[Kyna has only been here once before, when she first showed up and Morgan and Rome were doing a terrible job of making her feel better. This is much more relaxed, and Kyna waits patiently as he works, picking at a stray thread on her jeans absently. When he says he'll start over, she turns to look at him over her shoulder, which definitely doesn't help him much.]
If it doesn't look perfect you're going to embarrass me in front of the whole cave.
[He warns her readily, dropping her hair when she pulls it away from him. Rome lifts his eyebrows a little in a way that could almost be exasperated if he wasn't so damned good at being longsuffering.]
My captain, [he murmurs, conversationally,] had longer hair than you. It was done, like...
[He frowns, trying to think of how to describe a french braid when he's never heard of the term before.]
-like it started at the front, came down pulled across the sides. Then tied up in the back.
[It's easier now to get her hair all in order. Rome brushes it back carefully before working to separate it into three separate pieces again. It's easier now that he's had a little practice.]
Morgan has been... a little scarce. I think he's avoiding me, but I doubt he can take care of himself on his own.
Rome frowns, trying to keep it all even, but it's difficult. He's not sure why Kyna is suddenly more interested in the conversation, just like he's not sure why Morgan is so distant. It's all a little confusing and he takes a moment to try to remember exactly what the leadup to it was.]
He said he was lonely and asked me not to leave the city. I agreed to appease him and then... I didn't expect it, so I did nothing. I later offered to reciprocate, but he left instead.
[There's a pause.]
I don't understand why he'd complain of loneliness and then avoid me, but I suppose he's always been difficult for me to read.
[Kyna lets out a long-suffering sigh, then turns around completely, reaching for his hands.]
Rome.
[Generally she freezes up when people ask her for advice, but this seems like easy mode. Is this how Harlan feels when she asks him how to deal with things?]
He's totally avoiding you because he knew you weren't into it and now his feelings are hurt or something.
[It's not exactly surprising news. Rome was raised to be a police dog and nothing more- forming relationships with the other wolves in his platoon was, of course, strictly forbidden. Romance is messy- emotions are messy, and he's been conditioned away from them since he was old enough to walk.]
[How is this a big deal? He frowns, unsure of how to really explain something that was always just taken for granted in his world.]
I just... function mentally at a lower level than humans, particularly emotionally. Complex emotions in other people are difficult for me to understand. I don't- feel things like guilt or anxiety or love.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
THIS IS PERFECT TBH
If it doesn't look perfect you're going to embarrass me in front of the whole cave.
:'D
[He warns her readily, dropping her hair when she pulls it away from him. Rome lifts his eyebrows a little in a way that could almost be exasperated if he wasn't so damned good at being longsuffering.]
My captain, [he murmurs, conversationally,] had longer hair than you. It was done, like...
[He frowns, trying to think of how to describe a french braid when he's never heard of the term before.]
-like it started at the front, came down pulled across the sides. Then tied up in the back.
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Old school elves have all sorts of crazy hairstyles. I'm too lazy for that.
[But then she grins at him.]
Which is why I have you as my hair stylist, huh?
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[The grinning, while sweet and making him quirk the corner of his mouth up in return, is not helping.]
If you could please look straight ahead. I'll get it right this time.
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So what have you been up to, anyway?
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[It's easier now to get her hair all in order. Rome brushes it back carefully before working to separate it into three separate pieces again. It's easier now that he's had a little practice.]
Morgan has been... a little scarce. I think he's avoiding me, but I doubt he can take care of himself on his own.
[So he has to stick around, more or less.]
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Why is he avoiding you?
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[He answers honestly. And then-]
The last time we spoke at length, he tried to kiss me. He left shortly afterward and has been distant since.
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Wait, what? What happened?
[Spill the deets to your new BFF, Rome.]
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[Please chill :(
Rome frowns, trying to keep it all even, but it's difficult. He's not sure why Kyna is suddenly more interested in the conversation, just like he's not sure why Morgan is so distant. It's all a little confusing and he takes a moment to try to remember exactly what the leadup to it was.]
He said he was lonely and asked me not to leave the city. I agreed to appease him and then... I didn't expect it, so I did nothing. I later offered to reciprocate, but he left instead.
[There's a pause.]
I don't understand why he'd complain of loneliness and then avoid me, but I suppose he's always been difficult for me to read.
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[And she thought she was bad. So much for that braid, because Kyna is whipping her head around to look at him again.]
Did you actually want to kiss him or were you just saying it to make him feel better?
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I don't know. It's not something I'd thought about.
[Rome purses his lips in a frown.]
Maybe I was just attempting to placate him.
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Rome.
[Generally she freezes up when people ask her for advice, but this seems like easy mode. Is this how Harlan feels when she asks him how to deal with things?]
He's totally avoiding you because he knew you weren't into it and now his feelings are hurt or something.
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Why would his feelings be hurt?
[Easy mode indeed.]
I don't even know why he'd do something like that in the first place.
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He did it because he has a crush on you or he just... you know, thinks you're hot. And you rejected him, so his feelings were hurt.
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[He argues, confused.]
I don't- I've never had someone be... like that. Before.
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[Oh, Rome. She sighs, shrugging.]
Sometimes it's... hard to tell someone something like that.
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[It's not exactly surprising news. Rome was raised to be a police dog and nothing more- forming relationships with the other wolves in his platoon was, of course, strictly forbidden. Romance is messy- emotions are messy, and he's been conditioned away from them since he was old enough to walk.]
Should I apologize?
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[There's a pause. Rome tilts his head at her, his brows furrowed, the mannerism a bit more canine than human.
When he does get what she's saying, he shakes his head, still confused.]
...no. I don't have the emotional capacity for romantic attraction.
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[Kyna pats his hand, trying to process that statement. Let's... unpack that, then.]
Why?
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[He explains to her, slowly, as if she didn't get the message clearly enough the first time around. Haven't they already been over this?]
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A lot of people here aren't human. I need something better than that for that fucking nuke of a revelation.
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[How is this a big deal? He frowns, unsure of how to really explain something that was always just taken for granted in his world.]
I just... function mentally at a lower level than humans, particularly emotionally. Complex emotions in other people are difficult for me to understand. I don't- feel things like guilt or anxiety or love.
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[God! She pokes at his side.]
Are you serious? That sounds like bullshit to me.
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