[Flight's not an option and Prior's not overestimating the amount of fight he has in him. He tugs at his wrist once, knowing that any more dramatic an attempt will only create a scene. They're already creating a scene, though the bar is small and dark and quiet and the people here have seen new arrivals and their emotional outbursts before.
He shouldn't have said anything. Shouldn't have said any of it, should have known it would end in a mess, one way or another. And maybe he did. But Byerly makes for easy conversation, and if parts of it prove shallow then maybe shallow's something Prior needs sometimes. And if he listens more than he talks and there's always a reason people do that then well.
Well it's still such a strange thing to be listened to. No one listens to him anymore. Not the doctors, other than to make sure he's agreeing to listen to them. Not even Belize, who tries but for all his efforts cannot comprehend...
Prior steps in toward Byerly instead. Raises his free hand to the man's chest. Quietly.]
I don't know. But you love her very much, and you don't want people to know. Even being near her could give it away. So you aren't. Ever.
[He closes his eyes, focused on the faint pressure of his palm over the beat of Byerly's heart]
no subject
[Flight's not an option and Prior's not overestimating the amount of fight he has in him. He tugs at his wrist once, knowing that any more dramatic an attempt will only create a scene. They're already creating a scene, though the bar is small and dark and quiet and the people here have seen new arrivals and their emotional outbursts before.
He shouldn't have said anything. Shouldn't have said any of it, should have known it would end in a mess, one way or another. And maybe he did. But Byerly makes for easy conversation, and if parts of it prove shallow then maybe shallow's something Prior needs sometimes. And if he listens more than he talks and there's always a reason people do that then well.
Well it's still such a strange thing to be listened to. No one listens to him anymore. Not the doctors, other than to make sure he's agreeing to listen to them. Not even Belize, who tries but for all his efforts cannot comprehend...
Prior steps in toward Byerly instead. Raises his free hand to the man's chest. Quietly.]
I don't know. But you love her very much, and you don't want people to know. Even being near her could give it away. So you aren't. Ever.
[He closes his eyes, focused on the faint pressure of his palm over the beat of Byerly's heart]
Nadine Anastasia.