evocation | ⚡ ML INBOX

Understandable.

[The situation kind of warranted some extra emotion. But he feels pretty confident in his conclusion now.]

It sounds like he needs space, after being more emotionally exposed than he might otherwise like to be. Asking him if he's alright would've reinforced to him that you've seen through whatever facade he likes to present, and so he reacted by withdrawing even further.

[Pretty common behavior, so it's not taking a huge leap and he's pretty sure that's what's going on. He feels he should reassure Kyna, though--]

You didn't do anything wrong, and he's probably not actually upset with you, just the situation. Not that it excuses his behavior.

[She sighs, leaning back against the counter.]

That's what I kind of thought, too. [And then, more quietly:] What an idiot.

[He offers a small shrug, nodding once.]

He is a bit of an idiot, but at least it's just 'emotions are scary' idiocy.

[Which is pretty low on the list, especially since it's so understandable. Or maybe Lance is slightly biased because he's pulled this exact same idiot move before but even more dramatically.

Nah.]

Hopefully he'll realize his mistake after he's given some time and will reach out to you on his own, but it's possible he'll decide that you don't want to talk to him and so will continue to avoid you. In that case, you might have to try to reach out again, if you want to.

[Kyna sighs dramatically. Translation: She doesn't want to, and... It's really not because of Ian. She thinks he's being a dick, sure, but she's done this exact same thing to people. It usually takes her longer to get there, but she's not sure how to confront that about herself yet, as aware of it as she is.

So, she's going to focus on Lance instead.]

Thanks. You know, for listening.

[He wishes he could just fix the problem for her, but unfortunately life doesn't work that way. So he's just glad that talking seems to have helped a little, and gives a faint smile at her thanks.]

Of course. Any time you want to talk.

[She smiles back at that, letting out a thoughtful little hum.]

I knew you'd be an awesome roommate. And you haven't murdered anyone yet, even.

[That earns an exhale that's pretty much a laugh.]

Thanks, I think. Not murdering is a really low bar.

But you totally sailed over it. And the whole "listening to your roomie bitch" thing.

I'm pretty sure that's part of the whole arrangement of being roommates.

Okay.

[She reaches out to give his arm a little poke.]

Your turn. What do you want to bitch about?

[He isn't expecting the question, although he probably should've been, and so offers lamely--]

I don't really have anything to complain about.

[Which sounds fake even to himself as he says it, oops. But the things he has to bitch about are not things he necessarily wants to get into, and so he's torn between wanting to offer something to make things 'fair' after Kyna confided in him, and not wanting to say anything at all.

And then something super basic and unimportant comes to mind, and he latches onto that.]

Except that it was somehow easier to get coffee in a wasteland run by aliens than it is here.

That's it? Come on. Nothing's annoying you?

[He shrugs again, crossing his arms. With the specific qualifier of 'annoying' he can answer honestly--]

Not really, I mean... I'm sure something will annoy me once I get more used to being here, but like, all the little annoying sorts of things are so much better than in Hadriel that I'm not even noticing them.

[General living here is a major step up.]