[catchall for brilliant ]

[slobjection]

Comments

[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 ]

[infire]

[ no idea what you mean! ]

...I've had years of practice. But it doesn't change how I feel underneath it.

Is that true for you, too?

[slobjection]

[ this is edging dangerously close to feelings talk and he doesn't like it. ]

.... Something like that.

[infire]

...I won't ask you to talk about it if you don't want to. Just tell me that you have someone you can be honest with here - someone you don't always have to be strong for.

[slobjection]

That's very generous of you.

But would it work both ways?

[infire]

[ is it...? ]

If you mean whether I have someone to be honest with, then the answer is yes.

[slobjection]

It wouldn't be very fair of me to bare my soul to you if you feel you can't do the same with me, no?

[infire]

[ . . . ]

I suppose that's fair. [ she smiles, expression soft. ] I could do without one more person worrying over me, though.

[slobjection]

In my experience, it's more worrying if you keep it all bottled up.

[ he is a hypocrite ]

[infire]

Most people at my home would beg to differ, I think.

[ she's smiling, but only for a moment. ]

Maybe you're right, though. Sometimes it does feel harder, that way.

[slobjection]

I am "Wright" all the time.

[ shut up phoenix ]