[ It's not even like he really disagrees with what Liem is saying.
He gets it. He gets how sometimes, when trying to forget something bad that's happened, the only realistic course of action is to pretend that it simply hadn't happened -- throwing oneself into the mundanities of normal life to try and return to it. It's the only realistic solution he's ever had himself, so he gets it. But still ... at times like this, it just doesn't feel right. Even if he doesn't have any other specific fixes that he can pursue -- talking to people? seeking help? allowing himself to actually seem hurt? as if any of those are viable solutions -- that doesn't make his current arrangement feel any less fucked up.
In other words ... Liem's guess is right. An offer to talk would simply be met with a derisive huff. It's the sort of option Gen's learned simply isn't permissible to take. So maybe the inadvertent offer of a distraction, instead, is actually the correct choice. ]
The hell are you talking about -- [ It's only after that incredulous question's left him that Gen manages to connect the dots. 'Didn't pull my weight,' Liem says. And Gen realizes why Liem had been scarce these past two weeks, and why he looks like shit now. His eyes narrow when he mutters, ] -- ... so you were also one of those piece of shit traitors, huh. Like Barnaby.
[ Does it provide some small comfort that at least Gen sounds more exasperated and annoyed than he does angry? Liem won't know it, but the only reason Gen's anger is tempered here is because Liem hadn't directly attacked or interfered with his work. Resentful as he is, now that he's realized what Liem was up to in Venera, he settles for huffing out his next lungful of his smoke, staring at Liem past the hazy curtain of it as he drones, ]
What were you even thinking, getting in everyone's way there.
no subject
He gets it. He gets how sometimes, when trying to forget something bad that's happened, the only realistic course of action is to pretend that it simply hadn't happened -- throwing oneself into the mundanities of normal life to try and return to it. It's the only realistic solution he's ever had himself, so he gets it. But still ... at times like this, it just doesn't feel right. Even if he doesn't have any other specific fixes that he can pursue -- talking to people? seeking help? allowing himself to actually seem hurt? as if any of those are viable solutions -- that doesn't make his current arrangement feel any less fucked up.
In other words ... Liem's guess is right. An offer to talk would simply be met with a derisive huff. It's the sort of option Gen's learned simply isn't permissible to take. So maybe the inadvertent offer of a distraction, instead, is actually the correct choice. ]
The hell are you talking about -- [ It's only after that incredulous question's left him that Gen manages to connect the dots. 'Didn't pull my weight,' Liem says. And Gen realizes why Liem had been scarce these past two weeks, and why he looks like shit now. His eyes narrow when he mutters, ] -- ... so you were also one of those piece of shit traitors, huh. Like Barnaby.
[ Does it provide some small comfort that at least Gen sounds more exasperated and annoyed than he does angry? Liem won't know it, but the only reason Gen's anger is tempered here is because Liem hadn't directly attacked or interfered with his work. Resentful as he is, now that he's realized what Liem was up to in Venera, he settles for huffing out his next lungful of his smoke, staring at Liem past the hazy curtain of it as he drones, ]
What were you even thinking, getting in everyone's way there.