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Weeeell... everything about the way you're acting right now, for one.

[ He's so extremely obvious that just the mere motion of trying to hide his face is a tell all on its own. ]

Ehehe...

[ He looks at his tea before taking a little sip. Maybe he's obvious but at least he's not putting any pieces together to be self aware. ]

But I mean, isn't it cool? When someone's strong enough to do a roundhouse kick, or lift really big objects, or, you know, level...entire... [ It's as he's speaking he realizes the rest of his sentence is going to make him sound insane, because it's not something he truly condones, because he's much too concerned about the lives of the innocent people that live there, but the thought of that sheer amount of power is very impressive— ] ...cities...

[ Yeah, it does make him sound kind of insane, but at least that means he fits in here? Aerith gives him a wry smile. ]

Maybe not that last part, but I do see what you mean. I like seeing someone do really impressive things.

[ Though... probably not as much as Rutile likes to see it. ]

Mm-hmm!

[ He sips his tea again, and when he inhales the scent and closes his eyes, he realizes there's only one face that comes to mind when he thinks of herbal tea and feats of incredible power.

Ahem. ]

Gosh, I'm sorry, I got a little excited. [ ehe ] Can you pass me a slice of pie?

[ She will! Aerith reaches into one of the boxes she set on whatever surface was available, and pulls out a little slice of pie tucked into a little box of its own and passes it over. When Rutile opens it, he'll find that it's apple. ]

You have anyone special back home?

[ The excitement from him says he probably does, so naturally she's going to dig into that. ]

[ Ooh, apple pie! Rutile's face lights up a bit when he sees it and he's hit with the scent. Mmm... ]

Do I—?

[ He pauses, his heart skips. That same face flashes through his mind, and he gives a strained smile. ]

Oh, um... [ ...Is he special? ] I don't know.

Sorry, but you're kinda giving yourself away here. So, tell me about them.

[ That strained smile is just so obvious, Rutile. ]

[ STOP LOOKING AT HIM... ]

Um... [ His finger nervously plays at the edge of his teacup. ] I don't know if he counts. He's like...my uncle.

[ help he immediately regrets saying that ]

Not really the best thing to lead with...

[ Please. SHE IS SO CONCERNED? ]

You wanna explain that one?

[ OK AND HE'S EMBARRASSED AND HIS FACE IS RED ]

Oh, we're not actually related... [ HE JUST USED TO CALL HIM UNCLE HELP, ] He was, um, my mother's apprentice... He promised to protect me, and we've been through a lot together, and, um...

[ ...He'll just take a bite of the pie. ]

Jeez, you should've led with that.

[ That's so much better than whatever alternative was cooking up in her head. ]

So, things happened while you spent time together. I get it.

Yeah.

[ He says that with a little sigh, though his tone is airy, like a lovestruck schoolgirl.

He puts a hand on his burning cheek and looks down at his half-eaten food. ]

That's why when you said you came through a door in my dream, I thought he was going to be right behind you to rescue me...

[ Again, leaving out context. ]

[ Wow, he's really got it bad for this guy... is all Aerith can think. ]

Does he have a habit of rescuing you?

[ Sounds like it, unless it's simply wishful thinking on Rutile's part. Though Aerith would very much like to believe that it isn't. Otherwise she'd have some words for this not-uncle. ]

Always.

[ He's always there for him. So...where was he?

Not a question anyone can answer, but he does wonder.

Green eyes meet green eyes and he smiles sheepishly. ]

His name is Mithra. Sometimes I wish he was here, but I don't know how he'd do. He needs to work on making friends...

[ ... ]

Maika seems nice? [ BETTER AT MAKING FRIENDS, HE HOPES, ]

[ Oh, good. Aerith smiles softly at that, her shoulders relaxing as she takes a sip of tea. ]

He's not a very sociable guy, then?

[ Maybe they're an opposites attract kind of deal... ]

Maika's nice if you're on her good side. If you smile at her enough, she'll eventually crack and let you right in.

[ It's that easy!!

Maybe. ]

[ Rutile makes a noise, somewhere between a scoff and a click of the tongue. ]

Gosh. All he wants to do is fight. He's so bad at using his words...

[ Grumble grumble... But despite that, it's clear it comes from a place of affection.

After another bite of pie, he gives Aerith a little knowing smile. ]

I see, I'll remember that. Is that how you won her over?

[ That grumbling has Aerith smiling as she takes a sip of her tea. Ahhh... nice and relaxing, just what she wanted. ]

More or less. I think she likes being teased even if she'd never admit it, and she's an easy target. It was easy to just fall into kind of a routine.

[ Hehe. Aerith is proud of herself for that. ]

[ Eyeing Aerith over his pie. Hm? ]

Goodness, I didn't take you for the teasing sort.

[ ...Hehe. He'll chuckle eventually, though. ]

But I can already see that you're very cute together.

[ Mental note to keep an eye out for them together! ]

Edited (icon) 2024-10-24 16:29 (UTC)

Gee, thanks!

[ And though she says it teasingly, she really does mean it!! ]

I bet you and your guy are cute too. Tell me a little more about the two of you.

[ Hehe! Rutile smiles, because he's glad Aerith takes his compliment.

The opposite, he isn't expecting. He's being perceived and it's embarrassing him... ]

Um, to be honest...I've never really thought of us as a—a couple. [ HE'S RED ] But he is special, I suppose, and we care about each other, and we, um...

[ It isn't all that complicated in his mind, but it's more complicated when he tries to explain it to someone else. Ahh...

He shakes away his embarrassment and brightens! ]

I'll draw you a picture of him! [ Scrambling for his sketchbook! ]

Yeah, show me what he looks like!

[ He better be hot!!! ]

Why don’t you ask him sometime? There’s no harm in making it official, right?

[ Rutile twists around to grab his quill and his sketchbook, and he brings his feet up onto the chair to curl up with the sketchbook up against his lap. The tip of the quill moves furiously as he starts drawing. He doesn't look up from the page, but the red on his face is very visible. ]

Mm... I guess. But, I don't know...

[ He knows Mithra's primary thought is to keep him safe because of his promise. If there's anything more, isn't it because he reminds him of his mother?

He doesn't know. ]

I'm pretty happy with where we are... [ Could he take more? He isn't sure.

He smiles at his finished picture, and turns his sketchbook around to show Aerith. ]

Ta-da~

[ JESUS CHRIST LMFAO

It takes her a second to catch herself, to not look so shocked. ]

Wow... so he's tall, huh?

Really tall, and he has red hair...

[ Rutile thinks for a second, and then turns his sketchbook back around. His quill begins to fly across the page again, but slower, more measured this time.

Without looking up, he asks: ]

Once this is all over, what are you going to do?

[ So he is tall...

But at that question, Aerith shrugs slightly. ]

Dunno. Probably go back to my world, and then go to hers if we're lucky. I'd like to stay together, but sometimes things don't always work out that way.

[ She's trying to be realistic. ]

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