[This much Dirk can do. This much Dirk is reasonably accomplished at doing, actually: standing about feeling like a bit of a prick. His expression is appropriately sheepish, not entirely unlike a small child who's been caught doing something he oughtn't.]
Take your time. I've got plenty of it, probably.
[Nor is he particularly bothered by the prospect of being tactile with an absolute stranger, apparently.]
I really am also terribly sorry, though in my defence, I couldn't possibly have known, and generally speaking I don't. Know, that is. Much of anything, actually.
[For instance, whether or not someone is all right, or would prefer to pretend they're all right even when they're not all right, which is also something he's adept at and can respect. There's no call to be snappish. Or rather, there's every call to be snappish, but that doesn't mean one has absolutely to give in to the temptation.]
What to do, for starters. Ah... do you... I mean, shall I bring you to a doctor? I live with one, I suppose I could give him a call, or...
[Or... something. Something that is not entertain the growing bubble of panic in his gut. Dirk doesn't like hurting people. He really, really doesn't. If he comes off as a bit callous about it, it's because he doesn't ever seem to have much choice in the matter, and if he thinks about it too hard, everything starts to unravel. This is true of his situation in general, his life, his so-called 'ability' -- really just best not addressed in any detail. Better to keep moving, to keep talking, to keep smiling. Not that he's managing much of that last one at the moment.]
no subject
Take your time. I've got plenty of it, probably.
[Nor is he particularly bothered by the prospect of being tactile with an absolute stranger, apparently.]
I really am also terribly sorry, though in my defence, I couldn't possibly have known, and generally speaking I don't. Know, that is. Much of anything, actually.
[For instance, whether or not someone is all right, or would prefer to pretend they're all right even when they're not all right, which is also something he's adept at and can respect. There's no call to be snappish. Or rather, there's every call to be snappish, but that doesn't mean one has absolutely to give in to the temptation.]
What to do, for starters. Ah... do you... I mean, shall I bring you to a doctor? I live with one, I suppose I could give him a call, or...
[Or... something. Something that is not entertain the growing bubble of panic in his gut. Dirk doesn't like hurting people. He really, really doesn't. If he comes off as a bit callous about it, it's because he doesn't ever seem to have much choice in the matter, and if he thinks about it too hard, everything starts to unravel. This is true of his situation in general, his life, his so-called 'ability' -- really just best not addressed in any detail. Better to keep moving, to keep talking, to keep smiling. Not that he's managing much of that last one at the moment.]