Don't make me a liar, 'cause I swear to god When I said it I thought it was true
As much as he would like to simply leave this topic, to let it fall away and not have to answer her questions anymore, Nate doesn't stop them from coming, doesn't show any discomfort. Though, it seems he's not the only one in turmoil, if her false start, the way her gaze is drawn to the waves, the distant horizon, is any indication. What eventually leaves her, after the pause, spurs a matching pause form him, stretching out nearly as long on the other side while he works over his answer, tries to decide exactly how much detail to go into. "I don't know if... rush is really right. Pushed, a little bit, and... not told exactly what it would entail." Or rather, told, but shown something different, though that would require quite a bit more explanation that he really couldn't be bothered with.
Perhaps, if he knew the thoughts behind her newly muted enthusiasm, Nate would feel guilty, would be quick to assuage the doubts and worries surrounding where he could and couldn't go. It wasn't as if he had any real desire to go to the Greatwood, after all. But he isn't a mind reader, doesn't know the turmoil. So he let's the quiet answer drop, a grin and a nod replying to it, bright eyes scanning the ocean, the dunes behind her, and finally settling on the gourd in her lap, the vegetal creature still piquing his curiosity, lending him another topic to jump to. "How'd you end up with a walking pumpkin?" Maybe not the most tactful question, but at least it was out there.
"I'm glad." Nate turns to her with a proper smile adorning his lips, fond and warm, glad that Melita met his gaze, but more glad that his efforts hadn't been in vain, and that he hadn't somehow sent her spiralling back into nightmares with the mere mention of them. "Do you want to come back to the house with me?" It's a quiet offer, Nate worried about overstepping bonds he isn't really sure are there yet, but she needs rest, and it's better to break apart with family than it is alone.
Perhaps, if he knew the thoughts behind her newly muted enthusiasm, Nate would feel guilty, would be quick to assuage the doubts and worries surrounding where he could and couldn't go. It wasn't as if he had any real desire to go to the Greatwood, after all. But he isn't a mind reader, doesn't know the turmoil. So he let's the quiet answer drop, a grin and a nod replying to it, bright eyes scanning the ocean, the dunes behind her, and finally settling on the gourd in her lap, the vegetal creature still piquing his curiosity, lending him another topic to jump to. "How'd you end up with a walking pumpkin?" Maybe not the most tactful question, but at least it was out there.
"I'm glad." Nate turns to her with a proper smile adorning his lips, fond and warm, glad that Melita met his gaze, but more glad that his efforts hadn't been in vain, and that he hadn't somehow sent her spiralling back into nightmares with the mere mention of them. "Do you want to come back to the house with me?" It's a quiet offer, Nate worried about overstepping bonds he isn't really sure are there yet, but she needs rest, and it's better to break apart with family than it is alone.
NATE
