[ that he refers to himself as an outlier is surprising to her ... it's true, of course, that callisto's personality doesn't help, but then he ... keeps acting like that anyway. so she wonders if, in some way, this is all a defense as well. in which case, is he an outlier at all? that seems to be common with some people here.
(or maybe it's just the terrible friends she'd made.)
rover gives a slight hum, watching him with her golden eyes. ]
No. You mentioned before that you didn't miss anyone in your world; not even your mother.
So far, the only one you've mentioned jovially is your aide. I suppose as an heir, you have a lot of enemies.
.... ah, come to think of it, you also mentioned being uncertain about friendships. [ it's all coming back to her now! but perhaps this also points to how much she keeps track of when it comes to people she becomes close with. ] A lot of things make sense now.
[ but she says it gently. like she's feeling sorry for such a lonely existence; because it does seem like it. ]
[ honestly, he had this impression before, but when her gold eyes focused on him like this, he almost felt as if she were truly assessing him. he was accustomed to being judged, but he feels her gaze doesn't necessarily come across as that. instead, it seemed careful, and at times... was it sympathetic? he doesn't pretend to see things that aren't there, but it's true to some degree while she spoke her mind verbosely, she also had a way of speaking thoughtfully in regards to him or the life he led.
much like now. "a lot of things make sense now." ] ... I am unsure if that is an insult or understanding. [ but, he does seem to give a slight laugh, not exactly because it's funny, but because he's not sure how else to react at being called out. ]
In comparison to a certain lady who misses her homeland, I am having an easier time in that regard. [ then again, she also didn't have all her memories... and he does inevitably wonder what was the fate for such an individual. ]
So if nothing else, you could take this as your opportunity to fill my mind with stories from your home. Surely with all those you left behind, you have quite a few of them. [ he stands in front of her now, momentarily reaching out, his hand out.
[ a silly man... he's really never heard such words come out of anyone's else's mouth. as much as it may have been puzzling, it was likely just as much of a testament to her lack of fear, or sense of reservation with him. as if she could speak her mind clearly, and without the weight of rumors to bog down her perception of him.
which, completely unknown to him seems to get a touch of smile on his lips, all the more paired with the conviction behind her words. her warmth spreads to the palm of his own hands. her hand on his chest, a bit remnant to the time in the infirmary in their proximity. maybe it's because of this, his own voice drops, a bit more muted and quiet as he whispers a soft: ] Only if I occupy the same amount of space in yours.
[ fair is fair...
but, he pulls away just ever so slightly, keeping the professional distance as one does in dance. but, his smile may have given up more than he intends.
"love." a word he evades, and while normally it may have got him to scoff, he seems to just let it pass. just for now. ]
[ it's funny how much easier it is to talk with him about anything. the times when callisto is gentle doesn't happen as often, so it makes her feel special when he does grant it to her. his smile reflects her own; soft, small, her voice a bit more gentle as she talks to him. perhaps it's best to have done this in his room, after all; it's quiet enough that the two of them can speak like this and not have to worry about anything else.
so she does tell him: a general picture of jinzhou and its varied landscapes, the mountains she enjoys climbing so much like a challenge, the sea, the winters in hongzhen that never end, the mysterious ruins left around the country where there is so much to explore and find. the food. the people, always the people. her friends, and maybe just to tease him, extolling the virtues of general jiyan. but she mentions other people too - yangyang and chixia, her first two friends and the ones who found her when she woke up, primarily. so when she says that she loves everything, she truly does have enough warmth and room for it, and unless callisto interrupts her, she would keep going.
with dancing, she can keep up with him enough - and she's careful not to step on him, except for the times when he teases her, and then she doesn't have a problem deliberately stepping on his toes. a mean person! she will live up to it ...
but the two of them fit together well, and she is elegant and lithe enough to keep up with his instruction; studious, almost to a fault, and demanding him to repeat steps where she doesn't quite understand the flow. she is eager to learn from him. ]
[ each and every single one of her experiences are entirely new and novel to callisto. not simply because he had never been to her world, settled on its numerous sights, or tasted the fulsome dishes she describes in such vivid detail— but, that no one had ever intimately shared their lives in this way with him before. just as he described, he had always felt like an outlier; someone who genuinely didn't belong in the world he hailed from, even when it seemed like the land itself was created to act as his personal hellscape. when he hears her speak so candidly, he almost feels like he's just as much a part of it just from the sheer idea that she speaks them into their mutual existence.
more than the touch of their hands, or the way their bodies move i unison to silent beat of the oculars and the occasional way in which he keeps count to their steps, he feels a certain intimacy just from hearing of her life. hence, he doesn't find it in him to interject outside of occasionally sharing his opinion. for once, he strays away from the darker considerations that he's so used to casting out.
if there was one exception to this rule, however, it seems to spark from her bringing up a few names he's already heard in passing. a ruler in which she considered wise, and a man who was the perfect epitome of a 10/10. he seems to bear that grudge and it shows even with the slight quirk of the brow. as if to shake her from the thoughts of this mystery man, he does dip her body, or quicken his pace.
will he actually address it, however? definitely not.
not because callisto was the type to ever hold back, but almost as if he didn't want to break the illusion of the moment. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
(or maybe it's just the terrible friends she'd made.)
rover gives a slight hum, watching him with her golden eyes. ]
No. You mentioned before that you didn't miss anyone in your world; not even your mother.
So far, the only one you've mentioned jovially is your aide. I suppose as an heir, you have a lot of enemies.
.... ah, come to think of it, you also mentioned being uncertain about friendships. [ it's all coming back to her now! but perhaps this also points to how much she keeps track of when it comes to people she becomes close with. ] A lot of things make sense now.
[ but she says it gently. like she's feeling sorry for such a lonely existence; because it does seem like it. ]
no subject
much like now. "a lot of things make sense now." ] ... I am unsure if that is an insult or understanding. [ but, he does seem to give a slight laugh, not exactly because it's funny, but because he's not sure how else to react at being called out. ]
In comparison to a certain lady who misses her homeland, I am having an easier time in that regard. [ then again, she also didn't have all her memories... and he does inevitably wonder what was the fate for such an individual. ]
So if nothing else, you could take this as your opportunity to fill my mind with stories from your home. Surely with all those you left behind, you have quite a few of them. [ he stands in front of her now, momentarily reaching out, his hand out.
but, for now, didn't they have dance practice? ]
no subject
But the chance to be in your mind, all the time ... a flattering opportunity for your cruel warden.
[ rover grins mischievously as she takes his hand, rises to her feet to start her dance practice with him.
like this, it's easy enough to slip her fingers between his own, a firm clasp together as she stands before him, her other hand over his chest. ]
I will tell you all about the things I love.
no subject
which, completely unknown to him seems to get a touch of smile on his lips, all the more paired with the conviction behind her words. her warmth spreads to the palm of his own hands. her hand on his chest, a bit remnant to the time in the infirmary in their proximity. maybe it's because of this, his own voice drops, a bit more muted and quiet as he whispers a soft: ] Only if I occupy the same amount of space in yours.
[ fair is fair...
but, he pulls away just ever so slightly, keeping the professional distance as one does in dance. but, his smile may have given up more than he intends.
"love." a word he evades, and while normally it may have got him to scoff, he seems to just let it pass. just for now. ]
Do try and not make me too envious.
no subject
so she does tell him: a general picture of jinzhou and its varied landscapes, the mountains she enjoys climbing so much like a challenge, the sea, the winters in hongzhen that never end, the mysterious ruins left around the country where there is so much to explore and find. the food. the people, always the people. her friends, and maybe just to tease him, extolling the virtues of general jiyan. but she mentions other people too - yangyang and chixia, her first two friends and the ones who found her when she woke up, primarily. so when she says that she loves everything, she truly does have enough warmth and room for it, and unless callisto interrupts her, she would keep going.
with dancing, she can keep up with him enough - and she's careful not to step on him, except for the times when he teases her, and then she doesn't have a problem deliberately stepping on his toes. a mean person! she will live up to it ...
but the two of them fit together well, and she is elegant and lithe enough to keep up with his instruction; studious, almost to a fault, and demanding him to repeat steps where she doesn't quite understand the flow. she is eager to learn from him. ]
no subject
more than the touch of their hands, or the way their bodies move i unison to silent beat of the oculars and the occasional way in which he keeps count to their steps, he feels a certain intimacy just from hearing of her life. hence, he doesn't find it in him to interject outside of occasionally sharing his opinion. for once, he strays away from the darker considerations that he's so used to casting out.
if there was one exception to this rule, however, it seems to spark from her bringing up a few names he's already heard in passing. a ruler in which she considered wise, and a man who was the perfect epitome of a 10/10. he seems to bear that grudge and it shows even with the slight quirk of the brow. as if to shake her from the thoughts of this mystery man, he does dip her body, or quicken his pace.
will he actually address it, however? definitely not.
not because callisto was the type to ever hold back, but almost as if he didn't want to break the illusion of the moment. ]