[janus thinks they have the right of it. they aren't completely sure, but they've been less sure before. they think they are able to tell the difference between reluctance and interest, even when a person is trying not to be obvious about it either way. and that's the trouble, you know. elijah is so very polite, the real threat to accuracy of interpretation would be if he merely looked... polite.
they stick their hand up in the air and order the dessert.]
So how have you been? [they ask, once the waitress has stepped away. they regard elijah with familiar interest, their stare considerably more calm, relaxed than the color of their ears would suggest to be true.] I've been working a little. Adjustment was difficult. I miss going to lunch with everyone and tutoring with you. You were very helpful, and your teaching style is-- better than the way the Hunters teach.
[it's an entirely false comparison. eli would probably have a very difficult time pushing people to be the best murderers that they could. but janus thinks in terms of comparison and better-than, most of the time, and right now-- they wouldn't be anywhere but here. and that has to count for something.]
[ False comparison or not, Eli is warmed by the compliment and can't help but smile again. He misses tutoring Janus, too. He misses running into them in the hallways, talking with them face to face, hearing about their classroom successes, being their self-defense class assistant--he misses Janus. Saying as much out loud doesn't seem appropriate, though, even if this might be like a d... a daa... a daaate, okay, he said it. In his mind. ]
It's not the same without you.
[ The words are chosen with care, full of sincerity and a little Tennessee twang. He holds Janus's gaze until the end, and then becomes again quite preoccupied with the table. Maybe that was still too much. ]
Anyway, uh, things are good. The Agency got a pretty big contract lined up for me. It's a great opportunity, especially now. Anything that improves our relationship with humans is, you know. [ He shrugs one shoulder. ] The Agency says it helps.
[ Eli isn't on the front lines of the war, by any means, but he doesn't live in a vacuum either. ]
[war and elijah don't really belong in the same sentence, no matter how realistic and calm and super zen chill cool i know the world is bad place that janus pretends to be. when eli shares that, it makes the young hunter's whole demeanor sharpen a little. they look at him, managing to stop themself from asking too much too soon.
but sometimes, waiting a few seconds til your adrenaline spike starts to flow down the chart is all you need to do. they take a breath.]
I miss the Academy a lot, [they say. because you should; that's what you should do, when someone says that it's not the same without you. you talk about 'it.' you talk about missing 'it,' especially because it's true, and partly because— it's close enough to saying, i missed you too.] What is this new assignment about? [gently they ask.] Do you like the sound of it? Will you learn new skills?
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they stick their hand up in the air and order the dessert.]
So how have you been? [they ask, once the waitress has stepped away. they regard elijah with familiar interest, their stare considerably more calm, relaxed than the color of their ears would suggest to be true.] I've been working a little. Adjustment was difficult. I miss going to lunch with everyone and tutoring with you. You were very helpful, and your teaching style is-- better than the way the Hunters teach.
[it's an entirely false comparison. eli would probably have a very difficult time pushing people to be the best murderers that they could. but janus thinks in terms of comparison and better-than, most of the time, and right now-- they wouldn't be anywhere but here. and that has to count for something.]
no subject
It's not the same without you.
[ The words are chosen with care, full of sincerity and a little Tennessee twang. He holds Janus's gaze until the end, and then becomes again quite preoccupied with the table. Maybe that was still too much. ]
Anyway, uh, things are good. The Agency got a pretty big contract lined up for me. It's a great opportunity, especially now. Anything that improves our relationship with humans is, you know. [ He shrugs one shoulder. ] The Agency says it helps.
[ Eli isn't on the front lines of the war, by any means, but he doesn't live in a vacuum either. ]
no subject
but sometimes, waiting a few seconds til your adrenaline spike starts to flow down the chart is all you need to do. they take a breath.]
I miss the Academy a lot, [they say. because you should; that's what you should do, when someone says that it's not the same without you. you talk about 'it.' you talk about missing 'it,' especially because it's true, and partly because— it's close enough to saying, i missed you too.] What is this new assignment about? [gently they ask.] Do you like the sound of it? Will you learn new skills?