There are some things already slotting into place. Not the Stellaron, not the impossible number of legal violations that don't really matter in the end — he has no way of knowing those things about Luocha just yet — but he is beginning to understand why he has such ambivalent feelings about Luocha, despite everything about the man that should point in the opposite direction.
Because there's a lot to like about Luocha on face value, really. He's charming, he's kind, he's intelligent. He goes out of his way to help others; he notices things that others don't. Perhaps these characteristics are ultimately commonplace throughout the universe, but to Caelus, whose first experiences with life have involved at least several temperamental geniuses and dangerous internationally renowned criminals, the rare simplicity of kindness goes a long way. Plus, while it's less important than the good facets of his character, the merchant is — "easy on the eyes" doesn't even begin to encapsulate it. It's not merely that he's handsome. He is ethereally pretty in a way where Caelus just sort of wants to zone out and think about nothing while watching him move about, like the man is a particularly glossy and beautiful specimen of jaguar that can be safely observed through glass.
But. But.
The thing that's been setting off Caelus's sense of danger — besides the creature in the coffin, which is a whole different problem entirely — is the way that Luocha can say several dozen words while seemingly saying nothing at all.
Caelus kind of just thought he was stupid, at first. That he was just dumb, that he wasn't catching on. That he'd just let it slide, the way he lets everything slide, because he doesn't know much, and other people seem to know lots of things. But the more time that he spends in Luocha's presence, the more he thinks this is either an intentional or reflexive thing that the man does. That it's not some fault of his understanding, actually.
I have never visited Penacony myself, okay, that's a fact. Business has never aligned — vague, but implies the logical interpretation that his job has just kept him busy with other things. Won't align in that direction for time still could mean a lot of things, probably just that he'll be busy, but is still wildly open to interpretation. I will be departing from the Luofu, okay, fact, but it'll be elsewhere, what does that mean, if things pan out as I expect, what does that mean —
And trinket or treat? It's like he just says things, on purpose, that are open to interpretation, on purpose, but why? ]
A trinket or a treat. [ It just comes out of his mouth before he can stop himself — ] Do you want to be more specific?
[ It comes out sounding so deadpan, flat, and unintentionally judgmental that Caelus actually cringes at himself once it's said. Grimacing, this time not because of his leg, the Trailblazer passes a palm over his face and clarifies: ]
no subject
There are some things already slotting into place. Not the Stellaron, not the impossible number of legal violations that don't really matter in the end — he has no way of knowing those things about Luocha just yet — but he is beginning to understand why he has such ambivalent feelings about Luocha, despite everything about the man that should point in the opposite direction.
Because there's a lot to like about Luocha on face value, really. He's charming, he's kind, he's intelligent. He goes out of his way to help others; he notices things that others don't. Perhaps these characteristics are ultimately commonplace throughout the universe, but to Caelus, whose first experiences with life have involved at least several temperamental geniuses and dangerous internationally renowned criminals, the rare simplicity of kindness goes a long way. Plus, while it's less important than the good facets of his character, the merchant is — "easy on the eyes" doesn't even begin to encapsulate it. It's not merely that he's handsome. He is ethereally pretty in a way where Caelus just sort of wants to zone out and think about nothing while watching him move about, like the man is a particularly glossy and beautiful specimen of jaguar that can be safely observed through glass.
But. But.
The thing that's been setting off Caelus's sense of danger — besides the creature in the coffin, which is a whole different problem entirely — is the way that Luocha can say several dozen words while seemingly saying nothing at all.
Caelus kind of just thought he was stupid, at first. That he was just dumb, that he wasn't catching on. That he'd just let it slide, the way he lets everything slide, because he doesn't know much, and other people seem to know lots of things. But the more time that he spends in Luocha's presence, the more he thinks this is either an intentional or reflexive thing that the man does. That it's not some fault of his understanding, actually.
I have never visited Penacony myself, okay, that's a fact. Business has never aligned — vague, but implies the logical interpretation that his job has just kept him busy with other things. Won't align in that direction for time still could mean a lot of things, probably just that he'll be busy, but is still wildly open to interpretation. I will be departing from the Luofu, okay, fact, but it'll be elsewhere, what does that mean, if things pan out as I expect, what does that mean —
And trinket or treat? It's like he just says things, on purpose, that are open to interpretation, on purpose, but why? ]
A trinket or a treat. [ It just comes out of his mouth before he can stop himself — ] Do you want to be more specific?
[ It comes out sounding so deadpan, flat, and unintentionally judgmental that Caelus actually cringes at himself once it's said. Grimacing, this time not because of his leg, the Trailblazer passes a palm over his face and clarifies: ]
I mean — sorry. I mean, uh... is anything fine?