[Putting together what's funny about wet cake takes Paul another blinking second in the face of Gideon's sputtering snort, but when it connects he digs his heel reproachfully against her knee, biting back a snigger of his own.
The first compliment makes him grin with the smug glee of someone being indulged; the second connects between his eyes like a good, stiff knuckle blow, but without any of the pain. It just stuns him, leaves him spinning and off-balance, falling into a soft, engulfing warmth like a freshly turned down bed.]
Yeah?
[What's meant to be casual turns into a half-split upward flick of inflection, his voice cracking like it hasn't in months. He swallows hard with flushing cheeks, but he's not truly embarrassed.]
Thanks. [He's markedly informal, slipping into a tonal register and grammatical structure that's reserved for - well.] That's high praise coming from the coolest looking person in the house.
[He can't help himself. He slides closer and loops an arm over her shoulder, squeezing her in a half-hug.]
no subject
The first compliment makes him grin with the smug glee of someone being indulged; the second connects between his eyes like a good, stiff knuckle blow, but without any of the pain. It just stuns him, leaves him spinning and off-balance, falling into a soft, engulfing warmth like a freshly turned down bed.]
Yeah?
[What's meant to be casual turns into a half-split upward flick of inflection, his voice cracking like it hasn't in months. He swallows hard with flushing cheeks, but he's not truly embarrassed.]
Thanks. [He's markedly informal, slipping into a tonal register and grammatical structure that's reserved for - well.] That's high praise coming from the coolest looking person in the house.
[He can't help himself. He slides closer and loops an arm over her shoulder, squeezing her in a half-hug.]