[no promises earns a flicker of humor, here and gone. like: that's fair. but the frustration catches cassian by surprise. he opens his eyes and begins to lift his head even before set's exhaustion makes itself manifest. but set goes on, before he can answer, and is met, when he looks up, with a rueful little smile. he'd be tempted to assuage potential hurt feelings over the secret-keeping, if set didn't move past that so easily with the casual gifting of this precious little plant. didn't anticipate the first protest that rises to his lips, and swat it away like it's nothing. cassian can't imagine that this little plant won't be dead in a month, but it's set's to give and his to watch over, now. he'll make an honest effort. of course he will.
set lays down on the lounge, now looking more the invalid he'd claimed to be, and cassian doesn't stir. you can stay a while, was the offer, and he can feel his discord draining even for set's apparent exhaustion. tempting, too, to protest the god spending strength like this; but that's more likely to cause offense than do any good. and so,
instead, cassian lifts his eyes to the suns-bright sky, and it hurts less than it had an hour ago. the truth is that there are more things he never forgot how to do, old memories and mannerisms that have slowly resurfaced in kenos. he leans his weight back, carefully balances the pot one-handed against his lap, and reaches for set with his free hand. his hand cups to the god's head, and he strokes his hair with circular, soothing motions. as if set were more child awakened by a nightmare than an unknowably vast creature, god of places cassian has never seen. his palms are rough, hands calloused by years of fights, but his touch is gentle. ]
I know you weren't wrong, [ he finally answers. ] You would know, if I thought you were.
[ that flicker-flash of humor, again. cassian andor doesn't struggle with expressing himself when he thinks something is idiotic, they both know this. ]
If you say it was worth it, I trust you. [ and he does. he still trusts john gaius, for his initial anger at hearing about this. conspirators, indeed. ] But there is nothing I would trade your life for.
[ the zenith said to the meridian: contradictions. but even as he says those words, he finds them some of the truest he's ever spoken. that's why he's upset to hear what happened to set. that's one reason he chose the person he did, from that godforsaken list. that's why he can't tell set anything now. but maybe, here on this sunlit terrace, they can leave aside contradictions for the time being. they can take some comfort, some rest, that they both so desperately need. ]
no subject
set lays down on the lounge, now looking more the invalid he'd claimed to be, and cassian doesn't stir. you can stay a while, was the offer, and he can feel his discord draining even for set's apparent exhaustion. tempting, too, to protest the god spending strength like this; but that's more likely to cause offense than do any good. and so,
instead, cassian lifts his eyes to the suns-bright sky, and it hurts less than it had an hour ago. the truth is that there are more things he never forgot how to do, old memories and mannerisms that have slowly resurfaced in kenos. he leans his weight back, carefully balances the pot one-handed against his lap, and reaches for set with his free hand. his hand cups to the god's head, and he strokes his hair with circular, soothing motions. as if set were more child awakened by a nightmare than an unknowably vast creature, god of places cassian has never seen. his palms are rough, hands calloused by years of fights, but his touch is gentle. ]
I know you weren't wrong, [ he finally answers. ] You would know, if I thought you were.
[ that flicker-flash of humor, again. cassian andor doesn't struggle with expressing himself when he thinks something is idiotic, they both know this. ]
If you say it was worth it, I trust you. [ and he does. he still trusts john gaius, for his initial anger at hearing about this. conspirators, indeed. ] But there is nothing I would trade your life for.
[ the zenith said to the meridian: contradictions. but even as he says those words, he finds them some of the truest he's ever spoken. that's why he's upset to hear what happened to set. that's one reason he chose the person he did, from that godforsaken list. that's why he can't tell set anything now. but maybe, here on this sunlit terrace, they can leave aside contradictions for the time being. they can take some comfort, some rest, that they both so desperately need. ]