[ The question is met with a shake of his head. He's fine, of course he is, but... it's nice that he asked. Is he like this with everyone? If he does, while he's so focused on everyone else, who looks after him? ]
It's not you.
[ Pinocchio's explanation dodges the actual heart of the matter, but it's not technically a lie. He pauses, waiting to feel something... change. When nothing does, he presses on. ]
So you've been in a situation like this before?
[ To avoid distractions, he hooks his fingers around Eiden's wrist and pulls it down, searching his eyes with his own. It might even be a little sweet, if his face wasn't presently half masked in mud. ] I'm sorry. It must be hard to miss two homes.
[ he doesn't expect that, but his hand goes lax, trusting when the other pulls it down. eiden meets his eyes without a problem, blinking slowly before his lips twitch into a faint smile. ]
Yeah. I have... it's... complicated.
[ it's not, but he lets the smile on his lips try and carry the rest. it's fine.. instead finally letting his own eyes drop, closing as he tries to remind himself that he can't let that other place go, what's more he can't let it be taken from him like this. ]
But... have to keep going, right? What about you? Your home?
[ tilting his head a bit, fingers shifting to brush the other's wrist as well. maybe the hot water just makes him sappy, or maybe he just wants to feel like he can do something, help with something, anything, even if it's just talking. ]
[ What strength it must take, to lose not just one home, but two. To call it 'complicated' and yet not let the weight of it pull the smile away from his face. Rather than lead Pinocchio to doubt his own strength, when he continues to worry about the people he's left behind in a collapsed Krat, he wonders what might be so different in Eiden's world that he doesn't sink under the weight of its memory.
Perhaps he shared its weight with many shoulders. Maybe the strength isn't just his alone. Perhaps--
have to keep going
--there isn't any other choice. This is the one that makes the most sense, or maybe it's just the way Eiden has sought a connection, by touching him in turn. Pinocchio reflexively thinks to give him some pretty little lie, a harmless falsehood that was sure to put his heart at ease. They could talk about Eiden... or he could connect with him, and be sincere. When he might have unerringly chosen the former, he chooses the latter. ] ...Yes. But I have to keep going.
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no subject
It's not you.
[ Pinocchio's explanation dodges the actual heart of the matter, but it's not technically a lie. He pauses, waiting to feel something... change. When nothing does, he presses on. ]
So you've been in a situation like this before?
[ To avoid distractions, he hooks his fingers around Eiden's wrist and pulls it down, searching his eyes with his own. It might even be a little sweet, if his face wasn't presently half masked in mud. ] I'm sorry. It must be hard to miss two homes.
no subject
Yeah. I have... it's... complicated.
[ it's not, but he lets the smile on his lips try and carry the rest. it's fine.. instead finally letting his own eyes drop, closing as he tries to remind himself that he can't let that other place go, what's more he can't let it be taken from him like this. ]
But... have to keep going, right? What about you? Your home?
[ tilting his head a bit, fingers shifting to brush the other's wrist as well. maybe the hot water just makes him sappy, or maybe he just wants to feel like he can do something, help with something, anything, even if it's just talking. ]
You miss it?
no subject
Perhaps he shared its weight with many shoulders. Maybe the strength isn't just his alone. Perhaps--
have to keep going
--there isn't any other choice. This is the one that makes the most sense, or maybe it's just the way Eiden has sought a connection, by touching him in turn. Pinocchio reflexively thinks to give him some pretty little lie, a harmless falsehood that was sure to put his heart at ease. They could talk about Eiden... or he could connect with him, and be sincere. When he might have unerringly chosen the former, he chooses the latter. ] ...Yes. But I have to keep going.