PRIVATE CONFLICT: BEAUREGARD

[madburnout]

Comments

[disreguarded]

That doesn't surprise me. [ beau looks amused. ] He seems like the kind of dude who learns better with practice.

[madburnout]

[Hm.]

So you are saying the only solution is more practice?

[disreguarded]

Yep. [ cheerfully! ] Don't tell me you hate the idea.

[madburnout]

[Huffing.]





[He's silent for like. Way too long, arms crossed and trying to figure out how to phrase something.]

. . . Thank you.

[disreguarded]

[ she waits patiently. lio reminds her a lot of caleb sometimes, and she's learned to just let him get to what he's going to say. ]

What? [ maybe she's not expecting it, but, quickly: ] I mean. You're welcome. Can... I ask what you're thanking me for?

[madburnout]

For being a good friend.

[Wow! Dere . . . ]

1/2

[disreguarded]

[ ah ]

[disreguarded]

[ beau isn't expecting it, and it's a little like a kick to the gut. a good kick! but - she's obviously not used to being told she's a good friend. ]

I - oh, you know. [ she says after a second, waving her hand. spluttering! ] It's - yeah. Yeah! Of course. Totally.

[madburnout]

[God . . . . . . . . . . . . himbo.]

Totally.

[disreguarded]

[ she can't help that she's stupid ]

... Seriously, though. [ after getting over her initial squirming. there's a flash of a memory, just something very brief - beau, sitting in the middle of a room, grabbing for a scruffy ginger-haired man in a bulky coat and pulling him into a hug, beau grumbling you don't have to thank me for my time like I'm a social worker or something--

and then, after a second: ] You're a good friend too, Lio.