...I see. [そうですか. Except not really, he's a そうか too.] You don't have to apologize for something like that. It's something important to you, right? It's important to follow your instincts on when to share something precious to you, and I can hardly hold it against you that you didn't spill all your secrets after just a few polite interactions between us.
[Calmly, rationally; he takes a sip of his tea and keeps a steady, easy-going eye contact with Vangeance through the mask. As if he didn't notice the signs of Vangeance's reaction, the creases in his pants, the angle of his lips. As if he isn't deeply, instinctively, intrusively curious.]
So your companion [no hesitation, lightly repeating the word that Vangeance chose with a small smile] is more sealed away than stuck on the outside? If that's the case...
[He puts the cup down on the table, taps his thumbnail against his lips as he looks slightly up and to the left. A perfectly choreographed performance of being in thought; he is an actor.] There was something else that the Admin mentioned that struck me. Part of my contract with my shiki is that they protect me from harm. The Admin brought it up while saying that everyone 'reacts differently'-- whether to a bond like that or to the risk of the corruption of that bond. I'm wondering whether that's part of the risk-- that because my shiki will act to protect me, if one or all of us get corrupted ourselves, that task could be turned against the rest of the residents, or coopted in some way. But maybe I'm overthinking it.
no subject
[Calmly, rationally; he takes a sip of his tea and keeps a steady, easy-going eye contact with Vangeance through the mask. As if he didn't notice the signs of Vangeance's reaction, the creases in his pants, the angle of his lips. As if he isn't deeply, instinctively, intrusively curious.]
So your companion [no hesitation, lightly repeating the word that Vangeance chose with a small smile] is more sealed away than stuck on the outside? If that's the case...
[He puts the cup down on the table, taps his thumbnail against his lips as he looks slightly up and to the left. A perfectly choreographed performance of being in thought; he is an actor.] There was something else that the Admin mentioned that struck me. Part of my contract with my shiki is that they protect me from harm. The Admin brought it up while saying that everyone 'reacts differently'-- whether to a bond like that or to the risk of the corruption of that bond. I'm wondering whether that's part of the risk-- that because my shiki will act to protect me, if one or all of us get corrupted ourselves, that task could be turned against the rest of the residents, or coopted in some way. But maybe I'm overthinking it.