[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.
[She's getting way more into this than he thought she would- the topic is now completely derailed and he pulls back a bit so he can explain more readily.]
Morgan was changed traumatically from a bite in his teens. His brain had already developed to the point where the secondary consciousness was seen as an addition to his own. In my case, the military altered me at my birth. I grew with and alongside it, as- well, not quite as one, but close enough that my mental development was heavily impacted.
[It's not that complicated! It's kind of that complicated.]
Anyway, my handler isn't here- he didn't arrive in Hadriel with me. I've been reporting to miss Maketh as something of a stand-in, but it's not quite the same.
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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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[He frowns, but doesn't move to stop her poking. Kyna, that's rude.]
I'm essentially part canine. It comes with certain limitations-my handler would be able to explain this better than I can.
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[She has about eight thousand questions, but he's getting off with three at once for now.]
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[She's getting way more into this than he thought she would- the topic is now completely derailed and he pulls back a bit so he can explain more readily.]
Morgan was changed traumatically from a bite in his teens. His brain had already developed to the point where the secondary consciousness was seen as an addition to his own. In my case, the military altered me at my birth. I grew with and alongside it, as- well, not quite as one, but close enough that my mental development was heavily impacted.
[It's not that complicated! It's kind of that complicated.]
Anyway, my handler isn't here- he didn't arrive in Hadriel with me. I've been reporting to miss Maketh as something of a stand-in, but it's not quite the same.
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What does your handler even do? Why do you need one? And what do you mean, they altered you?
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