[ There's still an out. Noelle can see the way through, a little sliver of possibility that she probably doesn't fit through. That was only the first question. She doesn't have to ask the follow-up.
Noelle looks away the second Krouse starts staring, so she doesn't see him break that gaze through her human eyes. Now they're both looking at a river they can't go in, like there's something on the other side they'll never be able to reach.
Or maybe that's now how Krouse feels. It'd be another question, if she were to ask, and there's only so much of those Noelle can dredge out of herself right now.
The river doesn't have any answers. Noelle looks back down at Krouse. He's so small, all the way down there. Smaller than he was before prison, the cage making him washed out and tired. It feels like she's stumbling in on something private, looking at him without that cloak of confidence he usually wears. How he can stand her looking at him, Noelle will never know.
A limb beside Krouse uncurls. This one is sort of like the leg of a chicken, except larger and scalier, its talons moving like human fingers.
Krouse used to do this at movies. Put his arm on the armrest, palm up if he was feeling brave, palm down if he didn't want to pressure her. Once in a while, on the good days, Noelle took it. ]
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Noelle looks away the second Krouse starts staring, so she doesn't see him break that gaze through her human eyes. Now they're both looking at a river they can't go in, like there's something on the other side they'll never be able to reach.
Or maybe that's now how Krouse feels. It'd be another question, if she were to ask, and there's only so much of those Noelle can dredge out of herself right now.
The river doesn't have any answers. Noelle looks back down at Krouse. He's so small, all the way down there. Smaller than he was before prison, the cage making him washed out and tired. It feels like she's stumbling in on something private, looking at him without that cloak of confidence he usually wears. How he can stand her looking at him, Noelle will never know.
A limb beside Krouse uncurls. This one is sort of like the leg of a chicken, except larger and scalier, its talons moving like human fingers.
Krouse used to do this at movies. Put his arm on the armrest, palm up if he was feeling brave, palm down if he didn't want to pressure her. Once in a while, on the good days, Noelle took it. ]
Okay.
[ She twists the limb, turns it palm side up. ]