Credence looks at the bag, which right now is deflating against the far wall, bleeding sand from the dozens of gouges torn into the leather. He doubts, somehow, that a good wallop from anyone's fist could have done that.
"No, sir. This was - I should - I'm going to go," he says, asserting himself that tiny bit. "I'm sorry I wasted your time. I'll ask Quentin if there's anyone else who needs a lesson."
Porthos looks at him seriously, considers the way he's behaved so far and how much effort it probably took him to actually make that sort of absolute declaration... and he wants to tell him no, but he won't.
"Wasn't a waste, lad, not like I've got anything better t'do. Just-" He frowns for a moment, then continues. "Just remember 'at any kinda strength takes practice an' control. You're not the first an' you won't be the last t'do things you 'adn't meant to. There's no shame in 'avin' t'learn control, just in not tryin' to."
Credence, for just a moment - so briefly you'd be forgiven for thinking you
imagined it - looks absolutely furious.
Control has been his entire life. Every waking moment, half his attention
is on keeping the Obscurus suppressed, on keeping the pain under his skin.
He knows more about control, now, than most people learn in a lifetime. To
have a single slip taken for a lack of it, when it would be easier for
him to destroy this entire ship than it is to stand still -
And then the anger vanishes and he affects perfect calm.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2018-01-22 08:19 am (UTC)"No, sir. This was - I should - I'm going to go," he says, asserting himself that tiny bit. "I'm sorry I wasted your time. I'll ask Quentin if there's anyone else who needs a lesson."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-24 04:14 am (UTC)"Wasn't a waste, lad, not like I've got anything better t'do. Just-" He frowns for a moment, then continues. "Just remember 'at any kinda strength takes practice an' control. You're not the first an' you won't be the last t'do things you 'adn't meant to. There's no shame in 'avin' t'learn control, just in not tryin' to."
no subject
Date: 2018-01-24 07:57 am (UTC)Credence, for just a moment - so briefly you'd be forgiven for thinking you imagined it - looks absolutely furious.
Control has been his entire life. Every waking moment, half his attention is on keeping the Obscurus suppressed, on keeping the pain under his skin. He knows more about control, now, than most people learn in a lifetime. To have a single slip taken for a lack of it, when it would be easier for him to destroy this entire ship than it is to stand still -
And then the anger vanishes and he affects perfect calm.
"Yes, sir. Thank you."