[ He isn't surprised, is he? Ganymede might, in some respects, be starting to know him a little well. Somewhat well.
Michel doesn't have hopes or expectations from others. He doesn't want to be understood anymore. So why does he feel a thread of strange, guilty relief to share this twisted commonality? He gives Ganymede's hands a light tug to begin steering him back to a private room. ]
So it appeared to me. Your brother loved you, deeply.
[ Did that mitigate the pain of it, knowing that Ilus had died making a choice he would have chosen and chosen again? He doubts it. None of that will give Ganymede his brother back, or those four years back. Michel's hold on his hands tightens slightly. ]
He might be satisfied with that. And you? What about when that isn't enough?
[ Because he hears the weight of that "sometimes." Michel raises his gaze to Ganymede's face again. He doesn't seem in danger of tears now -- from Michel's experience, that's hardly reassuring. He doesn't know what to do with either, but the quiet beyond tears may be more delicate still. ]
no subject
Michel doesn't have hopes or expectations from others. He doesn't want to be understood anymore. So why does he feel a thread of strange, guilty relief to share this twisted commonality? He gives Ganymede's hands a light tug to begin steering him back to a private room. ]
So it appeared to me. Your brother loved you, deeply.
[ Did that mitigate the pain of it, knowing that Ilus had died making a choice he would have chosen and chosen again? He doubts it. None of that will give Ganymede his brother back, or those four years back. Michel's hold on his hands tightens slightly. ]
He might be satisfied with that. And you? What about when that isn't enough?
[ Because he hears the weight of that "sometimes." Michel raises his gaze to Ganymede's face again. He doesn't seem in danger of tears now -- from Michel's experience, that's hardly reassuring. He doesn't know what to do with either, but the quiet beyond tears may be more delicate still. ]