lost my armor (open)

Eve wondered why Kimiko was still trying. Most would have-- and indeed have-- given up by that point. But this girl... She was tenacious, Eve had to give her that. Really, would it be so difficult to have one friend? She ignored that melancholic, wishful thought, though.

She frowned slightly, shooting the other girl a look. "A 'trial period'? What the hell is this, a freaking infomercial? Are you going to rapid-fire side effects at me now, too?" She muttered, though there was a note of uncertainty in her previously icy voice. "I..."

She hesitated, turning away from Kimiko, as if this would give her a semblance of privacy to think. Eventually, she returned her gaze to the other girl. The part of her that had allowed Kimiko to sit fairly nearby was screaming at her, and for once, it managed to overpower the rest of Eve that shied away almost violently from any sort of contact with others.

"... Fine."

The moment the word grudgingly fell from her lips, Eve hated herself for being weak and giving in. She knew she couldn't allow herself to have any friends, had thought her logic would be stronger than her irrelevant, foolish emotions-- they were what caused everything to change, back then— but she was still only 18-years-old with no one to turn to. She had her beloved mother, of course, but even so, that could only support her so much.

A muscle below her eye twitched at Kimiko's obvious joy. 'Why me?' She thought in annoyance, though she forced herself to remain ignorant to the fact that it was a softer sort of annoyance, the closest thing she'd ever gotten to exasperated amusement. Instead, she scoffed, offering the excitable girl a scowl.

"I should hope you'll work hard to ensure I don't regret this lapse in judgement." Her tone returned to its previous imperiousness, yet as she stared at Kimiko's offered hand once the other stood, she wasn't able to avert her gaze quickly enough to hide the wavering note of longing in her eyes. "What? Now? I--" She scowled once more even as she reached up to take Kimiko's hand, her own trembling beneath her gloves ever so slightly. "Whatever. It's not like you'll stop pestering me if I refuse."