dictated;

[rightchoices]

Anyone looking for a running partner? Think I'm starting to get a little out of shape.

[ His little encounter with Castle at New Years sort of brought that up, and it's been a while since he's reached out to Paradisa in general -- can't hurt, right? ]

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[willrememberthat]

[Clem is nearby, looking at her journal and trying not to laugh. The little huff of air that escapes her is expertly covered up with a cough.]

[rightchoices]

[ He flicks a piece of paper at her. It falls short, but he's still frowning!! her way. ]

Very funny, Clem.

[willrememberthat]

[She looks up with a smile, tilting her head to see that paper on the floor.]

What?

[rightchoices]

I know what that little sound means.

[ And he "coughs" in pretty darn good mimicry of her. ]

[willrememberthat]

[That sounds so delicate.]

Do you need a cough drop?

[rightchoices]

Nah. Might need one little girl to stop hurting my feelings, though.

[ Look at him, putting on the theatrics here. ]

[willrememberthat]

Who?

[You're not the only one who can play this game, Lee.]

dictated;

[dgaf]

How fast do you run?

[rightchoices]

I wonder. Maybe you want to start going on runs? Sunrise sound good to you?

dictated;

[rightchoices]

Not fast enough, I'm sure.

[willrememberthat]

[She... actually would. She's very much still in the 'Hang Around Lee All The Time' mode.]

I don't think you would be able to keep up.

[rightchoices]

[ He laughs out loud before he can help it, loud and genuine as he lifts a hand to clench at his chest. ]

You're killing me, kid.

[willrememberthat]

[Any smile on Clementine's face at his laughter immediately dies. Lee might as well have just kicked her in the stomach.]

That's... that's not funny. Don't say that.

[rightchoices]

[ It's a full second before he realizes what about his phrasing has upset her, and it's then that his own smile falters. He drops his arm and shakes his head, but all of his exasperation is at himself. ]

It's just a figure of speech, Clementine. [ He continues almost immediately, though: ] But I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking.

[willrememberthat]

I know it is--[she says that a little too sharply, then just shakes her head.]

It's fine. [It's not fine. But she's trying to not be so sensitive about this.]

[rightchoices]

[ He only has to put himself in her shoes for a split second for the guilt to intensify. What if it had been Carley making that joke? Lee hadn't had to watch himself die. ]

Nah, I don't think it is, actually. I'm not really sure how I feel about you getting old enough to notice my foot-in-mouth syndrome, Clem. What am I supposed to do when you start figuring out how much of a nerd I actually am, too?

[ It's said levelly, carefully; there's apology in his tone, much heavier than the joke. ]

[willrememberthat]

[Lee didn't have to pull the trigger, either. Clementine focuses on her journal, trying and failing to not look as upset as she feels.]

I knew you were a nerd a long time ago.

[rightchoices]

[ Lee just shuts his eyes at that, laughing softly before he even realizes it himself. ]

But you stick with me anyway. Guess that makes me pretty lucky.

[willrememberthat]

[Clem just smiles faintly and goes back to her journal.]

[rightchoices]

[ Silent treatment. Ow. He gets up and moves to seat himself right next to her. ]

There's no way you'd outrun me, anyway.

[willrememberthat]

[She doesn't mean to, she just needs to get a grasp on her emotions because she doesn't want to burst into tears. She's past that. When he sits, she doesn't pull away or even shift. She does, however, close her journal and set it aside.]

I'm faster.

[rightchoices]

[ She's smart. He should probably give her space, and maybe with anyone else, he would have -- but it's different with Clementine. It always has been. ]

You sound pretty sure about that.

[willrememberthat]

I am. [Running for her life is a thing she's used to, by now.]

I... wouldn't mind running with you. If that's okay.

[rightchoices]

Can't think of a thing I'd like more. But I'll give you homework if you make fun of me. You hear me?

[willrememberthat]

Maybe I want homework.