[the single sound that Kit's performance elicited from his audience was, if anything, disappointed rather than impressed. it had certainly pained the other boy, but such a small level of discomfort wasn't enough to satisfy him despite knowing it must still be plaguing him as he recovered and continued on down the stairs.
he seems for several long moments to be content to play along and pretend as if none of the theatrics had ever happened, shoving his hands into his pockets and proceeding after Kit at a more sedate pace. it's only as they reach the doors leading back to their original floor that he speaks, breaking the silence and addressing the door rather than his companion.]
Like I said, people who gamble that way don't understand themselves.
[and, in Kit's particular case, don't understand other people half as well as they'd like to believe. did he really think that assuaging the deep threat he'd felt the possibility of Vincent's concern was would do anything to stem the actual source? the jump itself didn't matter - it was the esoteric message it had intended to convey - but even so, it hadn't phased him.
the way that the other boy looked at the world was completely self-centered. every interaction revolved around what it could do for him, what it was doing to him. the possibility of his involvement being crucial was something that he'd never consider. when faced with something he felt dangerous and didn't want to truly understand, then, it was natural to assume that some action on his own part could cut down the problem.
that was incorrect. Vincent's thoughts and reactions had almost nothing to do with his companion, and certainly not to the degree that he must be imagining even now. for him to think that he was so invested in his life as to need some idiotic stunt to prove his 'freedom' from him was almost comical, and it's only the vague derision coursing through him that keeps the laughter at bay. imagine being so insecure with one's identity that even the smallest neutral gesture could be misread as overtones of even surface friendliness.
he wouldn't be cowed by such feeble, ignorant tactics as that. regardless of what Kit wanted, he would continue doing as he pleased around him. his presence was determined by his desire to be there, not anything that his companion preferred. he'd cut ties when he felt like it and no sooner.]
no subject
[the single sound that Kit's performance elicited from his audience was, if anything, disappointed rather than impressed. it had certainly pained the other boy, but such a small level of discomfort wasn't enough to satisfy him despite knowing it must still be plaguing him as he recovered and continued on down the stairs.
he seems for several long moments to be content to play along and pretend as if none of the theatrics had ever happened, shoving his hands into his pockets and proceeding after Kit at a more sedate pace. it's only as they reach the doors leading back to their original floor that he speaks, breaking the silence and addressing the door rather than his companion.]
Like I said, people who gamble that way don't understand themselves.
[and, in Kit's particular case, don't understand other people half as well as they'd like to believe. did he really think that assuaging the deep threat he'd felt the possibility of Vincent's concern was would do anything to stem the actual source? the jump itself didn't matter - it was the esoteric message it had intended to convey - but even so, it hadn't phased him.
the way that the other boy looked at the world was completely self-centered. every interaction revolved around what it could do for him, what it was doing to him. the possibility of his involvement being crucial was something that he'd never consider. when faced with something he felt dangerous and didn't want to truly understand, then, it was natural to assume that some action on his own part could cut down the problem.
that was incorrect. Vincent's thoughts and reactions had almost nothing to do with his companion, and certainly not to the degree that he must be imagining even now. for him to think that he was so invested in his life as to need some idiotic stunt to prove his 'freedom' from him was almost comical, and it's only the vague derision coursing through him that keeps the laughter at bay. imagine being so insecure with one's identity that even the smallest neutral gesture could be misread as overtones of even surface friendliness.
he wouldn't be cowed by such feeble, ignorant tactics as that. regardless of what Kit wanted, he would continue doing as he pleased around him. his presence was determined by his desire to be there, not anything that his companion preferred. he'd cut ties when he felt like it and no sooner.]