[ He isn't expecting Ori to keep going while he's still standing. After watching Seisyll scamper up the stairs, he turns his attention back to her and slowly settles back in his chair.
The urge to deflect is there, but he listens to her. Really listens and processes what she has to say--it's the least he can do.
She's right, though. He has a million excuses as to why he always deflects, why he insists on caring and worrying for others over letting them fuss over him: he was a leader, he was in charge. He needed to stay strong to keep morale up, he needed to guide and mentor his younger siblings, he needed to guide the way and inspire others to give their best. And as such, he had never been good at accepting others' concern. He's never been in any sort of relationship where these things were shared equally.
But it's time for change--something he's been telling himself over and over again. He's no longer Firstborn Trahearne. He's not Marshal Trahearne. He's just Trahearne, just as she's just Ori, and their friends are just Eustace, just Phantom...regardless of whatever they are in the waking world. When is he going to internalize this?
His thoughts are going, his mind processing what Ori said, and so he remains silent for a moment longer. The instinct telling him to push back is still there, but he ignores it. ]
...You're right, and I'm sorry. [ He looks up at her with a deep frown. He may not voice it, but he's still worried about her. ] I'll...I'll gladly accept your worries about me, and I apologise that I have not been very...receptive. [ His gaze drops to the cookies. ] I suppose I don't really know how to be.
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The urge to deflect is there, but he listens to her. Really listens and processes what she has to say--it's the least he can do.
She's right, though. He has a million excuses as to why he always deflects, why he insists on caring and worrying for others over letting them fuss over him: he was a leader, he was in charge. He needed to stay strong to keep morale up, he needed to guide and mentor his younger siblings, he needed to guide the way and inspire others to give their best. And as such, he had never been good at accepting others' concern. He's never been in any sort of relationship where these things were shared equally.
But it's time for change--something he's been telling himself over and over again. He's no longer Firstborn Trahearne. He's not Marshal Trahearne. He's just Trahearne, just as she's just Ori, and their friends are just Eustace, just Phantom...regardless of whatever they are in the waking world. When is he going to internalize this?
His thoughts are going, his mind processing what Ori said, and so he remains silent for a moment longer. The instinct telling him to push back is still there, but he ignores it. ]
...You're right, and I'm sorry. [ He looks up at her with a deep frown. He may not voice it, but he's still worried about her. ] I'll...I'll gladly accept your worries about me, and I apologise that I have not been very...receptive. [ His gaze drops to the cookies. ] I suppose I don't really know how to be.