[ it's the politeness that gets him. asriel wishes john had been a little crueller because then he might've had a defence for that. he's bracing for the barb because there isn't anyone he can think of who would've passed up the opportunity to kick him when he's down. asriel doesn't begrudge them for it — he never set out to make friends, he set out to win a war.
here, this earns john a small measure of respect, and his prize is something asriel wouldn't even consider a secret if he wasn't being held hostage and threatened with real human connection. ]
I also have a daughter.
[ a fact he's shared with as much scholarly detachment as he can muster. he doesn't know what else to say about it, which feels uncomfortably appropriate. ]
But I never called myself a father.
[ it's difficult to know the exact meaning of those words because asriel isn't sure either. a confession? an admission of guilt? the same lie he's used forever to deflect any responsibility? yes. ]
no subject
here, this earns john a small measure of respect, and his prize is something asriel wouldn't even consider a secret if he wasn't being held hostage and threatened with real human connection. ]
I also have a daughter.
[ a fact he's shared with as much scholarly detachment as he can muster. he doesn't know what else to say about it, which feels uncomfortably appropriate. ]
But I never called myself a father.
[ it's difficult to know the exact meaning of those words because asriel isn't sure either. a confession? an admission of guilt? the same lie he's used forever to deflect any responsibility? yes. ]