[ okay, yeah, things like "it's not like i don't want to be with you" are a little cruel, but - it's fine. he was more worried about her just deciding to take this as "i have to leave forever now" and he just. cannot take that right now, not after the week he's had, not after what they've been through.
some of that lost, hurt puppy look fades away - he rolls his shoulders back a little and nods. not quite relaxed, but at least a little bit less panicked. ]
...okay. [ he will. probably. probably not? it's fine. ] You too. Promise.
[it's not a very fair situation, and suffering under iris' mixed signals is honestly probably a terrible fate. she watches him just as cautiously, concern obvious even as she tries to work through her own swimming thoughts. she knew that she had to talk about this with him - that it would be even worse to lead him on without addressing it, but.
but it still doesn't make this moment any easier.]
... I think I've made it clear enough how honest I try to be with you. [even if the truth isn't very clear or simple] But... alright.
[ his smile's gentler, but it's there - there's a little confidence in that, too. of course they will. this feels like sort of a precarious position to be in at the moment, but he's holding onto everything in his life with the same precarious teetering right now, so what's one more thing to toss onto the pile. if anything, the relationship he's built up with iris is important to him, and he'll do what it takes to maintain it.
god, what a fucking week it has been. maybe pranking fall dorm with copious bread will do something for his mood? surely nothing else bad will happen this week!!
a little teasingly, to break up some of the rough mood - ] You gonna be okay to keep baking? [ with your shot? ma'am? ]
['for sure' he says, and she wants to believe him. she watches him for another moment before just nodding - and then flustering a little at the question. sTOP.]
I - you can have one too?! Should I have offered you one...?! My manners....
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some of that lost, hurt puppy look fades away - he rolls his shoulders back a little and nods. not quite relaxed, but at least a little bit less panicked. ]
...okay. [ he will. probably. probably not? it's fine. ] You too. Promise.
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but it still doesn't make this moment any easier.]
... I think I've made it clear enough how honest I try to be with you. [even if the truth isn't very clear or simple] But... alright.
... we'll make it through this then, won't we?
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[ his smile's gentler, but it's there - there's a little confidence in that, too. of course they will. this feels like sort of a precarious position to be in at the moment, but he's holding onto everything in his life with the same precarious teetering right now, so what's one more thing to toss onto the pile. if anything, the relationship he's built up with iris is important to him, and he'll do what it takes to maintain it.
god, what a fucking week it has been. maybe pranking fall dorm with copious bread will do something for his mood? surely nothing else bad will happen this week!!
a little teasingly, to break up some of the rough mood - ] You gonna be okay to keep baking? [ with your shot? ma'am? ]
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I - you can have one too?! Should I have offered you one...?! My manners....
[IRIS]
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laughs?? what else do you do. ] I - nah, nah, I'm good. Don't really drink, anyway, you're fine.
[ it feels a little more normal, at least, as he moves to go back and start kneading the dough, again. ]
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... normally I don't either... goodness, what a strange week.
[but! the timer at the oven will go off! she'll turn to that and accept the distraction - ] Oh, the tarts are done...
[time to scurry off to get those!]
You'll still sample them for me, won't you?