[ he says it so soft she might not even hear him, but he's staring at the floor. ]
Did you hear Ambition? She was hysterical. Has she had anyone close to her die before? Was she hysterical because she had, or because she hadn't? Which is worse?
[ wow, this comes pouring out of him all at once. ]
Rachel will have to go through it. Anyone who cares for her will have to go through it. [ he doesn't speak of himself. ] This is exactly what I wanted to stop. But it's only happening worse, faster than I could have imagined. I just ... I don't understand why!
[She nearly doesn't hear him, but she misses a step as soon as she does. It means that by the time she turns around to look at him as he talks, he's nearly done speaking.
It also means that she only has to wait those few seconds until he's done talking to quickly, impulsively, move forward to wrap her arms around him in a hug.]
[She stays like that for a long moment, not giving any kind of verbal or physical response. It's only after the long seconds keep drawing off that she murmurs, soft:]
I think all of us need something like this a little bit right now.
[ His response to that is to, after a moment, finally lift his arms to loop them loosely around her shoulders. ]
I will, soon.
[ It's an absurdly affectionate thing he does, when he presses his face into her hair. Above her head, he's staring off at something only he can see. ]
[A moment, and then an addendum. How she feels when she realizes he's returned the embrace, the sensation of his face in her hair... Those are feelings to be protected.]
Just - maybe don't trust everyone without making sure they're someone worth it.
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]
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[She feels like something is trying to claw out of her chest, hearing him.]
And I'll be here if you ever do want to talk about it.
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[ he says it so soft she might not even hear him, but he's staring at the floor. ]
Did you hear Ambition? She was hysterical. Has she had anyone close to her die before? Was she hysterical because she had, or because she hadn't? Which is worse?
[ wow, this comes pouring out of him all at once. ]
Rachel will have to go through it. Anyone who cares for her will have to go through it. [ he doesn't speak of himself. ] This is exactly what I wanted to stop. But it's only happening worse, faster than I could have imagined. I just ... I don't understand why!
[ ah, yikes. ]
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It also means that she only has to wait those few seconds until he's done talking to quickly, impulsively, move forward to wrap her arms around him in a hug.]
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Yu leans into her but doesn't hug her back because god dammit, he doesn't know what to do with himself or his life or this position he was given--
What does being a leader mean, in a situation like this? ]
... Rachel is the one who needs this, tonight. I can't stay away for long. She doesn't deserve to be alone with this. With knowing this.
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I think all of us need something like this a little bit right now.
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But he does lean his head a little against hers, breathing out and shutting his eyes. ]
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...I don't want to hold you up, if you have to go.
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I will, soon.
[ It's an absurdly affectionate thing he does, when he presses his face into her hair. Above her head, he's staring off at something only he can see. ]
I want to believe in them, Zoe.
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[A moment, and then an addendum. How she feels when she realizes he's returned the embrace, the sensation of his face in her hair... Those are feelings to be protected.]
Just - maybe don't trust everyone without making sure they're someone worth it.