Huh, that's fascinating. - also hot, but this is beside the point. Matirin is a little better than him and still a little better than him now but he's vaguely aware that if startled Leareth - tried to use magic, or something - it would probably go very differently than usual.

Leareth loses this one, eventually. (He has also carefully blocked off the parts of himself that instinctively reach for magic to make a fight be over. Possibly if he ever does this again he should morph Andalite-without-Gifts. After he does the shields on Matirin.) 

He is, again, noticeably more tired than usual. <So?> he asks Matirin, letting his body language relax into something more normal. It takes him a moment to shift back, and some sort of deliberate effort. 

<- it was very interesting and I am glad I have seen it but if it is costlier for you I do not think that it is worth it.

You are - very compelling, when you are in that mood.>

<It is somewhat costlier, and feels very weird, to have that affect toward you. - What sort of compelling?> he adds curiously. <Melody just describes it as terrifying.> 

<Probably if I were worried you were actually trying to kill me I would be terrified> he says. <But actually I mostly thought it was hot.>

<Huh.> Leareth wasn't expecting that answer, and also wouldn't have expected it to feel nearly as pleasing as it does; he hasn't even tried to parse what Andalites find attractive in that way, he barely tracks it for humans.

<...I like that, I think> he adds after a moment's thought. <Probably not enough to fight that way all the time, though, since it requires being in a mood where I could not appreciate that fact at all during.> 

<It is a fact that's better when appreciated> he agrees.

This conversation has suddenly veered into such unexpected and confusing territory! Leareth still isn't displeased about it, though. He's looking intently at Matirin. 

<...Sorry, I am trying to figure out if I find it hot when you are fighting. Or in other contexts, I suppose. I think determining this might involve Andalite instincts which I am not sure how to parse, though.> 

<I would expect them, if present, to be noticeable. What are the applicable human instincts? On TV shows it looks like for humans it comes with a sudden urge to squish mouths together but Andalites do not do that.>

<Hmm. I have not previously ever wanted to do that with other humans - at least not in a very long time, I do not recall it. I...notice myself wanting to be in physical contact with you more than I would usually expect? It was sort of distracting, earlier.> 

<Huh.> Matirin does the tail-twine gesture he did once before.

It's VERY GOOD when Matirin does that! It takes Leareth a moment to form words about it. <Yes, that is - what I was thinking about and finding distracting, earlier.> It's also distracting now! But in an extremely pleasant way! 

Matirin sends across laughter. Not any specific word or thought, just the general sentiment. <You can ask, you know.>

<It seemed off-topic.> Leareth sort of leans against him. <I like this, though.> 

<I do too. You are a very compelling person. I enjoy being close to you.>

Awww. <I enjoy being close to you too. ...I seem to be experiencing quite a lot of confusing Andalite instincts now. Pleasant ones, I think.>

Mostly. Part of it is a little frustrating. The Andalite experience of hunger and thirst is pretty different from the human one, but this reminds him vaguely, in some metaphorical sense, of when in his human body he would drink some water, after a long period of being focused on work, and suddenly remember he was VERY THIRSTY and wanted ALL THE WATER RIGHT NOW. 

<I was taught in school that Andalites have no morph instincts, being purely rational creatures.>

<Ha. Really. Maybe it is not Andalite instincts and is just - emotions I am having that I am not used to and thus find confusing.> Leareth is in some ways a lot less confused than he was a few minutes ago - the various flickers of vague-dissatisfaction and wishing for something he couldn't name, in his interactions with Matirin, fit more clearly into a picture now. On the other hand, he's also more confused, because now what. 

<Well if one of them is that you want to smash faces then I suspect that one of not being an Andalite instinct.>

Leareth laughs in thoughspeech. <Not especially, no. My emotions are being infuriatingly nonspecific about what I want. It is sort of - like the pure sense of wanting something but without a referent I can identify. Normally I am better at knowing what my feelings indicate!> 

Matirin reaches for his face, and pets it, very gently.

Leareth is briefly startled and then relaxes. It's very pleasant, actually. <...Yes, this seems preferable to smashing faces together.> He basks in it for a moment and then, somewhat tentatively, reaches to pet Matirin's face as well. 

Matirin purrs at him pleasedly in Thoughtspeech.

Huh, wow, he hadn't known you could do that. He tries sending back a sense of his current surprised delight. 

<...I am guessing with Andalites it is not a problem to be - doing this - where people can see?> It's not that anyone in particular seems to be watching, but they're still kind of just out in the grassy field which makes up most of the base. 

<...I am not sure what you mean.>