[ it's a fault of tseng's, that he holds himself at too great a distance sometimes for fear that his proximity will be unwelcome. a years-old habit by now, too much awareness of the danger he presents to the people who grow close to him. although his head knows that there are no enemies of shinra here to use his lovers as collateral against him, his heart finds it difficult to accept the same.

less so, with olivine, who is so endlessly warm and giving and kind, and who makes tseng feel like more of a person and less of a tool just by virtue of his presence. ]

I understand. [ and he does, after a moment, toe his shoes off in the doorway. it's a deliberate choice, to take that small step toward making himself at home here, or at the very least to not keep his shoes on like he's about to leave at any moment. ] Can I help with anything?

[ another glance around the workspace, and then tseng moves to join olivine, or at least to linger close to him as he prepares the tea and cakes. ]

Oh? [ a lifted eyebrow, a slight smirk. not lascivious, but unmistakably flirtatious. ] If you have any interest in my input, please feel free to model it for me at any time.

[ like,,, they both know how much tseng likes olivine in lingerie. ]