[ It's only after the words are out of his mouth, the quietly horrifying thought of what it'd mean to exist without someone for who who he values beyond any words he can find when they fall well short of the loss even briefly described here - that Claude realizes he said had goals as if all of it is past tense. As if those goals, those dreams he's always kept his eyes on are also some alternate reality to what they have here in the splinters of timelines they've pieced together here. Even with in speaking with Altaïr about what was left behind, it feels unsettling.
Now isn't the time to dwell on it when the two of them already have much before them here as Steve sighs and Claude feels that exhale down to his bones. It applies to so many things in this conversation and other ones they've had, and it takes him another moment to once again consider his words. ]
I've learned more from those who have been here and left than what was already heavy enough on its own before getting here. [ After speaking Claude runs a hand down his face before sitting back in his own seat, and now finally looks up to find Steve already considering him. ] But you're right. There's nothing we can do about that except reconcile it with everything else since I'm sure there's more to come yet in what will happen here... though hopefully it's not another island.
[ The joke falls mostly flat, if only because it feels too close to tempting fate with all they've been through since arriving. Maybe in another year he'll find some sort of humor in it. It's also not really what he's aiming for here when it feels a bit too much like deflecting something important Steve's said, so he shakes his head slightly after. ]
Add it to the list of things we wouldn't believe we made it through but in reverse this time. [ A small pause since that's a little too morose. After it comes a thought of something else worth revealing to Steve, though. ] It took me a long time - too long of a time, really, to put trust in others and the idea of working together rather than working on or through something on my own. But that did change, and here especially I have to believe we're better for it.
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Now isn't the time to dwell on it when the two of them already have much before them here as Steve sighs and Claude feels that exhale down to his bones. It applies to so many things in this conversation and other ones they've had, and it takes him another moment to once again consider his words. ]
I've learned more from those who have been here and left than what was already heavy enough on its own before getting here. [ After speaking Claude runs a hand down his face before sitting back in his own seat, and now finally looks up to find Steve already considering him. ] But you're right. There's nothing we can do about that except reconcile it with everything else since I'm sure there's more to come yet in what will happen here... though hopefully it's not another island.
[ The joke falls mostly flat, if only because it feels too close to tempting fate with all they've been through since arriving. Maybe in another year he'll find some sort of humor in it. It's also not really what he's aiming for here when it feels a bit too much like deflecting something important Steve's said, so he shakes his head slightly after. ]
Add it to the list of things we wouldn't believe we made it through but in reverse this time. [ A small pause since that's a little too morose. After it comes a thought of something else worth revealing to Steve, though. ] It took me a long time - too long of a time, really, to put trust in others and the idea of working together rather than working on or through something on my own. But that did change, and here especially I have to believe we're better for it.