[The way Sayo attempts to provoke people scans as reflexive defense more than purposeful attack, so Paul lets 'major' pass with a slight nod of acknowledgment. It's an improvement on 'captain', which is what matters, and she's still drawing, still present.
It's the effect her words are having on Kaworu that brings Paul to his feet, crossing the short distance between him and the other boy to put a steadying hand on his shoulder. (Red threads bloom and spill from his eyes, streak down his cheeks, but Paul is used to that, by now.)]
She's being metaphorical. [He soothes, pressing his thumb down lightly.] She was pretending to be someone else, and she stopped. Shannon only existed as a fiction. Isn't that right, Sayo?
[There's a light pointedness in the question to match the glance he shoots her way. He can imagine what (who) Kaworu is thinking of. (And if he's honest, which he would prefer not to be, her words are unnerving, as is her behavior. Something animal in him has raised hackles.)]
cw: eye horror, hallucinations (ongoing in thread)
It's the effect her words are having on Kaworu that brings Paul to his feet, crossing the short distance between him and the other boy to put a steadying hand on his shoulder. (Red threads bloom and spill from his eyes, streak down his cheeks, but Paul is used to that, by now.)]
She's being metaphorical. [He soothes, pressing his thumb down lightly.] She was pretending to be someone else, and she stopped. Shannon only existed as a fiction. Isn't that right, Sayo?
[There's a light pointedness in the question to match the glance he shoots her way. He can imagine what (who) Kaworu is thinking of. (And if he's honest, which he would prefer not to be, her words are unnerving, as is her behavior. Something animal in him has raised hackles.)]