[His immediate thought is to tell her that of course she didn't startle him, but there was no sense in denying reality. She clearly saw him jump a mile. Straightening his tie, he squares himself up against his embarrassment, but he can't hide the flush of blue coloring his cheeks.]
I knew you were there, I was just...distracted.
[It's a lame finish, and his shoulders slump in defeat. If she didn't know he was deviant before (unlikely), surely she knows now. What's the use? Why is he bothering to keep up the charade? For her sake? His? More than that, why is she bothering? He'd almost killed her!]
No. No, I don't mind.
[He approaches slowly, his eyes flicking between her and the fish. He really wants to look at the fish; one of them looks like a dwarf gourami! Probably too soon he's standing beside her, but his attention is drawn like a magnet towards the fish as he steps forward, crouching a little to get a better look, mesmerized.]
Do you see these smaller fish, the ones that are schooling? They're called harlequin rasboras, also known as red rasboras, in the family Cyprinidae. They're related to goldfish, and are very peaceful inhabitants in a community aquarium. In a larger tank with a school of 25 or more they can be a sight to behold. Even this little group makes for a fun display. I think the star of this tank has to be the dwarf gourami, though. Trichogaster ialius, and they are also schooling fish. I first saw a dwarf gourami on my first mission, when a deviant-
[Connor had been smiling, his eyes shining with wonder, much like they had with the parrot. When he turns his head to look over his shoulder at Chloe, he stops smiling, standing again as he composes himself and turns to face her, mirroring her earlier posture with his hands clasped behind his back.]
You didn't come here to listen to me blather on and on about fish. I'm sorry.
no subject
I knew you were there, I was just...distracted.
[It's a lame finish, and his shoulders slump in defeat. If she didn't know he was deviant before (unlikely), surely she knows now. What's the use? Why is he bothering to keep up the charade? For her sake? His? More than that, why is she bothering? He'd almost killed her!]
No. No, I don't mind.
[He approaches slowly, his eyes flicking between her and the fish. He really wants to look at the fish; one of them looks like a dwarf gourami! Probably too soon he's standing beside her, but his attention is drawn like a magnet towards the fish as he steps forward, crouching a little to get a better look, mesmerized.]
Do you see these smaller fish, the ones that are schooling? They're called harlequin rasboras, also known as red rasboras, in the family Cyprinidae. They're related to goldfish, and are very peaceful inhabitants in a community aquarium. In a larger tank with a school of 25 or more they can be a sight to behold. Even this little group makes for a fun display. I think the star of this tank has to be the dwarf gourami, though. Trichogaster ialius, and they are also schooling fish. I first saw a dwarf gourami on my first mission, when a deviant-
[Connor had been smiling, his eyes shining with wonder, much like they had with the parrot. When he turns his head to look over his shoulder at Chloe, he stops smiling, standing again as he composes himself and turns to face her, mirroring her earlier posture with his hands clasped behind his back.]
You didn't come here to listen to me blather on and on about fish. I'm sorry.