update from sparkleup

writing/sawtooth/aposematism.md

@@ -116,4 +116,92 @@ Apparently, so long as the driver was more than a minute away, it was free to ca
 
 Riley looked taken aback, then grinned and looped his pinky around Kira's just past the rings. Squeezed. "Pinky swear. C'mon, let's say goodbye. I'm only a block away."
 
-Goodbyes were short and jovial, if tired. Kira and Riley got a few more handshakes and 'good game's. And then they were off, the dog walking quietly in tattered sneakers and Riley clomping along in boots.
+Goodbyes were short and jovial, if tired. Kira and Riley got a few more handshakes and 'good game's. And then they were off, the dog walking quietly in tattered sneakers and Riley clomping along in boots beside him.
+
+The two walked in silence. It was easy. Surprisingly so, Kira thought. Something about Riley had them thinking the dog would be more of a chatterbox than he was, but they simply walked in comfortable silence, each enjoying the last of the night in their own way, if what Kira was experiencing could be said to be enjoyment.
+
+"Alright, here we go."
+
+They split around either side of the beater sedan that was Riley's, and after a strained-sounding click from the automatic locks, Kira climbed into the passenger seat. It was startlingly clean within, despite the battered exterior.
+
+"Hey, nice. Thanks again for the ride."
+
+That got a wag out of the dog as he was sliding into the seat beside them. "Yeah, no worries. Was a good night, figured a bit more wouldn't hurt. Where are we headed?"
+
+Kira gave their address and some abbreviated directions, though Riley seemed to know where he was going on first mention.
+
+The car started up with a surprisingly muted purr, the dash lighting up with subtle purples and oranges.
+
+"Jesus, I wasn't expecting this from your car."
+
+Riley grinned. He looked pleased with this. "I'm a fan of sleepers. Not going to open it up much tonight, but, uh...it's fast."
+
+"Never pictured you for a car type." Kira buckled themself in. "I guess I never really equate nerd with nice car."
+
+"Oh, trust me, car nerds are definitely a big thing."
+
+"Yeah?"
+
+"I mean, if nerds are the types of people to care about something in fractal detail, then yeah. You can always do more, always research more, always find new folks to geek out with over cars. It's big."
+
+Riley pulled out of the parking space smoothly as he spoke. The car was extremely quiet, and yet somehow threatening for that. It felt crouched. Spring loaded.
+
+"So, what's a 'sleeper', then?"
+
+The dog got the car in gear and lounged back in his seat, one paw on shifter, one paw on steering wheel. "A car that looks like junk but is actually really nice."
+
+"I would've thought that car nerds were all into making their cars look as cool as possible."
+
+"Oh, that's definitely a big part of it for most people." They slid out onto the street smoothly. Kira knew little about cars, but the smoothness with which Riley was shifting was almost disconcerting. "Me, though, I like things that are kind of a surprise. Y'know, really nice despite expectations."
+
+Kira nodded. "I can see the appeal, yeah."
+
+There was a moment of silence before Riley continued. "Kind of like you. I mean the really nice bit, not the looking like junk on the outside bit. I like the way you look."
+
+The skunk stiffened in their seat and frowned over at Riley.
+
+"Uh...sorry."
+
+"No, it's okay." They spoke cautiously, forced themself to relax. "I just wasn't expecting flirting."
+
+"Yeah, sorry about that." Riley was clutching at the steering wheel perhaps a little too tight. "Guess I'm still a nerd, right? No good at social cues."
+
+Kira laughed. The apology, the tenseness, the nervousness, they were all disarming and endearing. "No, really, it's okay, Riley. I just wasn't expecting it, is all. My mind's been all over this evening."
+
+He relaxed at the reassurances. At least a little bit. "Alright, yeah. I get that."
+
+Another small silence. Riley kept his eyes on the road, Kira kept theirs out the passenger window.
+
+And then, "But hey, thank you. That was sweet."
+
+That *definitely* got a wag. "Yeah. I dunno, you're just nice."
+
+Kira laughed. "I don't know about that."
+
+"Nah." Riley shook their head. "You are."
+
+They felt heat rise to their ears.
+
+"But hey, I pinky swore I wouldn't abduct you, and we're just about here, so..." He trailed off, nerves perhaps getting the better of him, then the rest of the sentence came out in a rush. "What do you say to dinner sometime soon?"
+
+"You mean a date?"
+
+"I guess, yeah."
+
+Kira tapped at each of their rings in turn with dull thumbclaws, bit at the inside of their cheek, averted gaze. Nervous habits ticked off one by one. "Fuck it. Why not."
+
+Shoulders sagging, Riley let out a puff of pent-up breath. "You sure? Don't want to force you into anything."
+
+"I'm sure." Kira laughed. It sounded strained to them, but Riley perked their ears all the same. "Just never been on one before. Nervous."
+
+The car slid to a stop near the curb in front of their apartment building. Riley shifted into park and looked sidelong over at the skunk. "Well, so long as you're sure. And no obligation, of course. Pinky swear."
+
+Kira blinked at the offered pinky, then grinned and looped their own around it. "Nerd. Yeah, I'm sure."
+
+That wag was back, the dog's tail thumping against the paneling of the car. "Good."
+
+They traded PostFast contacts, made their goodbyes, and Kira was out in the night once more, watching that beater pull smoothly away from the curb, engine sounding twice as menacing from the outside.
+
+Kira watched until the car turned turned back out onto Seventeenth, turned, and walked inside. They still couldn't put their finger on their mood, but if nothing else, it felt more positive than before.
+
+-----