drawsblood | { inbox for ximilia }

Well that's good. Being confident, I mean.

[ He doesn't mind the leisurely pace, occasionally admiring the scenery though by now he's finally used to it and it has that artificial feel. ]

Perhaps you could make something for someone else. Most people would accept a gift, even if it's not very good. They will see you tried.

Oh, I see how it is. I make someone an ugly scarf and they can't turn it down because they like me.

[Natasha has more faith in her skills than that, but it's better conversation this way.]

You'll regret that when I'm giving you the worst mittens you've seen in your life.

[ His answering shrug seems to suggest he wouldn't mind if she did. ]

You can give me the worst mittens, but nothing says I have to wear them. I would still thank you for the effort put in.

That is a very diplomatic answer.

[She does smile, finding the answer rather adorable. It reminds her of the teenage Joric with his siblings.]

I'll remember that if I start taking up some kind of crafty hobby.

[ It's not something he consciously tried for, but it's true that his answer does walk the line since it's honest in that he probably wouldn't wear them but he has no intention of insulting a gift either. ]

Mm, you'll have to let me know if you do. Prepare me for what's to come.

First I'd need to find a teacher, so I think you're safe for the time being.

[As amusing as it is to think about.]

Guess we'll just have to live with training and reading.

[Calling back his earlier comment.]

[ There's something almost petulant in the way he reacts to that. ]

I don't want to read anymore. It makes my head hurt.

[ Unsurprisingly for a man who grew up without having books to read now finding that the eye strain gives him a headache. ]

Maybe I'll watch movies instead.

You could always bully someone to read to you.

[That's terrible advice, but Natasha delivers it as though she's sincere; she probably would do just that.]

Movies aren't a bad way to go, though. Maybe you could watch with a friend.

[ He gives her a look because that's one bit of advice he's not about to follow. That's one sure way to make someone resent him. ]

Yes. I've enjoyed the movies I've seen here and I'd like to see many more. Maybe I can get one of those little machines that you put the circle in.

The DVD player? That's probably reasonable.

[And less likely to get him in trouble.]

You can learn the time honored tradition of fooling around during movies.

You would know better than I.

[ It's just the thing that makes the movies go. ]

Fooling around?

[ She's lost him again. ]

[Natasha angles him a playful look and hitches her shoulder in a shrug.]

In this context kissing and petting instead of watching the movie.

Ah.

[ He guesses it makes sense in a strange sort of way. People act like fools when they're getting intimate. ]

If I do that I'll never get to watch any movies.

That is the trade off, it's true.

[And she supposes that movies are probably a little more special than sex to someone who's never had the former.]

It's part of the fun.

Mm, but for me who has never seen movies before, the movies are what's fun.

[ But he smiles faintly at the prospect of getting to make out with someone. ]

Though I wouldn't want to disappoint my movie watching partner by denying her the opportunity to fool around.

I really doubt you're disappointing anyone.

[She returns the smile, reassuring in a way. It fades somewhat as she considers whether or not to acknowledge that she'd be open to their flirting being more or to confirm her assumptions about who else he's sleeping with.

Not that she needs to know, per se, but there does seem to be a degree of due diligence present. Finally she shrugs.]

It's Daisy, right? Something she said seems consistent.

[ He's startled for a moment because when he said "she" he'd meant in general, but Natasha brings up Daisy and he's not exactly sure how to respond for a moment. It's not because he feels he's done something wrong but because he knows he'd have to have this conversation at some point and he's just not good at speaking these sorts of things aloud. ]

Yes. That is to say she and I enjoy each other's company, but we've never spoken on what we are.

[ A hand lifts under his hair to rub at the back of his neck as he feels unsure of himself. It's not a great feeling and he'd rather he felt confident about all this. ]

But I plan to, before you and I... see where this goes. I want to be sure she won't be hurt.

[Natasha nods at the confirmation. Daisy hadn't come out and said they were sleeping together, but she'd implied something between them, and she hadn't been good at keeping her feelings off her face.

When Joric had said he was sleeping with someone, it hadn't really been connecting the dots so much as giving her an idea how far the line went.]

That's a good idea.

[As though Natasha has been especially good at communication. Ha.]

It doesn't bother me. [Studying his face.] As long as it wouldn't hurt her. She's nice, and I don't want to step on any toes.

All right.

[ He finds any sort of conversation about this topic hard to have, but it is made easier by her direct manner and easy going nature. ]

I will let you know when I know for sure.

[ Granted, at this point he doesn't know how he'll respond if Daisy says she'd have a problem with this. He'll have to cross that bridge when he comes to it. ]

[How he wants to handle that is entirely between him and Daisy.

It just seemed like a good time to be upfront, both about that, and the reciprocal.]

I think it's only fair to say you wouldn't be the only one. I'm not really...

[She trails off, not entirely sure how to put it delicately. Finally, she shrugs.]

I'm not in a place where it would be fair to anyone to let things get serious. But something for fun?

Right. I get it.

[ And he's thankful she's being clear about it. ]

Our being here is not permanent. And when we go home we won't even remember each other. That is already a blow to lose friends, but if someone was more...

[ He trails off, shaking his head. Joric can only imagine it, since he's never been in love before. ]

Something like that.

[It's certainly true, and close enough to the whole truth that she doesn't see a need to clarify.]

It'd be a shame not to use the time we have, but all the same... we know how the story is going to end.

[She nudges his elbow lightly with her arm.]

Enjoy it while it lasts?

Mm hm.

[ It should be looked at as a good time in between dangerous missions, and something to savor while they can. ]

I think what we witnessed of the former crew makes that point all the clearer.

It's easy to sympathize with them.

[Even with some of their mistakes, if you want to call them that.]

Yes. We walk in their footsteps.

[ He knows that there were probably a lot of quieter moments that weren't shared when they collected information on the previous crew's memories. What was shared showed a cohesive unit working together towards the same goal; just like they are today. ]

I imagine they all had regrets similar to ours. And they formed bonds while they were here together that are now gone. [ A pause, then a smile. ] I'm sure some of them had fun too.

[ Then of course there are Viveca and Degar, who were more than that, because when it came down to it, Viveca refused to be parted from him. ]

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