[ He just looks confused by that shake of the head at first, squinting uncertainly at Dextera -- blinking quickly lest the watering in his eyes spill over -- before snapping, ]
W-what's that supposed to mean?
[ Because he knows what he said is right. It's what he's been told all his (short) life, what he's learned from his surroundings. Whatever feelings he might hold towards Reiji beyond simple, pure friendship are wrong and not permitted. There's a certain way he'll always have to be, and that will never change.
The younger Gen glowers at Dextera for a moment longer before abruptly turning to kick at that makeshift grave; the little stick serving as a headstone topples as dirt scatters. It's an obvious challenge when he looks back to Dextera afterward, huffing another hard exhale. ]
I never should've bothered.
[ And from behind him, Dextera might hear the sound of faint movement, along with a pulse of emotions that prickles at the back of his neck -- irritation, mostly. It's the original Gen pushing away from the tree he'd been leaning against, hand once more coming to rest against the handle of his mace. Because even if it's just another version of himself, hearing Dextera being spoken to like that still pisses him off; he might as well step in soon, since it sounds like Dextera won't be able to do much here.
It's not like that younger version of himself is wrong, after all. ]
no subject
W-what's that supposed to mean?
[ Because he knows what he said is right. It's what he's been told all his (short) life, what he's learned from his surroundings. Whatever feelings he might hold towards Reiji beyond simple, pure friendship are wrong and not permitted. There's a certain way he'll always have to be, and that will never change.
The younger Gen glowers at Dextera for a moment longer before abruptly turning to kick at that makeshift grave; the little stick serving as a headstone topples as dirt scatters. It's an obvious challenge when he looks back to Dextera afterward, huffing another hard exhale. ]
I never should've bothered.
[ And from behind him, Dextera might hear the sound of faint movement, along with a pulse of emotions that prickles at the back of his neck -- irritation, mostly. It's the original Gen pushing away from the tree he'd been leaning against, hand once more coming to rest against the handle of his mace. Because even if it's just another version of himself, hearing Dextera being spoken to like that still pisses him off; he might as well step in soon, since it sounds like Dextera won't be able to do much here.
It's not like that younger version of himself is wrong, after all. ]