[Jin stretches his legs out so they hang off the edge of the bed, and his hands, looking for something to occupy them, smooth the already-set bedspread absently.]
...I read a lot when I was a kid. [he begins, after a moment of thoughtful silence.] Whatever I could get my hands on. But you know the stuff I like best. History, politics, stuff about other realms and worlds. At least that way there was an excuse for it when I kept getting into fights with my classmates. Being the smart one me feel better about myself-- like I was better than them... 'cause if I wasn't going to hold up the family legacy proper, I could at least do that much.
[He stops again.
There's a soft noise of fabric shifting over fabric, the mattress seeming to sigh without the burden of the man's weight upon it, as Jin gets back to his feet.]
I didn't know it was that personal.
[Asher won't face him, but he doesn't need to see his face to sense the depth of those feelings. The loneliness of someone who tried his best to pull others closer to no avail, rather than to push away in a defense built up slowly over years, brick upon brick of hurt stacked high.
no subject
[Jin stretches his legs out so they hang off the edge of the bed, and his hands, looking for something to occupy them, smooth the already-set bedspread absently.]
...I read a lot when I was a kid. [he begins, after a moment of thoughtful silence.] Whatever I could get my hands on. But you know the stuff I like best. History, politics, stuff about other realms and worlds. At least that way there was an excuse for it when I kept getting into fights with my classmates. Being the smart one me feel better about myself-- like I was better than them... 'cause if I wasn't going to hold up the family legacy proper, I could at least do that much.
[He stops again.
There's a soft noise of fabric shifting over fabric, the mattress seeming to sigh without the burden of the man's weight upon it, as Jin gets back to his feet.]
I didn't know it was that personal.
[Asher won't face him, but he doesn't need to see his face to sense the depth of those feelings. The loneliness of someone who tried his best to pull others closer to no avail, rather than to push away in a defense built up slowly over years, brick upon brick of hurt stacked high.
What a pair the two of them are.]
I'm sorry.