dinosize | anomaly 008 . pairing & spam

[ He spends a long time going over the file before he contacts her. Early life first, then moving on. Coming on the manner of her death is a sudden and brutal shock, and he has to fight down nausea for several minutes before he starts to calm down again. Flips through the list of her victims, trying not to think about the quantity, but just on the reasons. Finally, he breathes out and turns on the comm. ]

[ private to clementine ]

So. I might find someone to teach me werewolf hunting. Is that what you said?

[ spam ]

[ Catch Stephen around with a toolkit, fixing wobbly tables and chairs in common areas and the cafeteria. Feel free to have him fixing something specifically requested.

Alternatively, catch him floating down a river in CES. Chillin'. In a canoe. Like you do.

Also alternatively, he can always be found going for runs, at least once a day, up and down the stairs and in whatever environment the CES provides for him.

He has hardly said a word to his friends since Nick arrived. But he'll be doing his best to pretend nothing's wrong. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Stephen, on the other hand, is growing more reassured rather than less. He's not oblivious to Clementine's tension, but there are a hundred reasons for it, and he's never been all that good at reading complex emotions. What he does know, for sure, is that she gradually relaxes and shifts into a rhythm with him, and that's something he'd much rather try than take some swing at talking out her past like a therapist. This is the best way he knows of to earn a measure of trust.

It's rare that she catches something he doesn't. He's good at this. But when she does, he's impressed, and he doesn't attempt to hide the smile on his face. Gives her a little nod, in acknowledgment or thanks.

The deer aren't aware that they're being stalked (it's three of them that Stephen and Clementine are following, one male, one female, one immature that Stephen guesses is also male, and nearly mature, judging by the size) so the two of them make good progress, and it's not too long before they catch sight of the animals grazing ahead.

Stephen settles behind a tree and flips the safety off on his rifle, staying careful about where he points it. He glances to her and gestures - she takes left, he takes right? ]

[The smile is - confusing. Surprising. It's not praise, exactly, or gratitude; it's communication that she doesn't fully understand in context. Pride? She doesn't return it. Just stares at him for a moment too long, then looks deliberately away.]

[His gestures are easy enough to follow, though. When he takes the safety off, she does, too, nodding to the right. She'll follow his plan.]