Re: O'Brien, Leah
"Deal. You're not a fish," and he said it very matter-of-factly as if he had the power to decide that. "What's something really awesome and beautiful? What is Miss Machete's spirit animal?" He smiled at her with amusement, just before he lit up a bit with an idea-- like it actually just hit him, psh. He pointed to her, "A unicorn. Because they're awesome, and angels sing when they descend from the heavens," he shrugged, "or, you know, when they come out of the woods or wherever unicorns come from. They could also probably stab you with their horn. Kick you if they needed to. Run really fast. Maybe fly? I think some of them can fly."
And speaking of Leah being afraid of large bodies of water-- that time he teased her about being afraid of water, he really had no idea. He'd made up the fact that Kori had told him. Kori hadn't told him a damn thing about Leah being afraid of water, if he remembered correctly. He didn't know she was scared of water. Not really anyway.
He shook his head, "You're right. I wouldn't. I wouldn't hit any woman. Especially if she was you." He nodded, "and yeah. It will. It's not my first-- probably won't be my last busted nose." He smiled, "please do," let him know, should she punch anyone else in the kisser.
He worried his lip with his teeth as he listened to her about why he should lie to her. "Why are you glad about that? I mean.. you don't have to tell me.. I just.." He shrugged, "I don't see why you'd be glad or proud about something like that."
He caught the narrowing of her eyes, and it kind of made him smile. He couldn't help it. "I didn't even really know you, then. Why would I have begged you to help me?" He nodded, "and yeah, I went out on my own because I didn't know anyone. I didn't have anybody to do stuff like that for me. All I knew was that the last time I was here in the city, there were only maybe what? Two safehouses? Maybe not even that. I'd just got back, my friend shot me and robbed me-- Zombies tried to eat me, and I was dying in a secluded room away from everyone else, and no one was giving me any antibiotics to help. What else was I supposed to do?" But she had said he was 'brave enough'. That made him feel good. He was fearless. Except for when it came to Wakers. He would curl up in a corner and cry if he had to deal with those.
He was very thankful to be alive. He should have been dead. He had been shot, he had been bitten, he lost God knows how much blood, and somehow managed to make it to the Library. Or maybe someone found him and dragged him to the library. He didn't know. But he'd survived. And he found antibiotics with Leah's help. So yes. He was beyond thankful.. and just happy to have the opportunity to be there at the party and to see a new year. Even if parties and talent shows weren't his thing.
"It's because I like you," and he enjoyed her company, "and even the grumpiest of grumpy unicorns need people to be nice to them sometimes." He knew that. Like he'd mentioned before, he used to be a total asshole. But even then, he kind of needed a hug sometimes. But a lot of the time there wasn't anyone around that wanted to hug a jerk.
Watching, he tried to hide his smile, but he just couldn't. it turned into more of a lopsided smirk, when she handed him the bottle of beer and wished him a happy new year. "Thank you, Miss Machete. You too." He was glad she was going to stay-- at least for now. But she was staying. And she smiled. He did like her smiles.
He twisted the cap off the beer and tossed it back onto the table, where some others were before taking a sip of the beer and then motioning to the camera with the bottle as he lowered it from his lips again, "what'd I tell you? Fucking confusing. That's why I just stick with the camera on my phone. It's simple. That, right there? I don't even know what the hell macro, iso, and all that other stuff means."