( Strange how it feels when you're on the side with the unpleasant things happening. Collette presses her cold nose to his chest, breathing in deep. There's a silly sort of snuffling sound she makes as a consequence. She lets her tail wag, knowing that it's prone to thwacking in to anything in the area -- in this case, the floor, even Caesar's leg, if it's in reach. )
< I think you were right originally! It's scary until you know how to use them. You have to make it work for you, not against you, that's all! It's not easy, but what is? >
( His litany of worries are worries -- but she's seen, and heard, people handling this. And she knows it's hard as the person having reality change so drastically to have to think forward and adapt when they really don't want to. It isn't fair is an element behind it all -- but that was the thing. Life very rarely knew what human values of fair really were. )
< You have a good memory. I can help teach you by feel how to know where buttons are. We can set your tablet to read everything out loud! Break has that, Toph has it, the dragon here before had it. We can even pick a voice you can stand hearing! Or I can read things out loud, too, since I'm supposed to be reading a lot as it is. That way neither one of us misses out on things. >
( She settles back down, giving up on being pushy about his chest, letting her head settle in his lap while her paw comes off his leg and drops down to the floor. )
< We can walk you through the halls so you know where you are so good you can walk it half asleep. It takes some effort, but it's not like you're not willing when there's a reason. These are set-backs, C. Not ones we can't get by! >
( Her optimism pushes through at the end, where the rest has been about more reasonable mental tones, practical offers and suggestions, still underwritten with relief and a well tamped down concern. There's something else, warmer than all of that, tied up in what she says next. )
< You're not alone in the dark. You have me, and Lenalee, and Oz, if you want him. Steph and Saul, though who knows if it feels good or weird having a lawyer on your side! Nash, when he's stirred up to talk. All the people you're working with on these missions, they're listening to you because of your brain and the way you think, and that didn't get over tired for a while like your eyes have! What's that you told me the other day, your brain's always fresh and on? >
( Teasing; it hadn't been a truth, but she'd let it slide then, and she'd bring it around now as something light for him to refute or hold on to. )
< You'll be okay! >
( I love you, she adds for her own benefit. It doesn't feel guilty anymore when she thinks that. There was some peace to be had with deciding it was okay to be selfish in some ways. I love you, and you'll be okay. )
no subject
< I think you were right originally! It's scary until you know how to use them. You have to make it work for you, not against you, that's all! It's not easy, but what is? >
( His litany of worries are worries -- but she's seen, and heard, people handling this. And she knows it's hard as the person having reality change so drastically to have to think forward and adapt when they really don't want to. It isn't fair is an element behind it all -- but that was the thing. Life very rarely knew what human values of fair really were. )
< You have a good memory. I can help teach you by feel how to know where buttons are. We can set your tablet to read everything out loud! Break has that, Toph has it, the dragon here before had it. We can even pick a voice you can stand hearing! Or I can read things out loud, too, since I'm supposed to be reading a lot as it is. That way neither one of us misses out on things. >
( She settles back down, giving up on being pushy about his chest, letting her head settle in his lap while her paw comes off his leg and drops down to the floor. )
< We can walk you through the halls so you know where you are so good you can walk it half asleep. It takes some effort, but it's not like you're not willing when there's a reason. These are set-backs, C. Not ones we can't get by! >
( Her optimism pushes through at the end, where the rest has been about more reasonable mental tones, practical offers and suggestions, still underwritten with relief and a well tamped down concern. There's something else, warmer than all of that, tied up in what she says next. )
< You're not alone in the dark. You have me, and Lenalee, and Oz, if you want him. Steph and Saul, though who knows if it feels good or weird having a lawyer on your side! Nash, when he's stirred up to talk. All the people you're working with on these missions, they're listening to you because of your brain and the way you think, and that didn't get over tired for a while like your eyes have! What's that you told me the other day, your brain's always fresh and on? >
( Teasing; it hadn't been a truth, but she'd let it slide then, and she'd bring it around now as something light for him to refute or hold on to. )
< You'll be okay! >
( I love you, she adds for her own benefit. It doesn't feel guilty anymore when she thinks that. There was some peace to be had with deciding it was okay to be selfish in some ways. I love you, and you'll be okay. )