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>“Sorry. I am… not the most.. familiar with this sort of transport.”
I managed only a single coherent sentence before panic flares up again.
“.. ha- hh…..” My palm and fingers grasp and dig into my thighs: I cannot risk those inappropriately touching her again. This is already enough of a mess I am in right now.
“Sit.” Airin’s words, as well as her hand tugging on my wrist, jolts me back to normality, for the time being.
That rush of fear which once flooded my body is quickly cut down once I kneel. Being closer to the ground - and touching that with my hand - made my breath return to a more moderate pace.
“A couple more seconds.” Airin consoles me as her tiny, green as basil fingers grasp my shoulder for further stability - rather firmly, actually. I never quite realized how many calluses were on her palm until now: there’s an entire row on the part where fingers and palm are joined, and another on the first joints. How… fascinating. It feels pleasant, in a way. I… I never imagined Airin to be—
… And just as she stated, we came to a sudden stop not long after. It jerked us around a little, but the both of us kept our footing. Opening the elevator reveals to me the true vastness of these passages - I was but an ant, walking on a river which had since dried up. Reverberation and the brisk air follows our every step.
Although cold and sparsely lit - with most lanterns localized to signs or branching paths - Airin’s pace do not falter, not even by a little.
“.. Hey. thanks. for earlier. i- i really appreciate it.” That feeling is mostly gone now, but some shakiness still lingers in my throat.
“It’s fine…..” I can feel a certain tiredness in her voice. Ugh. She must be cross with me, isn’t she? I would be too if I had to coddle an adult everytime he is in an elevator or coach.
…… still, Airin helped me regardless, didn’t she? She seems to understand my explanation, somewhat, at least.
While we did encounter a handful of people also using the passages - mostly to transport goods and such - they traveled in relative silence, and kept their distance. Airin didn’t speak much either, besides the occasional word regarding direction.
As for me…
>I remained silent.
I did not dare push my luck again. Airin is quiet for a reason - had she been in the mood for conversation, she would have said something - or anything - by now. To molest her now would breed more loathsomeness between us.
>I asked about her habits which caused such calluses.
“I noticed some roughness on your hand: which sort of exercise do you follow — if I may ask?”
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>My feelings got the better of me.
“Your hat looks… nice. Where did you find those plumes?”
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