-

He opens his mouth to apologize but decides against it. He’s right, he does apologize too much. Its probably more of a burden anyway. He averts his eyes. “I don’t sleep well anyway. I was just walking around to do some maintenance since I’m probably not getting any rest tonight.” Nope, no pity needed about his nightmares. No one needed to know how bad his sleep schedule was other than Pompom. “I could ask you the same.”

"Good, I had a feeling this might interest you. Especially since you have a strong ability with architecture, too," Dan Heng affirmed as he led the blond towards a Space Anchor they'd use to disembark. "I think you should have your pick. There's a few places I think you might like to dine at."

... dadgum that girl really is a Singin' Queen! She got a wiggle in her walk an' a giggle in her talk, but when she sings ... it darn near breaks my heart ... how can someone be so ... perfect? so good? She a superstar an' with all my ill-gotten gains an' reputation I'll ruin all that for her. Which I don't mind none. I'm use to stargazin'. i canna ask for her hand, but ... damn do I wanna lasso that star down for a kiss or two.

It was a bit silly, but the topic of the Tree was something of special interest for his own reasons. And with as much as he was able to share with the respectable Madame Herta without being turned into a dissected specimen, she probably understood. “I’m assuming it’s for further stabilization of the b—simulation?” 

"He's too good for me, I'm afraid..." The admission comes so easily, its clear just how strongly he's convinced himself of it. "It's just a matter of when he'll start to see it, too." In a month? In a year? When he's already become fully attached to the idea of a life together will it be swept out from under him?

"What do you mean? This is the same person, right? The blond nameless?" She sighs gently. "Brother, if it's love, why do you doubt it? From what I know, he tried to make a deal with the Stonehearts just to get you freed, even though I already had. He had plenty of times he could have gone. At this rate, if he hasn't, why do you doubt him?"

The hug is returned with double the power, squeezing him tight before loosening and nuzzling her face into his chest, a long inhale of his scent. It makes her smile. "Maybe we're both the lucky ones to have each other..." She takes one of his hands and pulls it up to kiss his knuckles. "Kaveh? We're going to spend lots of time together in the new year, right?" Hopeful gaze rests on him now.

"You mean so much to me..." Someone definitely had too much spiked egg nog, she looks like she's going to cry, but in a happy way. A little sniffle. "Thank you for being part of my life..." At least she's biting back those tears!