heaven / jiaoqiu

[midway]

Comments

[midway]

Not that I'm aware of.

But keep a look out for a cryptic message tomorrow.

[fried]

[ this gets him to look slightly amused. ]

Oh? You're very informed.

[midway]

Well, that seems to be the trade off for coming back on Thursday bloody and bruised.

[ Alas!! ]

[fried]

[ he raises his eyebrows. ]

I see... that's the trend, then. [ a beat. ] Well. At least there's some sort of reason for all these broken bones.

[midway]

I wouldn't call it "worth it", but yeah. At least there's something.

It's hard, but I'm not losing hope that we can fix things.

[fried]

[ mmm. ]

I didn't expect that sort of optimism from you. [ but it's teasing, and he doesn't mean it. ]

[midway]

[ wow... he pretends to look beleaguered ]

You're not the first person to say that. Do I seem depressed?

[fried]

[ a little laugh. ]

No, not depressed. Perhaps unrelentingly realistic. [ ... ] I don't know that I've ever seen you laugh, come to think of it.

[midway]

[ help ]

Well, we keep meeting in such dour circumstances... I wouldn't laugh at someone just because half their ear is missing.

[fried]

[ snort. ]

You could. Anders has. [ be nice to anders ] ... Shall we try to find better circumstances? Maybe in the new week, we can focus on doing something a little less horrific than trading traumatic memories and watching people die.

[midway]

[ smiles ]

You want to go on a date?

[fried]

[ his tail flicks up enough to briefly bop claude in the nose. ]

In honor of Ellie... of course. I'll hold you to very high standards.

[midway]

[ Sneezes. ]

I don't want a pity date!

[fried]

[ HELP he laughs ]

Oh, was that a serious request? Surely you have better prospects than an old fox, Claude. You heartbreaker.

[midway]

Right, I'm sure you have plenty of love in your heart for me.

[ Eyeing him thoughtfully. ]

[fried]

[ eyebrow raise... ]

What a pointed statement. [ whacks him with his tail again. ] Say what you mean.

[midway]

[ Innocent. ]

I wouldn't want to gossip.

[fried]

You should tell me, or I'll announce to the Chipper network that you and Wis'adel slept together, her rating on your performance included.

[midway]

[ CHOKES ON AIR ]

What? She never told me I was being rated!

[fried]

[ i am so sorry claude ]

I think that was a special insight for my ears, but it's still gossip.

[midway]

[ misery ]

I was only going to tease you for being in a relationship.

[fried]

[ EYEBROW RAISE ]

Am I? And who told you that?

[midway]

I never said I was going to be honest about it.

[fried]

[ this is revenge for the blackmail isn't it ]

Then why bring it up... you can't tease me if I have no idea what you're talking about, you numskull.

[midway]

Sure, I can. Just like this:

"You know, Jiaoqiu, a pity date is bad enough as it is, but a pity date when you have someone at home is even worse! And you call me the heartbreaker!"