22.Mar.12, 04:48 AM
"Silence can be a good thing," he agreed solemnly. Talian was comfortable with almost any pace of conversation, from something engaging straight down to quiet companionship. He liked Breccn enough that the silence didn't phase him at all. He was content to sit there with her and eat peacefully, though he found himself awfully embarrassed over his little lapse into daydreams.
When Breccan laughed, Tal wasn't sure what to do. Had he said something offensive, or perhaps stupid? Well, he rarely said stupid things, but socially inappropriate ones were another matter. He looked away for a moment, eyes narrowed in a troubled expression, while she awkwardly explained herself. She certainly looked...what was that expression? Some odd blend of confusion and horror.
He wasn't aware he'd made that bad of an impression. Unsure what to think, he just turned his eyes back down to his drink. He cringed subtly, expecting some kind of rebuke, but was again surprised when he heard and comprehended her words.
"...Hitting on you?" he asked, mystified. Well, that wouldn't be the first time he'd failed to realize he was coming on to someone. Erisi came to mind. Vividly. His face heated up in a noticeable blush as he looked to her again, tawny eyes shining with timid curiosity. "I didn't mean to," he said truthfully. He frowned at his own words and replicated Breccan's own comment. "...That came out wrong," he said flatly, aggravated by his own (what he perceived as) foolishness. "That's certainly not it. You're a lovely lady!" he said, holding one open-palmed hand out for emphasis, his expression entirely too serious as he tried to get his wording correct.
"I mean....I was just asking. I can't help but feel a little pompous when all I talk about is myself," he confessed rigidly. Not to mention uncomfortable. That conversation was on a one-way trip to 'Daddy Issues', a place he knew without asking that neither of them wanted to be. "And I just..." he realized at that moment that he was breathing a bit too quickly, which he couldn't do anything about mid-sentence. "....well, you seemed nervous around me when we met, and I didn't want you to feel like I considered myself...better than you," he explained hastily.
He exhaled, finally. His eyes were wide and just a little wild. He pursed his lips and tried to avoid laughing at himself.
After a moment, he was calm again. He didn't take his eyes off of her as he continued, waiting with fascination to hear and see her response. "...Rank doesn't matter that much to me. But it seems to matter to everyone I meet," he explained lightly. "....I've come to appreciate it more now than I did back at home, even though I know that probably doesn't make any sense. But, I honestly was just trying to be polite. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable," he said. He relaxed a bit. "You are lovely, though." His tone was probably a bit too analytically, like he was observing a fact rather than paying someone a compliment, but it was still accompanied by a gentle smile.
When Breccan laughed, Tal wasn't sure what to do. Had he said something offensive, or perhaps stupid? Well, he rarely said stupid things, but socially inappropriate ones were another matter. He looked away for a moment, eyes narrowed in a troubled expression, while she awkwardly explained herself. She certainly looked...what was that expression? Some odd blend of confusion and horror.
He wasn't aware he'd made that bad of an impression. Unsure what to think, he just turned his eyes back down to his drink. He cringed subtly, expecting some kind of rebuke, but was again surprised when he heard and comprehended her words.
"...Hitting on you?" he asked, mystified. Well, that wouldn't be the first time he'd failed to realize he was coming on to someone. Erisi came to mind. Vividly. His face heated up in a noticeable blush as he looked to her again, tawny eyes shining with timid curiosity. "I didn't mean to," he said truthfully. He frowned at his own words and replicated Breccan's own comment. "...That came out wrong," he said flatly, aggravated by his own (what he perceived as) foolishness. "That's certainly not it. You're a lovely lady!" he said, holding one open-palmed hand out for emphasis, his expression entirely too serious as he tried to get his wording correct.
"I mean....I was just asking. I can't help but feel a little pompous when all I talk about is myself," he confessed rigidly. Not to mention uncomfortable. That conversation was on a one-way trip to 'Daddy Issues', a place he knew without asking that neither of them wanted to be. "And I just..." he realized at that moment that he was breathing a bit too quickly, which he couldn't do anything about mid-sentence. "....well, you seemed nervous around me when we met, and I didn't want you to feel like I considered myself...better than you," he explained hastily.
He exhaled, finally. His eyes were wide and just a little wild. He pursed his lips and tried to avoid laughing at himself.
After a moment, he was calm again. He didn't take his eyes off of her as he continued, waiting with fascination to hear and see her response. "...Rank doesn't matter that much to me. But it seems to matter to everyone I meet," he explained lightly. "....I've come to appreciate it more now than I did back at home, even though I know that probably doesn't make any sense. But, I honestly was just trying to be polite. I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable," he said. He relaxed a bit. "You are lovely, though." His tone was probably a bit too analytically, like he was observing a fact rather than paying someone a compliment, but it was still accompanied by a gentle smile.