rideme | IC INBOX

IC INBOX

"You've got the Iron Bull here. I'm listening.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP.

TEXT | VOICEMAIL | CALLS

And you're not with anyone else -- [Don't ask how he knows that, Kaneda, just don't.] -- so you're already exclusive.

That's part of it.

[He leans on his elbows again, studying the street.]

... She doesn't know what to do either. You know that, right?

Yeah.

[He'd been on that sidewalk when she'd tried to tell him--or at least, he thought that's what she was trying to tell him. They both started the same way too, in what they tried to lead into a confession. Both of them had failed it.]

Doesn't make saying it any easier.

If you both know it... then, it'll come.

[He reaches over to clap a heavy hand on Kaneda's shoulder.]

You know it. She knows it. The words'll come out. Probably when you least expect it to.

It's not like I don't want to say it.

[Because he does, and he wants to make sure that's known.]

It's just not easy.

No, it's not.

But if she feels the same about you... do you think she's going to care if you trip up a little? If you don't say it perfect?

Be honest. That's all you need to do.

That's not it. It's five words--I know what I'm saying.

I just...can't say it.

You tried writing it out first?

Or is this that whole... needs to be in the heat of the moment stuff?

It's...[Hard to explain, that's for sure.]

I know what to say. But I can't even say it here. It just keeps getting caught.

Practice?

That's... about all I know how to do, kid. Never had to do this kind of thing before.

You know if I did have any fucking idea how to do it, you'd be the first to know.

...

[His head ducks down, mostly because he wishes that practice could help. Wishes the answer could be that easy.]

Yeah, I'll try it.

... If you want me to ask around, I can.

You know I won't name names.

[Because he does feel bad about not being able to help the kid out. He just has less than zero experience with this.]