[ It's asked between his fingers. He might not know Tex too well, but he wants to believe the best in her. He wants to believe she had a good reason. Tex told him the literal reason why she lied and that was because Carl told her he didn't handle these things well. But what about the emotional? Was it because she cared about him more than just simply as a friend that she would try to protect his emotional wellfare? What motivated her in those moments to protect him?
Slowly he looks at her, exhausted by the situation and yet his gaze manages to be intensely piercing. ]
[ She shakes her head slowly and folds her arms over her chest. Talking openly about her feelings has never been her forte, but she'll try. He deserves to at least know the why. ]
Because Carl was panicking and you were already hurt and in deep shit. What the hell else was I supposed to do? Make you feel like even worse shit while you were being held captive?
[ He looks at her long and lingering. He may not agree with her choice, but the sentiment behind it -- he can understand that. And it fills him with a conflicting swell of warmth. Things are so messed up right now that he selfishly wants the comfort of a woman's care. Rick reaches out, resting his hands on her shoulders. And for a moment, he's tempted to lean in for a kiss.
But instead. Instead he pulls her in for an embrace. If he kisses her, actually kisses her -- that's something he can't take back. ]
Well thank you. For lookin' out for him like I asked you to. You didn't have to do that. But now I know, even if I don't agree with the decision he made -- you'll be there for him. An' that means a whole lot to me.
She awkwardly accepts it, keeping her return of the hug loose. This isn't the reaction she expected. A punch maybe, a demand to get the hell out of his apartment more likely. But here they are. ]
I know the kids dragged here have been through their own batch of shit, but that doesn't mean they should fend for themselves. Go easy on him when you two talk.
[ Rick can be full of surprises and surprisingly levelheaded at times when you think he might detonate. The hug doesn't last for long fortunately for Tex. And he pulls back, lips pinching together in disapproval. Rick isn't about to make promises he can't keep because even he doesn't know what's going to come out of his mouth when he faces Carl. ]
Well. C'mon now. We don't want that pizza gettin' cold.
[ He's lucky he broke it off, once the shock wore off she would have felt inclined to push him away if he lingered. She runs a hand through her hair and shakes her head. ]
You sure about that? Can't say I'm complainin' 'cause that means more for me, but...
[ He doesn't want there to be hard feelings because of what they just talked about. He doesn't want to think about what happened. The whole point of all of this, of Tex coming over is having the chance to unwind and relax. ]
Yeah, I'm sure. [ It's not like she needs to eat and... ] Make sure you save some for whenever you kid gets up.
[ Means less cooking for him later, for him and his family. She reaches for her beer to take another drink. Should she finish it off and go? She glances towards the door. ]
no subject
[ It's asked between his fingers. He might not know Tex too well, but he wants to believe the best in her. He wants to believe she had a good reason. Tex told him the literal reason why she lied and that was because Carl told her he didn't handle these things well. But what about the emotional? Was it because she cared about him more than just simply as a friend that she would try to protect his emotional wellfare? What motivated her in those moments to protect him?
Slowly he looks at her, exhausted by the situation and yet his gaze manages to be intensely piercing. ]
no subject
Because Carl was panicking and you were already hurt and in deep shit. What the hell else was I supposed to do? Make you feel like even worse shit while you were being held captive?
no subject
But instead. Instead he pulls her in for an embrace. If he kisses her, actually kisses her -- that's something he can't take back. ]
Well thank you. For lookin' out for him like I asked you to. You didn't have to do that. But now I know, even if I don't agree with the decision he made -- you'll be there for him. An' that means a whole lot to me.
no subject
She awkwardly accepts it, keeping her return of the hug loose. This isn't the reaction she expected. A punch maybe, a demand to get the hell out of his apartment more likely. But here they are. ]
I know the kids dragged here have been through their own batch of shit, but that doesn't mean they should fend for themselves. Go easy on him when you two talk.
no subject
Well. C'mon now. We don't want that pizza gettin' cold.
no subject
Yeah, can't say I'm that hungry anymore.
no subject
[ He doesn't want there to be hard feelings because of what they just talked about. He doesn't want to think about what happened. The whole point of all of this, of Tex coming over is having the chance to unwind and relax. ]
no subject
[ Means less cooking for him later, for him and his family. She reaches for her beer to take another drink. Should she finish it off and go? She glances towards the door. ]