[ He's a little distracted licking off a (delectable) crumb of crust off his lips, savoring the flavor of the meat filling as he slowly chews through that enormous mouthful, but Gen does still blink when he hears that subtle barb in Gray's voice. And sure, it'd be easy to dismiss that as just a gentle comment, something Gray's saying solely to refute his prodding, but ... he's always been a little more astute than most people give him credit for. ]
Mn. [ Give him a second to swallow and then give a satisfied little huff. That pie really is good, even if it's cooled. ] Just had some stuff come up for a while.
[ Is he going to elaborate at all? Absolutely not! Gen instead takes another, slightly smaller bite before continuing. ]
Don't worry. S'plenty tasty even if it's not fresh-made. I mostly ate stuff from convenience stores back home, y'know. [ He brushes a stray flake of pastry from the corner of his mouth with his thumb before casually adding, ] But just let me know whenever you wanna kill some more time with cooking, and I'll see if I can head over. You're pretty good, so I'll never say no.
[ Unfortunately for Gray, Gen is a shitty, shitty teenager, so that offhand comment is the closest he'll get to admitting that he really appreciates her consideration. At least the speed with which he's managed to demolish the handpie proves he's being honest about her cooking being excellent. ]
[ As expected, he doesn't elaborate on where he's been — and now that they're in opposing factions, there could very well be legitimate reasons for secrecy. There's plenty she can't discuss with him on her end, after all. In reality, she has no ground to complain on; it's her own worries and frustrations that nag at her.
In Horos they spent plenty of time apart, but it still felt like she had easy access to him. Now it feels like he's moved two towns over — though that fails to capture the vastness of the space that actually exists between their positions now. She wonders if this is something like being homesick, though obviously Gen is not a house.
He says he'll never say no if she calls for him. For food, though she has no doubt he'd come regardless. ]
I'll let you know.
[ If he comes more often, Eustace can see him too. Gray resolves to bake something again soon.
She begins to hold the basket out again for him to take, reconsiders the movement, and then steps forward to wrap him in a one-armed hug soft and warm with feeling. With disregard for his shitty teenager obliqueness, she makes a clumsy bludgeon of her heart. ]
If you're ever hungry... or if you miss eating something, I'll make it for you. But you have to let me know.
[ He's never had much fondness for the concept of homemade food, to be honest.
Gen's attachment to his home had steadily waned after his mother had left, as he'd come to realize just how little his stepmother cared for him; the quick, easy appeal of convenience store foods and nearby family restaurants had easily overpowered whatever lingering attachment he might have had to the concept of 'homemade food.' Food is food, and Gen eats mostly just to sate his appetite, or maybe enjoy something tasty. Who it's made by, or where it's made, doesn't really matter in his opinion.
But Gray's little offer sends a prickle of something soft and longing through his chest, and he's oddly reminded of the time Eustace had cooked a meal for him on his birthday. Vaguely, he wonders if this is what it's like when people say they 'miss home.'
Though Gen says nothing at first as he feels that slender arm wrap around him in a clumsy, lopsided hug, he does sigh after a moment. And instead of pushing Gray away, he gives her an awkward pat to the back. ]
Sure. [ The way his hand lingers on her back afterwards might even count for a reciprocation of the hug, if given some leeway for his usual aversion towards shows of affection. ] Just so long as you don't go getting yourself killed again, alright?
[ And this much, he says without any pretension, his hand squeezing at Gray's shoulder for just a moment before withdrawing\; his tone of voice is serious and firm. It's not even that he wants to avoid the trouble of having to retrieve Add again. -- Gray just deserves better. He'd stake his life on it. ]
[ Gray is aware that Gen isn't a hugging type of person, so in a way this is more for her than him; she isn't adept enough at expressing herself verbally to convey all of her feelings without something extra.
The awkward pats to her back are enough for her to accept that he understands, so she mercifully lets him go. It goes without saying that she isn't looking to die again any time soon, but she still responds with all due solemnity. ]
I won't. I've learned my lesson. And now that I have Add again, I won't lose in a fight.
[ A fair one, anyway. And magic can be pretty cheap, so she can't make promises there. But what's important is the sentiment.
She holds the basket out toward Gen again. She isn't letting him go home without a cute woven basket in hand. ]
[ They both know it's not so simple. Even if Gray has Add back, and even if he knows she could probably wipe the floor with him eight different ways, he still can't help thinking she's always at risk of dying against. Not that he's worried for her or anything. (He is.) But it just hadn't felt right, thinking that Gray was vulnerable, and he doesn't want it to happen again. Ever.
A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Mn. [ Give him a second to swallow and then give a satisfied little huff. That pie really is good, even if it's cooled. ] Just had some stuff come up for a while.
[ Is he going to elaborate at all? Absolutely not! Gen instead takes another, slightly smaller bite before continuing. ]
Don't worry. S'plenty tasty even if it's not fresh-made. I mostly ate stuff from convenience stores back home, y'know. [ He brushes a stray flake of pastry from the corner of his mouth with his thumb before casually adding, ] But just let me know whenever you wanna kill some more time with cooking, and I'll see if I can head over. You're pretty good, so I'll never say no.
[ Unfortunately for Gray, Gen is a shitty, shitty teenager, so that offhand comment is the closest he'll get to admitting that he really appreciates her consideration. At least the speed with which he's managed to demolish the handpie proves he's being honest about her cooking being excellent. ]
no subject
In Horos they spent plenty of time apart, but it still felt like she had easy access to him. Now it feels like he's moved two towns over — though that fails to capture the vastness of the space that actually exists between their positions now. She wonders if this is something like being homesick, though obviously Gen is not a house.
He says he'll never say no if she calls for him. For food, though she has no doubt he'd come regardless. ]
I'll let you know.
[ If he comes more often, Eustace can see him too. Gray resolves to bake something again soon.
She begins to hold the basket out again for him to take, reconsiders the movement, and then steps forward to wrap him in a one-armed hug soft and warm with feeling. With disregard for his shitty teenager obliqueness, she makes a clumsy bludgeon of her heart. ]
If you're ever hungry... or if you miss eating something, I'll make it for you. But you have to let me know.
no subject
Gen's attachment to his home had steadily waned after his mother had left, as he'd come to realize just how little his stepmother cared for him; the quick, easy appeal of convenience store foods and nearby family restaurants had easily overpowered whatever lingering attachment he might have had to the concept of 'homemade food.' Food is food, and Gen eats mostly just to sate his appetite, or maybe enjoy something tasty. Who it's made by, or where it's made, doesn't really matter in his opinion.
But Gray's little offer sends a prickle of something soft and longing through his chest, and he's oddly reminded of the time Eustace had cooked a meal for him on his birthday. Vaguely, he wonders if this is what it's like when people say they 'miss home.'
Though Gen says nothing at first as he feels that slender arm wrap around him in a clumsy, lopsided hug, he does sigh after a moment. And instead of pushing Gray away, he gives her an awkward pat to the back. ]
Sure. [ The way his hand lingers on her back afterwards might even count for a reciprocation of the hug, if given some leeway for his usual aversion towards shows of affection. ] Just so long as you don't go getting yourself killed again, alright?
[ And this much, he says without any pretension, his hand squeezing at Gray's shoulder for just a moment before withdrawing\; his tone of voice is serious and firm. It's not even that he wants to avoid the trouble of having to retrieve Add again. -- Gray just deserves better. He'd stake his life on it. ]
no subject
The awkward pats to her back are enough for her to accept that he understands, so she mercifully lets him go. It goes without saying that she isn't looking to die again any time soon, but she still responds with all due solemnity. ]
I won't. I've learned my lesson. And now that I have Add again, I won't lose in a fight.
[ A fair one, anyway. And magic can be pretty cheap, so she can't make promises there. But what's important is the sentiment.
She holds the basket out toward Gen again. She isn't letting him go home without a cute woven basket in hand. ]
no subject
A sentiment that comes across maybe just the slightest in the way he thumps her back once more before quickly pulling his hand away to grab up the basket instead. ]
Mm. I'll drop the basket off when I'm done.
[ It's his way of saying thanks. (???) Also, it's probably only going to take him a few days at most to demolish all these pies. Disgusting. ]
Later, then.
[ And with that unceremonious farewell, he's off. At least Gray can rest easy knowing she'll be keeping him well-fed for a while. ]