"Everything we do, they see. All the time." The inflection there is subtle, he doesn't want to sound too openly resentful of the Capitol's penchant for rubber-necking the ins and outs of their daily lives, but he wants Rose to be aware. He is, in some ways, pleased that he has a good excuse to hug her because he can't fathom doing it for the sake of doing it. He can quite easily slip into it with Karkat and Feferi and even Clementine and Anna, but Rose is a different beast entirely. The posturing never stops where she's concerned, not when she can see through him like he's composed entirely of cellophane like a shitty craft project.
He can still appreciate it. For the moment. He can feel she needs it when she doesn't back off from the affection, but it feels a little weird with her being so small. It's like it's igniting even more protectiveness in him and he knows neither he nor Rose really wants it to be like that. Just because she's young doesn't mean she's incompetent, but so much has happened that he doubts he'll ever feel equal footing between them ever again.
Dave is used to being two steps ahead of everyone, he's just used to Rose knowing exactly where he's going.
The hug ends fairly naturally, Dave lets his arms slip away slowly without trying to cling or back off like he resents the contact. "It's that or rats. I'd say a thatch roof but they aren't... They're not very sturdy." He scoffs, rubbing his back for dramatic effect without trying to draw attention to it. "Look, if you want to talk we might as well sit any old place like peasants in the mud, but we better make sure it's somewhere hidden. Gossiping out in the open is a fast track to death around here, you'd be surprised how many people hate a good conversation."
He evades the question for the moment, gesturing for her to follow as he starts to head toward some of the nearer shacks. If she follows, he'll start to peer around to make sure they're deserted before he steps inside for some privacy.
no subject
He can still appreciate it. For the moment. He can feel she needs it when she doesn't back off from the affection, but it feels a little weird with her being so small. It's like it's igniting even more protectiveness in him and he knows neither he nor Rose really wants it to be like that. Just because she's young doesn't mean she's incompetent, but so much has happened that he doubts he'll ever feel equal footing between them ever again.
Dave is used to being two steps ahead of everyone, he's just used to Rose knowing exactly where he's going.
The hug ends fairly naturally, Dave lets his arms slip away slowly without trying to cling or back off like he resents the contact. "It's that or rats. I'd say a thatch roof but they aren't... They're not very sturdy." He scoffs, rubbing his back for dramatic effect without trying to draw attention to it. "Look, if you want to talk we might as well sit any old place like peasants in the mud, but we better make sure it's somewhere hidden. Gossiping out in the open is a fast track to death around here, you'd be surprised how many people hate a good conversation."
He evades the question for the moment, gesturing for her to follow as he starts to head toward some of the nearer shacks. If she follows, he'll start to peer around to make sure they're deserted before he steps inside for some privacy.