there will be scrapes and sutures; viciousness and victory
"Old bones," Ronin agrees seriously, but the twinkle in his eyes says it all. Scoffing at her joke - it has landed, evidently - he nonetheless pushes open the door to the Aumakua to lead them inside, beginning the plodding ascent towards the top. He doesn't expect Flora to continue, honestly, and something in his stomach turns to lead when she so blatantly lays it all out before him. He doesn't like it, the self-awareness of being other, especially at so tender an age. It makes him feel a little sick with himself.
"I mean this as nicely as possible, but I don't think there is anyone on Caido who is quite like Mateo," he says quietly, smiling sidelong at her. "Besides, you ought to just want to be yourself. What makes you think that you don't fit in?"
"I mean this as nicely as possible, but I don't think there is anyone on Caido who is quite like Mateo," he says quietly, smiling sidelong at her. "Besides, you ought to just want to be yourself. What makes you think that you don't fit in?"
RONIN
