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Zouichi looks back at him for a moment. He knows that expression, even on his own face. "I was worried about you," he says. He was actually trying to avoid saying it, outright, since he's sure the revelation will make Howard feel awkward, but since he's going to get the 'what are you talking about' look anyway...

"Well, just you know, honey, I miss that extra half-foot already." He scowls down at Howard's considerably shorter legs. "I wonder if the Inn has any stools."

And his hair. It's weird to have hair as short as Howard's. "Your head feels all naked, by the way."

"You were?" If it's possible for a synthetic human's face to flush, Howard's accomplished it. He reaches a hand to chew on the fingernails then stops halfway up, remembering it's not his body to mess with as he pleases. "Whatever. I don't need you to worry about me."

The fact that he worries a little bit about Zou on some of those missions is not going to come up in this conversation, dammit. Or ever.

"I'm not that short. Just climb on the counters or something." He runs a hand through Zouichi's hair. "Your head feels like it's got a mop on top of it. You're not allowed to grow out a 'fro in my body, by the way. You'll just look stupid."

Ack. Watching himself blush like that is weird, so incredibly weird. "Of course. Don't you ever worry about your friends? I'm pretty sure it's actually a prerequisite."

"And I'd rather not climb on the counters unless I have to. Sounds kind of undignified. I'm pretty sure I saw a stepladder around somewhere..."

Zouichi rolls his eyes. "Clearly, you don't know how to appreciate the finer things in life. Also, you're not allowed to give me a haircut. Under any circumstances." Zouichi does not want to get stuck with a crew cut or anything equally ridiculous. "Maybe I can wear a hat or something. It feels cold."

"Yeah, but, over serious stuff. Not whether or not you're getting enough sleep." Of course, Zouichi doesn't need to sleep, usually, so that's really a non-concern. But it was worrying about Zou on that Trojan Horse mission that first cued Howard in that Zou'd been promoted from mere acquaintance.

Is that really what he looks like when he rolls his eyes? "I'll leave your emo kid hair alone if you leave mine alone. Seriously, I don't want you giving me Tina Turner hair just to keep your head warm."

"It is serious. If humans don't get enough sleep, they become sick, incoherent, unable to function, or begin hallucinating. Or a combination of those. Not everything has to be about whether or not you're bleeding out of the floor."

"'Emo kid hair'? You know, jealousy doesn't become you, Howard. No one else ever complains about it." He sighs. "But fine. I won't inflict Tina Turner hair on you. Whatever that is."

"My body doesn't feel that bad, does it? I mean, I'm not an insomniac or anything. That night you came over wasn't normal." Of course, how would Z be able to tell? Does he even know what tired is?

Mostly Howard worries about Zouichi's little spaceship on the aerial missions getting blown to pieces. It could happen! It's not even unlikely!

"I'm not jealous. You've got an emo haircut. How do you put up with it getting in your eyes all the time?" He pushes Z's bangs out of his face again. Besides, he likes his hair. When you run your hand over it it feels kind of like a sheep. "No dreads, either. Tried it once and you do not want to go down that road."

Zouichi shrugs. "I don't know. It just feels a little... strained. It's hard to describe. I've never felt this before."

Even if his VF was destroyed, he could survive in space! He'd be fine, more or less!

"It's a perfectly normal haircut, and I'm used to it. Besides, that's what parts are for. And anyway, there were Synthetic Humans with much longer hair than me." Zouichi doesn't want his head to feel like a sheep! Besides, his bangs are completely maintainable, thankyouverymuch. "Grow them again sometime; I want to see what they look like."

"Might just be normal fallible, mortal human you're feeling."

But what then! Just float in space forever? That sounds miserable! Besides, what happens if Z gets blown to pieces too?

"Haha, no. I'm not going to spend the months it takes to grow them looking like an idiot just to put a smile on your face. No offense."

"Oh, please. I'm as mortal as anyone else."

Jeez, Howard, do you ever have a morbid imagination. That's what the EX-GEAR is for!

"Oh, come on. It wouldn't just by for my amusement -- it'd benefit the entire crew." He sighs melodramatically. "I guess I could always see what it looks like in the Sensoriums."

"Okay, Dinoslayer. Whatever you say."

Howard pretends to shudder. "You realize dolling me up in different hairstyles in the Sensoriums would be totally creepy, right? I mean. Just so you know."

"Oh, come on. I let you see me in a maid outfit."

:D

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Re: Kanoe Zouichi

Tie up around here?

Sure!