[He hears that noise come out of her, that whimper, and he has the terrible feeling that they did something to her (who "they" is he's not yet quite sure) that she's not going to recover from any time soon, something that was almost worse than the selfish, rough thing that they all had to endure. He tightens his grip on his knees.
When she says she's sorry...he nods, and it helps. To have someone who's heard. So he listens to her as she tells her own story, closely.
When she finishes, he nods, and says (in a voice that might shake a little, or is that just a trick of the tiled walls?)--]
You learn what not to say. It gets to be reflex.
Unless they want you to fight, but...there's less of that for cherubs, I think.
[A short pause.]
...what did you say?
[He says it hesitantly. She doesn't have to answer, but...he wants to help. And, in some perverse way, it helps to know that you're not the only one slipping up and hurting.]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2012-11-23 06:52 pm (UTC)When she says she's sorry...he nods, and it helps. To have someone who's heard. So he listens to her as she tells her own story, closely.
When she finishes, he nods, and says (in a voice that might shake a little, or is that just a trick of the tiled walls?)--]
You learn what not to say. It gets to be reflex.
Unless they want you to fight, but...there's less of that for cherubs, I think.
[A short pause.]
...what did you say?
[He says it hesitantly. She doesn't have to answer, but...he wants to help. And, in some perverse way, it helps to know that you're not the only one slipping up and hurting.]