Maxwell pretended to consider the question, it was mostly a pause to try and gauge how much of this was 'interest' or 'game.' It felt like game, he'd had her answering questions in the same way that fed did. It was a little annoying, honestly. "Belly dancer."
Straight face, full chest, said it.
They need to be a little more on their back foot to be coy, and while their dance partner had given up a few useful things. He was even better at hiding deeper things beyond that line. Just past the surface of his mask. They hid themselves well enough at school, among friends, through a similar enough game of deflecting and distracting. But also they never had a spotlight on them. There was never anyone asking them questions.
Their smile was a little too big, a little too pleased to be sincere. "Or, and stop me if I'm off my mark. A part of this evening is a game. And if you avoid talking about yourself, it gives you information about who I am and how to unmask me. And little chance to do the same. So as much as you insist you love the spotlight, you've been standing just outside of it."
Now, just to be clear the spotlight was on him, and that they have been paying attention because it is a very stimulating conversation and this is the game, and they like games, "You have a proper title, along with a better understanding of ranks than I. You've thought through wearing a pseudonym before tonight. One longer than just a night of anonymous fun, one with 'baggage.' And you're not from Thorne."
no subject
Straight face, full chest, said it.
They need to be a little more on their back foot to be coy, and while their dance partner had given up a few useful things. He was even better at hiding deeper things beyond that line. Just past the surface of his mask. They hid themselves well enough at school, among friends, through a similar enough game of deflecting and distracting. But also they never had a spotlight on them. There was never anyone asking them questions.
Their smile was a little too big, a little too pleased to be sincere. "Or, and stop me if I'm off my mark. A part of this evening is a game. And if you avoid talking about yourself, it gives you information about who I am and how to unmask me. And little chance to do the same. So as much as you insist you love the spotlight, you've been standing just outside of it."
Now, just to be clear the spotlight was on him, and that they have been paying attention because it is a very stimulating conversation and this is the game, and they like games, "You have a proper title, along with a better understanding of ranks than I. You've thought through wearing a pseudonym before tonight. One longer than just a night of anonymous fun, one with 'baggage.' And you're not from Thorne."