rupert

[unrecked]

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[agleam]

I mean... How you're feeling, for starters.

[but upon hearing that:]

I'm sorry.

[the story there must be painful.]

[unrecked]

I mean--I don't know. Pretty pissed. [How he's feeling, he means.] Kind of creeped out because that woman has been dead for years.

[When he looks back at Rupert, his face is hardened and intense, but it softens slightly at the brows for a second or two before he looks away again.]

You don't have to apologize.

[agleam]

[he isn't sure whether he'll be treading too far with this, but after a moment, he asks:]

...Who is she?

[there's a light shrug in response to the next part.]

I know I don't have to, and it's not the kind of apology where I'm saying I've done something wrong. Just - it seems like it must have hurt, whatever it was.

[unrecked]

[He doesn't answer immediately, but that's not much of a surprise. It takes him some time to get it out, but it doesn't seem... like it's from anger. More from hurt, yes. It's something defensive. Like an animal in the corner of a cage.]

Was. [The distinction is a bit terse, though not bitter really.] My mom.

[agleam]

[it's tempting to say he's sorry again, after all that, but... he's made it clear that isn't what he wants to hear. after another moment of hesitation, concern still evident in his voice and expression:]

...This place is pretty cruel.

[unrecked]

And annoying.

[He doesn't turn his head, but he does cut his eyes back at Rupert for a second before looking ahead again.]

I can feel you feeling sorry for me from here. You don't have to. She's better off actually.

[agleam]

...It's not that I feel sorry for you or pity you or anything, if that's what you're worried about.

[he's definitely concerned, but - he doubts jason wants to hear that, either.]

Better off?

[unrecked]

[It takes him a bit to talk again, like before.]

Yeah. She was sick.

[agleam]

Well...

[after another few moments:]

That doesn't necessarily make it easier for you, though, does it?

[unrecked]

What, her being sick, or her being better off dead?

[He could literally be a little more sympathetic, but no he must Conceal, Don’t Feel. And doing it this way helps.]

[agleam]

[after a beat:]

I meant losing her.

[unrecked]

[WELL, this actually sobers him so quickly for once. He turns his head a bit away.]

It's complicated. But she was still my mom.