[She bites back on the rotten taste of-- not disappointment. That's not what this is, she tells herself. Because if she was looking for approval or validation for jack, she could get it by playing her cards a little less close. Worry, then. And that's normal: to be concerned about a kid in Jasper's position. He's older and more capable than he seems, she knows, but there's no shaking loose that sense where he's still just a child. More vulnerable, less armored and nothing about the way he practices schooling his expression and the lines of himself is really going to dislodge the taut feeling behind her ribs.
(Or maybe that has nothing to do with him. Maybe that's everything to do with Attano. But just like the rest, she's not going to put that under a lens for too long.)
But she nods back. It's equally short, equally firm. An itch pinches between her shoulder blades. She clears her raw throat. It doesn't have to be her.]
Good. Anders should be able to handle anything you can't on your own.
[ He nods again, still working on keeping his expression tight and neutral, though he breaks just enough quickly push that hair from his eye. ]
Thanks.
[ For allowing him to keep it between him and the healer, for understanding, for... what he suspects might be praise, but he's unsure. It's not something he's heard much in his life, however long and drawn out it's been. He's not familiar with it enough to determine on his own. Perhaps it's just another suggestion to be strong, because he isn't. Isn't strong enough to handle it all on his own. Perhaps it's praise meant for Anders. He did do an excellent job of healing him, even if they spell wouldn't last and the nightmares would return.
But that would be another night. For now he would sleep soundly. Hopefully Shepard would too soon. ]
I'm gunna go roast the rest of that meat. Expect some later. Take your time gettin' back to it, alright?
[ He doesn't wait for an answer, and instead takes his leave back the way he came... right back up the side of a tree.
Because that's definitely the fastest route back to the rovers. ]
[And he's gone, as quick as he'd come. She sits ramrod straight for a few long moments after he goes - then touches absently at her throat, hand straying quickly to her forehead. It's quiet out here at the edge of camp, far enough from the nearest rover and the hum of activity to fortify the area. Shepard lets her heels slide forward in the shale and sand and small, smoothed pebbles. Presses hard with her thumb against the bridge of her nose--]
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(Or maybe that has nothing to do with him. Maybe that's everything to do with Attano. But just like the rest, she's not going to put that under a lens for too long.)
But she nods back. It's equally short, equally firm. An itch pinches between her shoulder blades. She clears her raw throat. It doesn't have to be her.]
Good. Anders should be able to handle anything you can't on your own.
[High praise.]
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Thanks.
[ For allowing him to keep it between him and the healer, for understanding, for... what he suspects might be praise, but he's unsure. It's not something he's heard much in his life, however long and drawn out it's been. He's not familiar with it enough to determine on his own. Perhaps it's just another suggestion to be strong, because he isn't. Isn't strong enough to handle it all on his own. Perhaps it's praise meant for Anders. He did do an excellent job of healing him, even if they spell wouldn't last and the nightmares would return.
But that would be another night. For now he would sleep soundly. Hopefully Shepard would too soon. ]
I'm gunna go roast the rest of that meat. Expect some later. Take your time gettin' back to it, alright?
[ He doesn't wait for an answer, and instead takes his leave back the way he came... right back up the side of a tree.
Because that's definitely the fastest route back to the rovers. ]
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Shit.
[She doesn't linger long.]