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Many things easily piqued Tris' curiosity: common social problems, mathematical equations, technical design, the joints of a townsperson's prosthetic limb. However, for once, she found herself invested in learning more about her classmate. An equal. Maybe even her friend, if he'd consider her the same.
Well, it'd been a few years or so of being established acquaintances, but socializing wasn't exactly a concern of hers until recently. And there was only one person she felt comfortable around.
The picnic tables weren't crowded today and the weather was pleasant. It was a relief for the two students as it was a perfect opportunity to eat lunch in the courtyard—hoping a certain someone wouldn't come to intervene. When they sat outside, very few words were exchanged between them. Sometimes Tris would ask questions, he'd respond, and that'd be the end of it.
"You look distracted," Tris started, keeping her voice low, "what's the matter, Emil?"
The blond across from her hummed contemplatively, his eyes focused somewhere far off in the distance. "I've been thinking, I guess."
"About?"
"Oh, come on, Beatrice..." Of course he should've expected that from her. Around everyone else, she was about as quiet and reserved as he was, but she always opened up again when it was just the two of them. In some way, though, it was relieving. A peer he was close to felt comfortable opening up to him. "Okay, fine. It's about something Demian told me..."
For the duration of the lunch period, there was plenty enough back and forth between the two students. Tris questioned each step of his thought process; Sinclair responded accordingly. She was careful not to pry too much or dwell on small details—she knew it'd be too easy to go overboard. However, her curiosity was greatly satiated; she learned something new about Sinclair as a result.
"He's quite the philosopher, huh?" She teased with a smile before leaning down to take a bite of her lunch.
Her smile was enough to earn a laugh in response, "Yeah, you could say that."
Philosophy was rarely her field of interest in most cases, but she found herself particularly intrigued this time, and Sinclair showed no signs of hesitation to ponder on Demian's words of wisdom. "Hm, a world of light and a world of dark, huh... Essentially good and evil."
"Y- Yeah, essentially." He nodded, his eyes fixed on a section of the table's wood grain.
Another question quickly arose to the forefront of Tris' mind, but she refused to speak it aloud just then. It wasn't like she had any doubts in the answer she assumed correct anyway; she certainly had something to do with his questioning. It irked her just to think about, and she knew it'd be no better for him either. A different question took its place: "Is this the 'good world', then?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Well, it doesn't really work like that, but I... I don't know."
"Hm." The air fell still between them, even the wind pausing for their thoughts, as they both stared downward in a ponderous silence. "...Do you think we're still friends in other worlds?"
The question was surprisingly unexpected; strangely touching. It was unlike Tris to inquire on more personal subjects than intellectual ones, but perhaps it was the influence of already indulging in the topic of personal philosophy. Yet Sinclair had no clear and reliable answer to provide her.
"I hope we are."—The thought lingered between them before the spring breeze swept by.