[ Ephemera gives her a narrow look, then pulls the hood of his sweatshirt up. It covers some of his scars. The worst of the damage. There are days he doesn't care as much, but this isn't one of them. It feels like a mask today, like the armor he lost back when he first arrived. The armor he still dreams about. He's painted the new set with flowers and twisting vines like that was going to change anything, but it didn't. He's still stuck here. The same as he ever was.
He should have wrapped his hands. Should have worn gloves. ]
I don't like being touched.
[ He doesn't recognize her accent. Maybe one or two of the outer colonies had a similar drawl, but it's not quite a match. Not quite the same. ]
No, [ he adds, trying deliberately to soften his words. His tone. It probably doesn't work. ] I've been here a while.
no subject
He should have wrapped his hands. Should have worn gloves. ]
I don't like being touched.
[ He doesn't recognize her accent. Maybe one or two of the outer colonies had a similar drawl, but it's not quite a match. Not quite the same. ]
No, [ he adds, trying deliberately to soften his words. His tone. It probably doesn't work. ] I've been here a while.