Nick’s smile was wide, but Rav felt a buzzing undercurrent between them. Perhaps something about what had happened earlier hadn’t quite been defused. When Rav finished speaking, Nick sighed and looked ahead toward where they were going. The park was closer than Rav had imagined it would be, and the space opened up into a big field with many conifer trees in the distance.
“Well…” Nick said, pulling Rav’s attention back from the trees, “I deserve it.” A shock went straight through Rav’s stomach, his mouth opening slightly in disbelief. That was about the last thing Rav expected Nick to say. He thinks he deserves someone with a history like mine? Rav thought. He might have objected except that Nick’s demeanor—chin high and proud—was nowhere near defeatism.
Thankfully, Nick clarified, “To take a chance.” Rav closed his mouth, eyebrows pulling together in thought. But, that, too, was interrupted as Nick bumped into his hips, sending Rav briefly off the sidewalk. Embarrassed at being so caught off guard, Rav shoved his hands into his pockets and stopped walking briefly. Before Rav could respond, Nick added, “And enjoy myself.”
After a moment, Rav started walking again, in no hurry.
Formulating the words in his head, Rav said with a small smile as he quietly stared at the ground. “By all means, avail yourself.”
Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
When Nick looked back to Rav, the man's gaze was downcast, his hands deep in his pockets, and he wasn't walking. Nick came to a stop as well, sobering a little. Had his reply been in poor taste?
Rav did start walking again before Nick could formulate any kind of follow-up, and he smiled subtly, stoking a small hope inside of Nick, but something felt off when Rav spoke.
"By all means, avail yourself."
Now it was Nick's turn to fall a pace or two behind, his feet stuck while his mind turned over what didn't feel right about Rav's comment. The impulse arose to try to reassure Rav that he deserved to try again, too, but Nick swallowed it down. He had tried to reassure other people of their own worth before, and it had been too much weight to bear. Nick sighed a little and then started walking again, his own gaze also resting on the ground, and he resolved to let the discomfort in the air do whatever it was going to do while he more fully checked in with himself and what he wanted.
((OOC: I think Nick is going to let a decent chunk of silence pass, so seemed like a good place to pause, but we can also post again if Rav would also let a decent chunk of silence pass himself.))
Rav did start walking again before Nick could formulate any kind of follow-up, and he smiled subtly, stoking a small hope inside of Nick, but something felt off when Rav spoke.
"By all means, avail yourself."
Now it was Nick's turn to fall a pace or two behind, his feet stuck while his mind turned over what didn't feel right about Rav's comment. The impulse arose to try to reassure Rav that he deserved to try again, too, but Nick swallowed it down. He had tried to reassure other people of their own worth before, and it had been too much weight to bear. Nick sighed a little and then started walking again, his own gaze also resting on the ground, and he resolved to let the discomfort in the air do whatever it was going to do while he more fully checked in with himself and what he wanted.
((OOC: I think Nick is going to let a decent chunk of silence pass, so seemed like a good place to pause, but we can also post again if Rav would also let a decent chunk of silence pass himself.))
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick slowed after Rav's comment, and Rav turned around to see Nick staring at the ground, even his light sigh heavy off his lips. Rav turned back around, having had the impulse to give the man some privacy, though Rav also slowed his pace. Staring at the ground himself, he wondered what had put Nick off. Rav had meant to be playful, maybe even earn himself a smile of excitement, but instead... Did Nick feel misunderstood? Had he expected something more of Rav?
Rav's eyes traced from side to side as he ran back over what Nick had said. Maybe Nick wanted some reassurance that Rav would enjoy himself, too? But was that... too needy of Rav? It would certainly be safer to let Nick do whatever he felt the impulse to do. Then Rav could keep himself from doing anything untoward. If he wasn't acting, he couldn't be at fault, right?
But, something about that soured in Rav's stomach, and he recalled Nick say he deserved to take a chance. If Rav didn't act, he wasn't exactly taking chances, was he? And making Nick take on all the risks was hardly fair. Rav sighed, more heavily than Nick had, and shook his head. No, he also had to take responsibility for his actions and desires. He couldn't just be an rudderless boat in Nick's stream.
But what did that mean Rav wanted to say now? The urge to say something sexual--to prove that Rav was willing to take risks--was strong, but he didn't think that would diffuse the tension in the air between them. It might make it worse. No, Rav should just try to be honest.
Remember what all this is for.
Rav took a deep breath. "To be honest, I don't think anybody really deserves anything. We just kinda... are. But... agency... our ability to choose? That's important. And I'm thrilled that, right in this moment, you're choosing me. And, right in this moment, I'm choosing you. I wouldn't... I wouldn't be trying to do any of this right now if I thought... if I thought I was a lost cause."
Rav took another breath, trying to make sure he had captured everything. It was difficult to get words around his throat. "Ideally, we can create enough buffer in our interactions to allow for each other to make mistakes." Rav held himself back from saying that his own mistakes were far more likely--it didn't feel like a useful addition. More self-deprecation. But, here was hoping that all landed better with Nick. Or maybe Rav had made yet another mistake in misunderstanding Nick.
Rav's eyes traced from side to side as he ran back over what Nick had said. Maybe Nick wanted some reassurance that Rav would enjoy himself, too? But was that... too needy of Rav? It would certainly be safer to let Nick do whatever he felt the impulse to do. Then Rav could keep himself from doing anything untoward. If he wasn't acting, he couldn't be at fault, right?
But, something about that soured in Rav's stomach, and he recalled Nick say he deserved to take a chance. If Rav didn't act, he wasn't exactly taking chances, was he? And making Nick take on all the risks was hardly fair. Rav sighed, more heavily than Nick had, and shook his head. No, he also had to take responsibility for his actions and desires. He couldn't just be an rudderless boat in Nick's stream.
But what did that mean Rav wanted to say now? The urge to say something sexual--to prove that Rav was willing to take risks--was strong, but he didn't think that would diffuse the tension in the air between them. It might make it worse. No, Rav should just try to be honest.
Remember what all this is for.
Rav took a deep breath. "To be honest, I don't think anybody really deserves anything. We just kinda... are. But... agency... our ability to choose? That's important. And I'm thrilled that, right in this moment, you're choosing me. And, right in this moment, I'm choosing you. I wouldn't... I wouldn't be trying to do any of this right now if I thought... if I thought I was a lost cause."
Rav took another breath, trying to make sure he had captured everything. It was difficult to get words around his throat. "Ideally, we can create enough buffer in our interactions to allow for each other to make mistakes." Rav held himself back from saying that his own mistakes were far more likely--it didn't feel like a useful addition. More self-deprecation. But, here was hoping that all landed better with Nick. Or maybe Rav had made yet another mistake in misunderstanding Nick.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
During the silence Nick left open, he pondered over what hadn't sat right about what Rav had said. Tentatively, Nick was hopeful that Rav hadn't really meant anything negative by it, though in that was a bit of sheepishness about why it hadn't landed for Nick how Rav had probably intended for it to. He felt nervous and sad and a little bit scared, but he pulled up thoughts of sitting by Rav against the wall, arm draped over his leg, head against shoulder. That helped him feel a little bit better.
"To be honest," Rav said after a deep breath, drawing Nick's gaze back up to him. "I don't think anybody really deserves anything. We just kinda... are." Nick offered a crooked smile, nodding softly in agreement.
Rav continued, "But... agency... our ability to choose? That's important. And I'm thrilled that, right in this moment, you're choosing me. And, right in this moment, I'm choosing you. I wouldn't... I wouldn't be trying to do any of this right now if I thought... if I thought I was a lost cause."
Nick smiled more earnestly as Rav kept talking, his body relaxing as he took in the man's words.
"Ideally," Rav added, "we can create enough buffer in our interactions to allow for each other to make mistakes."
Nick nodded, but it took him a moment to find the words he wanted to say in reply.
"I think we're already doing that pretty well, for what it's worth," he offered tentatively. He felt like there was more he wanted to say, but he had to sort through impulses to apologize for or explain his response to Rav's previous comment, when really he didn't fully understand it himself yet. Hopefully there was buffer for that, right? For not always knowing why things landed the way that they did?
"I'm really glad you don't think you're a lost cause," Nick finally said, connecting something specific from what Rav had said with the biggest feeling of relief he could identify in that moment in his body--a looseness in his belly that made it easier to breathe. "I think that's reassuring to hear. It's... not something I can convince you of if you doubt it, though I'd be tempted to try." He allowed his smile to look a little chagrined, his brows tentatively hopeful that Rav might understand, at least to some degree.
"To be honest," Rav said after a deep breath, drawing Nick's gaze back up to him. "I don't think anybody really deserves anything. We just kinda... are." Nick offered a crooked smile, nodding softly in agreement.
Rav continued, "But... agency... our ability to choose? That's important. And I'm thrilled that, right in this moment, you're choosing me. And, right in this moment, I'm choosing you. I wouldn't... I wouldn't be trying to do any of this right now if I thought... if I thought I was a lost cause."
Nick smiled more earnestly as Rav kept talking, his body relaxing as he took in the man's words.
"Ideally," Rav added, "we can create enough buffer in our interactions to allow for each other to make mistakes."
Nick nodded, but it took him a moment to find the words he wanted to say in reply.
"I think we're already doing that pretty well, for what it's worth," he offered tentatively. He felt like there was more he wanted to say, but he had to sort through impulses to apologize for or explain his response to Rav's previous comment, when really he didn't fully understand it himself yet. Hopefully there was buffer for that, right? For not always knowing why things landed the way that they did?
"I'm really glad you don't think you're a lost cause," Nick finally said, connecting something specific from what Rav had said with the biggest feeling of relief he could identify in that moment in his body--a looseness in his belly that made it easier to breathe. "I think that's reassuring to hear. It's... not something I can convince you of if you doubt it, though I'd be tempted to try." He allowed his smile to look a little chagrined, his brows tentatively hopeful that Rav might understand, at least to some degree.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick nodded, and it suddenly occurred to Rav that he had contradicted himself.
Earlier, when he said he'd been trying, he did say he didn't think he deserved it. And then, in responding to Nick...
He supposed it had just felt natural to doubt himself, but it wasn't what he actually logically believed, not in the overall grand scheme of things. No wonder it had made Nick uncomfortable. Rav needed to get himself together.
"I think we're already doing that pretty well, for what it's worth," Nick said, carrying on the previous thought. "I'm really glad you don't think you're a lost cause," Nick added after a long pause. "I think that's reassuring to hear. It's... not something I can convince you of if you doubt it, though I'd be tempted to try." Nick then offered something of a pained, embarrassed smile, and Rav registered the danger. This was another possible failure mode between the two of them. And, really, maybe it was simply a practical expression of the other dangers they had already identified with each other.
Rav was going to need to kick his sense of self-worth up a notch if he wanted this to work.
"Yeah," Rav said, nodding, trying to buy time. "I mean, I spent a lot of time hating myself, once I realized what I had done. But it didn't get me very far. That was just a way to distract from actually healing, I think." Rav took a deep breath before he continued. "I guess, what I mean to say by all this is, I know I've got some tarnish. I think I have eyes on most of it. And if you think there's something shiny under here, you might be right. You're welcome to try to find it for yourself. I'd... enjoy that. But there's probably going to be bumps along the way."
Rav shrugged, starting to feel fatigued with trying to come up with the right words. Although, as he smiled, he thought he might have energy for a few more. "But, seeing you confident and smiling? That makes it worth continuing to try."
Earlier, when he said he'd been trying, he did say he didn't think he deserved it. And then, in responding to Nick...
He supposed it had just felt natural to doubt himself, but it wasn't what he actually logically believed, not in the overall grand scheme of things. No wonder it had made Nick uncomfortable. Rav needed to get himself together.
"I think we're already doing that pretty well, for what it's worth," Nick said, carrying on the previous thought. "I'm really glad you don't think you're a lost cause," Nick added after a long pause. "I think that's reassuring to hear. It's... not something I can convince you of if you doubt it, though I'd be tempted to try." Nick then offered something of a pained, embarrassed smile, and Rav registered the danger. This was another possible failure mode between the two of them. And, really, maybe it was simply a practical expression of the other dangers they had already identified with each other.
Rav was going to need to kick his sense of self-worth up a notch if he wanted this to work.
"Yeah," Rav said, nodding, trying to buy time. "I mean, I spent a lot of time hating myself, once I realized what I had done. But it didn't get me very far. That was just a way to distract from actually healing, I think." Rav took a deep breath before he continued. "I guess, what I mean to say by all this is, I know I've got some tarnish. I think I have eyes on most of it. And if you think there's something shiny under here, you might be right. You're welcome to try to find it for yourself. I'd... enjoy that. But there's probably going to be bumps along the way."
Rav shrugged, starting to feel fatigued with trying to come up with the right words. Although, as he smiled, he thought he might have energy for a few more. "But, seeing you confident and smiling? That makes it worth continuing to try."
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
"Yeah," Rav said, nodding. "I mean, I spent a lot of time hating myself, once I realized what I had done. But it didn't get me very far. That was just a way to distract from actually healing, I think."
Nick gave something of a commissatory frown. He was really grateful it sounded like Rav was past that phase; Nick wasn't sure they'd have been able to do much together while he was in the thick of that. But, in that, he also felt empathy for how lonely Rav might be right now. How difficult it musth ave been for him to connect with others while he was going through that. Still, Nick would need to keep a careful eye on his own temptation to somehow make something up to Rav.
Rav took a deep breath before he continued. "I guess, what I mean to say by all this is, I know I've got some tarnish. I think I have eyes on most of it. And if you think there's something shiny under here, you might be right. You're welcome to try to find it for yourself. I'd... enjoy that. But there's probably going to be bumps along the way."
Rav shrugged, sseeming a bit tired, but then he smiled. "But, seeing you confident and smiling? That makes it worth continuing to try."
That did successfully draw a crooked grin back onto Nick's lips, and his gaze bashfully averted back toward the park, though only for a moment.
"Well," Nick said as he drew his gaze back, "Bumps along the way accepted." He gave a playfully resolute nod, and then half-skipped the few paces left to the corner. One or two cars had passed down the road between them and the park since they started down this block, but none were currently present when Nick paused to look both ways, and so he went ahead and stepped into the cross walk, happy they would soon be walking in a greener place.
((OOC: retconned:))
Once they had crossed the street and begun descending the hill, Nick began contemplating what he wanted to talk about next. He didn't want to be stuck in this particular topic with Rav. It would likely come up again, of course, but all the more reason to find other things to talk about, also. Nick tried to remember what they had started talking about by the wall, but all he could come up with at the moment was that Rav liked playing videogames, and Nick wasn't sure that's what he wanted to talk about. Finally, Nick decided to just try out a sort of ice breaker he'd been leaning on lately, see where it took them.
"What's something that you're looking forward to right now?" Nick flahsed Rav a sheepish smile, just a hint of apology at the non-sequitur, but his eyebrows were high and expressive, hopeful to find a thread they'd both enjoy following.
((OOC: Happy to retcon a little if you think Rav would have spoken up or done anything notable in the space between Nick's comment and finally asking a question after walking a few moments, but I think if nothing else *we* wanted to figure out what Nick would say next if the sapce was left open lol))
Nick gave something of a commissatory frown. He was really grateful it sounded like Rav was past that phase; Nick wasn't sure they'd have been able to do much together while he was in the thick of that. But, in that, he also felt empathy for how lonely Rav might be right now. How difficult it musth ave been for him to connect with others while he was going through that. Still, Nick would need to keep a careful eye on his own temptation to somehow make something up to Rav.
Rav took a deep breath before he continued. "I guess, what I mean to say by all this is, I know I've got some tarnish. I think I have eyes on most of it. And if you think there's something shiny under here, you might be right. You're welcome to try to find it for yourself. I'd... enjoy that. But there's probably going to be bumps along the way."
Rav shrugged, sseeming a bit tired, but then he smiled. "But, seeing you confident and smiling? That makes it worth continuing to try."
That did successfully draw a crooked grin back onto Nick's lips, and his gaze bashfully averted back toward the park, though only for a moment.
"Well," Nick said as he drew his gaze back, "Bumps along the way accepted." He gave a playfully resolute nod, and then half-skipped the few paces left to the corner. One or two cars had passed down the road between them and the park since they started down this block, but none were currently present when Nick paused to look both ways, and so he went ahead and stepped into the cross walk, happy they would soon be walking in a greener place.
((OOC: retconned:))
Once they had crossed the street and begun descending the hill, Nick began contemplating what he wanted to talk about next. He didn't want to be stuck in this particular topic with Rav. It would likely come up again, of course, but all the more reason to find other things to talk about, also. Nick tried to remember what they had started talking about by the wall, but all he could come up with at the moment was that Rav liked playing videogames, and Nick wasn't sure that's what he wanted to talk about. Finally, Nick decided to just try out a sort of ice breaker he'd been leaning on lately, see where it took them.
"What's something that you're looking forward to right now?" Nick flahsed Rav a sheepish smile, just a hint of apology at the non-sequitur, but his eyebrows were high and expressive, hopeful to find a thread they'd both enjoy following.
((OOC: Happy to retcon a little if you think Rav would have spoken up or done anything notable in the space between Nick's comment and finally asking a question after walking a few moments, but I think if nothing else *we* wanted to figure out what Nick would say next if the sapce was left open lol))
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
After Rav spoke, Nick became bashful again as he smiled, and Rav thought that was a good sign.
"Well," Nick said shortly, looking back at Rav, "Bumps along the way accepted." That sent a thrill down Rav's front, and he took a sharp intake of giddy breath, a wide smile on his face. He wasn't sure Nick noticed, however, as Nick skipped the rest of the way to the corner, looked for cars, and crossed more fully into the park.
Rav enjoyed looking at the varieties of trees as they started down the hill, more deciduous than he had come to expect of the region. "Catalpa trees, huh?" After a moment, Rav explained, "My dad used to make furniture of the wood. It's pretty. Doubt anyone here is harvesting for that, though," Rav said with a sigh.
((OOC: Yeah, I think it was actually more fun to have Rav say something first, just to keep them in the scene/moment rather than have them looking out toward something not yet happening, if that's okay. Lmk.))
"Well," Nick said shortly, looking back at Rav, "Bumps along the way accepted." That sent a thrill down Rav's front, and he took a sharp intake of giddy breath, a wide smile on his face. He wasn't sure Nick noticed, however, as Nick skipped the rest of the way to the corner, looked for cars, and crossed more fully into the park.
Rav enjoyed looking at the varieties of trees as they started down the hill, more deciduous than he had come to expect of the region. "Catalpa trees, huh?" After a moment, Rav explained, "My dad used to make furniture of the wood. It's pretty. Doubt anyone here is harvesting for that, though," Rav said with a sigh.
((OOC: Yeah, I think it was actually more fun to have Rav say something first, just to keep them in the scene/moment rather than have them looking out toward something not yet happening, if that's okay. Lmk.))
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
"Catalpa trees, huh?" Rav commented as they descended the path down the hill. Nick's mind had briefly been elsewhere -- trying to reach for what conversation he wanted to have with Rav. Hadn't he had some idea when he'd suggested going for a walk? He relinquished his pursuit for a conversation topic when Rav continued, though--after all, Rav was offering one himself. "My dad used to make furniture of the wood. It's pretty. Doubt anyone here is harvesting for that, though."
Nick giggled softly, shaking his head. Though, after just half a moment's contemplation, he realized he didn't know what would become of these trees. He regarded the trees quietly for a moment as they approached, admiring how they began to tower over them as they reached the bottom of the hill. It was tempting to delve into speculation on how trees in the park were managed, but in the end, Nick decided that wasn't a conversation he really wanted to have right now. He didn't want to think about park management, he just wanted to be in the park, here, with Rav, in the present moment.
"Do you do any woodworking yourself?" Nick asked with a gentle, curious smile once he found the question.
Nick giggled softly, shaking his head. Though, after just half a moment's contemplation, he realized he didn't know what would become of these trees. He regarded the trees quietly for a moment as they approached, admiring how they began to tower over them as they reached the bottom of the hill. It was tempting to delve into speculation on how trees in the park were managed, but in the end, Nick decided that wasn't a conversation he really wanted to have right now. He didn't want to think about park management, he just wanted to be in the park, here, with Rav, in the present moment.
"Do you do any woodworking yourself?" Nick asked with a gentle, curious smile once he found the question.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Nick was quiet for a while, looking with perhaps fresh eyes at the trees. Rav was happy to walk in silence. It was a nice park. Maybe a bit manicured for Rav's taste, but he could understand the appeal. Probably light it up at night, too, Rav thought bitterly.
"Do you do any woodworking yourself?" Nick asked. When Rav looked Nick's way, Nick's smile was an inviting temptation. A wave of Rav's earlier longing washed over the front of Rav's body, causing him to take a deep breath. He almost closed it all off, his facial muscles already inching toward a frown, but he just let it happen instead. It's welcome here, Rav tried to tell himself. Sexual tension is all part of it. It is kind of a date, isn't it?
Then again, the thought of playing around with a carving knife in Nick's vicinity? Maybe not so much.
"Admittedly, I'm often not patient enough to get precise measurements right. But... I do enjoy carving. And hammering things together every now and again. I did assist in a structure for Burning Man once." Rav took a deep breath, a new emotion joining the already swirling menagerie. "But honestly, I really enjoyed learning about the trees and how to take care of them." Rav refrained from going into detail about why--it was complicated, and he didn't need Nick's pity. Rav hated playing the "dead dad" card if he could help it. Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "I even did a tree-sit once with a hippy anarchist protest group just to piss my dad off." Rav chuckled at the memory--that had been a... lighter, less burdened version of himself. Now, though... it was difficult to imagine doing something like that.
"Do you do any woodworking yourself?" Nick asked. When Rav looked Nick's way, Nick's smile was an inviting temptation. A wave of Rav's earlier longing washed over the front of Rav's body, causing him to take a deep breath. He almost closed it all off, his facial muscles already inching toward a frown, but he just let it happen instead. It's welcome here, Rav tried to tell himself. Sexual tension is all part of it. It is kind of a date, isn't it?
Then again, the thought of playing around with a carving knife in Nick's vicinity? Maybe not so much.
"Admittedly, I'm often not patient enough to get precise measurements right. But... I do enjoy carving. And hammering things together every now and again. I did assist in a structure for Burning Man once." Rav took a deep breath, a new emotion joining the already swirling menagerie. "But honestly, I really enjoyed learning about the trees and how to take care of them." Rav refrained from going into detail about why--it was complicated, and he didn't need Nick's pity. Rav hated playing the "dead dad" card if he could help it. Trying to lighten the mood, he added, "I even did a tree-sit once with a hippy anarchist protest group just to piss my dad off." Rav chuckled at the memory--that had been a... lighter, less burdened version of himself. Now, though... it was difficult to imagine doing something like that.
Re: Road to Repair: Rav and Nick
Rav drew in a deep breath, and although Nick couldn't quite put his finger on why, something about it sent a thrill through his stomach. Somehow, he managed to keep his gaze on Rav even through the sensation, maybe almost as if to say, yes--although, admittedly, he wasn't entirely sure to what. Just... whatever they were doing, right now?
"Admittedly, I'm often not patient enough to get precise measurements right," Rav answered, and Nick let out a soft breath he hadn't realized he'd briefly been holding. "But... I do enjoy carving. And hammering things together every now and again. I did assist in a structure for Burning Man once."
Nick's eyebrows raised, his smile brightening with open curiosity, perhaps even a dash of awe. But Rav continued before Nick could even remotely begin to formulate a question.
"But honestly, I really enjoyed learning about the trees and how to take care of them. I even did a tree-sit once with a hippy anarchist protest group just to piss my dad off." Rav chuckled, and Nick did, too. Then he shook his head, hands gesturing out on either side of him in an exaggerated shrug.
"I don't even know which thing to ask about next," he said, a hint of giggle still in his voice. He was quiet for half a beat, mostly to collect himself enough to rattle off his questions in quick succession, mostly for dramatic effect. "What is Burning Man like? What did you help build? What were you protesting? How did it go?" That seemed to be his landing pad, although one more question did pull gently at his tongue. It felt too forward, though--too future-focused, when they were only just getting started. With a breath, he reformulated it into, "What kinds of things do you like to carve?"
"Admittedly, I'm often not patient enough to get precise measurements right," Rav answered, and Nick let out a soft breath he hadn't realized he'd briefly been holding. "But... I do enjoy carving. And hammering things together every now and again. I did assist in a structure for Burning Man once."
Nick's eyebrows raised, his smile brightening with open curiosity, perhaps even a dash of awe. But Rav continued before Nick could even remotely begin to formulate a question.
"But honestly, I really enjoyed learning about the trees and how to take care of them. I even did a tree-sit once with a hippy anarchist protest group just to piss my dad off." Rav chuckled, and Nick did, too. Then he shook his head, hands gesturing out on either side of him in an exaggerated shrug.
"I don't even know which thing to ask about next," he said, a hint of giggle still in his voice. He was quiet for half a beat, mostly to collect himself enough to rattle off his questions in quick succession, mostly for dramatic effect. "What is Burning Man like? What did you help build? What were you protesting? How did it go?" That seemed to be his landing pad, although one more question did pull gently at his tongue. It felt too forward, though--too future-focused, when they were only just getting started. With a breath, he reformulated it into, "What kinds of things do you like to carve?"