Chapter Text
"I see you, stardust."
Your words must catch him off-guard, because he startles. He'd undoubtedly been lost in thought. Almost certainly thinking they weren't real. You know this. You know them.
You know the way you think.
"I see you," you say. "Y-You're still here, look!"
You refuse to think of your actions as anything close to hesitant. That's not what Loop is!! Loop is bright and cheery and annoying and oh so helpful~
Still. It takes a moment to reach across the space between you two. And it's! Not hesitant! Just! You're being considerate, that's all!! You're giving your stardust time to react. To pull away. To do anything but. Sit there. And watch you. Close the distance.
You... poke their gloved hand.
"Stardust," you say. "You're here, with me."
. . .
Oops! You forgot! Your voice! That was too serious, too similar! You hope he doesn't notice!
Your stardust breathes out, slowly. Calmly. You... can't help but brighten at that. Ha! That's better. Look at you! Helping them! He smiles at you. Aww!
Before you can pull away, he twists his hand around and grasps yours. Oh. Um! Hm! You think you maybe... flinched... just a bit.
"You're also here," they say gently. "With me."
. . . !
"Ha..." You have no idea what your face is doing. And... and– Lucky for you! There's not much face there, at all! As you've recently learned! So whatever your stardust sees! Is probably fine!
They surely have no idea how sad and ironic this all is! The two of you! Here! With each other!
You, here, with yourself.
You snap your free hand up to cover your nonexistent mouth and smile. "I sure am!!!!!!"
Your stardust keeps hold of your hand. And– and this is the first time you've really touched anyone, isn't it? Since becoming like this. Wow! Weird! Why!!! He is still holding onto you!!!!!
"Loop," they say, looking down and away. Embarrassed??? "Would this be... okay?"
Your fingers twitch, and you sort of... hold his hand back, to give them something to do. "Would what be okay, stardust?"
He squeezes your hand. "Um. This? You... you called it. T-touch... therapy?"
His voice gets smaller and smaller until it's barely audible. You stop yourself from leaning closer, trying to catch the words. Their chin has tucked itself away in their cloak and they're avoiding your gaze. Fascinating!
"Touch exposure therapy," you say brightly.
He mumbles and doesn't say anything that can be discerned as actual words. Wow! You're sure awkward and uncomfortable as Siffrin, aren't you! Look at them!
But as Loop you're just sooo so so helpful! And you know what they're trying to say, anyways!
"Aw stardust," you croon. "Aw! Aw!!! Do you want to practice touch with me! Me!!!!! Aw!!!!!"
"Stop it," he grumbles.
"Awwwww!!!! Awww!!!" You can't stop. Otherwise you'd have to think about what this might mean. "Stardust!! Touch!!! With me!!!!"
"You can just say no," your stardust says. He finally loosens his hold on your hand and slips away. You let him go. "You don't have to make fun of me for it."
You sit back in your usual pose. Back straight! Legs crossed! You steeple your hands together and ignore the way the one of them feels tingly and warm.
"What part of what I said sounded like a no to you, hm!"
Oh, Loop, what are you doing. You... blink and smile and don't think about it!
"...?" Your stardust is still hiding beneath his (your) hat and there's only a slight tilt in their posture that hints at hope.
You! Are helpful! Helpful Loop!
"Yes," you say. You flip a hand dismissively. "Yes, your touch exposure therapy. Since your party has become sooooo dreadfully inadequate in this quest of yours, I suppose I can step in."
"You can?"
"Mmhm! We can't have all of your wonderful progress go to waste! I wouldn't stand for it!"
"You..." They're squinting at you now. But look! You've pulled him out of hiding! Good job, Loop! "You are making fun of me, aren't you."
"Maybe a little~" You grin from behind your hand again. "But! I also mean it! I'm here to help you, stardust. And aren't I so helpful! Aren't I just the best!"
"You're... kind of annoying, actually."
Ow!? But also, probably deserved! You laugh at them.
"Rude!" You take a breath that you don't need and clasp your hands together. You're doing this. You're giving this to them. You're encouraging something that... surely couldn't ever possibly backfire. Nope! Teehee! "Anyways, let me put it this way for you, stardust... [You've gained the conversation topic (Touch Exposure Therapy)! When you loop back to talk to me, you can choose this option at any time! But only once per loop! Don't get greedy now!]"
"Ow."
"Alright! There you go, stardust!"
Your stardust looks down and away. His face is dusted with a hint of darkness. B-blushing! Oh! Oh?
"Thanks," they mumble, and then continue mumbling, under their breath, "This won't make things awkward at all."
Oh???
"So," you say, bright and loud. "Is there anything else I can help you with on this wonderful new loop?"
There isn't. Your stardust is looking into Time Craft. Something you never, ever found sign of on your loops. And you aren't thinking about THAT, so! You both commiserate on books... finding them. Reading them. He sighs, finally. And gets up to leave.
You tell them you'll see them later, like always. You wave, gently, like you've been doing since he completed all familyquests and still found themselves trapped, here. With you.
And your stardust returns your goodbye in a way they never have before, with a long look followed by a quick duck of their head. Which could arguably be a nod. But. Could also, arguably, be something else, given the faint blush and stutter step.
Hm!
They walk away from the tree.
Off on another loop. Off to another failed attempt. You remain here, under the tree. And you try not to think too hard about any of what just happened.