[If anything, Flat's cheerful response leaves Diarmuid at even more of a loss for words- but, in the face of such a bright smile, it's a fleeting kind of insecurity. After a few seconds, he manages a small, uncertain laugh of his own as he looks away. He still feels guilty but as long as Flat himself isn't offended, he'll take things as they come.]
... my apologies. I didn't mean to make things awkward so soon.
[Diarmuid shakes his head and, rubbing a hand through his hair, pushes up off of the steps and heads over.]
I was hoping to wait until at least the second week for that.
[ flat tilts his head, his expression one of genuine curiosity. even if dia’s hesitation was evident, this was not putting any sort of a damper in his mood and/or plans. ]
Oh? Could it be that you’re afraid of causing a love triangle between you, me, and Cu? Worry not! My feelings for him are not romantic at all!
[Diarmuid has been on his feet for less than twenty seconds before Flat manages to nearly knock him straight back onto his ass without even being near him. Amazing.]
What?! [Flushing, he grabs hold of the bannister for support.] No! No, nothing like that! If anything, I'd be the one getting in the way!
[because that's just how it is with him, he's used to being the interloper]
[If he sounded shocked before, now he's downright appalled. Immediately, Diarmuid draws himself up to his full height, the colour in his cheeks now entirely because of indignance.]
No, that's even more ridiculous! I lo- [okay better cut that off before he gets carried away] He means everything to me.
[... but even he can see that his reasoning doesn't make sense from an outside perspective. Hell, it doesn't even make sense to him. With a sigh, he puts a hand to his forehead.]
... when I'm around, I... interrupt other people's relationships. It's always been like that and I don't want it to happen now.
[ flat listens to his answer, eyes narrowing slightly as diarmuid gives his heartfelt explanation.
and then, he laughs. ]
Good! I'm glad that you like him as much as he likes you. That's why I don't think I can ever get in your way. It's pretty much impossible, really...unless you just don't want me to be Cu's friend, but I don't think that's the case either. So I think you'll be fine.
[Maybe he had to say it out loud before he realised how silly it sounded. This is so far removed from his first life that to even begin to compare the two was a nonstarter; things will be different, to be sure, but not in the way that he's so afraid of. The fear in him runs deep but not so much that he can't see that now.
A little tiredly, Diarmuid reaches out and ruffles Flat's hair. He isn't quite sure what to say but, rather than overthink it as he so often does, he just smiles and moves on.]
I think you're good for each other. [...] Well. Mostly.
[ well that's...actually shocking to hear. flat's taken by surprise by how diarmuid ruffles his hair in such a friendly manner, but the fact that he thinks that he and cu are actually good for each other (mostly, he gets it) he's left blinking a couple times in surprise. ]
I really like him. He's like if a porcupine had the personality of a honey badger and was over 2 meters tall, but then he's also like a really big cat that spits poison.
[As for that description... Diarmuid spends a good few seconds staring at him, trying to replay his words and try and make some sense out of them- and he does eventually get there but it doesn't make it any less bizarre. But that doesn't surprise him in the slightest; he suspects that Flat will remain something of a peculiarity to him for the foreseable future.
Anyway. The point is that he's not wrong.]
... creatively put. [He chuckles softly.] And, like most cats, he always returns.
[that and it's just as cute when he starts purring]
[ he laughs, thinking of the time that he had spent with cu in his dragon form. something that was supposed to be large and terrifying ended up being something so endearing to him.
but then again, flat found everything about him to be rather endearing. ]
And he purrs- it's very charming. [A coy smile flickers across his lips.] And he might not say it in so many words but I think he thinks the world of you too.
[But as much time as he could spend waxing poetic about Berserker, they have other things to get to. Diarmuid claps his hands together abruptly.]
Right! You need to pick a room and help me clean it.
[ llat would definitely love to continue talking about berserker while he's gone (because he doubts that cu would actually let this sort of conversation happen if he were around), but the prospect of getting his own room is even more exciting.
his eyes light up like stars, grinning excitedly at diarmuid. ]
Just give me the one you don't want! I'm happy with anything, even the couch!
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... my apologies. I didn't mean to make things awkward so soon.
[Diarmuid shakes his head and, rubbing a hand through his hair, pushes up off of the steps and heads over.]
I was hoping to wait until at least the second week for that.
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[ flat tilts his head, his expression one of genuine curiosity. even if dia’s hesitation was evident, this was not putting any sort of a damper in his mood and/or plans. ]
Oh? Could it be that you’re afraid of causing a love triangle between you, me, and Cu? Worry not! My feelings for him are not romantic at all!
[ he says it so proudly, too... ]
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What?! [Flushing, he grabs hold of the bannister for support.] No! No, nothing like that! If anything, I'd be the one getting in the way!
[because that's just how it is with him, he's used to being the interloper]
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[ ???????????????????????
wait—
oh—
flat freezes, looking around for cu. when he’s sure that the dragon isn’t around, he whispers in a low, worried tone. ]
Could it be...that you don’t actually like him? [ oh, he sounds horrified ] Dia, you have to be honest with him!
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No, that's even more ridiculous! I lo- [okay better cut that off before he gets carried away] He means everything to me.
[... but even he can see that his reasoning doesn't make sense from an outside perspective. Hell, it doesn't even make sense to him. With a sigh, he puts a hand to his forehead.]
... when I'm around, I... interrupt other people's relationships. It's always been like that and I don't want it to happen now.
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and then, he laughs. ]
Good! I'm glad that you like him as much as he likes you. That's why I don't think I can ever get in your way. It's pretty much impossible, really...unless you just don't want me to be Cu's friend, but I don't think that's the case either. So I think you'll be fine.
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A little tiredly, Diarmuid reaches out and ruffles Flat's hair. He isn't quite sure what to say but, rather than overthink it as he so often does, he just smiles and moves on.]
I think you're good for each other. [...] Well. Mostly.
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[ well that's...actually shocking to hear. flat's taken by surprise by how diarmuid ruffles his hair in such a friendly manner, but the fact that he thinks that he and cu are actually good for each other (mostly, he gets it) he's left blinking a couple times in surprise. ]
I really like him. He's like if a porcupine had the personality of a honey badger and was over 2 meters tall, but then he's also like a really big cat that spits poison.
[ what the heck does that mean ]
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[As for that description... Diarmuid spends a good few seconds staring at him, trying to replay his words and try and make some sense out of them- and he does eventually get there but it doesn't make it any less bizarre. But that doesn't surprise him in the slightest; he suspects that Flat will remain something of a peculiarity to him for the foreseable future.
Anyway. The point is that he's not wrong.]
... creatively put. [He chuckles softly.] And, like most cats, he always returns.
[that and it's just as cute when he starts purring]
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[ he laughs, thinking of the time that he had spent with cu in his dragon form. something that was supposed to be large and terrifying ended up being something so endearing to him.
but then again, flat found everything about him to be rather endearing. ]
I like him a lot.
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And he purrs- it's very charming. [A coy smile flickers across his lips.] And he might not say it in so many words but I think he thinks the world of you too.
[But as much time as he could spend waxing poetic about Berserker, they have other things to get to. Diarmuid claps his hands together abruptly.]
Right! You need to pick a room and help me clean it.
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his eyes light up like stars, grinning excitedly at diarmuid. ]
Just give me the one you don't want! I'm happy with anything, even the couch!
[ he's just happy to be surrounded by others. ]