Welcome to Gaia! ::

Dare stands as the only boundary between the two. The notion angers him, as well as the lack of height making him feel like anything but a contributer to this high-tension conversation.

With a simple look over of Chandra, Truth forces a small smile. "No, of course you couldn't see me," she shrugs, rather matter-of-factly as she twists the wrist of her free hand in the air. "I wouldn't expect such a pawn to have that sort of insight."

She says this only as an attack, having never actually been present within Dare's house, besides through his dreams. But in establishing power and status here, she can maintain the hold on her prized partner. Soon enough, she'll have him back to his normal self, she promises herself.

Tightening her grip, and in turn driving her nails deep into Dare's coat, she brushes Chandra off to speak down, in two sense, to Dare again. "We should probably go now, sweety."

Wincing noticably as the nails drive through his thinning coat and into his shoulder, Dare struggles to try and detatch her from his arm. "I want to stay and look at more records. You can go home, if that's what you want. I'm old enough to be able to get back there in one piece," he growls, finding it easier to play the role of the youngest individual now than before.

Not only that, but he manages to send the employee off their backs, the uniformed man continuing to resort records. The last thing they need right now is attention.

Truth narrows her eyes, finding herself slipping far too easily than she'd expected. Then again, she should have assumed Dare would not make mistakes with whom he'd befriend and draw allies out of.

"Fine," she growls, releasing her hold on Dare and shoving it forward. "I am quite sure of his abilities to play nice with the pawns of this world. After all, I taught him everything constructive he knows myself, and for many lifetimes we've exchanged teachings."

Nostalgia slips through, but she can only hope it proves her point. Black hair longer in the front than the back, it hangs close to her line-drawn expression. She can't seem to shake the truth of Chandra's words without losing faith in herself and their destiny, and that simply cannot be. "I expect him back home at a suitable time for someone of his.. age."

Dare's face is nothing short of disgusted. Furrowing his eyebrows, he fights back the urge to shout out in frustration about the situation his de-growth has stuck him in. Instead, he rubs at his sore shoulder, sidestepping towards Chandra, having been passed along into her "possession." He bites bitterly down on the tip of tongue, sure that once Truth disappears - she would never truly leave him, this he's found out the hard way - things will improve.

Truth is gone, and by that it is meant in the literal sense.

Dare only had his eyes off her for a few seconds, but she's no longer there, and the door didn't make any noise. Grimly glancing at the door, he hoped it was just his lack of attention and that she didn't, in fact, disappear in public.

"It's fine," Dare replies, turning back to Chandra now, his eyes quickly, yet sadly, getting used to looking up at her. "I'm sure it'll do fine."

His heart sinks in his chest as he makes his way to the door, inconspicuously glancing around for any sign of Truth. It's much more comforting knowing where she is rather than knowing she could just be anywhere. Pressing this thought aside, he briefly reaches out to Chandra, touching her arm affectionately very briefly.

"There's a lot we've got to talk about, huh?" he sighs, conclusively.

"People can say that all they want, but is it ever really the case?"

Dare finds it harder to keep pace with shorter legs, but tries all the same, not even sure if she heard his reply or not. He'd like nothing more to forget everything and start anew, but numerous attempts have shown him it's simply not possible. Looking around uneasily as the street clears for their easy access, he can't help but remember how different they actually do look out in the open.

He finds himself reaching out for her in the dark, bitterly withdrawing at how childish the impulse to be afraid of the dark is. Instead, he just keeps a safe pace immediately behind Chandra. Because he steps in second, he isn't aware of the shift in conversation, the eery silence weirding him out moreso than the strange choice in furnature.

Eying occupants, again uneasy, he allows himself to play the part and presses his shoulder against Chandra's side, closing any distance between them. His eyes wander anxiously, catching onto every movement with wary distrust.

"S'fine," murmurs Dare quickly, but not initiating the steps forward to get there. Had it been any other time he wouldn't, but he'd much rather follow her lead on this one.

He blinks forcefully once approached by the woman, wondering just where this place is. Certainly, them talking here is a secure idea, but the scene doesn't sit right with the child trying to push into control. He purses his lips, leaving the talking up to Chandra on this one.

Dare is used to the bar scene, and along with it comes ordering mildly alcoholic drinks. This, for obvious reasons, had to be one of the first things he changed. Instead, he shifted through various drinks offered, never finding one that particularly sticks with him. Sliding into his seat opposite Chandra, he finds himself again disliking this change all over again.

"Water is fine," he decides hesitantly, after a silent look over of the menu tossed in front of him. He doesn't quite trust more than that, from the look of the surroundings and his own judgement. That, and lack of money..

He folds the menu back up, holding it out for the woman to take, ignoring the slight shakiness of his hands.

Dare shrugs. What could be so bad about water?

"I'm sure I have had worse things pass through me," he states with a shrug, tugging at a sleeve subconsciously. Besides, he thought silently, I probably won't even end up drinking much.

He moves his hands to the table, careful to keep his elbows off. Some things just stick with him, while others fly by without him acknowledging. Curving his fingers, he offhandedly drums out a vaguely familiar beat, eyes wandering as any curious child's would in a new environment. Just play the part, and all will be fine.