[ kaji's hum was that of someone reviewing a mental checklist. ]
(You don't say... well, it could've been an accident, or a sense of hostility that quickly spiraled out of control. You're a disagreeable man, but fairly harmless, I think.)
[ swiftly preempting mat's protests: ](Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't owe you an apology. As a matter of fact, she owes me one, too. What's done onto you is done onto me. )
(Of course. I can't say I'm not curious to know who's capable of this sort of thing and getting away with it, for that matter. And here I thought the same was true for you.)
[ unless. ]
(Hold on a moment. You're not scared about a repeat scenario, are you?)
[ Even if his first instinct is to lie, the mental link makes it more of a challenge — and, strangely enough, being called a coward isn't one of his many sore spots. ]
(Because you want another headache, is that it? No, I don't want a blasted repeat. If you truly felt it, neither would you.)
[ "A bit". That's kind of baseline for his relationship with women, so the statement's strangely mild. Although, after a thoughtful and slightly chagrined pause, ]
(She started off lecturing me for causing trouble — which I didn't do, mind you.)
[ She'd told him to stop complaining and get along with the other hosts, or implied it. Sort of the opposite of unreasonable. ]
(In more ways than one.) [ A few months ago he would've gladly tossed the responsibility off to Kaji. That said, his plan for dealing with it is really just avoiding it, SO.... ]
(And I guarantee you I've seen worse tempers than yours.)
[ mat, mat, mat. well, he doesn't get points for clarity. ]
(You never wondered just how deep this connection runs? If I can feel your headache, what else can I feel of yours? And if you're going to willingly give yourself pain, you better follow it up with something correspondingly, well, pleasant. )
[ Wow ok FULL OFFENSE. Mat isn't exactly a prude, but there's doing things and then there's making it everyone's business. Or sharing it, apparently.
Well, maybe he's a little bit of a prude, by certain definitions. But there's a flicker of memory when he puts two and two together — nobody Kaji knows, thankfully, and only vague impressions of a very handsy, older woman — that are quickly shut down. ]
( If I'm getting anything pleasant, it's none of yours. Burn you— ) [ Normally he'd try out new curse words. Since the latest one he's learned is 'fuck' and he knows what it technically means, hard pass. ] ( Just stay out of my bloody skull. )
[ honestly, the vague impressions interest him more than mat's more coherent thoughts right now. there's a sensation that, if assigned to a pictocard, would be of a man raising his eyebrows in quiet intrigue. ]
(Likewise. I'm only kidding, of course.
And, Mat - if there's anything you need to talk to me about, I'm only a thought away. We might be more alike than you realize.)
[ Very dubious. The last comment makes him think of less trivial things, though; the first time they'd met, the images and questions. It'll be an easy thought to track, though his current power-induced hangover makes him reluctant to indulge in existential questions. ]
(Alike, or just sharing the same bad streak of luck?) [ After a short pause, though: ] (If there's anything worth speaking about, I'll get in touch.)
[ Part of him would be content to keep to himself and ignore reality as much as possible. But it's here, and he's stuck with it, and if he's learned anything in the past few months it's that it's best to take any kind of loyalty — or simply solidarity — you can get. ]
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( You don't say... well, it could've been an accident, or a sense of hostility that quickly spiraled out of control. You're a disagreeable man, but fairly harmless, I think. )
[ swiftly preempting mat's protests: ] ( Of course, that doesn't mean she doesn't owe you an apology. As a matter of fact, she owes me one, too. What's done onto you is done onto me. )
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[ OffENSE TAKEN. With that and not with the 'disagreeable' part, apparently. But also, ]
( She can keep it; you can't place bets with apologies. You want to find out who it was? Is that it? )
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[ unless. ]
( Hold on a moment. You're not scared about a repeat scenario, are you? )
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( Because you want another headache, is that it? No, I don't want a blasted repeat. If you truly felt it, neither would you. )
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[ explains a lot. ]
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[ "A bit". That's kind of baseline for his relationship with women, so the statement's strangely mild. Although, after a thoughtful and slightly chagrined pause, ]
( She started off lecturing me for causing trouble — which I didn't do, mind you. )
[ She'd told him to stop complaining and get along with the other hosts, or implied it. Sort of the opposite of unreasonable. ]
( Just leave it. I'll take care of it. )
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[ it's not mat. in his experience, whenever someone said "i'll take care of it", malfeasance closely followed behind. ]
( Just don't give me another headache. I may not look like it, but I have a hot temper. ) [ and the skies were made of marmalade. ]
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( And I guarantee you I've seen worse tempers than yours. )
[ Speaking of headaches, though. ]
( What about drink? )
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Well, I can't prevent you from indulging yourself in good conscience. Just make sure to make it up with pleasure. )
[ ???? ]
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( I'm not sure I take your meaning. )
[ Can you feel it when he's drunk, too?? It had better be that innocent. ]
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( You never wondered just how deep this connection runs? If I can feel your headache, what else can I feel of yours? And if you're going to willingly give yourself pain, you better follow it up with something correspondingly, well, pleasant. )
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Well, maybe he's a little bit of a prude, by certain definitions. But there's a flicker of memory when he puts two and two together — nobody Kaji knows, thankfully, and only vague impressions of a very handsy, older woman — that are quickly shut down. ]
( If I'm getting anything pleasant, it's none of yours. Burn you— ) [ Normally he'd try out new curse words. Since the latest one he's learned is 'fuck' and he knows what it technically means, hard pass. ] ( Just stay out of my bloody skull. )
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( Likewise. I'm only kidding, of course.
And, Mat - if there's anything you need to talk to me about, I'm only a thought away. We might be more alike than you realize. )
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( Right. )
[ Very dubious. The last comment makes him think of less trivial things, though; the first time they'd met, the images and questions. It'll be an easy thought to track, though his current power-induced hangover makes him reluctant to indulge in existential questions. ]
( Alike, or just sharing the same bad streak of luck? ) [ After a short pause, though: ] ( If there's anything worth speaking about, I'll get in touch. )
[ Part of him would be content to keep to himself and ignore reality as much as possible. But it's here, and he's stuck with it, and if he's learned anything in the past few months it's that it's best to take any kind of loyalty — or simply solidarity — you can get. ]