[ She doesn't think she's ever seen Charles like this. Not even remotely. But there's no hesitation; she knows what to do, and she does it. Simple, even when it's not simple; easy, even when it's hard. She rubs his back, and holds him close. She can't stop the whirl of her thoughts, good and bad, and she doesn't try.
A soft shift, and what she's wearing - "wearing", since she's been forming her clothes herself half the time these days - changes to soft cotton, better for soaking up tears. She's getting good at this. Really, really good. And she's proud of it, too.
Proud of him, comes the thought connected with that. For graduating inmates, for staying by Erik's side. He's so good. And she doesn't think the Barge changed that - for all that he is different now, he is still good. ]
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A soft shift, and what she's wearing - "wearing", since she's been forming her clothes herself half the time these days - changes to soft cotton, better for soaking up tears. She's getting good at this. Really, really good. And she's proud of it, too.
Proud of him, comes the thought connected with that. For graduating inmates, for staying by Erik's side. He's so good. And she doesn't think the Barge changed that - for all that he is different now, he is still good. ]