[ it takes Thomas a second to come back, and John doesn't push him. waits quietly, without expectation, and sure enough in a moment or two his head lifts again and he continues on. John's careful this time not to let the softness of concern sit on his features— God knows he never needs reminding when he's vulnerable. instead, firm interest. the tight focus of someone keen to learn.
gaze darts to the walking stick when it's singled out, and remain there as Thomas continues. he hears the rest, but he's still picking apart the word staves, connecting it to the stick he's been shown, and— ]
That's your staff?
[ if some measure of his careful attempt to not seem like magic being real doesn't still regularly catch him for six falls suddenly and dramatically away at this latest discovery, it's only because Thomas caught him off guard. ]
no subject
gaze darts to the walking stick when it's singled out, and remain there as Thomas continues. he hears the rest, but he's still picking apart the word staves, connecting it to the stick he's been shown, and— ]
That's your staff?
[ if some measure of his careful attempt to not seem like magic being real doesn't still regularly catch him for six falls suddenly and dramatically away at this latest discovery, it's only because Thomas caught him off guard. ]