[His voice, quiet but practically vibrating with enthusiasm, is different from anything she’s heard from him yet. Similar to the excited chattering from earlier, but still not quite the same. He’s delighted, but more than that, he’s — awed. Riley tries to downplay it, to make it seem as though this isn’t anything special, but no matter what she does, he’s never going to see it that way.]
[There’s an incomprehensible difference between zero and one. That the brooch in his hand even exists is what’s shocking, not the details.]
[He runs his thumb over the jeweled back, back and forth, again and again. Smiling.]
. . . I learned that I like that part of giving gifts. Looking until something catches your eye and it feels right. That’s how — the ribbons were purposeful, but the knife caught me in the same way. It seemed like something you should have.
[Glancing up at the sudden motion of her standing, he looks faintly quizzical, but too pleased still to be distracted.]
no subject
[His voice, quiet but practically vibrating with enthusiasm, is different from anything she’s heard from him yet. Similar to the excited chattering from earlier, but still not quite the same. He’s delighted, but more than that, he’s — awed. Riley tries to downplay it, to make it seem as though this isn’t anything special, but no matter what she does, he’s never going to see it that way.]
[There’s an incomprehensible difference between zero and one. That the brooch in his hand even exists is what’s shocking, not the details.]
[He runs his thumb over the jeweled back, back and forth, again and again. Smiling.]
. . . I learned that I like that part of giving gifts. Looking until something catches your eye and it feels right. That’s how — the ribbons were purposeful, but the knife caught me in the same way. It seemed like something you should have.
[Glancing up at the sudden motion of her standing, he looks faintly quizzical, but too pleased still to be distracted.]
Thank you. It’s perfect, I mean that.