[janus' ears ignite. figuratively speaking. they look very steadily at the basketball game so as to draw less attention to their mad blush. it's not as if they haven't had people say sexual things to them before— and they sexual things these days! they do. they know how to talk about sex. it's a hard-won skill, after eight years of clumsy fumbling, stilted recovery from heartbreak, learning to separate their body from their heart.

and then ezekiel turns up!! confusing everything with his goofy desserts and compliments.] You're silly, [they tell him, a little primly.] But I will win you the bear because you deserve it, silly or no. [they nod at the person manning the booth, settling in front of the selection of basketballs. they pick one, weighing it in their hand, checking its balance and the solidity of its inflation against their fingers. they stare at the rings, studying the trick to it.]

You're settling in? [they ask.] Meeting people, enjoying yourself?