[ While Neal doesn't necessarily agree — if anything, it happened at him, not to him — but he doesn't shy away from taking that hug. He's such a sucker for contact, for that feeling of being a human being connecting with another human being, and as he holds her to him, his arms close around her tightly. ]
You're a better person than I am, Charlie.
[ Of that, he seems certain. Neal doesn't think she'll agree, and he probably is being unfair with himself, but truthfully, he doesn't think he was quite ready for a shock like that when he'd hardly absorbed the seven shocks he'd taken beforehand. ]
It's hard to know what your life was life then, but if this is better... [ He doesn't want to dismiss that. It's important to her, it ought to be acknowledged. ] I'm glad I didn't ruin that for you here. It's easy to forget people have it rougher than this when I'm throwing myself a pity party.
[she doesn't agree but she's not about to argue with him. he has no idea the things she's done to stay alive and she's going to keep it that way for as long as possible. she wants to count him among the few friends she has here and she wants to chase them away as slowly as possible.]
It would take a lot more than what you've done to ruin anything in my life, Neal. [she pulls back just a little so she can look up at him.] But parties are always better with more people, even the pity parties we throw ourselves.
[ He looks down at her for a long moment, staring as if searching for something. It's there, he's sure, but hard to see even this close. Still, he nods and then pulls her back into a hug, not quite ready to let go. ]
You're right about that.
[ His whole body seems sigh, muscles loosening like his guard's physically falling around him. He can be incredibly selfish at times, and now doesn't feel all that different. Still, he can't bring himself to send her away, to be by himself, either, or think that she might be by herself, too. ]
Would you stay for dinner? It's supposed to be just me tonight. I've got plenty.
[needing the contact more than she wants to admit, charlie leans into the hug he gives her and feels that sigh his body seems to give. her own responds as if in answer and it's just nice to be held by someone she feels like understands. he was there, he knows, he gets it.
the offer to stay is generous and she nods, her head still resting against his chest.]
Yeah, that'd be good.
[her cooking skills are a bit rusty if it doesn't include an open flame, so maybe she'll watch this time, but she's always down for company. despite trekking her way back and forth from texas to nevada and back again, she's not really as solitary as she likes to think she is.]
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You're a better person than I am, Charlie.
[ Of that, he seems certain. Neal doesn't think she'll agree, and he probably is being unfair with himself, but truthfully, he doesn't think he was quite ready for a shock like that when he'd hardly absorbed the seven shocks he'd taken beforehand. ]
It's hard to know what your life was life then, but if this is better... [ He doesn't want to dismiss that. It's important to her, it ought to be acknowledged. ] I'm glad I didn't ruin that for you here. It's easy to forget people have it rougher than this when I'm throwing myself a pity party.
no subject
It would take a lot more than what you've done to ruin anything in my life, Neal. [she pulls back just a little so she can look up at him.] But parties are always better with more people, even the pity parties we throw ourselves.
no subject
You're right about that.
[ His whole body seems sigh, muscles loosening like his guard's physically falling around him. He can be incredibly selfish at times, and now doesn't feel all that different. Still, he can't bring himself to send her away, to be by himself, either, or think that she might be by herself, too. ]
Would you stay for dinner? It's supposed to be just me tonight. I've got plenty.
no subject
the offer to stay is generous and she nods, her head still resting against his chest.]
Yeah, that'd be good.
[her cooking skills are a bit rusty if it doesn't include an open flame, so maybe she'll watch this time, but she's always down for company. despite trekking her way back and forth from texas to nevada and back again, she's not really as solitary as she likes to think she is.]
What're we having?