Bonnie
Mamoru is nervous for this. He doesn't know why, just that he *Is*. Especially after that candygram- *Did I really need to make it so mushy? God... He must think I'm some lovesick puppy. ..Am I? No. No, I'm not.*

He hasn't had a picnic with anyone before. He's had meals with Nishi, but no picnics. And *Certainly* Nothing *Romantic.* Is this romantic? He hopes it's romantic. He decided to set up in the spot Craig showed him a while earlier. Hopefully... Hopefully he made a good choice.

It's a vegetarian picnic. It has to be. With jam sandwiches and fruit and water. He could have done something better for the drinks, but he was in a bit of a rush. A lot of the food is actually from the garden! Mamoru cannot cook, so the sandwiches are the most complicated thing either of them are getting. No kitchen fires today.

*Maybe I should have asked one of the cooks to help? Or to make some sort of pastry? Is it good? Is this weird?*

Mamoru is *So* Nervous. 
He feels so... So... *Antsy.*
Is he pressuring Craig?
Is he being too much?
Is this too much?
What if Craig decides Moru is too overbearing and he doesn't even want to be friends?

The roots of his hair are dark now, it's been growing and he hasn't been redying it. 
Mamoru would be lying if he said he had been taking the best care of himself. He hasn't been. He's been eating, just not properly, or necessarily as much as he should. He's been in a *Rut* Lately. 

This could help. 
It may make things worse, depending on Craig's reaction, but he is really trying to be hopeful.
Oscar
Craig was walking towards the garden, a large basket filled with food swinging from his arms. He's very excited to meet Moru again after a while. Especially after that candygram. The thought of the candygram made his face light up. He felt immensely guilty for not being able to send one back (mainly because he was too occupied with other activities he didn't even know there was a candygram event) but he hoped today would make up for that. 

Walking into the garden, he scanned the area before his eyes landed on the familiar green hair in the distance. Noticing that he was in the location Craig showed him the first time they met, he smiled before walking over to where he was. 

"Hey," He said with a smile, now behind Moru. "Hope I didnt scare you." 

He sat down in front of the boy, still beaming and began to unpack the contents of his comically large basket. Out comes a whole tray of home baked strawberry jam cookies with a heart shaped center, a large salad, a whole pitcher of lemonade and two ceramic plates with flower patterns on them. 

"Hope I didnt pack to much," He chuckled, tying his 'hair' up in a bun and beginning to toss the salad. "How've you been, Moru?" He said looking up at the boy. 

Taking a closer look at him, he notices the dark roots of Moru's dyed green hair show. Almost instinctively, he reached over to the boy and strokes his hair. "Ahh, well this is embarrassing," He chuckled lightly, "I always kind of assumed your green hair was natural- well, I mean it looks more natural than whatever I have anyway." He admits sheepishly. 

"Well I think your hair is pretty either way." He hummed, his hand moving from his hair to his face. "But you look a bit tired, have you been eating well?" His tone showed nothing but concern, as he rubbed the bags under Moru's eyes, as if trying to wipe them away.
Bonnie
Firstly, he will be relieved when he sees that Craig also brought things. 
Secondly, he startles a little when Craig shows up behind him, but grins. 

And in those moments, all of the nervousness vanishes. The fear Moru had is gone, replaced by a pleasant warm feeling. 

*God, I really really like him.*
He grins, watching as Craig sits and empties the contents of his basket. 

"No, no, it's fine, I'm glad you brought a lot of stuff. I completely forgot about lemonade." He laughs, reaching for one of the cookies before anything else. But he pauses as Craig touches his hair. His face goes red. He is flustered. 

"I wish it was natural, I just really like the color. And I like your hair." *I hope it likes me. Does it have a mind of its own? It does, right? Like if I touched it it would totally bite me.* 

"I've been alright. Better now." He leans into the hand on his face, closing his eyes for a second. 

But then. 
Craig is concerned. He opens his eyes again. 

"I.." *I can't just lie to him. But I can't tell the truth either. Aghhhh..* "I've been... Not really having the best time mentally the past few weeks. You know, with the whole distortion situation- Armando. Basil Levi. Whatever it's called anymore. But I- I feel a *Lot* Better today." He smiles again, trying to be reassuring. 

Seeing Craig worried makes him both sad and... Not happy, but not sad either. He's glad that someone cares- but he already knew that people cared. It's one of those things you know but you don't *Know.* You know it but it's hard to accept it. 

But he doesn't like seeing Craig worried. He wants him to be happy.
Oscar
"I wish it was natural, I just really like the color. And I like your hair."

The loose hair from his messy bun perk up a bit at the compliment. Craig has been getting better at controlling them around people, but minor movements like these is something he doesn't have much control over. "The color suits you well." He hummed. 

Moru's nuzzling sends a wave of dopamine through his body from his hand like an electric shock. 'ahhh, so cute.' He thinks to himself as he masks the urge to squeeze Moru into pieces with a straight face. 

"I've been... Not really having the best time mentally the past few weeks. You know, with the whole distortion situation- Armando. Basil Levi. Whatever it's called anymore. But I- I feel a lot better today." 

Moru's little smile at the end was anything but reassuring. He feels a bit guilty for not noticing all this time. The thought that all this time while he's been occupied with other things, Moru's been struggling makes him grimace. He makes a note to himself to check up on him more properly instead of leaving pastries by his door every once in a while. 

Sighing, his head falls on Moru's shoulder. "Sorry, I've really missed a lot." 

Getting up, he collects his composure and begins to put a large pile of the salad he made on Moru's plate. Now seeing his complexion, he regrets not making something more filling. Perhaps he should have made something heartier for the picnic. 

"Eat up, for now," He says, pouring Moru a glass of his lemonade. "You can tell me all about what happened if you're comfortable speaking about it."
Bonnie
He laughs at the pieces of Craig's hair that perk up. He decides to risk *Trying* To stroke it gently. He's wanted to, just was a bit nervous. 

About.
You know. 
Being bit.

But he's wondered... What does it feel like?

Mamoru wraps his arms around Craig's shoulders when he lays his head on his shoulder until he sits back up. An attempt to comfort him best Moru can. He feels bad. 

*He's worried about me.. I should be taking better care of myself.*

Moru smiles again, though, as Craig piles of the salad. He himself pulls out the strawberry jam sandwiches for the two of them. The crust is cut off, and they are triangle shaped.

"I'm not.. Entirely *Sure* What happened, if that makes sense. I don't think it's any specific event. Ares and I don't really fight anymore, and I am still talking to my friends I just..." He shrugs. "I don't know. But I'm going to try. All the Basil Levi stuff has also been weighing on me, I guess. But they've never taken anything from me or *Done* Anything to me."
Oscar
His 'hair' flinches before letting itself coil around Moru's fingers gently. Craig notices, however pays no mind to the action, it wasn't hurting Mamoru, after all. He's gotten really good with people touching his hair nowadays. Well, Its only for people like Moru and (occasionally) Haoran- but considering he used to go catatonic the moment someone would stroke his hair, its great progress. 

His 'hair' does not leave its grip on Moru when Craig pulled away. "Uhm, if they're starting to tighten around you, tell me," He comments sheepishly. 

"I don't know. But I'm going to try. All the Basil Levi stuff has also been weighing on me, I guess. But they've never taken anything from me or done anything to me."

Craig nods, a bit unsure of what to say. He would be lying if he said he understood what was happening. He's severely behind on NC news. Severely. 

The familiar feeling of guilt for not being there when Moru was struggling washes over him again. But just as fast as they cross he mind, he shelves the feelings, focusing on how he could comfort Moru in this situation right now.

"I'm sorry," He said, picking up a sandwich Moru had prepared for them. "Do you wanna maybe tell me about this Basil Levi situation?"
Bonnie
*Oh he's so cute he's so cute I'm so-* He's so gay. *So* Gay. The hair coiling makes his heart beat faster. It's just- it's *So cute.*

Moru nods. "Don't worry, they're fine." He smiles. *Does his hair.. Like me? Is that what it's doing? Is that what this means?*

Moru pauses, considering how to start explaining this thing to Craig. 
But he wants to.

"..Yeah. My knowledge- everyone's knowledge- is fuzzy. As far as I'm aware, there's been this distortion that can copy people's abilities and make them sick and stuff. But in reality, it's two- maybe three?- people who got stuck. They know Graham somehow."

"At first, they could only talk in code, then three words at a time, now four, I think. They want our help, but I don't know what to do.. It's a big mystery that I don't feel like I can- I don't think I can help that much. Amelie speaks Swedish, which most of the files are in, so she's much better equipped than I am."

He frowns slightly. "I wouldn't say I'm *Useless.* I just- I'm not what they need to figure this out right now. So I'm trying not to worry about it as much."
Oscar
"..Yeah. My knowledge- everyone's knowledge- is fuzzy. As far as I'm aware, there's been this distortion that can copy people's abilities and make them sick and stuff. But in reality, it's two- maybe three?- people who got stuck. They know Graham somehow." 

He nods. Not because he understands, just to show Moru how intently he's listening. He recalls a past conversation with Moru about the distortions. As a recluse that stays within the 3 rooms at all times (that being the dorm the garden and the kitchen) he didn't get the displeasure of getting to know these distortions very well. 

It was likely for the better. Considering his powers are also working against him, what with the sentient hair limbs, the distortions could have made it an absolute disaster for Craig and whoever has the displeasure of being around him at the time. 

"At first, they could only talk in code, then three words at a time, now four, I think. They want our help, but I don't know what to do.. It's a big mystery that I don't feel like I can- I don't think I can help that much. Amelie speaks Swedish, which most of the files are in, so she's much better equipped than I am."

Another nod. A bit more confused this time. 

"Well," He began after Moru got everything out of his system. "I would be lying of I told you I knew exactly what's going on- but from what I've gathered the situation seems to be very complicated." 

"I wouldn't go so far as to say you're useless. Perhaps its something better left for the people more equipped to deal with it. You should be more careful, Moru." He sighs, taking a bite out of the sandwich. 

"I'd hate to see anything horrible happen to you because of this." He grimaces.
Bonnie
Oh he's *So* Normal about Craig. He knows Craig probably isn't fully comprehending everything he's saying, but that's okay. He doesn't exactly need advice, he needs to rant. And he did.

It's his turn to nod as Craig speaks.
"You're right. I will. I will be more careful. The one time I touched it I... I *Needed* To, you know? Nishi was in trouble. She's like a little sister, I have to do something if something happens to her."

Damn these sandwiches giving Moru an excuse to chicken out of asking if he can kiss him again. It's a weird thought to come out of the blue, but he can't help it. 

That expression on Craig's face.. Mamoru wants to turn it into a smile, but also, he likes all of Craig's expressions.

Moru takes a bite from his own sandwich, glancing at Craig quite often. He can't help it. He can't believe this is a *Real guy* In front of him. Who *Likes* Him. Or, probably likes him. There aren't any official labels, but sometimes you can just *Feel* Things.

Craig is just so... Wonderful. So incredibly wonderful.
Oscar
"You're right. I will. I will be more careful. The one time I touched it I... I needed to, you know? Nishi was in trouble. She's like a little sister, I have to do something if something happens to her."

Craig nods. Shelving his worries away for now. At the very least, Moru is here today in one piece; which is all that matters right now.

A comfortable silence befalls the two boys as they eat the food in front of them. Moru is a greatly comforting presence to Craig. With any other person or place his mind would have been going a hundred miles per hour, but Moru seems to put the noises in his head at ease. He wasn't really sure why this was the case; nor did he really ponder how his presence could alter his brain chemistry this way either- 

It was just something that happened to be. And Craig had no complaints; so why think about it further?

In this moment of silence and clarity, Craig was able to really think about everything. His mind naturally landed on Moru; more specifically his little situationship with the boy. 

He could never really put into words his fondness for Moru. On one hand, every little move he would make would make his chest squeeze and everytime something bad happened to Moru, he is overwhelmed with feelings of grief and guilt- even if its through no fault of his own. He knows he wants to be there with Moru through everything he's going through. 

*'But is it love?'*

He's never had a reference for these kinds of things. The only feelings of love that he has had for another person is just Evelyn. And he feels wildly different about Evelyn and Moru. 

*'I should get more friends that I can consult about this.'* 

His thoughts are interrupted as he catches Moru stealing glances his way. Any memory of his previous ponderings are shelved for another day. 

"Do you like the cookies I made?" He hummed, a soft smile on his face, "I edited the recipe a bit so I'm not sure if you'd like it."
Jerry
Being around Craig is wonderful. It feels so *Nice.* To feel so comfortable with someone. Especially since Mamoru *Knows* Craig has a lot going on most of the time. Craig's brain is always doing something all the time. It's nice and.. Honestly flattering to see Craig seem calm. At ease. 

Mamoru would love to be able to call Craig more than a friend. But he is content to just be close to him. Of course, he hopes for little bits of contact all the time. The brush of a hand, pushing back his hair, just any contact at all- it makes Mamoru melt into a gooey green jelly. It's a feeling he doesn't often feel, used to being on guard and not this *Vulnerable* With another person.



When Craig's hair basically grabbed his finger his heart felt like it was going to *Explode.* In a good way.

It's been a few moments since they talked, so he has to take a second to yank himself out of his thoughts.

"Oh- yeah. I do. I think these are a new best for you." He grins, reaching for another cookie. Sure he hasn't finished the actual healthy meal things but the cookies are *Good*. You cannot blame him.