[she doesn't seem to think this warrants an apology] You don't have to apologize for that. We were in prison, everyone on on edge. Plus....
[it's not like she could have helped anyway] I was the one who wouldn't leave you alone, even though you said you wanted to be. So, I should be the one to apologize.
You were trying to help. I know that now, and I knew it then. I spurned it anyway.
( which he isn't proud of, hence the apology. he hesitates a little before continuing — graham is never one to talk much, but, when he has something he wants to say he makes sure to say it the way he wants to. )
Before Asterion, I was held captive before. For a very long time, almost longer than I was free. It was... it was the darkest time I had ever known, and I learned to retreat to survive. In action, in thought, it was all I could do to protect myself, and it was my only escape.
Asterion was not the same, but I treated it as if it were. As if I were alone, when I was not. I am sorry for pulling away. You deserve better than that.
[She can empathize, a little. When her sister died, when everyone had been against her, had thought that she'd done it, had turned their backs on her-- she thought she was alone, until Phoenix showed up and insisted on defending her. If he'd been here today, maybe he could have helped Graham]
I can't protect you from something like that, but... I don't want you to face it alone. Maybe I can't help, but there has to be someone who can.
How would you? I don't speak of it, unless I must.
( this counts, apparently, and that says a great deal, actually. )
You can't help someone who refuses to be helped, Maya. That is no fault of your own, and I hope you know that.
I thought that alone was better, but I was wrong. I would take your company now, if you wanted to give it. ( he wouldn't blame her if she didn't, he didn't exactly excude warmth and welcome the last time she tried. )
Well... yeah, but you're usually really nice, so I should have realized something really serious was up.
[She kinda did but!!! Anyway, logically, she knows that's true, but sometimes it's hard not to feel helpless, considering that they're still trapped in the labyrinth for... who knows how long.]
( really nice? sounds fake, but ok. he doesn't correct her, though he probably could; she doesn't know him perfectly, why should she be able to predict why he doesn't seem himself? )
I'm going berry picking, if you'd like to join.
( only graham would say it so casually, as if there weren't killer lizards and bugs and what have you all around them. )
[That's not very specific!!! But Maya finds him pretty quickly, maybe surprisingly so. She's starting to get an idea of the place, and she's got a particularly good memory]
[As long as he's not slamming her against the tree or growling at her to leave him alone, she's good. Lately it's not common for most people to want her around, or she feels like that, anyway]
Sure! Let's nab these suckers.
[She follows along after him]
Ready to take on this challenge and nab some berries, that's for sure! --- Are you feeling better?
( better is a complicated concept for a heartless man. still, he's certainly not so out of sorts as he had been on Asterion. )
Better. ( there's no real reason for it, other than the environment was not so reminiscent of something he would rather forget. ) There's nature, here. I always feel more myself around the wild.
A real man of nature, huh? Well, at least you're feeling better, and at least someone's having a good time [or slightly less miserable time] in this big ol' maze. There's stuff to explore, and the food.... well, honestly, I kind of miss prison food.
( he'd rather eat branches and leaves and moss off the ground than the gruel and horrible mystery meat they serve in prison, though, so he's not to be trusted. )
We'll find something a little more palatable together, I promise. ( though berries are hardly a meal, they're at least quite tasty. together, they'll get enough for Maya to have something sweet to last her a few days. )
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[she doesn't seem to think this warrants an apology] You don't have to apologize for that. We were in prison, everyone on on edge. Plus....
[it's not like she could have helped anyway] I was the one who wouldn't leave you alone, even though you said you wanted to be. So, I should be the one to apologize.
no subject
( which he isn't proud of, hence the apology. he hesitates a little before continuing — graham is never one to talk much, but, when he has something he wants to say he makes sure to say it the way he wants to. )
Before Asterion, I was held captive before. For a very long time, almost longer than I was free. It was... it was the darkest time I had ever known, and I learned to retreat to survive. In action, in thought, it was all I could do to protect myself, and it was my only escape.
Asterion was not the same, but I treated it as if it were. As if I were alone, when I was not. I am sorry for pulling away. You deserve better than that.
no subject
...I'm sorry. I had no idea.
[She can empathize, a little. When her sister died, when everyone had been against her, had thought that she'd done it, had turned their backs on her-- she thought she was alone, until Phoenix showed up and insisted on defending her. If he'd been here today, maybe he could have helped Graham]
I can't protect you from something like that, but... I don't want you to face it alone. Maybe I can't help, but there has to be someone who can.
no subject
( this counts, apparently, and that says a great deal, actually. )
You can't help someone who refuses to be helped, Maya. That is no fault of your own, and I hope you know that.
I thought that alone was better, but I was wrong. I would take your company now, if you wanted to give it. ( he wouldn't blame her if she didn't, he didn't exactly excude warmth and welcome the last time she tried. )
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[She kinda did but!!! Anyway, logically, she knows that's true, but sometimes it's hard not to feel helpless, considering that they're still trapped in the labyrinth for... who knows how long.]
Sure. Where do you wanna meet up?
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I'm going berry picking, if you'd like to join.
( only graham would say it so casually, as if there weren't killer lizards and bugs and what have you all around them. )
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Okay. [Maya doesn't sound too concerned about the killer wildlife, either] You're--- near the group, right? I can come find you.
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( he'll wait for her here, and then they can head off into the lizard dotted sunset!!!! )
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Mr. Graham! [she waves when she sees him]
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Maya. Ready?
( he must assume that she is, because he turns and heads off into the woods. )
How are you feeling?
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Sure! Let's nab these suckers.
[She follows along after him]
Ready to take on this challenge and nab some berries, that's for sure! --- Are you feeling better?
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Better. ( there's no real reason for it, other than the environment was not so reminiscent of something he would rather forget. ) There's nature, here. I always feel more myself around the wild.
no subject
[a beat]
And I never though I'd say that.
wrap!
( he'd rather eat branches and leaves and moss off the ground than the gruel and horrible mystery meat they serve in prison, though, so he's not to be trusted. )
We'll find something a little more palatable together, I promise. ( though berries are hardly a meal, they're at least quite tasty. together, they'll get enough for Maya to have something sweet to last her a few days. )