[Val’s not sure what to say after that; Dera’s mood seems to do another couple little flips of its own accord. She is reminded, again, that dealing with Real Flesh-and-Blood People™ is a strange experience. (Is it, though? Is Dera’s upset, here and before, really that foreign to her?)]
[All that aside, his request hits like a block to the face.]
[Oof. Rejected? His anxiety is outmatched only by his need to not appear like a complete loser; that need is being neglected, because he really, really does not want to be alone in this place - even if this particular corner of it does look like Home.
[It feels polite to argue and say something along the lines of, "No way, Val. I would still totally think you were cool no matter what world we were in." It feels disingenuous. Maybe she's insane. Maybe she's trying to destroy her world. Maybe she's a super scary villain who just happens to be kind of nice. Better than a super scary villain who's also really mean.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Huh, that actually worked. Kind of.
[Val’s not sure what to say after that; Dera’s mood seems to do another couple little flips of its own accord. She is reminded, again, that dealing with Real Flesh-and-Blood People™ is a strange experience. (Is it, though? Is Dera’s upset, here and before, really that foreign to her?)]
[All that aside, his request hits like a block to the face.]
…What?
[Baffled. Dumbfounded, even.]
no subject
Would you stay with me? For a while?
Please?
no subject
[Valerie blinks. Jabs a thumb at herself.]
Me?
[Points at the sky, waves around.]
Here?
[And finally, at Dera.]
With you?
no subject
[Besides. He likes Val.]
You know. If you want, yeah. We could hang.
I'd like you to.
no subject
[Val stares at him for a moment longer.]
[Promptly, flicks herself in the side of the head.]
[It does not wake her up.] You’re not kidding!
Wow, I’m sorry! [Sounds more stunned than apologetic, but it’s not false.] You know, no one’s ever asked me to stick around before!
[Is this actually happening?]
no subject
no subject
Hmmm. [She glances aside for a moment.] If you were in my world you would not think that!
However… seeing as we are not in that world… [Probably, anyway....]
[Val folds a hand behind her back, and she dips her head in a little bow.]
I would be honored to keep your acquaintance, Dera~!
no subject
[The bow is very charming. Evil super villains don't do cute little bows like that-- although, maybe.]
Sweet deal. We're buds, then.
no subject
[Why not any/all of the above? That Dera is not fake-polite only endears Val to him more, frankly.]
[She goes for a firm, affirmative handshake.]
And so we are buds.