[ the tenseness she displays reminds him a lot of someone else he knows. someone who just by being at his side either seemed to tremble (albeit, his blade was at her neck), or approach him with an unusual guardedness. occasionally, the woman from home would make the face like she just ate a handful of dogshit, but he digresses. sometimes, he gets the same general vibe from rudbeckia, but he doesn't necessarily bring attention to it. for now, he thinks.

instead he gives a brief shrug. ] Well, you don't have to force yourself. [ a pause of consideration, before he concludes: ] Should I just destroy the whole thing and call it a day? [ sadly, he absolutely means it. but, as if to once again re-route this conversation to what they've previous talked about. ]

That's the least I could do for the woman who admitted she admired me. [ lol. i'm sorry he's petty and basically never letting this go. it's not once, but twice, he's felt like he's heard such affectionate words. whether they're genuine or not, it's clear it had some vague impact on him.

at least enough to use as a measure of teasing someone with. ]