Vincent knows when he pushes too far. And seeing a contrite Vincent means just that. He's taking the reaction seriously.
And that Nanaki is a dear friend whose opinion matters to him enough that he'd show such vulnerability. Rising from his seat, he crouches down to be more evenly face to face with the sitting feline and regards Nanaki with grave ruby eyes.
"I'd never replace a friend. I might become friends with someone like the hellhound Nanaki. But he wouldn't be you. The Floods, the Breach. They might bring other versions of us or cause us to interact in different ways, but that won't ever change my friendship with you. Do you understand?"
Nanaki sat back up as Vincent came down to him. His expression cleared as Vincent explained. Nanaki hadn't meant to express that much offense at the joke. But it was still nice to be reassured.
He nodded solemnly. "I do." He butted his head against Vincent's knee for added emphasis.
He lets out a soft chuckle. At this time Vincent will allow himself to lift a hand and ruffle it a few times across the tuft between Nanaki's ears. Not too dissimilar to an adult mussing the hairstyle of a young individual.
It got about the same reaction, too, though only after Vincent ceased the motion. He didn't mean to discourage it. It was exciting to get a physical reaction out of Vincent and he was secretly pleased to get the closest thing to petting from the dark haired human.
Maybe one day Vincent will find what Nanaki's boundary about pets is. Then all the feline needs to do is conquer the barrier that is Vincent's reluctance for physical expressions.
But this is certainly progress. Vincent rises to his feet.
"You'd better not. Hate to have to repeat myself."
...But there's a bit of a smile. Maybe the collar of the cloak's folded down just enough at that moment to glimpse it. Or maybe it was already happening when he'd started to rise.
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Re: after the shoe flood
"Hmm. Well, dude." He raises his right hand up, pinching the fingers close together. "Maybe about that much?"
Vincent doesn't have a smug expression or anything. He's very good at a serious face; to the point where one day it might just get stuck like that.
Re: after the shoe flood
"That's not funny, you know."
He absolutely was not whining. He maybe was pouting just a little.
Re: after the shoe flood
And that Nanaki is a dear friend whose opinion matters to him enough that he'd show such vulnerability. Rising from his seat, he crouches down to be more evenly face to face with the sitting feline and regards Nanaki with grave ruby eyes.
"I'd never replace a friend. I might become friends with someone like the hellhound Nanaki. But he wouldn't be you. The Floods, the Breach. They might bring other versions of us or cause us to interact in different ways, but that won't ever change my friendship with you. Do you understand?"
Re: after the shoe flood
He nodded solemnly. "I do." He butted his head against Vincent's knee for added emphasis.
Re: after the shoe flood
"Good. Don't forget it."
Re: after the shoe flood
"I won't."
Re: after the shoe flood
But this is certainly progress. Vincent rises to his feet.
"You'd better not. Hate to have to repeat myself."
...But there's a bit of a smile. Maybe the collar of the cloak's folded down just enough at that moment to glimpse it. Or maybe it was already happening when he'd started to rise.
...Perhaps it's just in his voice.