[ He'd filled out nicely after his scrawny arrival and further development, last seeing him just beyond this side of "lean". His chest and shoulders had been broadening up with his regulated exercise, training honing him from raw skill to applied focus. Between his body heat and his serape the chill of the hallways fall forgotten behind them, pressed up into his side until her hips brush against his thigh most steps, only falling away every few strides just to end up right against him again. All too readily working herself into his space and appreciating him.
The low laugh is about what she'd expected of him and she'll tip her head against his arm for a long moment. ]
I've never felt safer. [ Tone lilting with her accent, playful, but genuine enough all the same.
Entering the mess hall always took a moment of wonder for her, but Jesse's lasts far longer, allowing him to take it in at his own pace, watching his face more than anything. The colors were beautiful and they even seemed to shift, as if there were a light source moving behind the panes unseen. When he speaks again, she'll gently lead him through the cavernous display over to the cafe. If he wanted a drink drink, there was a bar, but she's slipping from his side to approach the coffee corner and pull herself an espresso. Ridiculous serape and all. ]
Mm, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on him and speaking with him the next time I see him. All I can really offer is patience and an open mind, or else we may never know. 76 is a prickly man. [ There are reasons for that as well, though he didn't seem to actively despise the Overwatch agents aboard. He clearly had it in him to do more than throw a couple punches or growl threateningly if he really wanted to do damage. ] In a place like this, so far from home? We all need a friend or two.
[ Even if it's solely to find out what his intentions truly were. An ally is an ally, and she can only hope it won't be such a superficial thing. When she sidles back up beside him with a hot mug in her hands laden with cream to an apology, she'll consider it with a somber quiet. Her presence is enough to dissuade any ill feelings he may think the quiet lends to, but it is still something serious for her, and something that had hurt. For a long time and in varying degrees; still hurts even with him right here beside her. It's an ever-present ache that encompasses more than just Jesse, something clenching tight between every heartbeat. ]
I only ever wanted to know you were still all right. [ It isn't exactly an acceptance of his apology; she may not accept it in full just yet, but there is a fraction of it she'll allow for now in the tired turn her tone takes. ] With your leaving, Genji, then Ana and Jack and the Swiss Headquarters... The occasional news clips and updated warrants were all I had to go by. It was not particularly easy on my mind.
[ Gabriel is a whole separate can of worms hanging in the back of that by insinuation alone. What it boils down to is her closest friend wasn't there when she needed him, and that was harder than words could convey. Yet he's here now and she's never had much of a mind for grudges, unable to hold it against him when she knew, somewhere, he'd had his reasons and had seen glimpses of them in the strain with Gabriel and Blackwatch. Once they've found their seats she'll lay an upturned palm on the bar between them in silent request for his hand. It's as close as she can get to accepting his apology for now. ]
no subject
The low laugh is about what she'd expected of him and she'll tip her head against his arm for a long moment. ]
I've never felt safer. [ Tone lilting with her accent, playful, but genuine enough all the same.
Entering the mess hall always took a moment of wonder for her, but Jesse's lasts far longer, allowing him to take it in at his own pace, watching his face more than anything. The colors were beautiful and they even seemed to shift, as if there were a light source moving behind the panes unseen. When he speaks again, she'll gently lead him through the cavernous display over to the cafe. If he wanted a drink drink, there was a bar, but she's slipping from his side to approach the coffee corner and pull herself an espresso. Ridiculous serape and all. ]
Mm, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on him and speaking with him the next time I see him. All I can really offer is patience and an open mind, or else we may never know. 76 is a prickly man. [ There are reasons for that as well, though he didn't seem to actively despise the Overwatch agents aboard. He clearly had it in him to do more than throw a couple punches or growl threateningly if he really wanted to do damage. ] In a place like this, so far from home? We all need a friend or two.
[ Even if it's solely to find out what his intentions truly were. An ally is an ally, and she can only hope it won't be such a superficial thing. When she sidles back up beside him with a hot mug in her hands laden with cream to an apology, she'll consider it with a somber quiet. Her presence is enough to dissuade any ill feelings he may think the quiet lends to, but it is still something serious for her, and something that had hurt. For a long time and in varying degrees; still hurts even with him right here beside her. It's an ever-present ache that encompasses more than just Jesse, something clenching tight between every heartbeat. ]
I only ever wanted to know you were still all right. [ It isn't exactly an acceptance of his apology; she may not accept it in full just yet, but there is a fraction of it she'll allow for now in the tired turn her tone takes. ] With your leaving, Genji, then Ana and Jack and the Swiss Headquarters... The occasional news clips and updated warrants were all I had to go by. It was not particularly easy on my mind.
[ Gabriel is a whole separate can of worms hanging in the back of that by insinuation alone. What it boils down to is her closest friend wasn't there when she needed him, and that was harder than words could convey. Yet he's here now and she's never had much of a mind for grudges, unable to hold it against him when she knew, somewhere, he'd had his reasons and had seen glimpses of them in the strain with Gabriel and Blackwatch. Once they've found their seats she'll lay an upturned palm on the bar between them in silent request for his hand. It's as close as she can get to accepting his apology for now. ]