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To Glam's continued delight, more kissing sessions happen on the following days (when they're feeling like a boy). They haven't met her parents as her official boyfriend or girlfriend or whatever yet, and don't mind it too much.
News about Purity's escape surprises exactly no one, but the Protectorate's reputation suffers a blow because of the attack; after all, the heroes were beaten on their home turf. The PHO forums are abuzz, though rumors of Glam's death at the hands of Hookwolf (probably started by same) prove largely unfounded.
And Glam really should get to their webisodes and start building a steadier rep. And that's (one of the reasons) why they're in Lorica's workshop a few days later.
"So what should I do? I haven't posted anything since Purity, should probably make this more of a habit."
And then Bella excuses herself and leads Sadde up to her room.
And Sadde follows, and when they get there he conjures a pillow to bury his face in.
"...for a given value of okay. How was it? Was it awful? It was awful. Your mother thinks I'm a creep doesn't she? And your father's just as inscrutable as you are. And I don't know their names. Or your last name."
"Swan. Renée and Charlie. Would it help if I pretended I did that to you on purpose."
"...it would help if you actually had done it on purpose. Now I just feel lame."
"I'm sorry, I could have sworn I told you my last name at some point but I guess I didn't. But you were fine! Am I inscrutable?"
"Yes! Very! ...kinda. I mean, you're... much less scrutable than most people? It took a while to actually start being able to guess what you're thinking, and even than I'm only marginally better than chance."
"This even when you're looking at my face? I thought I had a readable face."
"Looking at your face helps, sure, but it's still... how can I explain this... I often can tell when you don't want to say something, but I can't tell what you don't want to say? That's sort of what I mean."
"...Can you usually do that? Because that's kinda creepy."
"Well, there's, you know, nonverbal communication, flavor to what people say and don't say, meaningful pauses, et cetera. It's not like I can read minds, but you know, I can't tell at all whether your father actually approves of me or not, even if I'm pretty sure he had some opinion of me going on in his head while we were talking."
"He thinks you want to make merry with my virtue but that if someone has to you're probably okay."
"That is completely not the thing I want to have your father thinking about me!" he practically hisses in panic. Then he amends, "Not that I'm not relieved I'm 'probably okay' but the other part!"
"Would you rather he think you're leading me on and have no genuine interest in me at all, because he knows I would have told him if I were asexual."
"I'd rather he not think about 'your virtue' and me at all! Oh my god is he wondering about what we've done or are going to do or—?"
"Oh my god, Sadde, relax, it's fine. He has less than no interest in the details until and unless I complain."
"Relax. Relax. Right." He breathes in deeeeeeply, and then eeeexhaaaaaales... "Okay. I'm cool. There is absolutely no reason to freak out—what did your mom think of me? Why'd you blush at that specific time?"
"Because my mom is wondering about the romance angle and I am less resignedly filial about that. Mom thinks you're cute. She said it."
"Why would the romance be—um? Why are you 'less resignedly filial' about that?"
"Because I knew in advance my dad would have fatherly opinions about things but I didn't know in advance that Mom would be all curious about whether you perpetually sing my praises in free verse."