[He's startled, and it shows. For a moment, he's so startled that the abrasiveness drops away completely, leaving only pure, clear shock.
She'll...find them for him? But... why? Why would she even care? He doesn't understand it at all, and it's almost too much for him to process. He didn't think there was anything for him to care about in a place like this, aside from Stahn, getting Stahn home, protecting Stahn, and there's a part of him that still does, but even so...
Even so--
It's like a glimmer of something else.
And for a moment, his face crumples, and he looks his age for once, lost and confused and...so afraid to hope.]
I--
[He's afraid of what she's saying, but when she says it with that level of force and desperation...]
... I don't understand. But you...
[... Ha.]
You're stronger than you look. [So much force behind her words. So much fierce emotion behind her thoughts. And so much refusal to give in, even when there's a lost cause before her.] That's... good.
[It means she'll be okay, despite that memory. That's what he thinks.
She'll be fine, with strength like that.]
That's...
[... good. But... but as for him... what is he supposed to even do anymore? What is he supposed to say? What... should he even be hoping for, now?]
no subject
She'll...find them for him? But... why? Why would she even care? He doesn't understand it at all, and it's almost too much for him to process. He didn't think there was anything for him to care about in a place like this, aside from Stahn, getting Stahn home, protecting Stahn, and there's a part of him that still does, but even so...
Even so--
It's like a glimmer of something else.
And for a moment, his face crumples, and he looks his age for once, lost and confused and...so afraid to hope.]
I--
[He's afraid of what she's saying, but when she says it with that level of force and desperation...]
... I don't understand. But you...
[... Ha.]
You're stronger than you look. [So much force behind her words. So much fierce emotion behind her thoughts. And so much refusal to give in, even when there's a lost cause before her.] That's... good.
[It means she'll be okay, despite that memory. That's what he thinks.
She'll be fine, with strength like that.]
That's...
[... good. But... but as for him... what is he supposed to even do anymore? What is he supposed to say? What... should he even be hoping for, now?]