( if it’s any consolation, the dismissal puts the wagging to bed real fast. adds a slant to his ears, even, that shows a clear disappointment in the recognition being apparently not mutual. of course, it makes their conversation up to this point make sense, to him— it also does not blunt the edge of that deflection. slipped his mind, really… and here he thought that being mutually tortured would create an unbreakable bond betwixt them.

for matoba to scheme and dress up and play the soft, purring manipulator under a new identity surely indicates that kirma shouldn’t be taking his words at face value; alas, that’s the only way he knows how to take them. )

It wasn’t the best of circumstances.

( to put it mildly. but still, shouldn’t seeing each other’s butts count for more, in this day and age? sex casino or not, he can’t say that about everyone he’s met here. )

If anything, I owe you an apology. I couldn’t read the— ( urgh. ) … I didn’t realize it was an invitation for two.