what was there to say? certainly not that she’d been terribly deep in her head all night. it hadn’t all been bad, but she still didn’t want to talk about that.

“fine.” a shrug. “i haven’t just sat around in a while.”

she looked over, having been eyeing over rooftops again as the sun began to poke over the horizon. “how’d you sleep?”

THEO BECKETT

☉

had she finally rested, then? probably not, but sitting around doing nothing sounded much more relaxing than working. it was a start, perhaps.

"really well."

after a sip, he looked over as well, meeting her gaze as his lips curled into a smile.

"thanks."

Lulu Flint

☉

it had been something akin to rest, sort of like that day at the hot springs—before theo had appeared.

things had changed, even since then, but the comfort she felt with him was still scarce in too many areas. from her end, the peace between them was fickle.

for now, it was warm like the mug in her hands. she smiled back and gave a small nod. “good.” then, in an instant, she felt like she should confess.

“actually… i may have done a little bit of something.” she paused a moment. “just hypnosis. but not a lot, and nothing else. not the uh… feeding, or whatever.” her face contorted slightly and her voice got lower. “i ought to come up with a better word for that, probably.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

he listened, and by the end of it, a soft chuckle escaped. his head dipped in agreement.

"probably."

not that it mattered too much.

his hand curled around the mug just a little tighter, appreciating the warmth of it.

"did you want to? feed, or whatever."

Lulu Flint

☉

he didn’t seem offended by it—not that she’d really expected him to be. somehow, she’d apparently yet to do anything bad enough to earn so much as a harsh look from him.

what was it like to see theo crack?

she had less grace than he did. her posture shriveled a little at her shoulders, as her gaze cast outward on a pink crest of sunlight.

“i did.” should she feel more guilt? how did one determine their place on the moral spectrum in such uncharted territory? she barely had a grip on her own psyche. she was rolling with it. “and so i came up here instead.”

she sighed.

“i should’ve brought my snorunt. that’s what he’s for, actually. he has such simple dreams... it’s kind of nice.”

her gaze snuck over at him, and she paused a moment. a smirk swelled a phantom curl before disappearing in a twitch.

“you have a bigger heart than me. is that fucked up?”

THEO BECKETT

☉

though he didn't regard her response with anything other than a nod, he appreciated the fact that she had shown enough restraint to not feed on his dreams, whatever they might have been.

his smile only grew at the mention of her snorunt. he was fond of the ice-type, not the species itself, but hers specifically. it was cute.

"i never knew."

a bigger heart.

he looked over, shrugging.

"what makes you say that?"

Lulu Flint

☉

she gave a nod. “yeah. that one, and the cubchoo… and there’s a tepig, too.” a cute trio of small dreamers, providing her with an endless experience of traveling through icy caves and flowering meadows at toddler level. utter purity, and she sapped it like a parasite from hell.

about his heart, she blinked at him, considering.

“i dunno.” a shrug, eventually, before she looked back out to the sun. “you just seem like it.”

THEO BECKETT

☉

did he have a bigger heart?

he took a moment to consider, joining her as his own gaze fell upon the rising sun. waves of bright yellow slowly washed over the white-roofed homes of sootopolis, not yet reaching them. for a little while longer, they could enjoy the twilight.

"maybe. but it's still a bad heart."

Lulu Flint

☉

a bad heart. you’re a bad man, she’d told him. she didn’t regret it, either. so, she didn’t correct him now, like maybe she should have if she cared about him, like he claimed to care about her.

did she? was she even capable anymore?

she shrugged.

“maybe. but you care.” an echoed sentiment.

THEO BECKETT

☉

no matter what he might think, he did care. they wouldn't be here right now, sipping away at their coffee and watching the sunrise if he didn't.

so, he nodded.

"not about a lot of things, but i do."

and though he chose not to say it, the sentiment showed in the way he leaned his shoulder against hers.

i care about you.

Lulu Flint

☉

although she couldn’t know what he’d meant in this moment, lulu already knew that he cared about her, because he’d told her, and shown it—but she didn’t understand why. her entire demeanor was built to ensure that few did, and theo had caught more of her aggression than most. at least, most of the ones still alive.

she sipped her coffee, wincing a little at the heat.

“why do you care about me?”

THEO BECKETT

☉

"it's...difficult to explain."

but, as per usual, he'll try.

a breath followed.

"i suppose it's because i sympathize with what you've been through."

tragedy through no fault of their own.

"and because you mean something to me."

Lulu Flint

☉

“hm.”

she frowned, her brow wrinkling. it wasn’t the answer she’d been looking for, if any. in fact, it was perhaps one of the worst things he could’ve said.

“so you feel bad for me?”

pity was the last thing that lulu had ever wanted from anyone. to be found weak or belly-up to begin with was far painful enough.

THEO BECKETT

☉