I didn’t say that! It’s never just a booth, artifacts can be anything! You know this!
[It’s not stopping. He can’t stop, either. He’s getting more and more worked up and it’s like Rodney knows exactly what to say to get him worked up.]
I don’t believe this! I never said you had to explain or justify yourself to me, I was just—I was just trying to help!
[He wants to shake him, to make him see what he sees when he looks at him, but he can’t. It just hurts to think of Rodney dealing with something he can’t ever help him with, can’t ever protect him from. And he doesn’t think he ever could. This is deep, he can tell, old hurts and insecurities and he is not prepared to unpack it all, nor is he skilled with anything resembling feelings and the analysis of said feelings.
He just stops, and stares at him. He’s not good at navigating this. Not good at relationships, and even if he and Rodney hadn’t been together he probably would have reacted the exact same way. What would he want, if he was in Rodney’s shoes? There wasn’t anything wrong with wanting to change his appearance, and if that’s what he really wanted, he’d support him? It’s just hard to think that way when he’s angry and his maturity levels in this aren’t so great, either. He wants to walk away and let him deal with it. But he also can’t walk away, so instead he throws his arms up.]
Yeah. You’re right. That’s exactly it. I am so very graciously giving you the benefit of my charity, and not at all because I care about you and am terrified that something bad will happen to you!
no subject
[It’s not stopping. He can’t stop, either. He’s getting more and more worked up and it’s like Rodney knows exactly what to say to get him worked up.]
I don’t believe this! I never said you had to explain or justify yourself to me, I was just—I was just trying to help!
[He wants to shake him, to make him see what he sees when he looks at him, but he can’t. It just hurts to think of Rodney dealing with something he can’t ever help him with, can’t ever protect him from. And he doesn’t think he ever could. This is deep, he can tell, old hurts and insecurities and he is not prepared to unpack it all, nor is he skilled with anything resembling feelings and the analysis of said feelings.
He just stops, and stares at him. He’s not good at navigating this. Not good at relationships, and even if he and Rodney hadn’t been together he probably would have reacted the exact same way. What would he want, if he was in Rodney’s shoes? There wasn’t anything wrong with wanting to change his appearance, and if that’s what he really wanted, he’d support him? It’s just hard to think that way when he’s angry and his maturity levels in this aren’t so great, either. He wants to walk away and let him deal with it. But he also can’t walk away, so instead he throws his arms up.]
Yeah. You’re right. That’s exactly it. I am so very graciously giving you the benefit of my charity, and not at all because I care about you and am terrified that something bad will happen to you!