HOOKERY POST THE FOURTH

[was_no_monster]

by which I mean Court continuations! Curse you, captcha.

Comments

[levelheadless]

...

[hesitates uncertainly, hand hovering]

[was_no_monster]

[ lifting his head to look at his hand, and then check Rille's expression ]

[levelheadless]

[Blushing a bit, uncertain]

Ah, I ... That's a big opening.

[was_no_monster]

...Ah, sorry. I didn't... actually mean for it to be, it was more... there are things you have to work with or around, too.

[levelheadless]

My impulse was to flirt but I feel like I'd have offended you pretty bad there.

[was_no_monster]

[ ... starts laughing quietly. reaching over to pat Rille clumsily just under his shoulder ]

To be honest, I've, had that sort of conversation, so probably not. Thank you, though.

[levelheadless]

Something like, "I'd help you overcompensate", but that's going too far, maybe?

[was_no_monster]

[ pffft ]

That's fine because it's going too far.

[levelheadless]

[groans, laughing] Your lines are weird and I don't know how to find them.

[was_no_monster]

[ wryly apologetic ]

When I can figure that out myself, you'll be the first to know.

...That particular one isn't that difficult, though. I'm not used to other people being interested enough to want to flirt; it's easier to accept if I can't take it seriously.

[levelheadless]

I'm not going to nudge you into anything you don't want, anyway.

[was_no_monster]

I know. ...Without the additional pressure, that's not what makes it uncomfortable.

[levelheadless]

What is, then?

[was_no_monster]

[ goes quiet... ]

...I grew up among humans while unable to pass as one of them, with- with a condition caused by how I was made that causes me to feel ill if I look at myself for too long. ...I'm working on it, but it's still hard to hear things that conflict with the impression that left without feeling like I'm being lied to.

[levelheadless]

So if people find you attractive, it feels like mockery?

[was_no_monster]

Or pity. Yes.

[levelheadless]

[starts stroking his hair]

You know I'm not human.

[was_no_monster]

[ yes please. sighing through his nose and basically melting ]

I doubt I'd be able to talk about it as easily if you weren't.

[levelheadless]

I really don't know how humans see you. But you seem pretty attractive to me.

[was_no_monster]

[ reaches back to grab Rille's hand by the wrist and tug it forward to cover his face ]

[levelheadless]

[absolutely no hesitation with that; although most people treat the face as a kind of low-touch personal area, he, uh, doesn't have that problem.

[rubbing his thumb over Kaito's cheekbone, curling his fingers against his cheek] Here's better?

[was_no_monster]

—ah.

[ tilting his head to push back against that, almost exactly like a cat would. he even makes the same sort of ridiculous scrunched up squinty face. ]

I didn't actually... intend that, I was just flustered, but. Yes.

[levelheadless]

You put my hand here by accident?

[running his thumb down the bridge of his nose. With his head up out of the way and blocked by the edge of his pillow he can't really see, but he's used to working by feel]

[was_no_monster]

I was covering my face...

[ doesn't even try for the Extremely Dignified tone, just sounds sheepish. and pleased. his nose is definitely scrunched up, but his eyebrows aren't furrowed ]

[levelheadless]

Well, my hand's here now. Do you want it gone?

[rubs that thumb up between his unfurrowed brows]