NIKI
The face Niki pulls in response to that little tidbit of information lies somewhere between horrified and fascinated, and it takes a beat before he can offer Flora a slow nod. "A shame that kind of side effect did not disappear when the Family left," he says. "Still, at least they are not around to re-infect people now." And whilst he'd never been close to that side of things - the void or the fight against it - he can still feel his shoulders slump in relief.
Sensing the way the light inside the Doubletake begins to dim and instantly feeling responsible for it, Niki flashes a smile across the table that tilts towards mischievous. "Neither am I," he points out gently, "and yet here we are. Sun, sea, and I have not even brought a notebook with me today." A true vacation by his standards.
But then Flora's expression somersaults into lemon-sucking territory, surprising the boy into brief concern, until her curt explanation settles things and his smile flinches into an apology. "I am sorry - I did not know," he says softly. "If I were to come with you, what would I be expected to do? I could not ride along and be of no use, so you would have to put me to work somehow."
Sensing the way the light inside the Doubletake begins to dim and instantly feeling responsible for it, Niki flashes a smile across the table that tilts towards mischievous. "Neither am I," he points out gently, "and yet here we are. Sun, sea, and I have not even brought a notebook with me today." A true vacation by his standards.
But then Flora's expression somersaults into lemon-sucking territory, surprising the boy into brief concern, until her curt explanation settles things and his smile flinches into an apology. "I am sorry - I did not know," he says softly. "If I were to come with you, what would I be expected to do? I could not ride along and be of no use, so you would have to put me to work somehow."
stay your pretty eyes on course
i guess i never really faced my fears before
i guess i never really faced my fears before
