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[ukan]

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[ukan]

"He had a sense of humor," Lark notes, dry. Any good head of communications would. "What did he want that ran so counter to what you did?"

[questionsonly]

"And a voice like an ice pick in your ear," Kepler says with absolutely no fondness. "You mean by the end? Because for twenty-something years... I was his man. His top man. The things I did for him? 'Kill' was somewhere near the middle of the list."

[ukan]

Lark, thankfully, has never been beholden to anyone that way. He imagines the weapon Kepler was and pities the people he must have shredded like so much wet tissue paper.

"What made you decide to stop?"

[questionsonly]

There's a lot of things that he's said about this. And there's a lot of feelings. None of it was untrue. Not one bit. He'd died for his principles, for what he wanted to do in life, to be the man his grandfather should have seen raised. He died to save the world, and to try and heal some of the harm his unknowing (or perhaps just ill-considered) actions had caused.

"Daniel was on the other side."

That's...

That's the bottom of it. And always will be.

[ukan]

"I can argue that my decision to find a more peaceful way to power was because of logistics. I can argue that so well no one would ever guess that the real reason, the only reason, I decided was because of Alec. To give him a shot at a real life in a real world."

[questionsonly]

"Have to save the world," he agrees with a quick grin, "otherwise, where would Daniel keep his cheeses?"

[ukan]

"Oh so he likes cheese? I'll keep that in mind if we ever double date."

[questionsonly]

Oh that has him pausing.

"The man loves cheese. But. He's very picky."

There's a single fond smile as he clearly remembers something from the past bfore he keeps going.

"I can give you hints if you want. Or let you guess for it to come off as more genuine."

[ukan]

"I only just got him to tolerate me, I'll take the hints. If it goes well," and that is an 'if'. Lark and Alec have an abysmal track record for double dating, "I'll guess next time."

[questionsonly]

"I'll write down a few good options. Nothing too specific but... it'll look good."

Kepler knows how to curate information just so. And for Lark? He'll do his best.

[ukan]

"Take your time, make it nice." An expression that tries to be a smile and is more the smile given after missing a step. "Alec isn't even up yet. And he'll want to clean the house before we have anyone over."

[questionsonly]

He'll take the opportunity to nudge him with his shoulder, which is as much a bit of supportive affection as it is a way of throwing off some of that sad smile.

"I should have you over for dinner in the meantime. It's honest? A crime I haven't."

[ukan]

Something in his chest loosens and he realizes just how long it's been since he sat down and ate with pack. "Yeah. What time?"

[questionsonly]

“We could head there now if you don’t mind sitting in the kitchen with me while I make it,” he says cheerfully. He likes Lark’s company. And they’d worked things out so Jacobi won’t be cranky.

Honestly, Jacobi hasn’t been cranky much at all lately, not really. His usual ‘still breathing’ level of crankiness but nothing more than that.

[ukan]

"The only way to work up a proper appetite is to smell things being made," Lark agrees readily. He's missed the company.

[questionsonly]

"That's what I was thinking," and he'll gesture with one hand for Lark to follow him towards the kitchen.