[Adelina had had a calming effect on him, she always had. He had tried to terrify others away - Maya, Schooler, Wrath - but never with her. Somehow, he'd known it would be pointless.]
The ones closest to us never do know when to stay away.
[she had tried with her team, and at one point, even tried with Ampere. Lace had been one of her first attempts, and not even literally killing the girl had changed anything]
[He had tried it with Charles, with Magda. Just about the only person he knew he'd never attempt it with was his own daughter. She hadn't lived to see how terrifying he could be. He sips at his drink again.]
[she sits back in her chair, glass in hand, quiet for a bit. Somehow, this hadn't gone as planned. She had just wanted to drink with him and try to distract them both from the things on their mind.
Of course, it hadn't worked when she tried with Charles. So why would it work now?
She finally huffs out a noise, annoyed and directed at herself]
We have before. [those times where they'd take advantage of available drinks. She knows that was a lifetime ago for him, though; in a way, it was for her as well]
[she blinks in surprise; she hadn't expected him to ask, nor had she expected to have to put it into words. Still, she purses her lips a little thoughtfully]
Things like . . . I know that I can come to you, when I am troubled. Or wish for advice. And that you will offer your honest advice, regardless of if I will like it or not. You do not - mince? - your words. And you are firm in what you believe - I have always respected that.
There are other things - I do not know how to put it into words. But they are things that have never made me doubt our friendship, or the trust between us. Even if ten years have passed.
[she goes quiet, then makes a quiet noise and glances over at him, quirking a bit of a smile]
[He doesn't know what drove him to ask, and now that Tempest is laying those cards on the table, he wants to find a reason to overturn them. But none of what she says is part of what he's lost, to his mind. His convictions, maybe. He doesn't know that he believes as strongly as he once did, had hardly known he held it so closely until it was ripped away from him.
The silence is a bit awkward as all of that settles, and he huffs finally. There's no picking that apart, damn her.]
[something in her shoulders relax; it was always hard, to navigate these conversations and not automatically gear up to argue her point. It wasn't as though she had these conversations with other people - Ampere, sometimes, but the rest of the people she traveled with couldn't be bothered.
Yes, I did. [Had it been Charles or someone else, he might expect solemn words about how he's still good inside and valuable as a person. Important as that might be (and he does believe it, despite himself) it's a lot harder to swallow. Thinking positively is a big ask, these days.]
[she picks up her drink to take a sip, and while she isn't anywhere near drunk - her tolerance was much higher than it used to be - it does make talking a touch easier]
Mmm. Although - [and she tilts her head smile wide and impish at him, the lilt returning] - if you do want to drink in silence, I do not mind.
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[her lips quirk, wry] I still tried.
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The ones closest to us never do know when to stay away.
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No, they don't.
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Of course, it hadn't worked when she tried with Charles. So why would it work now?
She finally huffs out a noise, annoyed and directed at herself]
This was not what I intended. I apologize.
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Not somehow end up discussing them.
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For that to work, we'd have to drink in silence. [It might be a lame joke. Maybe.]
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I think we can manage it without complete silence.
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Hopefully.
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You have, a bit. But so has Charles. So have I.
The important things have not changed, though.
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Things like . . . I know that I can come to you, when I am troubled. Or wish for advice. And that you will offer your honest advice, regardless of if I will like it or not. You do not - mince? - your words. And you are firm in what you believe - I have always respected that.
There are other things - I do not know how to put it into words. But they are things that have never made me doubt our friendship, or the trust between us. Even if ten years have passed.
[she goes quiet, then makes a quiet noise and glances over at him, quirking a bit of a smile]
That is what I think they are, at least.
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The silence is a bit awkward as all of that settles, and he huffs finally. There's no picking that apart, damn her.]
You would pick things that stay constant.
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She finally shrugs and smiles a bit wider]
You did ask me about what hasn't changed.
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Mmm. Although - [and she tilts her head smile wide and impish at him, the lilt returning] - if you do want to drink in silence, I do not mind.
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I won't be drinking any more. I've had too much already.
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Already? Goodness, you have gotten old, love.
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