If I don't like something I don't have a problem saying it, Clara. [ He can't help the wryness that colours his tone. ] You know that.
[ For all his grandstanding about how shy he is (he isn't), this incarnation of him had always been incredibly blunt which had nothing to do with this accent either. His choice of words, the way he now expressed his thoughts had changed since the boyish incarnation of him. Flowery words weren't used to soothe those around him or rather, they rarely did. All of that felt odd on him, like an ill fitting jacket that no longer fit. But who was in front of him mattered and often changed how he wielded that bluntness.
Clara mattered. ]
But what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to try so hard to make me smile because you already do that without putting that much effort in. [ He huffs, so focused on trying to figure out how to make her understand that while cautioning her against becoming someone that she wasn't, that he doesn't realize that his words may imply something else. ] Isn't that saying, "work smarter, not harder"?
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[ For all his grandstanding about how shy he is (he isn't), this incarnation of him had always been incredibly blunt which had nothing to do with this accent either. His choice of words, the way he now expressed his thoughts had changed since the boyish incarnation of him. Flowery words weren't used to soothe those around him or rather, they rarely did. All of that felt odd on him, like an ill fitting jacket that no longer fit. But who was in front of him mattered and often changed how he wielded that bluntness.
Clara mattered. ]
But what I'm trying to say is that you don't have to try so hard to make me smile because you already do that without putting that much effort in. [ He huffs, so focused on trying to figure out how to make her understand that while cautioning her against becoming someone that she wasn't, that he doesn't realize that his words may imply something else. ] Isn't that saying, "work smarter, not harder"?