2025-08-25 - Cozy Cuddles

It was about an hour after breakfast and Hawthorne was back in his apartment after shopping for snack supplies.

Wearing flannel pajama pants and a loose fitted shirt, his socks are as mismatched as ever as he walks to the kitchen to grab the pitcher of Summer Sangria from the fridge. The pitcher is brought out and placed on the coffee table where there is a spread consisting of two glasses, popcorn, and a well stocked charcuterie board.

His hair is pulled into a bun that sits on top of his head, held in place by a scrunchy. He'd found Edward Scissorhands on a streaming platform and had it pulled up on the tv. All in anticipation of Arte showing up.

Artemisia is late. Or at least, to her mind she is late. The blonde thusly doesn't use the door like a sane and reasonable person - she comes through one of the full length mirrors just off the bath room and yells, "Sorry I'm late!" She is dressed cute at least in a pair of fuzzy socks and a short, flowery pajama tank and satin boxer shorts with a loose crochet cardigan wrapped around her shoulders. She has a dvd in one hand, not knowing that Hawthorne was able to find it on streaming. She heads towards the living room.

"So sorry. Fluff got off her leash on the walk and it was a time getting her back - did you know rabbit creatures are real fast?" Artemisia asks, dark eyes flickering with pink as she speaks emphatically.

The mirror trick? Hawthorne is still not used to that one, so as she announces her arrival the bowl of popcorn he'd been picking up is nearly tossed across the room as he lets out a startled yell. "I'm fine!" Hawthorne says before catching himself, "I mean you're fine."

Laughing at himself, he holds out the bowl which thankfully hadn't lost many pieces, and smiles to her. "Very nice pajamas." Another laugh then as he shakes his head, "I hadn't thought about it, but it doesn't surprise me. Especially a Fluff chasing freedom. At least until she realizes she wants snacks and cuddles," he offers with a chuckle.

As he heads towards the couch he sits, seeing the dvd now. "Oh excellent! We can use the dvd if you want. I wasn't sure though...in hindsight...it makes sense you'd own a movie you love so much." He starts to pour them glasses of the Summer Sangria. "I also have blankets...because those seem important for movie watching."

Artemisia blinks at him, eyes flickering from brown to pink. "I can go out and come back through the door?" She offers with a point. "I was just so late." There's a flush of heat to her cheeks, wrapping her arms around her waist.

She watches Hawthorne as he takes a seat. Then, Artemisia approaches to sit next to him on the couch slightly uncertain. "Yeah."

"No you're fine. I just...keep forgetting about the mirror thing. Took me off guard. That's all." Smiling to her he offers her one of the glasses of sangria before standing up to put the dvd in.

As he comes back to the couch he gets a couple of the blankets, making sure she has one if she wants her own but also using his to share with her. "I have my snacks. I have you. I'd say I'm officially ready to be introduced to Edward Scissorhands."

"Oh. Well." Some of the tension in Artemisia's shoulders lessens at that. "I can text you first - uhm, next time?" She offers, accepting the glass of sangria.

Artemisia seems content to share blankets and curl into the couch, taking a slow sip as the movie starts to play. "I'll hold your hand if you get scared," she promises Hawthorne with a sincere smile.

There's an embarrassed laugh as Hawthorne nods, "That might be good. If for no other reason than you never know when I'm walking around singing randomly. Wouldn't want to subject your ears to that torture."

"I'm feeling a little scared," Hawthorne says, in a totally non sincere tone, though it gives him the opportunity to move and take her hand as he brings it up to press a kiss to her knuckles. Then, the movie is started. He starts off a bit sympathetic, "Alone in that house? Can you imagine? Poor Edward. That is terrible."

His hand eventually lets go of Arte's so she can multitask her drink and her snacks and also because he becomes mesmerized by the movie. "This music is definitely great." They haven't even gotten to the topiaries yet!

"Riv." Artemesia flashes him an amused smile. "I work in a bar with music and singing. There's no way you're that bad."

She smiles without a hint of shyness, curling her fingers in his. It's a smile that broadens as he places a kiss to her knuckles. Artemisia shifts to cuddling into his side and pull a small plate of snacks into her lap, popping them in her mouth as she watches the screen with interest. "It is, but he also had someone who loved him enough to try to make him a part of their life... just." She winces. "I can't imagine not having my hands."

"Isn't Winnona Rider gorgeous in this?"

"Challenge accepted?" Hawthorne says with a quick grin at the confidence in his singing.

He also adjusts himself so it's easier for her to cuddle into him. At first he's snacking and drinking. Multitasking this as they watch the movie. However, as the movie goes on he slowly stops as his glass is set down and the snacks are forgotten.

When the topiaries finally make their appearance his eyes widen as the movie has his full attention. "Oh WOW." Then, his voice lowers to a whisper of genuine awe, "Look at them."

The joy, the awe, in Hawthorne's voice causes Artemisia to smile as she leans her head against his shoulder. She slips one arm around his waist as she leans in, the other still holding her glass having picked through her snacks. "Right?" She's not looking at the screen, she's looking at his expression with sparkling eyes (literally). "I knew you'd like them.)

As her head finds his shoulder, Hawthorne's arm instinctively lifts and wraps around Arte's shoulder to bring her closer even as his eyes stay on the screen.

"You were right," he says in a still captivated tone. He then clocks what she'd said earlier and looks to her now. "Like us. I was surrounded by my plants and...you connected with me and changed my life for the better. Kim is gorgeous...but Winona Ryder doesn't have anything on you." His tone is sincere as he gives her a fond smile.

He looks back to the movie to continue watching. As it gets to the town turning on Edward, he frowns. He leans more into Arte. "I might need another hand hold," but he's still obviously interested in the movie.

"I was slightly less of a mess about that," Artemisia jokes, happily tucked into Hawthorne's arm. Kim had a real character arc in the course of the movie. Leaning in, she plants a kiss on the corner of that fond smile.

There's no arguing as the movie turns dark. At Hawthorne's request, Artemisia's hand finds his around her shoulder and she holds it as they watch things turn and Edward flee.

As the movie continues Hawthorne is quiet. He's watching, completely enthralled by the story. Arte would feel his form tense and his hand squeeze hers slightly as the movie gets closer to the end.

Then, as it's revealed who the old woman is and the snow starts to all on the town he lifts his hand that isn't being held to wipe tears from his eyes. "Ok. That was a good movie. I don't know how I feel about the ending yet."

Artemisia's expression softens, turning to Hawthorne as he sniffles and wipes his tears. "Aw. Babe." Reaching for a napkin, she lifts it to gently wipe away the tears from his cheeks. "It's bittersweet. But a lot of good things are."

"I know." Hawthorne nods at her comment and lets her wipe the tears way. "I just wish the town's hatred hadn't won. That he still ended up alone."

Then, he's looking to the screen as the credits continue. "He didn't let them harden his heart though. And they still loved each other even if they couldn't be together." There's a small laugh as Hawthorne squeezes her hand, "Here I thought I'd need you for the scariness of the movie, but gah my emotions weren't ready."

"I think in a lot of ways people are more afraid than they are hateful," Artemisia says thoughtfully, leaning back into the wrap of his arm and the couch. "Even here. They were scared. And that made them cruel."

"You're such a romantic," she teases with a grin.

Hawthorne pulls her close and keeps his arm around her. "I don't know. Jim was pretty much just an asshole," he says with a chuckle.

"You're right though. Most times fear causes people to push things away or react negatively when if we just try and understand rather than be afraid it'd be a lot easier." The comment about him being a romantic he just smirks. "Guilty as charged.'

The nice thing about their size difference, frustrating as it can be at times, is that Artemisia tucks nicely into the crook of Hawthorne's shoulder. She doesn't even have to really tilt her head to lean against it, laughing softly. "Well. Yes. He was the classic American asshole," she agrees with a crinkle to her nose.

"Yeah. Like we react before we think about it." Artemisia hums softly. "Makes me think of here a little. All the wonder and the strangeness."

Her pink gaze lifts to him, brows lifting slightly as she giggles. "It's endearing."

"Yeah?" Hawthorne looks to her when he's called endearing and smiles. "Well that's good at least. Because I do love my romance books. It'd be a shame to give those up."

Leaning back into the couch more he pulls her closer against him and wraps the blanket more over them. "This is nice." Looking over to her he gives a small smirk, "Are you sure you can't call out of work? Tell them you caught a case of the cuddles. I'm sure they'd understand."

"I would never try to make you give up something you loved," Artemisia counters softly, leaning her blonde head against his shoulder. She is easily pulled closer as she cuddles into him, although his question makes her laugh. "I don't think the cuddles are a valid reason to call out of work. Alas."

Hawthorne lets out a mock groan of defeat, "I guess you should be responsible then."

Reaching forward, he doesn't have to disrupt them much to get the tray of food and bring it to simply set it on their laps over the blanket. The snacks have come to them! Picking up an olive and a piece of cheese he puts both in his mouth before chewing enough to not speak with a mouthful of food. "So. I've been thinking of getting a pet."

"Well, I like playing and I like getting paid." She flashes him a playful little smile. It's not a bad job.

Long arms! Artemisia picks at bit of fruit and crackers, chewing with a nod as Hawthorne speaks. "Cool. What kind?"

"I can't judge that too much. I get paid to play in dirt. 7 year old me would be thrilled with this development." Hawthorne grins and watches her snack as well. It is a good day.
With that he leans forward, quickly nipping a light and gentle bite against her neck.

As she asks what kind of pet he grins. "A box turtle. I know...very surprising." He looks around the apartment, "I just don't know if it's a good idea? If I can take care of one like they deserve. Or if I should wait."

"I mean, it is an excellent development." There's a shift to her mouth, like Artemisia might say more, but then Hawthorne is leaning in to gently bite her neck and she lets out a soft noise of pleasure. "I can't think about turtles when you do that," she admits with a laugh, shifting to drop her face and trying to snag a kiss.

He lofts a brow and looks innocent with a laugh, "What? I'm a snapping turtle!"

Then, he's being kissed and Hawthorne returns it. Looking to her after with a small smile, "So that's a yes to the turtle?"

Leaning her nose against his, Artemisia admits, "I don't know the first thing about turtles other than they fact that they don't actually eat pizza. So we'll do some research? "

There's a laugh when she mentions pizza, "Yeah that was a disappointment to learn."

He nods after, "Sure. I know some of what they need. I just...know it's also a lot of responsibility. Having a pet. Another life that depends on you taking care of it." Thinking of it for a moment Hawthorne looks to her. "How has it been with Fluff? Did you think you were up for the task when you first found her?"

Artemisia makes a bit of a face at Hawthorne as he talks about the responsibility of having a pet. "I think you might be being too serious about this," she says, nudging him gently. "Like, sure - but also it's not like you have to fight the world and I think turtles are pretty low maintenance?"

She nibbles on a bit of food and shrugs. "Fluff is pretty easy. I mean - not exactly a normal pet though."

Hawthorne considers that a moment, "True." This admission coming from the man who today made the 'ground breaking progress' of picking a different dish off a menu item for once.

"Maybe we can go to the mainland. See if there is a pet store or somewhere that has turtles? Once I make sure I have everything they need."

"You are such a curmudgeon," Artemisia teases, leaning to kiss his jaw with a light bite at the end. "It's okay to go with the flow, you know. And also I think any place selling these turtles will have the stuff to keep them? But sure. We can do that."

There's a frown at the name, Hawthorne leaning into the kiss but looking confused and lofting a brow. "A curmudgeon? Like Scrooge?" One of literatures most famous curmudgeons! He considers it, "I mean I like my habits sure, but I try not to be grumpy about it."

He moves forward from it though and nods as she offers the comment about the pet store. "True. Then yeah. We can just do that."

"You're not grumpy," assures the little blonde in his arms. "I mean, even Scrooge just had to turn a new leaf. You're past new leafs, you tried a new meal today." Artemisia wraps her arms around him fondly.

"We'll make a date of it. Go get lunch, find you a new friend."

"Ah. So not a literary curmudgeon," Hawthorne says with a grin. "Though. I could see myself getting irritated at kids for messing up my garden...I just wouldn't yell at them about it."

He seems good natured about it and leans into her as she plans a date. "I think we should celebrate a new friend with trying a new lunch place." He's on a roll with this whole adventure thing. In the tame way, but still!

"A supersoaker is a much more fun child deterrent," Artemisia suggests in a helpful sing-song.

Arte beams at Hawthorne as he agrees to the date idea. "I like that thought. You'll have to figure out which type of food you want." Leaning in, she catches his ear between her teeth and gives it a light tug. Nom.

"Ooo. You're diabolical. I like it," Hawthorne laughs. "Plus. It deters the children AND waters the plants. It's a win win."

Then, he looks to her. "I'll do you one further. YOU pick the food type. I'll give up full control of cuisine and location to you and go with the flow." That's as far as his thinking gets though before he lets out a startled amused laugh. "Hey!"

Leaning back, he kisses her quickly. Smirking to her after. "I am not a snack!"

"Right? The coolest lawn care device, by far." Artemisia hums thoughtfully, almost musically, her bare leg pressed up against his. She grins at the sundering of decisions (honestly, an act of love by Hawthorne) then goes on with her bitey ways.

There's no apology to Artemisia's grin after he kisses her quickly. "Aren't you? You're delicious." Her dark eyes flicker with pink, almost like a slow gradient of light as she looks up at him.

Her leg would feel the soft fabric of his pajamas, though his form leans into hers as she cuddles more against him. Then, he just laughs. Looking to her as she explains the reasoning.

"Delicious? I'll take it. I guess that would make us both snacks though." He leans forward and closes the distance, kissing her. She'd feel his smile on his features as he does so before he pulls back, only enough to put his nose against hers. "And I'm hungry." With that he kisses her with a stronger more fierce effort.

"Am I a-" Artemisia's question is cut off as Hawthorne leans in to kiss her, causing her to giggle and wrap her arms around his shoulders. "Hungry huh?" A breathless note is caught up in the stronger kiss, her lashes fluttering closed as she wraps one hand in his hair.