evocation | ⚡ hadriel

[He doesn't mind the contact, but he also doesn't react too much to it; he appreciates, though, the sentiment behind it.]

Yeah, he's been in prison ever since.

[And would probably actually be getting out soon, so there's one terrible benefit to being dead; unless Lance pulls off somehow getting back to his own world alive, at least won't have to deal with that nonsense.]

It's all... It's not okay, but my adoptive parents were really great people, and I had a lot of opportunities that most kids who deal with something like that don't. So it's about as okay as it can get.

[He's fine, at least most of the time, and she doesn't need to worry. He even manages to make eye contact again, trying to prove it.]

Good. What a fucking asshole.

[She says it harshly, because she absolutely means it. She can't even imagine someone doing that to a kid, and picturing Lance makes it so much more heartbreaking. Honestly, she wishes she could kick the guy's ass.]

That's a fair descriptor.

[His own tone is a little lighter, to go with his weak attempt at a joke, wanting to diffuse some of her intensity a little; he appreciates that she cares, but it's an awkward situation for him all the same.]

But the experience was... It was part of why I decided to become a psychologist. So some good, ultimately, came out of it.

[And that makes it worth it, in some aspect; being able to turn a part of his life that was so traumatic into something he can use to help people gives a meaning to a horror that was otherwise so senseless.]

[Kyna considers that for a moment, staring down at the table. She's not sure she'd be able to look at it that way if their positions were switched.]

You're pretty awesome, you know that, right?

[That prompts a faint but genuine smile, and this time he isn't embarrassed by the compliment. With this issue, it's much different than a remark about how bright he is, or talented, or anything else like that; this is something he truly had to work for, and is truly all him. And he's quietly proud of how far he's been able to come.]

Thank you.

[He says it softly and sincerely, but only allows another few moments of silence before taking a deep breath and sitting up a little straighter; he offers a slightly stronger smile, before giving his coffee a brief glance and then looking back up at Kyna again.]

Oh no, my horrible coffee is cold. It's a tragedy.

[Such a tragedy.]

[It's clear that Lance doesn't want to get too in-depth on this issue, so she lets him switch subjects, rolling her eyes as he does. She trusts that if he needs to talk about it more, he will.]

Yeah right. That's like, a miracle or something. Maybe one of the gods just saved you.

Let's not give them too much credit.

[He says it lightly, going with the joke, but he also means it. He's not too impressed with the gods at the moment, not that he usually is, but they're also responsible for his injuries right now.

Speaking of, now that he's no longer concentrating on talking, he's feeling the pain again. But he tries to ignore it by shoving the coffee mug a little bit away from him, turning his focus onto Kyna.]

Are you sure you're feeling okay, though? You should probably eat something, even if it's not a lot.