( Red snorts laughter at that even as she ducks her head, because she knows he means that. He wouldn't just say it. She's not going to forget all those very nice things he said about her even if it's hard to wrap her mind around. That someone might see her like that. )

Yep, yeah. No one has ever said that about me either, but I'm happy to annoy you with my wisdom any time. ( She salutes him like she's done him some great services, and easily, she'll fall into something lighter with him. )

How'd you get to be so optimistic? Old as you are. I'm cynical as hell all the time, and I always try to use the excuse of being old af, but that excuse doesn't really hold any weight when you're both old and hopeful.