[hesitates again, a moment, and then goes on, quiet and matter-of-fact]
We are all what our worlds make of us. You are from one in which most people have eventually betrayed your expectations for the last century and a half in some way, again and again. I don't need to be able to look into your mind more than once to know you've got as many marks from that upon it as you do upon your body, if not more.
You're an alarmingly eternal optimist, but not a blind one. I'll take 'better' from you gladly.
[he doesn't really require an answer. he knows Minuet's listening; sometimes that's all that's needed.
he takes one more deep breath -- the reality of Minuet back home and as whole as he can be in all his senses -- and relaxes further on the exhale, deliberate. smooths his thumb over Minuet's brow, a firm little gesture.
love's still such a difficult concept for him to recognize in himself, to conceptualize apart from devotion. peace is almost as rare, but it's easier to see. there's a measure of it in this room, this bed, this man.]
[ Without meaning to, he thinks about the days Charon was missing. The empty kitchen at 4am. The cold wash of dread at seeing Lily's shepherd staff transferred to someone else. Being nearly helpless to find him or even ascertain whether he was still alive.
... It really adds something, being thanked for simply being present. An understanding, heavy weight.
His arms envelope him again, but this time a few feathery tendrils join in as well. ]
[ It's only after he says it that he realizes what a bizarrely intimate sentiment that is. "See you in a bit" to someone falling asleep in your arms. Feels kind of unsteady, but not in a bad way.
[maybe Charon catches the sentiment. maybe he doesn't. but he does catch something, because that bizarre softness flickers in his eyes and expression again. candleflame in a breeze.]
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featherduster) wrote2023-06-15 02:30 pm
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
. . . I would have been mad at me. But not at all if the situation was reversed, and you had to do that for Melody. Strange.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Yeah. I would've kicked my own ass if the reverse had happened, so it makes sense.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
[wow they both suck at being good to themselves actually
tugs him closer with a little grumble about it]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Whether he's chuckling about that or the grumbling is not clear. The hand that pats his back is mollifying though. ]
How 'bout I just say, "thanks for getting everyone home safe."
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Thanks for the same.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Is it grim...? That sounds optimistic to me.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
It's not a winning endorsement of my expectations though.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
[hesitates again, a moment, and then goes on, quiet and matter-of-fact]
We are all what our worlds make of us. You are from one in which most people have eventually betrayed your expectations for the last century and a half in some way, again and again. I don't need to be able to look into your mind more than once to know you've got as many marks from that upon it as you do upon your body, if not more.
You're an alarmingly eternal optimist, but not a blind one. I'll take 'better' from you gladly.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
He settles for wordlessly smoothing down some of Charon's hair instead. ]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
he takes one more deep breath -- the reality of Minuet back home and as whole as he can be in all his senses -- and relaxes further on the exhale, deliberate. smooths his thumb over Minuet's brow, a firm little gesture.
love's still such a difficult concept for him to recognize in himself, to conceptualize apart from devotion. peace is almost as rare, but it's easier to see. there's a measure of it in this room, this bed, this man.]
. . . thank you for being here, too.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
... It really adds something, being thanked for simply being present. An understanding, heavy weight.
His arms envelope him again, but this time a few feathery tendrils join in as well. ]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
of course he turns his face into them, his quiet mouth. of course.]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
Sounds like we can both finally rest easy. At least for right now.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
[finally drapes his other arm around him, so he's holding him close with both too]
We're long overdue, I think.
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
[ It's only after he says it that he realizes what a bizarrely intimate sentiment that is. "See you in a bit" to someone falling asleep in your arms. Feels kind of unsteady, but not in a bad way.
It's... novel. Good, even. ]
Re: [day 56, shepherd power hour]
I'll be seeing you. Good night, Minuet.