Getting Acquainted -Perry & Pru- ((Closed RP))

Using great care, Perry brushes out Pru's hair, a content smile on his face the whole time. He'd often do this for his baby sister and McKenzie in the past. Being able to do it again brought back pleasant memories, and he enjoyed that.

Perry blinks away those memories when Pru suddenly asked a question, then he purses his lips together in thought.
"Well...It's been a few years now actually." he begins before reaching his hand into the glass to get some water, which he used to wet the ginger's hair a little.

"Back in my hometown I did a bunch of odd-jobs until I finally had enough funds to get my wuerhosaurus. She's the same one that's out in the stables behind the house, and the one that brought me all the way here." Now that Pru's hair had been brushed out and dampened to his liking, Perry splits it up into three strands so he could start braiding it. His hands were very quick and precise about it, not even missing a beat.

"Traveled all the way from Albany to here with that vet, McKenzie. Never actually left home with the intent to live here, but it was a nice town at the time, seemed like a good a place as any to settle down in." Perry finishes up the braid, tying it off with Prudence's ribbon then looking it over with a satisfied nod.

"I definitely don't regret it. This Pennyfeather tournament is a bit of a bother, but I guess it brought you here, so that's one good thing at least..." He grins then takes the braid to lightly flip it over her shoulder so it was in front of her.
"I'm done by the way. Do you like it?" He asks while folding his hands in his lap, quite happy with the outcome himself.

Perry watches as Pru looks over the braid and he grins at her compliment, feeling pretty proud of himself. He really didn't think much of it, he was so used to braiding hair when he was younger that it didn't seem very special anymore. It sure did look cute on Prudence though, in his opinion.

Perry was caught off-guard by her question though and could feel his cheeks warming as he tried fishing for an answer in his head.
"W-well yeah...I mean, you're so sweet, and great fun to talk to. I really enjoy your company and it's nice to not be so alone in the house anymore." McKenzie would of course visit him sometimes, but that was so few and far-between that it ended up being pretty lonely for him. It was one of the reasons he hung out in the saloon so often, even when he didn't have to work.

Now that Prudence was around though, he found himself in the house a lot more often just to visit with her. He loved how she could talk on and on about so many different things, even if they were simple. He'd never met anybody who could talk as much as she did and he was genuinely impressed by it. Finally, someone who could keep up with his own blabbering mouth.

Once again Prudence had surprised Perry by her hugging and it took him a moment to stop being so rigid from the shock. He didn't expect her to be so close and friendly with him in such a short amount of time and it took him a little while to adjust to it at some moments. He enjoyed her touch nonetheless of course, it was all just so new to him.

His face only became warmer at the contact and he stares down at her form before slowly wrapping his arms around her in return. He couldn't understand why he was having such mixed feelings about Pru, he felt like he was doing something wrong, admiring her like this already. Still, she seemed content in his arms like this, and he didn't want to take that away from her.

Perry certainly wouldn't mind just letting her stay like this, staring at the top of her head and feeling her warmth against him. He still had so much to learn about this woman, he hoped one day she would finally open up to him about her troubles. Even though he had no idea what they may be, Perry could still tell something was on her mind that made her so silent like this. In the meantime though, he would comfort her as much as she wanted and continue to spoil her with gifts and a warm place to sleep at night.

Seeing as Perry didn't want to disturb Pru from her comfortable position against him, he decided to stay on the couch with her that night. He had moved to lay down with her on top of him, and only then could he really tell just how thin she was by her light weight. It was sad how malnourished she must have been, but at least Perry could take comfort in knowing he was providing enough food for her now.

The blanket was over them and Perry had his head rested on the arm of the couch, not even thinking at the time how sore his neck would be by morning because of this. Before he knew it though he had drifted off to sleep, comforted by Prudence's warmth against him. It wasn't until he felt her stirring some the next morning that he finally woke up, though he was a bit groggy at first. When Prudence spoke he unconsciously wraps the one arm around her a little more tightly and smiles softly, eyes barely cracking open.

"No, s'ok..." he murmurs, bringing up his other hand to rub his eyes with his palm then stretch his body a little in place. At the moment that's all the "moving" he felt like doing, he was too comfortable the way he was.
"Did y'sleep alright?" he asks before covering his mouth as he stifled a yawn.

Perry could barely keep his eyes open even long enough to hear Pru's response, he was still trying to wake up and was just so comfortable at the moment. If he weren't half asleep he wouldn't be clinging to her so tightly either, but at this point she was like a second blanket and he didn't want to let her go. He opens his eyes once more at her question, raising a brow as his brain tried to process what was said. Something about tea maybe...Either way it got a grunt out of him, not the best response.

It wasn't until Prudence suddenly leaned forward with a kiss that caused Perry to really wake up. He holds his arms up slightly in shock, which proceeded to let the girl free so she could crawl off him and disappear into the kitchen. All he could do was stare wide-eyed at the ceiling, hands still raised as he felt his cheeks warm up. Did she actually kiss him just then? But why?

Perry finally sits up slowly on the couch, cringing a little as he finally noticed how stiff his neck was. He rubs at it while looking towards the kitchen, trying to figure out what he should say or do about what just happened moments ago. He wasn't familiar with these things, he didn't know how much meaning was behind the kiss or if it meant anything at all. It was all very frustrating and all he could do was have a hot face over it.

The only sort of kisses he'd get were from the saloon girls he'd sleep with from time to time, and that was most certainly not the same kind of kiss Pru gave to him. It was only then that he realized he hadn't even been with those girls since Prudence started sleeping on his couch. He furrows his brows then rubs his hands over his face, wondering if maybe he really did feel something for her. Something besides attraction or sympathy, something much deeper than that.

The thought was a little scary, really. He'd had feelings similar to this for someone once before, but it only ended in disappointment and a couple nights of drowning in alcohol to get over it. The thing was, he was already sure that would be the outcome at the time. If he was falling for Pru now, he had absolutely no idea what she felt in return, if anything at all. He didn't know her from front and back, there was no way to predict her. So if he was falling for her, if he admitted this and was rejected...Well, he wasn't sure if a couple nights of drinking himself stupid would be much help.

He tugs at his hair a little in frustration with himself, having no idea what to do without screwing anything up. He finally stands from the couch, tucking his shirt in at the spots that had come lose from laying on the couch last night, then gingerly walks for the kitchen. He leans his head over to peek in at Prudence then clears his throat to get her attention.
"I uh...tea good, yes." he frowns at himself for how stupid that sounded but soon laughs it off, shaking his head.
"I mean, yes, I wouldn't mind having some tea..." he shuffles into the kitchen a bit more but stays near the entrance frame, wringing his hands together nervously.

"There should be some over here." he reaches into a nearby cabinet, pulling out a box with teabags then holding it out to Prudence awkwardly. His cheeks were still very much red.

It was a good thing Pru was holding the box now, because Perry probably would have dropped it after hearing the words that came out of her mouth. All he could do was stare at her with wide eyes, his brain seeming to shut off completely. All his fears were about to be tested right then and there, and he had only just started to think about them!

The few seconds that passed in silence seemed to last for eternity to Perry and he was beginning to panic for not answering right away.
"I-I uh..." he stammers then rubs the back of his neck nervously. Was it getting hotter in here?
"I'm not...entirely sure." he mumbles, wanting to turn away but knowing it was probably important to keep eye contact for something like this.

"W-we haven't known each other for very long...I mean, I do feel something, but..." his brow creases as he tries to figure everything out and the right words to say. It was so difficult though, he wasn't ready for all this so soon.
"I guess I feel...bad? Maybe it's wrong of me to feel this way so soon, I don't know..." Perry wasn't sure if any of this was even making sense or if he was even answering Pru's question properly.

"Gosh, I'm just speaking nonsense aren't I?" he sighs in frustration, running his hands through his hair and laughing a little to ease the tension building up in him.
"To answer your question, I think I do...like you though..." He says, voice shaky. It felt like his whole body was shaking actually and he could only hope he said the right thing. All he could do was wait for Pru's reaction to it all now.

Well it seemed his words didn't do any good at all! If Perry wasn't in a panic before, he definitely was now. Pru's sudden bout of tears and sobbing was a shock, he could barely even tell what she was trying to say through it all. He raises his hands a little, eyes wide as he watches her in confusion. Since he didn't know her background, the "whore" comment threw him off completely and he just assumed she was saying that because she kissed him on the cheek earlier. Which of course didn't make a whole lot of sense...

"P-Prudence, hey--calm down, it's okay!" he says, waving his hands a little as he kept them up.
"Come on, you're not a whore..." he tries to reassure her, reaching out to gently lay his hands on her shoulders.
"Look, I...I don't want you to think I'm madly in love or something. I do like you a lot. This all happened so fast though, I'm still not entirely sure of what it is I'm feeling. I don't want you to feel like you owe me something..." he trails off, tilting his head a little as he stares at her.

Everything was going too fast for him and he was so unsure of himself, his feelings, he couldn't think straight either. He didn't want to leap into things, but he didn't just want to let Prudence go either. It probably didn't help that they were in such close proximity about fifty percent of the time too. There wasn't much time to think his feelings through to himself if she was almost always around.

That's when he got an idea. One that was hopefully good for the both of them...

"Maybe living together wasn't such a good idea after all?" he says, trying to be careful with how he worded this.
"I don't regret letting you stay here of course, but I think it might be leading me to make hasty decisions..." He gently squeezes Pru's shoulder, trying his best to make her still feel welcome.
"You know the vet, McKenzie? I know she's got some extra space, I'm sure she'd love to have you stay there until you can get on your feet. I can talk to her about it today. I can also put in a word at the saloon, maybe the owner will let you be a waitress or bus tables or something so you can earn some money too." He gives Pru a gentle smile, hoping she wouldn't be taking this the wrong way.

"We can still see each other, maybe we can even be working together. I just...I don't want to make any sudden decisions. I think being so close all the time might be making me do that..." He finally stops talking, looking closely into her face and hoping she understood what he was trying to say.