#question mark? is that a thing

[malduguns]

Imagine the world of isat has internet. Now imagine siffrin is going through the long and difficult process of letting people touch them and be intimate (non-sexually and sexually) with them. Now imagine they get introduced to asmr (maybe mirabelle mentions it, i imagine she likes watching doll painting or book binding asmr (she found that during taking her many many classes, since its informative videos with unintentional asmr qualities)).

So siffrin hears this asmr concept, looks it up and of course they start similarly with wood carving videos, then they find rambling videos, then they find roleplays and finally - personal attention asmr.

The way these people are so truly unconditionally gentle and attentive, and how siffrin doesnt have to fake responses and can do their favourite thing - being present and listening - its a real balm on the bad days. When hes tired of his familys eyes on him and their touch makes him feel disgusting, he is able to curl up in bed and just listen to this attention. Closing their eyes. Imagining these touches, or not. Listening to affirmations or just letting them pass over.

He would easily get used to it, and it becomes a part of his routine. Not quite daily, but definitely something he does for enjoyment.

He would click on a video of a tailoring roleplay (its isabeau related, and they dont want isabeau right now but they DO want the idea of him), and it would start like expected. A greeting. A questioning. A choice of fabric, and siffrin really thinks about the shades and textures, and its nice.

Then the tailoring part. The sound of cutting and pinning and fabric rustling is calming and the instructions of the tailor easy to imagine following. And siffrin really imagines lifting his arms and staying still and-

"Good, just like that."

And its not meant to be like that. Siffrin knows this. The tailor moves on, adjusting a few pins and siffrin feels heat on their cheeks. Imagining hands on their waist, skillfully and professionally engaged in a craft, yet siffrin cant help but feel flustered. The closeness of the tailor to the screen almost feels real, and its still impersonal and not real, and exactly because of this siffrin starts feeling warm and fuzzy.

They dont have to respond. They dont have to make the decisions. They just have to stay still, imagine following these instructions, not even feel hands on them and take it. Take the praise. Let this gentle, caring tone pass over and through them. Feel care without the hard part.