(no subject)

[controlledvariable]

audio | video | action

Comments

[redactions]

[ He doesn't just yet, eyeing her curiously. It's a challenge, sure. The kinda talk he and Steve used to get on the streets of Brooklyn. Steph's lived a hard life, no doubt she'd have it too, after fighting that long, but he's not sure why it's here, when it should have been left behind. ]

Must you?

[ even, and curious. ]

[controlledvariable]

Must I what?

[She's curious right back, though nothing in her posture shifts, just in case the conversation is a distraction tactic.]

[redactions]

Needle me.

[ She doesn't get anything out of it that he can see, and it's not like it usually works on him anyway. ]

[controlledvariable]

[what]

I'm just taking shit, Starbucks. It's nothing personal, but I don't shut up in a fight unless it's serious.

[redactions]

Oh.

[ Distractionary tactic. He gets it. ]

I don't mind, but you weren't stoppin', you know?

[ Good to know it's not him personally. ]

[controlledvariable]

[In a lot of ways, she's grown up since Exsilium, but there are still things she clings to.]

D'you want me to stop?

[It's a genuine question, she will stop if it bothers him.]

[redactions]

[ He nearly shrugs it off, but he's learning honesty. ]

Sometimes. When I ain't feelin' up to it.

[ He's been pushed enough, but old instincts are always take more, because he can. ]

[controlledvariable]

Okay.

[She smiles, and it's a crooked, easy thing, because she doesn't want him to feel like he's asking anything big of her.]

You can always just tell me to shut my mouth, I won't take it personally.

[Sometimes a blunt Steph, shut up is what she needs.]

[redactions]

[ He chuckles. ]

I'll keep that in mind. All right. [ he takes a stance, not perfect, but almost there. he's still learning ] Let's go.

[controlledvariable]

[A laugh is good; her grin widens and she raises a hand in a universal bring it gesture, before retaking her stance.

She's ready for him.]