[she doesn't seem to mind. once he's closer, he can hear the quiet chugging of a steam engine in her chest. she's also stupidly warm. not burny, but maybe a bit uncomfortable.]
Yeah. Infernal, actually, but close enough. Careful. Don't burn yourself.
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Are you one of those?
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[mathis is quiet, with a long pause of his own after that answer before he shakes his head again.]
I-I'm not a Reliver.
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I... I don't.
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but, it escapes her anyway, her expression faltering.]
You don't want more time?
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[he manages an awkward little smile, but it's somewhat shaky.]
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[a beat, and then:]
I'm asking too many personal questions, aren't I. Sorry.
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[he's just trying not to be rude, mostly.]
And it... keeps me distracted from asking personal questions too.
[otherwise he would have put his foot in his mouth already going HEY UM WHY DO YOU GLOW.]
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Hey, I didn't say you weren't allowed to ask me back. I got up in your business, you can ask me whatever you want.
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I-if I may, then... are you really... glowing?
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Engine...? The mechanical kind?
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Yeah. Infernal, actually, but close enough. Careful. Don't burn yourself.
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[it's a timely warning, because he was absolutely about to reach out; mathis quickly draws his hand back.]
May I ask... why? Were, um, were you made with one? Or is it more like a... a modification?
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Modification. [she says, finally.] I wasn't born with it.
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[well. he feels like the pause to work out her answer says something, giving his head a little shake.]
I-I'm sorry.
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It's alright. I'm still alive, right? So, not so bad.
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[then again, so is becoming a reliver, isn't it? and so many people do it, and are fine.]
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or maybe he does! either way, her tail waves slowly back and forth behind her.]
Worst part is it gives me the sweats something awful. [she jokes.] I've had ten years to figure it out.
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[that's a pretty long time, actually.]
Oh, b-but maybe you could, um... build a personal fan?
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What, for the engine? It'd melt clean off.
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[what if it just melted while she was carrying it!!]
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Oh. Right. I wouldn't want to risk it. I'm pretty cool right now, but sometimes I burst into flames.
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[his head whips right back up to look at her, shocked, but he doesn't back away or anything.]
D-does that... hurt you?
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Nope. Flame resistant.
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