justashotaway | (no subject)

All right.

[That is a comfort--she will not have to consider giving hers up, when she dearly wants to try it.]

Thank you. [And, after another pause, one which is spent wondering if acknowledging the other piece of what he said might cause her more difficulties in the long run:] I think Matthias will like it.

I hope so. He is- your age? I realize I've been envisioning him so with no proof.

Yes. [...Hm.] I think.

[He seems, she realizes, younger than she feels.]

Hm. Good. I'm glad you've a friend besides a stuffy old clerk.

...I do. [It feels dangerous to admit as much, like allowing someone a free shot at her torso, but Mhavos does not fight. That is one of the clearest fact about him. And that's what ends up compelling her to offer something further. (That, and the supposition that, if he approves of her having one friend outside of him, he will likely feel more strongly about multiple.)] I have three.

Oh? I'm very glad for you. The gallows can be a lonely place without.

[A frown at the crystal, curious and confused.]

...You have friends.

...Is that a surprise?

You said it was lonely here without friends.

I said it could be. It was for me, initially.

[And it still is, but he's hardly going to push that knowledge on her.]

[This is a more satisfying answer.]

What is stuffy?

Me?

That is not what I mean.

Oh. Apologies.

Stuffy. Renfermé. Small-minded, petty, hidebound... A boring person.

That does not describe you.

You are in the minority for thinking so. It's much appreciated.

Other people are wrong.

At the risk of asking you to compliment me, I'm curious as to why you think so.

You are interesting.

[Light laughter.] I'm glad to hear it. Though I don't mind being thought of as stuffy, if I'm honest. There are far worse things I could be.

What things?

[It might sound like one of those patently Laura I know nothing about the world questions--but for once, she does not mean what other options are there when what do you think worse is an option.]

[An intake of breath-- not sharp or gasping, just stalling, thinking.]

Rude. Cruel. Tempestuous.

...Yes. Those would be worse.

[Cruelty would, anyway.]

[Sadly, cruel is the one thing he's sure he is.]

Of course, I've been called such, but not by anyone whose opinions I found of much merit.

[What he says is an easy thing to agree with. What he thinks would not be.]

They were incorrect.