We both stop talking. Flint looks a little frustrated, which I suppose I can’t blame him for.
“I don’t want to go into everything tonight. At the very least, I don’t want to go into it all right now. Can we just talk about literally anything else? Or find something to watch? Bits has all the streaming services and is logged in on my TV. Or tell me about yourself. What do you do? How old are you? What’s your favorite story? What were you like as a kid? What’s your biggest pet peeve?”
“Pet peeve?” Oh.
“Ah… what irritates you? Or... something even simpler like your favorite movie?”
Flint leans back, spreading his arms over the back of the couch. The man has a hell of a wingspan.
“I don’t think you’ll have heard of my favorite movie. In order of your questions, yes, we can find something to watch, as you put it.”
“Do you have a preference?”
He seems to consider this for a moment. “Nothing sad. It has already been a long day and I don’t want to be sad.”
With this lead, I decide to turn on an old sitcom that I’ve watched enough times to recite it word for word. All seven seasons. These little old ladies living together in Florida never fail to make me smile. It’s a comfort show. Flint watches intently as I scroll through the various streaming services until I find the one I want. I can’t tell if he is intrigued because they don’t have technology like this or if it’s just similar enough to….
Nope. We aren’t going there right now.
Once the show is playing, Flint continues. “As for what I do, I told you, I’m a retired soldier. As Goira is in a time of peace, I spend my days training — both myself and younger warriors. My favorite story is one told at home about a warrior princess who could control emotions and her warrior lover.”
I feel my heart skip a beat in my chest. He doesn’t seem to notice and continues.
“As a child? I was small, awkward. I enjoyed reading more than fighting, but learned quickly to defend myself as the boys at school were less excited about stories and books than I, and that made me a target. And, I suppose, my biggest irritation is those who are cruel to animals.”
He glances at Calida, who is snoring slightly in my lap, and smiles.
I follow his line of vision and smile. She really is adorable. I think she’s sleeping, but the light purringsound is still there. Maybe she’s just happy. Or maybe she’s dreaming about the snack rats she may be able to find in searching the building.
Not going very far down that train of thought either.
“People who are mean to animals are the worst,” I agree, stroking a hand over Calida’s warm scales. “So, you were a bookworm as a kid and had to learn how to fight to not get your ass kicked?”
Flint laughs, a warm, intoxicating sound. “Pretty much. I enjoyed stories. My mother was a teacher, so stories were plentiful at home. I was quite quick, still am, come to that, but I couldn’t always outrun the bullies and took a fist in the face a time or two. So, I decided to start training, and when my mother saw that it quieted my mind, she arranged for additional lessons with the warriors at home. In a way, I suppose, she set me on my life path.”
“As parents are supposed to do, I think.” I say, softly, while keeping my eyes on Calida.
I can feel him studying my profile. “I suppose they are,” He pauses. “And your family?”
“I don’t have any family.” It comes out harsher than I intended, so I try to soften the blow. “I don’t really want to talk about that, if you don’t mind.”
“Of course. I’m sorry if I overstepped.”
“You didn’t overstep. You had no way of knowing.”
There’s another awkward silence as Flint seems to search for something to say.
“What isyourfavorite story?” he finally asks.
I glance around the crowded space and smile. “All stories.”
“All?”
“There are stories out there for everyone, aren’t there?”
“There are,” he agrees.
“Isn’t that beautiful? That as different as everyone is, there is a story out there for any and everyone. If a story isn’t to your liking, you can just put it down, and pick up another. You don’t have to be committed to one story. But, I guess, my favorite stories are the ones that make mefeel.”
