( he's not expecting caroline — not expecting her to find him, follow him, or speak to him. they've seen each other, of course: in the crowded hall, dropping hope off, months ago. the flicker of shock in her eyes and the soft curl of his lips a hello, again. whatever words they exchanged that day were fumbling, quick, and unfulfilling. for him, at least.
and yet her sudden presence, for the past year a quiet punctuation mark at the false end of his life, does not surprise him. like a period lengthening to a comma, this moment is inevitable. he leans back to take her in, familiar and regal and beautiful, looking for all the world like she's ready to comfort or argue with him. something's never change.
perhaps he could use a bit of both. he replies with weariness. ) What I could use is a barrel of whiskey and a way to control my daughter.
( only one of these wishes is possible. he swallows thickly, and adds on an undertone, ) She's lying to me. ( punishing him. punishing herself. ) Withholding. ( her stricken face, twisted with stubbornness. the forceful way she dismissed his questions, his attempts to soothe her for what he thought was a magical outburst of emotions she couldn't control. dad, it doesn't even matter! just let it go, okay?
his eyes lift to caroline's, and there's a bit of steel in them now, an instinct to protect. ) She didn't set that fire.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2024-01-30 02:42 am (UTC)and yet her sudden presence, for the past year a quiet punctuation mark at the false end of his life, does not surprise him. like a period lengthening to a comma, this moment is inevitable. he leans back to take her in, familiar and regal and beautiful, looking for all the world like she's ready to comfort or argue with him. something's never change.
perhaps he could use a bit of both. he replies with weariness. ) What I could use is a barrel of whiskey and a way to control my daughter.
( only one of these wishes is possible. he swallows thickly, and adds on an undertone, ) She's lying to me. ( punishing him. punishing herself. ) Withholding. ( her stricken face, twisted with stubbornness. the forceful way she dismissed his questions, his attempts to soothe her for what he thought was a magical outburst of emotions she couldn't control. dad, it doesn't even matter! just let it go, okay?
his eyes lift to caroline's, and there's a bit of steel in them now, an instinct to protect. ) She didn't set that fire.