[ His expression sobers up relatively quickly and she gets out of his way as he turns the stove off, moving the pot off the burner. He's fussing, in order to formulate his thoughts. She lets him, stepping over to the nearby cabinet to pull out the plates and bowls, setting those at their respective spots at the table. As the clatter of silverware stills, he speaks up again and she's now the one to lean on the counter, listening intently.
It's no surprise when he admits to having wanted a daughter. In the intervening years since she'd found out about her inability to bear children, they've gotten better at saying such things out loud. As if exorcising the grief it had caused them. And now, a decade into having raised their very unruly and unexpected son, the pain's easier to let go of.
Still, her brow furrows as he continues, expounding on that particular thought. That having a daughter would've come with a whole slew of other worries. She's aware, of course, the differences in what she'd worried about growing up even in the relative safety of Shu Han as compared to her brothers. There's been a reason she'd pursued self-defense courses. Why she'd gone so far as to get her black belt, unwilling to be unprepared should anything ever happen.
But, as he digs in deeper, clearly upset, she knows not every girl has had her fortune. She has eyes and ears, has known that terrible things can happen to the most vulnerable—young girls, especially. Yet, it's one thing to be aware of and quite another to be confronted with the disgusting details. Her own stomach twists at hearing the age; thirteen. Thirteen, an age where she should have been at home, having sleepovers with her friends and dreaming of all the things she could be when she was older. Instead, she'd been bought by a cruel woman and grew up in a place where she didn't understand the language. Which was just the start of the horrifying tale she understands is beyond what he's telling her.
Reaching over, she sets a hand on Tomassen's shoulder, slowly and gently running her palm along his upper arm. ]
If you end up in prison, I would be right on your heels. [ After all, Tomassen would successfully murder Heleen for her crimes and she would make sure her empire burned. For having the audacity to exist and for making him go to such lengths. ]
You're taking the case.
[ It's not quite an inquiry, nor quite a demand. She knows why he's bringing this up, though. ]
I'm not afraid of Tante Heleen. She is a coward who preys on young people; I doubt she knows how to handle competent adults.
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Date: 2024-09-03 05:23 pm (UTC)It's no surprise when he admits to having wanted a daughter. In the intervening years since she'd found out about her inability to bear children, they've gotten better at saying such things out loud. As if exorcising the grief it had caused them. And now, a decade into having raised their very unruly and unexpected son, the pain's easier to let go of.
Still, her brow furrows as he continues, expounding on that particular thought. That having a daughter would've come with a whole slew of other worries. She's aware, of course, the differences in what she'd worried about growing up even in the relative safety of Shu Han as compared to her brothers. There's been a reason she'd pursued self-defense courses. Why she'd gone so far as to get her black belt, unwilling to be unprepared should anything ever happen.
But, as he digs in deeper, clearly upset, she knows not every girl has had her fortune. She has eyes and ears, has known that terrible things can happen to the most vulnerable—young girls, especially. Yet, it's one thing to be aware of and quite another to be confronted with the disgusting details. Her own stomach twists at hearing the age; thirteen. Thirteen, an age where she should have been at home, having sleepovers with her friends and dreaming of all the things she could be when she was older. Instead, she'd been bought by a cruel woman and grew up in a place where she didn't understand the language. Which was just the start of the horrifying tale she understands is beyond what he's telling her.
Reaching over, she sets a hand on Tomassen's shoulder, slowly and gently running her palm along his upper arm. ]
If you end up in prison, I would be right on your heels. [ After all, Tomassen would successfully murder Heleen for her crimes and she would make sure her empire burned. For having the audacity to exist and for making him go to such lengths. ]
You're taking the case.
[ It's not quite an inquiry, nor quite a demand. She knows why he's bringing this up, though. ]
I'm not afraid of Tante Heleen. She is a coward who preys on young people; I doubt she knows how to handle competent adults.