[Jayme is happy, so very happy, and it is untainted by anxieties (noticeably, anyway. The stuttering repetitions remain) so she doesn’t really have to think much about what she says, only how she says it. Until, of course, Mouse says she doesn’t have to call him sir... It’s a common request. Too common, Jayme feels. She remembers J.R’s reaction the first time she called him ‘sir’ - and his reaction the other two times they saw each other and he responded the same way to being called ‘sir’. As though he had forgotten. Too many people think it is bad - think she should not refer to them in such a way - think it’s strange or she’s odd or weird for being so respectful. Mouse, it seems, is no different. Though unlike others, he vocalises his feelings quickly.]
[She lowers her gaze to the ground. Another sign of respect, she thinks grimly. Though he sparks her interest, head raising and eyes widened in surprise when he follows his comment up with the fact that she can, if she wants to. That part is different. People usually just say no - or say nothing and hope she gets the hint to stop - but people do not tell her she can, that they will allow and accept the quirk.]
I... um... I... okay. Thank you, Mouse, sir. [She smiles again, but this time it’s brighter, wider, and she cannot keep it in. It’s just a small crumb of acceptance offered to her, but she can’t help her bright smile as knowing it’s okay.]
[What she doesn’t notice, is that even though he said she can, he is still clearly awkward about it. She fails to realise that though, through her happiness.]
I am glad - I am glad you are having fun, Mouse. It is very different, and I did not know what to expect - no, I did not - but it is nice. I wish we could do things like this more often. [She agrees wholeheartedly. It’s very pleasant to see everybody having fun and dancing and enjoying themselves, like the ever-present feeling of danger and loss are forgotten for a little while. When he asks if she has dances, she laughs. A soft sound, almost lost in the noise around them.]
No, no, I have not been dancing, sir... I think I would feel silly, yes quite silly, to dance alone in the crowd. I imagine that I would look quite odd. [She giggles. She doesn’t add that while she doesn’t want to dance alone, she also doesn’t want to dance with somebody. That seemed like it would involve touching - a lot of touching - more than she would like. She has not been physically close to anybody since Kyffin left. Honestly, she’s not too sure how well she would handle the feeling of somebody else touching her - even somewhere as innocent as her hand or shoulder or something. She’s scared.] Have you been dancing?
gummygunk
titsay
origamiaround
andulkaphoto
areudirty
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