[ The lined shadows under Hei's eyes, an insomniac's bags, are permanent, too etched in to be totally erased. They deepen a little now as his expression shifts to watchfulness, studying her carefully. He doesn't particularly like the way she's looking at him. As if a bearing has slid into place in her mind -- not the full combination of understanding, but the first few digits. ]
[ He fights the irritation off. He can twig into where that look stems from, much in the same way he's been where Korra is, too many times to recall. He knows what it is to doubt and second-guess your own worth as someone human and decent. Knows what it is to look in the mirror and radiate waves of mistrust for yourself and everyone around you. It's hellish and awful but he's accepted it as part and parcel of his matrix. ]
[ Likewise, he's never been a bleeding heart for anyone who has terrible things on their conscience. Not beyond a token nod of recognition. But it is a shame to think of Korra carrying all this in her still-unequipped mind. It's one thing when you're callused by warfare to attack your own comrade. The fallout isn't pretty, but at least it goes with the field. This has a distinctly crueler pitch. But that's life, in the City, or outside. The world is far from perfect. ]
[ Reaching out, he touches her head, fingers loose in the dark strands. It's not a caress so much as a steadying contact. ] What happened to Pavel -- It wasn't your fault. I hope you realize that. [ Quiet. Matter-of-fact. ] There's a curse making people attack each other. You should see the bloodbaths Underground.
⊕ march 15th, late evening
[ He fights the irritation off. He can twig into where that look stems from, much in the same way he's been where Korra is, too many times to recall. He knows what it is to doubt and second-guess your own worth as someone human and decent. Knows what it is to look in the mirror and radiate waves of mistrust for yourself and everyone around you. It's hellish and awful but he's accepted it as part and parcel of his matrix. ]
[ Likewise, he's never been a bleeding heart for anyone who has terrible things on their conscience. Not beyond a token nod of recognition. But it is a shame to think of Korra carrying all this in her still-unequipped mind. It's one thing when you're callused by warfare to attack your own comrade. The fallout isn't pretty, but at least it goes with the field. This has a distinctly crueler pitch. But that's life, in the City, or outside. The world is far from perfect. ]
[ Reaching out, he touches her head, fingers loose in the dark strands. It's not a caress so much as a steadying contact. ] What happened to Pavel -- It wasn't your fault. I hope you realize that. [ Quiet. Matter-of-fact. ] There's a curse making people attack each other. You should see the bloodbaths Underground.