[Paul takes his time looking over the cloth to confirm the quality of its work, and to give himself somewhere else to look. He feels better at Falco's acceptance of the idea of staying out of harm's way, but only so much. He nods eventually at the stitching and looks up with a slight but fully approving smile.]
That would help. You're even better than last time.
[He brushes his thumb across the back of Falco's hand and keeps looking at him as if fixing his face to memory, as if he hasn't already done that.]
How are you feeling? Do you want to talk about it?
[It was one thing for so many of the adults that he warned to show such little concern for themselves, and so little interest in discussing their feelings. He understands that - but the buttoning down and immediate turning to action in Falco is different. There should be room for him to feel things, Paul thinks, and it's a notion that unsettles him in ways he can't quite articulate to himself. It's not right, that Falco can do that so easily, even if it makes things simpler for Paul.]
no subject
That would help. You're even better than last time.
[He brushes his thumb across the back of Falco's hand and keeps looking at him as if fixing his face to memory, as if he hasn't already done that.]
How are you feeling? Do you want to talk about it?
[It was one thing for so many of the adults that he warned to show such little concern for themselves, and so little interest in discussing their feelings. He understands that - but the buttoning down and immediate turning to action in Falco is different. There should be room for him to feel things, Paul thinks, and it's a notion that unsettles him in ways he can't quite articulate to himself. It's not right, that Falco can do that so easily, even if it makes things simpler for Paul.]