[ his small smile widens with mild interest-- probably genuine, but it's hard to tell with hua cheng. regardless, there's no apparent fear of him, which is a pleasant change. but then, this human doesn't actually know who he is, even if he seems to have a good idea of what. ]
We linger for all sorts of reasons, [ he corrects absently, his only comment as he otherwise listens politely.
when the stranger pauses on the rather unsettling compulsion--he's right that hua cheng can feel the call of it, though thus far it's been something he can brush aside--he hums out a noise of consideration, eye drawn to the scratches again, then out to the waters beyond. ] .. What do you imagine might be the cause of it? [ it sounds as if he has some theories, at least, and it's not as if hua cheng has anywhere else to be at the moment. ]
don't look at how late this is
We linger for all sorts of reasons, [ he corrects absently, his only comment as he otherwise listens politely.
when the stranger pauses on the rather unsettling compulsion--he's right that hua cheng can feel the call of it, though thus far it's been something he can brush aside--he hums out a noise of consideration, eye drawn to the scratches again, then out to the waters beyond. ] .. What do you imagine might be the cause of it? [ it sounds as if he has some theories, at least, and it's not as if hua cheng has anywhere else to be at the moment. ]