[ He has grown accustomed to people not really taking that assertion at face value. For some reason, they don't believe him! He's never quite understood why. He is okay, he's perfectly okay, today and tomorrow and the next. Absolutely fine. Nothing going on beneath the cheerful, ebullient, if sometimes mysterious facade he projects.
But if he leaves it at that, she might press, she might wonder, she might ask again, but more persistently, so he continues with his practiced art of deflection. ]
Actually, I'll retract that. You're right — sometimes I need a bit of looking after. Someone was kind enough once to give me a badge with my name on it in case I forgot. Which does happen from time to time so if you know of any name badges, I'll be grateful. Apart from that, I'm right as rain. Have I ever told you the origin of that, right as rain? We'll bookmark that for another conversation.
[ Hopefully he's thrown her off worrying about him enough so they can get back to the more important business of worrying about her. ]
I do want you to hear something important, though. You are not a little ol' me, Hilda of Many Talents, you are extraordinary and important and evidently very solid so I might worry a touch less. You know, in case anyone else needs a good knee to the face. I will fuss, that's what I do. And you'll do what you do. And when you need me, I'll always be there. If it's the middle of the night and you can't sleep and you want to talk about sad things or happy things or why chocolate is an acceptable breakfast food, I'll be there.
[ She's worried about him and it's a kindness, and despite the way he tries to insist otherwise, there's a deep appreciation in his eyes as he looks at her. She's a good friend already. ]
no subject
[ He has grown accustomed to people not really taking that assertion at face value. For some reason, they don't believe him! He's never quite understood why. He is okay, he's perfectly okay, today and tomorrow and the next. Absolutely fine. Nothing going on beneath the cheerful, ebullient, if sometimes mysterious facade he projects.
But if he leaves it at that, she might press, she might wonder, she might ask again, but more persistently, so he continues with his practiced art of deflection. ]
Actually, I'll retract that. You're right — sometimes I need a bit of looking after. Someone was kind enough once to give me a badge with my name on it in case I forgot. Which does happen from time to time so if you know of any name badges, I'll be grateful. Apart from that, I'm right as rain. Have I ever told you the origin of that, right as rain? We'll bookmark that for another conversation.
[ Hopefully he's thrown her off worrying about him enough so they can get back to the more important business of worrying about her. ]
I do want you to hear something important, though. You are not a little ol' me, Hilda of Many Talents, you are extraordinary and important and evidently very solid so I might worry a touch less. You know, in case anyone else needs a good knee to the face. I will fuss, that's what I do. And you'll do what you do. And when you need me, I'll always be there. If it's the middle of the night and you can't sleep and you want to talk about sad things or happy things or why chocolate is an acceptable breakfast food, I'll be there.
[ She's worried about him and it's a kindness, and despite the way he tries to insist otherwise, there's a deep appreciation in his eyes as he looks at her. She's a good friend already. ]