[There's no distress on Paul's face, and he nods for Falco to continue his work - the clean piercing of a needle is more than bearable, especially with the prior treatment.
'Final exam' punctures more deeply anyway. He knits his fingers together and braces his elbows on his knees, tilting his head as he listens to the rest. It fits with what he saw, an army broken even as it struggled to fight on. Territorial overreach is a familiar enough story. He can fit it all into a framework that makes a certain kind of brutal sense.]
And then it didn't?
[No judgment in his soft voice, of the events or Falco's matter of fact tone. His mouse hops down from the couch and settles on all fours near where Falco is working, curling her long tail around herself. Paul keeps his leg almost perfectly still for Falco to continue his stitching and his story.]
no subject
'Final exam' punctures more deeply anyway. He knits his fingers together and braces his elbows on his knees, tilting his head as he listens to the rest. It fits with what he saw, an army broken even as it struggled to fight on. Territorial overreach is a familiar enough story. He can fit it all into a framework that makes a certain kind of brutal sense.]
And then it didn't?
[No judgment in his soft voice, of the events or Falco's matter of fact tone. His mouse hops down from the couch and settles on all fours near where Falco is working, curling her long tail around herself. Paul keeps his leg almost perfectly still for Falco to continue his stitching and his story.]