[to make himself even more clear, he takes a small step back to create distance between them, hands being held up in a mean-no-harm way for a brief moment. the last thing he wants is to create a scene.
as he drops his hands back down to his sides, he shakes his head once more. ben hasn't been paying attention to people he didn't know. he's been too focused on finding a way out, or catching a glimpse of someone who looks similar but is not someone from the carnival. that's really the last thing he needs, though. he'd prefer to be here alone than have carnies trudging through this mess alongside him.]
No, sorry.
[he means it, though his voice is somewhat strained. there's another funky silence between them after that; ben doesn't have anything else to offer alayne concerning her question, and he doesn't have anything else he really wants to ask her. she's just about as clueless as he is.]
no subject
as he drops his hands back down to his sides, he shakes his head once more. ben hasn't been paying attention to people he didn't know. he's been too focused on finding a way out, or catching a glimpse of someone who looks similar but is not someone from the carnival. that's really the last thing he needs, though. he'd prefer to be here alone than have carnies trudging through this mess alongside him.]
No, sorry.
[he means it, though his voice is somewhat strained. there's another funky silence between them after that; ben doesn't have anything else to offer alayne concerning her question, and he doesn't have anything else he really wants to ask her. she's just about as clueless as he is.]