[ Please don't let that be hope coming through his hand, some stupid heartened sensation at the fact that she basically just described him. (Good thing she doesn't appear to care about modesty.) ]
Eh. [ what're you looking for, kyna, a novel here ] I mean, it'd be nice if we had a good conversation beforehand, but it ain't exactly...y'know, we used to move a lot.
Seeing new places, doing new things? Nah. That was the best. Now, when we were running from the law, eh--maybe not my favourite. But still better than sticking around.
[ A pause, and then, mildly curious: ]
If you coulda stayed in New York forever, you woulda, huh?
[ Okay, now he is. This is dangerous territory, but it's dangerous territory he thinks he can navigate pretty easily--it's just flirting, in the end. So, with a teasing smile (and a little amusement coming through to balance out that confusion)-- ]
[She trails off awkwardly, and she's so instantly and obviously embarrassed that he wouldn't even need the empathy bond to realize he's got it right, at least mostly.]
I just— I mean, there has to be more keeping you here than Nate, right?
[The truth is, she's so used to her default state being to expect that people will leave at the earliest opportunity. She hadn't felt that way in the Aerie for years, and she misses it.]
[ He lets her dangle for a couple seconds, just long enough to get through everything she says. And then he relents, grinning at her. ]
Eh. I like you too much to leave.
[ Which is accompanied by such a mix of feelings: amusement, that overwhelming fondness and longing, and a little embarrassment of his own. All the things he can just talk around when no one's touching him, everything that belies the coolness he tries to project and reveals he's actually...you know, someone who feels things. Soft things, no less. ]
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[ Please don't let that be hope coming through his hand, some stupid heartened sensation at the fact that she basically just described him. (Good thing she doesn't appear to care about modesty.) ]
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[Kyna, a moron, is oblivious to the fact that she just described him.]
What about yours?
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Eh, I'm not too picky. Helps if she's pretty, though.
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That's it?
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Okay, better.
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I don't do a lotta the dating thing, either. Not a lotta reason to get picky about someone I'm never gonna see again.
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[ A pause, and then, mildly curious: ]
If you coulda stayed in New York forever, you woulda, huh?
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[So she's not sure.]
Why was moving so much better than sticking around?
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[That's kind of a bummer, actually.]
But, um... You have reasons to stick around here, right?
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I mean, we're kinda stuck.
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[She's being so, so articulate.]
You'd warn me if you were gonna leave the city, right?
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[ So he'll probably stay. ]
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I can't tell if you're fucking with me or not.
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[ Okay, now he is. This is dangerous territory, but it's dangerous territory he thinks he can navigate pretty easily--it's just flirting, in the end. So, with a teasing smile (and a little amusement coming through to balance out that confusion)-- ]
You wanna know if I like you too much to leave.
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[She trails off awkwardly, and she's so instantly and obviously embarrassed that he wouldn't even need the empathy bond to realize he's got it right, at least mostly.]
I just— I mean, there has to be more keeping you here than Nate, right?
[The truth is, she's so used to her default state being to expect that people will leave at the earliest opportunity. She hadn't felt that way in the Aerie for years, and she misses it.]
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Eh. I like you too much to leave.
[ Which is accompanied by such a mix of feelings: amusement, that overwhelming fondness and longing, and a little embarrassment of his own. All the things he can just talk around when no one's touching him, everything that belies the coolness he tries to project and reveals he's actually...you know, someone who feels things. Soft things, no less. ]
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