Clemente
The puffed cheeks only grow in size as she teases him, but his lips try desperately to curl in amusement. He won't give her the satisfaction, even though he's not seriously bothered by her playfulness. It's nice to just be playful, to tease and joke, and not sink into the depths of his worries about this entirely new life he has been dumped into. Clemente is sure that once he stops and thinks about it he'll have a good internal panic, but for now he can at least enjoy the ease of their back and forth conversation. Her gentle way of handling the jewelry and his wrist shouldn't make him emotional, but it does. He has cried more in this one day than he has in years, and it's exhausting. But he focuses in on her words, the soft tone of her voice, and can't help how his eyes widen at her own title. "Holy crap that's so cool," he gushes, words slurred together in excitement. And then he grins shyly at the eclipse on his bracelet, feeling like he's been stuffed full of cotton candy and is about to burst at the seams.
Luckily Rexanna offers to show him his room, otherwise he'd do something like hug her. Except he does anyway, throwing his arms around her neck and hugging her tight in the way he hadn't returned her own embrace earlier. Over her shoulder where his cheek rests, he gazes at the bracelet and clings tighter to the Penumbra. It's a sign of belonging that he has never had. Nobody has ever wanted to tie themselves to him, much less by such a fancy title and name. "Thanks," he mumbles uselessly, feeling inadequate in every way.
Only then does he remove himself, standing quickly and making sure the blankets get put back in their proper place, too flustered and vulnerable to look Rexanna in the eyes. Then he nods his head jerkily at her question and waits for her to show him to his room, one hand already automatically rubbing against the charm on the bracelet, a soothing motion that helps calm his anxieties. My new lucky charm, he thinks to himself, and is glad that he no longer has the blood to blush.
i stopped being a kid the day
you sent me down here to die
