lily.

He was prepared to politely decline but when she puts it upon herself to gather the supplies and share he can’t bring himself to say no. Clearly this is serious business and it would be insensitive not to accept this offer. “I solemnly swear to avoid making any holes.”

he notices the change in texture of her skin, and he can only smile more. " looks like you got her soft spot, you and your daddy both. " good. it's something she's needed .. something to crack that witch-esq exterior. his head tilts, " does your dad know you're out here ? "

She’s smart and as he said before observant. He wouldn’t be one bit surprised if the next trait was stubborn. At least that’s familiar. “Y’know… Something *did* happen. Made me feel a lot of things.” He twiddles with the lollipop in his hand. A smoke is—

“It sounds to me you’ve already got it handled. Maybe add it in every now and then.” Dom’s smile is small and held tight. He had dreams of feeling like she does. Dreams of seeing someone like a parent he could feel that way toward. None come to mind. Maybe his aunt but even—

“gotcha. wasn’t sure what his job was. I like sorting, too,” they say with a bigger smile. “do you like drawing?”

hurt her? no. never. if anything, they’d protect her. “nice to meet you, lily. I’ve met your daddy a couple times. he’s good people.” a glance towards the clinic. “he with a patient?”

It turns out, if you want to save a species, you don’t spend your time staring at the bird you want to save. You look at the things it relies on to live instead. You ask if there is enough to eat & drink. You ask if there is a safe place to sleep. Is there enough here to survive?

" mm, well— consider that a secret to keep in your pocket. " keep it in her arsenal until she needs to use it. " she isnt serious all the time, I'm sure .. she's a good woman, she cares. "

he smiles, " she's incredibly ticklish, " he replies. " a little poke to her side will have her in a fit of giggles and at your mercy in no time. "

yeah? they’re pretty cool critters. very loving with the people they choose. [ they roll their shoulders. ] haven’t seen you around before. I’m eve.

Any other occasion he’d have a bubbly personality to match the sweet nature of such a kid but he’s simply exhausted. Eyes red from tears he barely shed. So no he’s not as bright as he likes to be but he does break into a genuine smile when she holds out the treat. —

her doctor? shepherd? he nods slowly, his palms clicking the latch to free the helmet from his shoulders so he could set it aside. " doctor shepherd is rather brilliant .. do you want to know a little secret about her she doesn't tell anyone? "

[ eve offers her a lopsided smile, a couple fingers lifted in an approximation of a wave. ] hey. I like your drawing.

it's not an unusual reaction. kids, unless their parents were part of the senate, were usually off put when in his presence. while painful, it's only natural. he can't fault her for that. he steps back a touch before kneeling, " hey little'un .. where are you'd parents ? "

[ oh gods where are her PARENTS?! ] out of habit, he idly stands close by to at least accompany her until her parent(s) returns. but he glances over at the dirt drawing, smiling when he sees it's of a tooka with an exceedingly curly tail.

[ after a while, eve drops to the ground to sit and crosses their legs. they don’t want to disturb her flow, obviously, despite their curiosity. ]

[ towering nearby to her, head tilted to the side. there’s nothing but curiosity in their face. ]