[ under the cloak, Forte's shoulders hunches inward slightly before he catches himself and aborts the defensive motion. ]

I'm speaking to you right now. Why is that not sufficient?

[ a refusal to what Serenade's words actually mean. speaking so openly to another implies a level of trust he can't bring himself to feel for Serenade, beyond the simplicity of 'Serenade can be trusted to act like themselves.' ]

[ he scoffs, still rolling over the hints of why Serenade had came here in his head. ]

He ought to have known what awaits losers when he faced me.

It's cowardly to run from a fight.

[ (it's satisfying to think about smashing things apart.)

Serenade's gesture wins a momentary flicker of disgruntled bafflement across Forte's face, already gone by the time Serenade's eyes open again. ]