[ to be fair, it was not his smoothest escape, and Cairngorm isn't stupid. Perhaps he should have seen this coming - and to an extent, he did know it would come up eventually. Just not now. And not like this. It's rare that Cairngorm truly catches him off guard, even if they surprise him now and again... but, judging by the expression on his face, they've just done it. For a moment, he's speechless, eyes widening. ]
Are you -- no. No, not at all! Of course not.
[ Lupin manages to get that out, at least. First and foremost is making sure they're not blaming themself for anything going on. Or... not going on. Now he's left to contend with the fact that Cairngorm is -- not satisfied? He knows them well enough to understand they aren't just giving him a hard time here. While they look away, his eyes remained trained on them, trying to read them while also trying to act like his heart didn't just leap into his throat. ]
... The opposite, actually. I can't get enough of you. [ now some of that pink is leaking onto his face. His brow furrows a little, somewhere between troubled and embarrassed. ] We'd be here all night.
[ even saying that much feels like a step into dangerous territory, but they're already standing at the edge of it here. They have a human body, yes, but their heart is still a gem's. He'd never be so selfish as to try and coerce them into anything - he'd made peace with this ages ago, long before they even came to Steel London. He loves them so earnestly that he's happy just to be near them, to spoil them with words and gentle touches; his heart is full enough that he hardly minds the occasional ache from his body. Lupin can't ask for more. But Cairngorm... ]
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Are you -- no. No, not at all! Of course not.
[ Lupin manages to get that out, at least. First and foremost is making sure they're not blaming themself for anything going on. Or... not going on. Now he's left to contend with the fact that Cairngorm is -- not satisfied? He knows them well enough to understand they aren't just giving him a hard time here. While they look away, his eyes remained trained on them, trying to read them while also trying to act like his heart didn't just leap into his throat. ]
... The opposite, actually. I can't get enough of you. [ now some of that pink is leaking onto his face. His brow furrows a little, somewhere between troubled and embarrassed. ] We'd be here all night.
[ even saying that much feels like a step into dangerous territory, but they're already standing at the edge of it here. They have a human body, yes, but their heart is still a gem's. He'd never be so selfish as to try and coerce them into anything - he'd made peace with this ages ago, long before they even came to Steel London. He loves them so earnestly that he's happy just to be near them, to spoil them with words and gentle touches; his heart is full enough that he hardly minds the occasional ache from his body. Lupin can't ask for more. But Cairngorm... ]