[catchall for brilliant ]

[slobjection]

Comments

[slobjection]

[ wow. ]

[ he'll hold out another one for her when she's done. ]

[infire]

[ and when she finishes it, she's halfway to reaching for the other one before she forces herself to look away, to pretend it isn't there. ]

Please. Put it away.

[slobjection]

You sure? I have plenty.

[infire]

[ nnngh well FINE. she hesitates, but. she'll take it then, and devour that one, too. ]

[slobjection]

[ he'll wait for her to finish. ]

... Better?

[infire]

...No. It won't go away. Probably not until tomorrow, once they... deal with him.

[slobjection]

They do have that antidote. It might turn out okay.

[infire]

...It might. But if it doesn't, they'll still have to kill him.

[slobjection]

Let's hope it doesn't come to that, then.

[infire]

[ she nods. ]

He's a good kid. None of them deserved this sort of fate, but... I think he, of all people, deserves any help we can give him.

[slobjection]

He's been doing his best.

... And so have you. Don't forget to take a little time for yourself.

[infire]

...I don't understand how you can be so relaxed in a place like this.

[slobjection]

[ he is not he's just very good at pretending. ]

Ha ha. Someone has to be, with this rowdy bunch.

[infire]

[ slowly, finally, she smiles. the gesture is strained, with no real pleasure behind it. ]

I wish I could be like you, then.

[slobjection]

[ wao don't copy him. ]

I think you have your own unique strengths that you bring to the table.

[infire]

Do I?

[ it seems like she doubts it, but the smile doesn't falter. ]

I've often been told the best way that I can help is to be positive. Or, if I can't do that, then to sleep and stay out of the way.

[slobjection]

By who...?

[ though frankly sleeping is legit advice after the week they've had. ]

[infire]

[ she doesn't answer immediately. it's such a common thing for her to hear, that it's almost hard to pinpoint exactly where it started. but no, she knows where it started - but they're far from the only one. her mind settles instead on one person, and she decides to reply in a different way. ]

Hunter was the only one who never said anything like that.

[slobjection]

So I guess Hunter is the only person with sense, then.

[ baby kin be nice to your gf ]

And me, of course.

[infire]

In my home world, it isn't terrible advice. I have to keep my vigor up somehow, in case Agni needs it.

[ ... ]

What does that mean for you, then?

[ she's calling him out ]

[slobjection]

I don't think staying out of the way is great advice.

That I'm smart?

[ that's totally what she meant, right! funny joke ]

[infire]

...You are smart. So I think you know that isn't what I meant.

[slobjection]

Hm... well, there is something to be said about the power of a smile in tough situations.

[ something something smile and believe in your client. ]

But I think you have your strengths beyond just that.

[infire]

[ hm she's going to sidestep that ]

Maybe so, but I find it difficult. How do you do it?

[slobjection]

Years of practice.

[ don't think he hasn't noticed that, young lady ]