You practically eat, sleep, and work just to pass the time. I wouldn't exactly call that taking care of yourself…

[ maybe it's the feel of thorns' hair in his hands, maybe it's the extra time they've been spending together. for once, he doesn't reach for the lowest-hanging fruit, swerving the opposite direction entirely. ]

I never really got the sense that you enjoyed much of anything. You'd look satisfied after your accomplishments, sure. Otherwise… you'd carry on with that same blank expression.

[ he pauses to hold a few bobby pins in his mouth for easier access. he's putting an awful lot of them in thorns' hair… but that's because a lot of these strands don't want to stay down? god. ]

I'm not trying to project my idea of fun onto you; I just figured there should be more to your days than work, things for you to look back on other than it. And judging by how you kept joining me, I didn't think I was wrong to keep at it. Are you going to call me out on quoting my philosophy classes again when I say my definition of it is living a little more?

[ he taps thorns' cheek from behind. ]

Done!