"Oh, no, I meant purely in the context of... We can both take care of each other in usual circumstances, of course, and it means so much to me that you'd want it to be mutual..." She's aware she's starting to babble and brings it to a close. Although they've seemed to be on the same page, he may now be in more generalised territory and she doesn't want to sully his sentiments somehow. He's a treasured friend, and more besides. He is just... treasured. Someone she wants to reveal herself to, be entirely herself with. All that stands in the way is the ever present fear of doing something wrong. Of being rejected and looked down upon. That, and the possibility of inadvertently hurting him.
"You do look good in a tie..." she agrees. Before when she had thought on Connor, it hadn't been in this manner at all. It didn't make the image of him any less present in her mind. The focus was always upon the software instabilities that had been written all over his face. How she wanted the chance to reach out to him. It's an odd sort of catharsis to be able to frame the image differently. Connor, who looks handsome in a tie.
His reaction is utterly adorable, and makes her feel a little guilty for not having the gift with her. "I'm sorry, I meant that we could go back once we've finished skating. Your gift is under your tree." As in true Chloe fashion, she'd wanted to make it special in that overboard way of hers. Gathering around some trees in a mall store is a far cry from a first Christmas spent with, she presumes, the Lieutenant in his home but she attempted to recreate a similar atmosphere. And like Connor himself, she doesn't assume he has a gift for her and does assume 'exchange' simply means 'give Connor his present.'
All too happy to follow his lead, there's a smile on her face the entire time they skate together. When they've finally had their fill and leave the rink, she laces their fingers together and leans in close to him. Affection comes easily to her. Right now, it feels easy to show it (without the assistance of cotton candy or anything else the island provides).
"I really love this," she tells him quietly as they stroll back to the spot in a store they've secured for themselves. "Maybe it's silly to say it out loud like that but I want you to know." This - the security, the safety, the sincerity and the sweetness - is his gift to her.
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"You do look good in a tie..." she agrees. Before when she had thought on Connor, it hadn't been in this manner at all. It didn't make the image of him any less present in her mind. The focus was always upon the software instabilities that had been written all over his face. How she wanted the chance to reach out to him. It's an odd sort of catharsis to be able to frame the image differently. Connor, who looks handsome in a tie.
His reaction is utterly adorable, and makes her feel a little guilty for not having the gift with her. "I'm sorry, I meant that we could go back once we've finished skating. Your gift is under your tree." As in true Chloe fashion, she'd wanted to make it special in that overboard way of hers. Gathering around some trees in a mall store is a far cry from a first Christmas spent with, she presumes, the Lieutenant in his home but she attempted to recreate a similar atmosphere. And like Connor himself, she doesn't assume he has a gift for her and does assume 'exchange' simply means 'give Connor his present.'
All too happy to follow his lead, there's a smile on her face the entire time they skate together. When they've finally had their fill and leave the rink, she laces their fingers together and leans in close to him. Affection comes easily to her. Right now, it feels easy to show it (without the assistance of cotton candy or anything else the island provides).
"I really love this," she tells him quietly as they stroll back to the spot in a store they've secured for themselves. "Maybe it's silly to say it out loud like that but I want you to know." This - the security, the safety, the sincerity and the sweetness - is his gift to her.