was a staring contest she could win.]

Okay. [Knowing how lackluster she sounds and seeing the look on his face, she tries again.] I understand.

[He relaxes then, briefly glancing down and then back up.]

Thank you.

[He's not going to be the reason she gets hurt. Not again.]

[ Wrapping an arm around her leg, she hugs it close, her chin coming to rest on top of her knee as Kate all but pulls herself into a ball. ]

You're welcome...

[And now there felt like there was a weight pressing down on her chest, this shift in the air and the turn towards more serious subjects, leaving Kate feeling heavy.

What she wouldn't have given to go back to when they were playing silly word games and she was choosing clothes for him.]

[He gets up from the couch then, heading over to the desk and focusing before he opens the drawer, pulling out a bottle of pills.]

Head's up.

[And then he gently tosses them to her.]

Might as well start now.

[Surprise. It's iron tablets.]

[She catches them - barely, her leg dropping down in the process, brow furrowed and nose wrinkling as she examines the bottle.]

Now? [As if asking that would somehow change his mind.]

We don't even know if I'm anemic. [Not that it really matters to her if she takes them or not, it just made this whole problem a lot more real.]

They're preventative, too. You're less likely to develop low iron if you're taking iron already.

[This part he, at least, acts like is no big deal.]

Even if you did, it wouldn't hurt you overnight. Anemia apparently isn't all that uncommon. [A beat as he remembers something.] Oh, and take them with vitamin C. Like OJ or something. That'll make them work better.

[Like he said. Research. Also overactive memory abilities. It's fine.]

[Up until this point, Kate has wanted absolutely nothing to do with this but as Richie continues to speak, she slowly starts to realize what's happening here.

This isn't him finding something on a whim. He's gone so far as to research this in such detail, that he'd considered the best way for her to take them in order for them to work better.

This was basically the genius's version of romance and she can't be frustrated about that.

A small, half grin finally pushes at the corner of her mouth and Kate drags her mopey ass up to cross over to where he's standing. With a crook of her finger - because he's just too tall - she beckons him to retrieve the kiss she's trying to give him as she rests her hand against his chest and rises onto the balls of her feet.]

Thank you.

[Considering how poorly this seemed to be going only a short moment ago, he's actually pretty surprised when she grins and walks over, though he obeys the gesture and bends forward slightly, letting her press a kiss to his lips.]

Yeah. No problem.

[He shoves his hands in the pockets of his new jacket briefly before he pulls one hand out, hooking a thumb over his shoulder.]

Food?

[His intent counts for a lot okay.

She opens her mouth, hesitating briefly because honestly? Especially after their conversation - she's really not that hungry, but for his sake...]

Sure. [Kate rubbing her thumb against his chest before letting her hand drop.] In or out?

[Closets in the room or the tables in the dining room basically.]

You didn't get me all dressed up just to stay in, did you?

[He lifts a brow at her, smirking now that most of the tension has faded. Besides, after all that super heavy shit, they could probably use the fresher air.]

I wasn't sure you were ready to take that look public yet. [A hint of teasing in her tone as her grin widens a little.

They needed a change of scenery, a chance to just exist without talk of anemia and eating animals.]

[His hands grasp the bottom hem of the coat near the zipper, pulling down on it as if to smooth out the wrinkles and fully settle it on his shoulders.]

I think I can handle it.

[He heads to the door, pulling it open before gesturing through it with an open palm.]

Ladies first?

[You could take the boy out of a suit but... well, you get the idea, Kate having to hide her grin as he smooths out his jacket.

As she moves to exit the room, her hand captures his, heading out first but ready to pull him along with her as the two of them head off for food and we stop having epic TLDR threads in other people's posts.]

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