He could find it in himself to be annoyed at that sheer earnestness, to deflect it, butβ instead, he bites the inside of his cheek, only half-stopping the slight smile that spreads across his features in return. He knows, to some degree, that the warmth she offers to him now is worth hanging onto, if only because he'd experienced firsthand the way it had faded, changed in shape, in the first portion of their journey, when he'd still had more of an air of coldness about him β when he'd found it easier to lie.
(She'd blushed for him so easily, once. Maybe that's not something he ought to be chasing, but, wellβ he's always been a little greedy. And it's hardly as though she lacks any freedom of choice.)
So, ] I thought it was only fair, [ is all he says in response to her thanks, as he scoots a little closer.
His fingers are gentle as they find her braids, teasing out one or two uneven spots β as deft with her hair as with any lock or trap. Not that they really need so much adjustment, but she'd asked, and it's in his habit, now, to answer. Besides, he's a creature given to preening, and an extension of that trait to another isn't so much of a burden.
Other answers hang on his tongue β don't get used to it; it's our little secret, alright; similar half-thoughts β and he swallows them all, a long moment passing with just the crackling of the fire between them. Then his hands fall away, andβ he doesn't move any further away, instead only repositioning himself to face the flames. ]
βHas it changed, for you?
[ A question she's already sort of answered, but, in the spirit of asking such things, he allows himself to speak the words aloud. ]
no subject
He could find it in himself to be annoyed at that sheer earnestness, to deflect it, butβ instead, he bites the inside of his cheek, only half-stopping the slight smile that spreads across his features in return. He knows, to some degree, that the warmth she offers to him now is worth hanging onto, if only because he'd experienced firsthand the way it had faded, changed in shape, in the first portion of their journey, when he'd still had more of an air of coldness about him β when he'd found it easier to lie.
(She'd blushed for him so easily, once. Maybe that's not something he ought to be chasing, but, wellβ he's always been a little greedy. And it's hardly as though she lacks any freedom of choice.)
So, ] I thought it was only fair, [ is all he says in response to her thanks, as he scoots a little closer.
His fingers are gentle as they find her braids, teasing out one or two uneven spots β as deft with her hair as with any lock or trap. Not that they really need so much adjustment, but she'd asked, and it's in his habit, now, to answer. Besides, he's a creature given to preening, and an extension of that trait to another isn't so much of a burden.
Other answers hang on his tongue β don't get used to it; it's our little secret, alright; similar half-thoughts β and he swallows them all, a long moment passing with just the crackling of the fire between them. Then his hands fall away, andβ he doesn't move any further away, instead only repositioning himself to face the flames. ]
βHas it changed, for you?
[ A question she's already sort of answered, but, in the spirit of asking such things, he allows himself to speak the words aloud. ]