She has no idea what to do with this version of him, this Credence who seems to be just a shell of himself, so she decides all she can do is give him this tea, some food, and then send him on his way. They can try again after whatever is happening and maybe then make some progress.
So they sit in relative quiet and comfort with their tea, but eventually-
"Did you ever bring Jesse your belt like that?" She asks him, can't help wanting to know.
"Alright, well- let's promise each other something, okay? I don't think you will,"
She just has to get that out there first, and she reaches out to put her hand over his and hopefully drive it home, her faith in him.
"But if you ever do do anything that makes you think you should be punished, come to me first and we'll figure that out together. No more taking people things to hurt you with."
She's absolutely right, of course. Just because he has the right doesn't
mean he's interested in exercising it, and absolutely not in the state
that the flood has left him in.
She nods, and she gives him a quick smile, but it still feels a lot like talking to a brick wall, or a puppet of Credence that's had the soul sucked out. It's- odd, and uncomfortable, but more than anything it just makes her wonder if this is how he would have turned out if he had stayed under the influence of his mother any longer.
"So- tell me something good that's happened to you since you came here. Anything, even if it's small."
The normal, flood-unaffected Credence might hesitate over this. As
grateful as he is for his friends, he doesn't really understand what
they're getting out of their friendship. Still can't quite believe they'd
appreciate it for its own sake.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-07-24 04:11 pm (UTC)So they sit in relative quiet and comfort with their tea, but eventually-
"Did you ever bring Jesse your belt like that?" She asks him, can't help wanting to know.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-24 04:15 pm (UTC)He looks up, surprised, his eyes not quite meeting hers.
"Oh - no, miss, never. I n-never talked to Jesse like that."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-24 06:01 pm (UTC)She just has to get that out there first, and she reaches out to put her hand over his and hopefully drive it home, her faith in him.
"But if you ever do do anything that makes you think you should be punished, come to me first and we'll figure that out together. No more taking people things to hurt you with."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-24 06:06 pm (UTC)The touch to his hand gets a startled blink, but he doesn't flinch or pull away, just stays stock-still.
"Of course I'll come to you. You're my warden."
And nobody else has the right to beat him for misbehavior.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-24 06:45 pm (UTC)"And if anyone does try to hurt you, you have every right to defend yourself."
Not that she thinks he will in this state, or possibly ever, but maybe if she says it often enough he'll start to believe it.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-24 07:40 pm (UTC)"Yes, miss. I understand."
She's absolutely right, of course. Just because he has the right doesn't mean he's interested in exercising it, and absolutely not in the state that the flood has left him in.
no subject
Date: 2017-07-30 03:27 am (UTC)She nods, and she gives him a quick smile, but it still feels a lot like talking to a brick wall, or a puppet of Credence that's had the soul sucked out. It's- odd, and uncomfortable, but more than anything it just makes her wonder if this is how he would have turned out if he had stayed under the influence of his mother any longer.
"So- tell me something good that's happened to you since you came here. Anything, even if it's small."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-30 09:44 am (UTC)Credence hesitates, but he doesn't really need to reach very far for an answer.
"I've made some friends, miss."
no subject
Date: 2017-07-31 11:12 am (UTC)"Friends that you can trust to help you while you're here?"
no subject
Date: 2017-07-31 01:26 pm (UTC)The normal, flood-unaffected Credence might hesitate over this. As grateful as he is for his friends, he doesn't really understand what they're getting out of their friendship. Still can't quite believe they'd appreciate it for its own sake.
But this one is more credulous.
"Yes, miss."