[it's a little like approaching an animal in a trap, but when he crouches, and holds out his hand, she eases. he's not going to hurt her, so it's alright. she takes a deep breath and holds it.
and then brings a shaky hand up and rests it in his. okay.]
...You're alright. You're still here. You're still with everyone.
[ He does not have all the details, but he can tell enough based on her body language, that look and hint of fear - that guard and need to protect oneself. Something happened and all he can do is offer her a safe space, a way to comfort.
Gingerly, his hand closes around hers with a warm gentleness, showing a look of worry but offering a reassuring smile. ] Let's see that leg of yours then. They can be a tricky sorts.
[she exhales. something about his voice, about the kind and leading way he says things. he's a leader, and it shows. bit by bit, she's starting to pull herself together. you're alright. you're still here.
carefully, she shifts, letting him see her leg. it's just a scratch, just cosmetic. but.]
... I didn't want to do it. [she says, quietly, defeated.]
[ A scratch nevertheless. Fingers gently touch the scratch mark while he looks it over, until he sends a quick ping on his IRIS.
While they wait, he turns her hand that he's still holding, thumb brushing over the back of her fingers comfortingly. ]
You were pulled into it. [ Red eyes peer into her face, watching her, frowning now but that concern is still there. It hasn't changed. ] Was she undergoing what others have been? An anger, a strong temperament?
[ Both his hands hold her own, a gentle squeeze with a tilt of his head. ]
Whatever the reason was for her, you are not to blame. You were defending yourself. [ Thinks of the library, his gaze lowering to their hands. ] Protecting others. Were that we could have stopped it before she could have harmed or or any others but... I truly am sorry such a fate was put onto you.
[ To not have the power to protect those he cares for... he looks back up to her. ] I am glad you are still here. [ Alive. Still herself. ]
Being? [ A soft inquiry, as he starts to think of what she had said before. He grows quiet, leaning a little to - gingerly, gently, rest his forehead against her arm with a flick back of his ears. These weeks certainly get a little harder each passing day. Especially harder on her -
He raises his head after, a nearby soft buzz sounding as a drone approaches with a tiny wave. He'll gather a few things from it, coming to focus on her leg again and tend to that scratch. ] ..There is always light at the end of it, we'll see to the end of this tale with a good ending.
Used. [she mumbles, half out of it. he rests his forehead against her arm, and almost absently her hand comes up to run through his hair, just. a comforting thing for her, the little human connections.
when he pulls away, she just wipes her face, half-assed.]
... Alright. [the dawn is always coming, she does believe that. it's just hard to put herself in the mindset for hope, this instant.]
[ The sound of that, the brief touch through his hair, he emits a quiet hum. Peering up and bringing a hand to gently brush fingers against her cheek, seeing that exhaustion for himself. Thinking of her memory from before.
It takes a bit of work to remove a scratch from the prosthetic plating but it is not as noticeable now. There's a peek of a tail as it swishes a bit at his feet from where he remains crouched, in thought until he looks to her again. ] ...Is there anything I can do for you?
We do not need to talk more of it if it is too much. [ To relive it again and again. It must be tiring. ] My company is here for you until you tire of it.
[she watches him work. watches him remove the scratch from the prosthetic, and thinks - that used to be flesh. that used to be muscle and bone, that belonged to her. she has had so much taken from her, over and over, in her life. she wonders when that'll stop, if it ever will.
... I don't know what I want. [she says, finally. a little lost.] I haven't... I haven't slept much.
[but she appreciates his company. and she's a little less broken, a little less scratched up, and she doesn't have to talk if she doesn't want to, and that... that means something.]
[ When she says she doesn't know, he simply nods and offers a reassuring smile. It's alright if she doesn't. Especially now of all times. It's okay to not know.
Carefully, he stands up and sits beside her, a hand resting gently to her back with a light lean to offer his side. ] A bed would be much preferable, or even a couch.
[ His head tilts a little, red eyes holding a warm gaze. ] But I can watch over you if would like to try and rest now. Even if only for a little while.
[ To allow her to finally let down some of those defenses, get even a little bit of rest after the.. stress this entire week surely was on her. It would make him happy enough to be able to provide her even a moment of rest. ] I'll be here.
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Gently, he holds a hand out to her. ] Here. Let me help you.
[ With how much he's got going on himself with his wetware, he knows a thing or too to taking care of them a bit. ]
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and then brings a shaky hand up and rests it in his. okay.]
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[ He does not have all the details, but he can tell enough based on her body language, that look and hint of fear - that guard and need to protect oneself. Something happened and all he can do is offer her a safe space, a way to comfort.
Gingerly, his hand closes around hers with a warm gentleness, showing a look of worry but offering a reassuring smile. ] Let's see that leg of yours then. They can be a tricky sorts.
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carefully, she shifts, letting him see her leg. it's just a scratch, just cosmetic. but.]
... I didn't want to do it. [she says, quietly, defeated.]
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While they wait, he turns her hand that he's still holding, thumb brushing over the back of her fingers comfortingly. ]
You were pulled into it. [ Red eyes peer into her face, watching her, frowning now but that concern is still there. It hasn't changed. ] Was she undergoing what others have been? An anger, a strong temperament?
[ ... ] ..I'm sorry things turned out this way.
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... I don't know. [she says, still small.] I don't know if she did it because she was infected, or because she hated me that badly.
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Whatever the reason was for her, you are not to blame. You were defending yourself. [ Thinks of the library, his gaze lowering to their hands. ] Protecting others. Were that we could have stopped it before she could have harmed or or any others but... I truly am sorry such a fate was put onto you.
[ To not have the power to protect those he cares for... he looks back up to her. ] I am glad you are still here. [ Alive. Still herself. ]
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I'm so tired. [she says, quietly.] I'm so tired of being...
[she trails off. and then finally:]
I promised I would stay. [so. she's glad she's still here too.]
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He raises his head after, a nearby soft buzz sounding as a drone approaches with a tiny wave. He'll gather a few things from it, coming to focus on her leg again and tend to that scratch. ] ..There is always light at the end of it, we'll see to the end of this tale with a good ending.
[ Continue to hold onto that bit of hope. ]
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when he pulls away, she just wipes her face, half-assed.]
... Alright. [the dawn is always coming, she does believe that. it's just hard to put herself in the mindset for hope, this instant.]
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It takes a bit of work to remove a scratch from the prosthetic plating but it is not as noticeable now. There's a peek of a tail as it swishes a bit at his feet from where he remains crouched, in thought until he looks to her again. ] ...Is there anything I can do for you?
We do not need to talk more of it if it is too much. [ To relive it again and again. It must be tiring. ] My company is here for you until you tire of it.
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throné exhales slowly.]
... I don't know what I want. [she says, finally. a little lost.] I haven't... I haven't slept much.
[but she appreciates his company. and she's a little less broken, a little less scratched up, and she doesn't have to talk if she doesn't want to, and that... that means something.]
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Carefully, he stands up and sits beside her, a hand resting gently to her back with a light lean to offer his side. ] A bed would be much preferable, or even a couch.
[ His head tilts a little, red eyes holding a warm gaze. ] But I can watch over you if would like to try and rest now. Even if only for a little while.
[ To allow her to finally let down some of those defenses, get even a little bit of rest after the.. stress this entire week surely was on her. It would make him happy enough to be able to provide her even a moment of rest. ] I'll be here.