[He opens his mouth to respond, then hesitates. Tries again.
But I'm just whining about things that can't be helped, he thinks.
Minimizing.
They're important people, and important to me, so I should keep that in mind before I complain, he thinks.
Minimizing.
There's plenty of reasons to hurt me or push me away, especially if it's for the world or to protect themselves-
Minimizing.
He closes his eyes again, recognizing the conflict within himself, her words versus his thoughts. She's not wrong. He knows she's not wrong. It goes against every instinct he's cultivated over the course of his existence trying to do well by those around him, to make them proud and keep them close so he won't lose them, fueled to burn even more brightly by the damning voice of the Draconian god that it won't matter if they lose him because his life is nothing, his pain is temporary, but.
no subject
But I'm just whining about things that can't be helped, he thinks.
Minimizing.
They're important people, and important to me, so I should keep that in mind before I complain, he thinks.
Minimizing.
There's plenty of reasons to hurt me or push me away, especially if it's for the world or to protect themselves-
Minimizing.
He closes his eyes again, recognizing the conflict within himself, her words versus his thoughts. She's not wrong. He knows she's not wrong. It goes against every instinct he's cultivated over the course of his existence trying to do well by those around him, to make them proud and keep them close so he won't lose them, fueled to burn even more brightly by the damning voice of the Draconian god that it won't matter if they lose him because his life is nothing, his pain is temporary, but.
She's not wrong.]
I... do it a lot, huh.
[Gods. He tried to do it just now. Again.]