[ the coldness in that gaze finally breaks - replaced with a smirk. it almost feels worse than the emptiness.

almost. ]

See? Once you've put two and two together, it's really quite simple. [ it's her turn to reach into her own pocket, pulling out... a worn deck of cards. she empties it out, shuffling it with a practiced touch. ] Ten years ago... You can't have looked much older than me, then.

[ she neatens out the deck. she picks it up in one hand, face-down. and then, with the rapidity that only comes with practice, she uses a single hand to cycle through the cards of the deck. seven cards in, she flips it forward and onto the table.

spades. ace. ]

Practically an infant, if we use your standards.

[ flip. clubs. ace. ]

Were you both students? Classmates, perhaps? No, that's far too simple. [ another flip - the ace of diamonds, this time. ] There's no need to speak on the topic if you'd rather not, by the way. Consider it a curiosity, nothing more.

[ she pauses, dealing one more card face-down and pushing it forward with a finger. ]

It's simply been a while since I've seen something as sweet, [ she chuckles, ] as young love.