[He hadn't meant to make Juno hurt. But it'd be a lie to say that he wasn't hoping for something.
...This isn't the something. But it's interesting in its own right. The way Juno says he's fine, like he's everything else besides fine. And fair enough, it was a loaded question. He hadn't expected him to say yes. At least not to say it and mean it honestly.
He'd say that he knows he doesn't understand what Juno's going through - it's been so long since he's been tied to anywhere or anyone - but that's not completely true. Actually, distinctly untrue. Especially since Ysverai's presence scraped raw a memory that wasn't so old to begin with. Never mind the scabbed over wound of a loss from long ago. But all the same, Peter is good at not feeling those things so acutely. Is good at putting them away to think about them never. Or hardly ever.
But he didn't mean to hurt Juno this way and as soon as he hears the sound of his voice and notices the way that he swallows, Peter...backs off. He could so easily call Juno's bluff, but he chooses not to.]
I suppose we do. [The question gets a small nonchalant shrug, a half-gesture with one shoulder.] I can't say I'm particularly pleased about the idea of the Storm but El Nysa is just another place for me, really. It isn't as if I've really lost anything.
[Especially since Juno was saved. Especially since he's awake now.
But. This is still talking about now without addressing then. Peter needs to know where he stands.
His tack changes. Maybe a bit abruptly.]
Juno. I'm sorry. [For as abrupt a conversational turn as this is, Peter's voice doesn't change that much. It's maybe a hair softer, but he manages to hold on to most of that easy nonchalance. It's definitely easier to do with the first half. But he does have something to follow that apology with. Quickly, before Juno can think that he's still talking about Hyperion City or Mars.] Whatever it is I did to...drive you away.
[He's not looking at Juno now. He shifts, lifts a hand so he can look at his nails. As if this doesn't matter when it's very clear that it does. It's harder to hang onto that in the second half. And Peter really is a consummate actor but...well. There are cracks this time. The faintest of vocal tremors, the way he looks just a little too hard at his nails. The clues are there, anyway.]
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...This isn't the something. But it's interesting in its own right. The way Juno says he's fine, like he's everything else besides fine. And fair enough, it was a loaded question. He hadn't expected him to say yes. At least not to say it and mean it honestly.
He'd say that he knows he doesn't understand what Juno's going through - it's been so long since he's been tied to anywhere or anyone - but that's not completely true. Actually, distinctly untrue. Especially since Ysverai's presence scraped raw a memory that wasn't so old to begin with. Never mind the scabbed over wound of a loss from long ago. But all the same, Peter is good at not feeling those things so acutely. Is good at putting them away to think about them never. Or hardly ever.
But he didn't mean to hurt Juno this way and as soon as he hears the sound of his voice and notices the way that he swallows, Peter...backs off. He could so easily call Juno's bluff, but he chooses not to.]
I suppose we do. [The question gets a small nonchalant shrug, a half-gesture with one shoulder.] I can't say I'm particularly pleased about the idea of the Storm but El Nysa is just another place for me, really. It isn't as if I've really lost anything.
[Especially since Juno was saved. Especially since he's awake now.
But. This is still talking about now without addressing then. Peter needs to know where he stands.
His tack changes. Maybe a bit abruptly.]
Juno. I'm sorry. [For as abrupt a conversational turn as this is, Peter's voice doesn't change that much. It's maybe a hair softer, but he manages to hold on to most of that easy nonchalance. It's definitely easier to do with the first half. But he does have something to follow that apology with. Quickly, before Juno can think that he's still talking about Hyperion City or Mars.] Whatever it is I did to...drive you away.
[He's not looking at Juno now. He shifts, lifts a hand so he can look at his nails. As if this doesn't matter when it's very clear that it does. It's harder to hang onto that in the second half. And Peter really is a consummate actor but...well. There are cracks this time. The faintest of vocal tremors, the way he looks just a little too hard at his nails. The clues are there, anyway.]