[ Lockwood's lips twitched. Her response is one he's used on many occasions. Not the exact words, but the sentiment: it was a long time ago, nothing you need to worry about, I don't remember details.
If he didn't have a hypocritical streak running through his core, Lockwood would have taken the hint and left the situation alone. The problem was, he's been around her just enough and in the right sort of circumstances to understand that she does not allow her emotions to overwhelm her without good reason. True, no tears had fallen, but Lockwood's done that very same action -wiped his eyes before the moisture could escape- often enough to recognize it from another.
He won't play with patronizing words of comfort. There will be no 'of course you're good enough' or 'you're too hard on yourself, no one could have withstood those odds'. He'd rather not get her fist in his teeth. Instead, his voice remains it's measured, deep and warm timber, but the words are spoken with the carefully cultivated, detached sort of professional curiosity.
It isn't done to be cold or unfeeling, but rather as a way to provide her with a respective bit of distance, while still inviting words that maybe need to be spoken. Least the memory settle in with a chokehold. ]
no subject
If he didn't have a hypocritical streak running through his core, Lockwood would have taken the hint and left the situation alone. The problem was, he's been around her just enough and in the right sort of circumstances to understand that she does not allow her emotions to overwhelm her without good reason. True, no tears had fallen, but Lockwood's done that very same action -wiped his eyes before the moisture could escape- often enough to recognize it from another.
He won't play with patronizing words of comfort. There will be no 'of course you're good enough' or 'you're too hard on yourself, no one could have withstood those odds'. He'd rather not get her fist in his teeth. Instead, his voice remains it's measured, deep and warm timber, but the words are spoken with the carefully cultivated, detached sort of professional curiosity.
It isn't done to be cold or unfeeling, but rather as a way to provide her with a respective bit of distance, while still inviting words that maybe need to be spoken. Least the memory settle in with a chokehold. ]
Who was that man?