“what?” sharp above all else, boone’s brows furrow, his gaze narrowing from behind his glasses.

the sound of all of his bones crunching. he has been standing in one spot for months.

probably. [ turning. fortunately, the spot he’s chosen isn’t too horribly far — close enough to novac, but far enough away to be left alone. ] bet she gets tired of only talking to me. might be nice for her to know i’m in good hands.

i offered.

don’t be. we could, uh — i could take you to go see ‘em, i guess, if you wanted.

i did. uh. they’re out. couldn’t get the kind she liked. sorry.

. . . not funny.

my wife

i’m simple. [ there’s a long pause. he hasn’t really focused on ( fun * ) in a while. ] more or less shooting these days. i’m sure you like more fun things. what about ( you? * ) [ he wouldn’t want to bore her to death, anyway. ]

i think i preferred sir. [ his voice doesn’t show it, but he’s joking. ]

i’ll try. [ at least he takes it well. to be fair, he isn’t much better. he’s probably worse, if anything. ] i figured. it came off that way, if anything.

uh, well, you’ll have more . . . opportunities. [ he’s hoping she can piece exactly what that means together. ]

don’t. it’s fine. ‘m just not good with this stuff.

he is learning so much today

[ slight pause. wheels visibly turning in his head. ] oh. you could just say that next time. . . . thank you. i’d uh — consider it. [ he’s trying his best. ]

oh. yeah. . . . it’s like that?

lead paint stare.

no, no — uh. you should tell me.

now, i don’t know what you’re talking about.

. . . i’m not surprised.

/ if i typo. i am off the perc.

you wouldn’t climb very high

the what

oh. [ it’s uncertain, his mind trying to settle on a good response. it’s been a while since he’s heard anything even remotely as nice as that. his face shows his uncertainty in the way his brow furrows slightly — otherwise, it doesn’t show much. ] thanks.

[ it’s met with a nod. he won’t complain. hell, there’s a part of him that’s thrilled that he won’t have to do much talking. he never could find the right words for many situations, anyway. ] good.

yeah. thank you. i uh — i guess the same for you is true. i’m not a great talker, though.

uh, all sorts of things. she was a firecracker. miss that a lot. . . . sorry.

i miss my wife.

yeah. you get it.

you’re not getting a callback.

why would you make a good wife.

. . . i’m not hiring a new wife.

i miss my wife, tails.

lighting a cigarette. tired eyes hidden by sunglasses.

shooting at a cactus. making a little “pew” noise as he does.

[ boone spares a slightly longer pause this time. he’s more or less surprised that this went over as well as it did. ] uh, boone. . . . and you are? [ he still has manners, after all. ]

soup . . .

[ there’s a small pause. it occurs to him that perhaps that wasn’t exactly appropriate. ] i uh — sorry. [ still, her words do bring a bit of comfort. he hopes deep down that it isn’t a once in a lifetime thing. ]

he’s really trying to ignore how high he is now. it’s impressive, in a way. reflexively, he’s kind of just clinging onto eddie in case he starts slipping.

“glad it isn’t. looks like a good gun, too.” a pause. he reaches up to cover his mouth reflexively so he can yawn. “you too. uh, boone, by the way.” he’s never been a great conversationalist, though he knows that she can tell.

i was loved once

[ oh, he was not expecting ( this. * ) kind of awkwardly, boone pats her back. he is really trying to ignore how far he is off the ground. ]

. . . sure?

Is that... ...Is that why he's so short?

the “big boy” comment nearly gets a snicker out of him. it shows in the faintest upturn of the corner of his lips. “sorry.” he finishes off the tea, handing back the lid. “it’s uh, dangerous.”

i don’t need a hug. [ he desperately needs a hug. ]

wow . . . i didn’t know love and care made that big of a difference . . .

boone contemplates reassuring her that he doesn’t need to be escorted. “don’t get yourself killed.” it’s what he spares. he figures it’s for the better, and she’s already reaching for her rifle.

why is it that big???