Got a spark in your heart so strike it
Mel's diplomatic approach isn't lost on him, though he's no idea the connections the Honeybee has with the Captain. He takes it as an attempt to keep smooth what could easily ruffle, and he does his best in turn to keep his features neutral and ears open. There's no denying that he doesn't quite know the scope of Jack and Flora's saga—he's no interest to discover it either. Some things are not worth knowing. He does let a smile break through though, agreement and appreciation both as Mel offers that he could be more, that Flora is happy. "That's all I want for her," he says gently, thinking back to the star that blazed across a sky in its descent. "I think together, we've got a good chance at it."
As for her own beau, he can't help the snicker that comes through at none ya. "Oh I see, a secret. Does that mean he's like, horribly disfigured so you're trying to hide him then? Or some other curse you're trying to solve still?" He bounces his 'brows over at her, overly ridiculous in the hopes the tease will land well and not imply she's into hunchbacks. Though if she is, to each their own. He just doesn't understand the point in keeping love quiet. He'd had to when it bloomed in secret for Flora, and that'd been awful. Then again, to soften things for Jack, Koa, and Caly, and he regrets that now because it'd been terrible regardless and he'd rather have loved Flora loud and immediate.
When she says a family dinner though, he gets a better understanding. "Ooooh, do you think your uncle will flip? Her family definitely had some...words at our dinner." His face scrunches up at the memory of Ronin's dry question and the ice that'd flooded the room with. He thinks it's better now, at least, and is planning on having another dinner soon, sans Flora, to ask for their approval for her hand. He's not completely confident it will go well, but he does think he's proven himself a bit more. He's definitely not going to let worry slow or stop him either, though he wants it to go well, so he can't rush in and be reckless. It's probably the most intense thing he's ever had to plan, and it's not even a mission, it's just dinner with her dads.
Not particularly inclined to tell Mel about all that though, he takes the topic of her birthday gift much easier. "I was thiiiiinking, like a little glass orb that she could hold and see old memories play out in. Specifically, memories I want to go collect from all her friends. Their favorite memory with her, or of her, so that she's got a piece of them loving her forever." He glances her way, quietly seeking approval, or some other sign that'd show him he's thought about this all wrong. "Not the most useful thing and a little sappy...I know. But I thought, memories fade, and—" He doesn't want to say he thinks that she thinks too poorly about herself, in those quiet moments when she lets grief or guilt take over and assumes all blame, refuses to find a positive even when he demands it. If she wouldn't say nice things about herself, he thought he could get others to. "I think we all need reminders of why we're loved, sometimes. So, yeah, I need to get it made and then go collect all the memories in time."
As for her own beau, he can't help the snicker that comes through at none ya. "Oh I see, a secret. Does that mean he's like, horribly disfigured so you're trying to hide him then? Or some other curse you're trying to solve still?" He bounces his 'brows over at her, overly ridiculous in the hopes the tease will land well and not imply she's into hunchbacks. Though if she is, to each their own. He just doesn't understand the point in keeping love quiet. He'd had to when it bloomed in secret for Flora, and that'd been awful. Then again, to soften things for Jack, Koa, and Caly, and he regrets that now because it'd been terrible regardless and he'd rather have loved Flora loud and immediate.
When she says a family dinner though, he gets a better understanding. "Ooooh, do you think your uncle will flip? Her family definitely had some...words at our dinner." His face scrunches up at the memory of Ronin's dry question and the ice that'd flooded the room with. He thinks it's better now, at least, and is planning on having another dinner soon, sans Flora, to ask for their approval for her hand. He's not completely confident it will go well, but he does think he's proven himself a bit more. He's definitely not going to let worry slow or stop him either, though he wants it to go well, so he can't rush in and be reckless. It's probably the most intense thing he's ever had to plan, and it's not even a mission, it's just dinner with her dads.
Not particularly inclined to tell Mel about all that though, he takes the topic of her birthday gift much easier. "I was thiiiiinking, like a little glass orb that she could hold and see old memories play out in. Specifically, memories I want to go collect from all her friends. Their favorite memory with her, or of her, so that she's got a piece of them loving her forever." He glances her way, quietly seeking approval, or some other sign that'd show him he's thought about this all wrong. "Not the most useful thing and a little sappy...I know. But I thought, memories fade, and—" He doesn't want to say he thinks that she thinks too poorly about herself, in those quiet moments when she lets grief or guilt take over and assumes all blame, refuses to find a positive even when he demands it. If she wouldn't say nice things about herself, he thought he could get others to. "I think we all need reminders of why we're loved, sometimes. So, yeah, I need to get it made and then go collect all the memories in time."
Wearing a watery blue, faded and stretched-out sparkling hair tie on his left wrist
