driftfleet | (no subject)

[She looks thoughtful at that.] Because he's very old and he is still putting himself out there with people. He's a lot stronger than he seems.

He's been lonely for all those years, he'd put up with any behavior just to have some company.

[ the only way it could be more obvious he's speaking from experience is if one of the ships decided to fly-by and space write it. he put up with a lot of indignant and even hurtful behaviors just to get to stay close to the people he loves. he's only recently started to stand up for himself, and each time he has has been wrought with misery and fear that this would be it, that because he couldn't put up silently with this one thing, he's going to be friendless and alone again. ]

[Yeah, she's getting that.] What would you want if you were him right now?

[ he pauses to ponder that and shakes his head. ]

I don't know.

[ because like sascha, he also puts everyone else first, so he'd care more about his own well being if he were sascha right now. he'd want him to do what he needs to do to feel better and come back to sascha-him. ]

[She has a feeling that's what he's thinking honestly.] You need to be able to make this right with you first and you can only push it so far before it's too much. Things will fall into place after that and Sascha has other friends too.

But he doesn't go see them because he's trying to make me feel more comfortable.

[ and he has no words for how guilty that makes him feel. ]

Wanda threw him into a wall so that's part of it. I think Sam might have gotten rough with him too.

He did?

[ that feels like a personal betrayal to him. sure, he only spoke to sam that one time, but he thought they understood each other! ]

I don't know the details. Bigby just seemed annoyed. I know Sascha bit Sam though. And Sam has a background in fighting non-human creatures to protect humans.

Yeah, I talked to him a little after he was bitten and - I thought he got it.

[ he supposes he'll never really understand people who have been through these sort of things. just like he still can't understand kitty punching sascha either. ]

I did too. Maybe Bigby talked to him before that. [Or maybe it still felt wrong to him not to make some threats. It's not like part of her doesn't understand.]

[ he sighs heavily. he really hates this. ]

[She kisses his temple.] All I meant by bringing it up is that you aren't the only reason he's staying home.

That's -- making me feel better on one hand and so much worse on another.

That's my specialty, remember?

That's a joke, right.

[ because he really doesn't have it in him to be encouraging right now. ]

Since you asked and didn't laugh I'm not sure it deserves to be called that, but that was the intent. [She doesn't need encouragement. She kisses his temple.]

That's not a testament of your comedic skills, I still think you have a future there.

[ it's just an everything-is-going-wrong sort of day. ]

Good. I'm glad my dreams of being a comedian aren't dashed. [Gently touching his face. It's the last thing on her mind right now.]

[ the gentle touching brings a softer sort of smile out of him. ]

They endure.

[It's nice to see.] Just like the rest of us.

Just like the rest of us.

[ he's just gonna lie down and rest his head in her lap now, ok. today has been exhausting. ]

[She is going to gently stroke his hair. She loves this boy so much. She wishes she could do more for him. But she will do this for as long as he needs and if he falls asleep all the better.]

[ this does help. after a moment, he mumbles a little sleepily. ]

You still owe me a song.

[ if you thought he forgot about the wind beneath my wings promise, you are wrong. sascha could have tried to eat him again, and he still wouldn't have forgotten that. ]

[It takes her a moment to remember what he's even talking about and then she laughs lightly before she thinks a minute trying to remember the beginning of the song. They had to sing it once for a school play when she was very young otherwise this would be all chorus. It will still probably be mostly chorus and she sings softly to hide that she can't really sing.]

♫ It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind. ♫