[Wow!! Upgraded to first name!! But, is Yzak giving her the same courtesy...? Dearka suspects he's probably struggling with that a bit.]
He's...
[Absolutely oblivious to the dating goss angle, Dearka hesitates. How candid should he be here? Yzak probably won't appreciate it if he goes around talking about him like he's still in a fragile state, but.]
...He went through a hell of a lot. It's gonna take him a while to recover fully, I think. He still can't talk either, not in the normal way or by the network... I've been spending a lot of time trying to keep him entertained so he doesn't lose his damn mind while he's in mandatory recovery mode. Probably won't surprise you to hear that Mister Lieutenant Colonel doesn't exactly understand the concept of "bed rest".
[Things that are perfectly normal to say and not at all suggestive! Unless you're coming into the conversation already in the mindset that these two might be "mating", and then you might be a little... 🤨]
[ That makes Lacus laugh a little - it's faint and quick, but it's something. She's making active attempts to not let LILITH steal her joy the same way her work at Compass had. ]
Yes, that sounds like him. But we should all be careful to not run ourselves ragged, so it is fortunate he has someone like you by his side to sit him down and force him to relax.
[ Her and Kira's inability to relax had nearly cost them their relationship and also cost tons of people their lives, SOOOO... ]
I'm certain you are the only one he would truly listen to. Fondness can be a dangerous weapon.
[It's mostly because his latent feelings have been bubbling a lot closer to the surface these days, but her choice of words... Actually makes him startle slightly, faltering a step.
He glances very pointedly at some random spot on the ceiling and rubs the back of his head, a very slight blush on his cheeks.]
I mean, that's... "Fondness" is probably a more romantic word than I'd typically use, but, sure?
It's a bit of an awkward situation - Lacus very much wants to give him space to say something on his own terms, sparing both his dignity (and Godzilla's, who wouldn't need to be revealed for snitching) but if he doesn't want to....
Well, she'd rather be more direct and get the scoop than try and pretend she never heard anything from any giant lizards. ]
fights my way back out of the american holiday pit,
[Okay now he REALLY looks startled. Which, on Dearka, that kind of reaction is generally only expressed through a slight stiffening of his posture and a widening of his eyes, but it's still more than enough of a tell if you're paying attention.
His recovery is quick, though. Even though they are treading right into the danger zone, as far as topics of conversation go... And now he's worried, because if she's implying she knows something, Yzak might wind up knowing something too..? And that would be. Bad.
Dearka cocks his head slightly and forces a smile and a laugh that barely covers for how sharp his gaze suddenly becomes.]
E-eh? What, for me and Yzak? As if... I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a handsome guy, but... Seriously, where would you get an idea like THAT from?
[ There is a moment of pause here. Lacus considers lying, considers just giving a little quip about womanly intuition, but... Dearka seems bothered by this, which makes perfect sense if he told Godzilla to keep it secret. She's not here to stoke paranoia in him.
So... ]
... Godzilla told me. He never meant to break his promise to you, but he misjudged how close I am to all of you. He has not told anybody else, nor does he intend to.
[ Which... still stings, because she'd love for his assumption to be truth. She'd love to be a trusted friend and companion, to not feel like she's standing off just a little to the side at all times. ]
[Will it make her feel any better that Dearka still looks like he has no idea what she's talking about? Although... He's also not smiling anymore. Which is probably not especially comforting.]
Godzilla...? Told you...
[He trails off. It takes him a second, but only a second. That coordinator brain of his is skimming backwards through his recent conversations with Godzilla, trying to recall when the big guy ever made any kind of "promise". And when he hits on it, Dearka swears under his breath.]
Can you, actually come with me for a second? [his voice has gone up like, half an octave for a second, his typically unruffled affectation... Ruffled.] I just need a word in private--?!
[No arguments accepted, he is ushering her towards his quarters, which he conveniently was already heading towards anyway. Which, assuming she follows, he goes in first, waves her in behind him and gestures for her to close the door. Even though he's more confident they won't be overheard now, his words are in a strained tone that's just above a whisper:]
Right, sorry to pull you aside like this, but what EXACTLY did that stupid lizard tell you??
[ She does follow without protest, looking more and more confused with every step. By the time they're in Dearka's room... Well. She's starting to put two and two together here. ]
He said you two are secretly dating, something he is privy to but not allowed to share with anyone. The precise word he used was 'mate', of course.
[ There, she can do this matter of fact too. ]
There's a problem! Lacus!
I'm starting to get the picture that this is... not entirely accurate.
[ Which... well, maybe she should have figured. There are a lot of wires getting crossed in the average Godzilla talk. ]
[Before she's even done explaining it fully, Dearka's already wincing. "Secretly dating" is bad enough, but "mate" really takes him out. You sure said it, Mr. Pink!]
Definitely not accurate, no!
[He scrubs one hand down his face and exhales, beleaguered, but remains determined to explain.]
There was a moment back in Brasov where I tried to explain to him... Just how important Yzak is to me.
[Because he is really important. All implications of romance aside, Yzak has touched Dearka's life on a truly profound level, in a way that few others ever have.]
...He's my partner. I said as much. But, Godzilla being Godzilla... Of course he misunderstood me. And then there was no amount of correcting or explaining I could do that would get through to him! He just kept being like, [he shifts to doing a... not ENTIRELY terrible Godzilla impression?] "yes, that is also how I feel about my mate"...
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no subject
He's...
[Absolutely oblivious to the dating goss angle, Dearka hesitates. How candid should he be here? Yzak probably won't appreciate it if he goes around talking about him like he's still in a fragile state, but.]
...He went through a hell of a lot. It's gonna take him a while to recover fully, I think. He still can't talk either, not in the normal way or by the network... I've been spending a lot of time trying to keep him entertained so he doesn't lose his damn mind while he's in mandatory recovery mode. Probably won't surprise you to hear that Mister Lieutenant Colonel doesn't exactly understand the concept of "bed rest".
[Things that are perfectly normal to say and not at all suggestive! Unless you're coming into the conversation already in the mindset that these two might be "mating", and then you might be a little... 🤨]
no subject
Yes, that sounds like him. But we should all be careful to not run ourselves ragged, so it is fortunate he has someone like you by his side to sit him down and force him to relax.
[ Her and Kira's inability to relax had nearly cost them their relationship and also cost tons of people their lives, SOOOO... ]
I'm certain you are the only one he would truly listen to. Fondness can be a dangerous weapon.
[ :D ]
no subject
He glances very pointedly at some random spot on the ceiling and rubs the back of his head, a very slight blush on his cheeks.]
I mean, that's... "Fondness" is probably a more romantic word than I'd typically use, but, sure?
no subject
[ She sees that blush.
It's a bit of an awkward situation - Lacus very much wants to give him space to say something on his own terms, sparing both his dignity (and Godzilla's, who wouldn't need to be revealed for snitching) but if he doesn't want to....
Well, she'd rather be more direct and get the scoop than try and pretend she never heard anything from any giant lizards. ]
fights my way back out of the american holiday pit,
His recovery is quick, though. Even though they are treading right into the danger zone, as far as topics of conversation go... And now he's worried, because if she's implying she knows something, Yzak might wind up knowing something too..? And that would be. Bad.
Dearka cocks his head slightly and forces a smile and a laugh that barely covers for how sharp his gaze suddenly becomes.]
E-eh? What, for me and Yzak? As if... I mean, don't get me wrong, he's a handsome guy, but... Seriously, where would you get an idea like THAT from?
welcome back from the turkey zone...!
So... ]
... Godzilla told me. He never meant to break his promise to you, but he misjudged how close I am to all of you. He has not told anybody else, nor does he intend to.
[ Which... still stings, because she'd love for his assumption to be truth. She'd love to be a trusted friend and companion, to not feel like she's standing off just a little to the side at all times. ]
LOL thank you!!
Godzilla...? Told you...
[He trails off. It takes him a second, but only a second. That coordinator brain of his is skimming backwards through his recent conversations with Godzilla, trying to recall when the big guy ever made any kind of "promise". And when he hits on it, Dearka swears under his breath.]
Can you, actually come with me for a second? [his voice has gone up like, half an octave for a second, his typically unruffled affectation... Ruffled.] I just need a word in private--?!
[No arguments accepted, he is ushering her towards his quarters, which he conveniently was already heading towards anyway. Which, assuming she follows, he goes in first, waves her in behind him and gestures for her to close the door. Even though he's more confident they won't be overheard now, his words are in a strained tone that's just above a whisper:]
Right, sorry to pull you aside like this, but what EXACTLY did that stupid lizard tell you??
no subject
He said you two are secretly dating, something he is privy to but not allowed to share with anyone. The precise word he used was 'mate', of course.
[ There, she can do this matter of fact too. ]
There's a problem! Lacus!
I'm starting to get the picture that this is... not entirely accurate.
[ Which... well, maybe she should have figured. There are a lot of wires getting crossed in the average Godzilla talk. ]
no subject
Definitely not accurate, no!
[He scrubs one hand down his face and exhales, beleaguered, but remains determined to explain.]
There was a moment back in Brasov where I tried to explain to him... Just how important Yzak is to me.
[Because he is really important. All implications of romance aside, Yzak has touched Dearka's life on a truly profound level, in a way that few others ever have.]
...He's my partner. I said as much. But, Godzilla being Godzilla... Of course he misunderstood me. And then there was no amount of correcting or explaining I could do that would get through to him! He just kept being like, [he shifts to doing a... not ENTIRELY terrible Godzilla impression?] "yes, that is also how I feel about my mate"...