[... curious. The chill he gets from the world is only topped by the keyword succeeding it: careful. Be careful. How many times haven't he heard it used as a threat? And how much doesn't it sound like something foreboding and dangerous in this context?]
[Her trailing off doesn't help, either, and he squeezes her hands in his, but it's more for his own comfort than hers. He swallows - his mouth has gone dry - as he looks down as well for a moment.]
[But when he looks up again he's scared and intense when he searches for her eyes, his own shiny and wide and urgent.]
Carmen, [And he has to clear his throat,] did he- did he say anything about fire? About burning?
[Loaded and significant and if she says yes, then ...]
action;
[Her trailing off doesn't help, either, and he squeezes her hands in his, but it's more for his own comfort than hers. He swallows - his mouth has gone dry - as he looks down as well for a moment.]
[But when he looks up again he's scared and intense when he searches for her eyes, his own shiny and wide and urgent.]
Carmen, [And he has to clear his throat,] did he- did he say anything about fire? About burning?
[Loaded and significant and if she says yes, then ...]