Not even Trip could say that seeing Sei on TV had prepared him for seeing his charge not just alive again, but far, far more vibrant than the frail little creature had ever been capable of being. Surprise first softened his expression, then split it into the broadest of grins as he put the cupcake down again and pushed his seat back to stand.
Trip's emotions did not come from the same place that others would have found them, his heart long rendered empty by nature and nurture alike, but it was not a lie to say that for what he could feel, he was delighted. Sei, alive again. Ever fascinating, ever the purpose of his existence. Trip had believed him gone and accepted the fact without mourning, moving on because that was how existence went and it was the natural thing to do, but here he was again against all human odds.
Trip needed no reminding that Sei had never been truly human.
His arms opened up in prediction, perhaps not knowing Sei's energy but knowing Sei, and there it came as expected: an embrace that did nothing at all to rock his mass, a willow bending into the boughs of a sequoia, which folded down around him and drew him in tightly. Gentleness had never been natural to Trip. He'd had to learn it, have it trained into him by the necessity of being chosen to protect someone so fragile. He meant no harm, but most would have found it too tight, too confining. To Sei, it would be the same as it had ever been.
"I'm happy to see you too, Sei," he answered, his own voice its usual mellow rumble. It was no lie. Trip never lied. "Look how lively you are! I've never seen you look better."
no subject
Not even Trip could say that seeing Sei on TV had prepared him for seeing his charge not just alive again, but far, far more vibrant than the frail little creature had ever been capable of being. Surprise first softened his expression, then split it into the broadest of grins as he put the cupcake down again and pushed his seat back to stand.
Trip's emotions did not come from the same place that others would have found them, his heart long rendered empty by nature and nurture alike, but it was not a lie to say that for what he could feel, he was delighted. Sei, alive again. Ever fascinating, ever the purpose of his existence. Trip had believed him gone and accepted the fact without mourning, moving on because that was how existence went and it was the natural thing to do, but here he was again against all human odds.
Trip needed no reminding that Sei had never been truly human.
His arms opened up in prediction, perhaps not knowing Sei's energy but knowing Sei, and there it came as expected: an embrace that did nothing at all to rock his mass, a willow bending into the boughs of a sequoia, which folded down around him and drew him in tightly. Gentleness had never been natural to Trip. He'd had to learn it, have it trained into him by the necessity of being chosen to protect someone so fragile. He meant no harm, but most would have found it too tight, too confining. To Sei, it would be the same as it had ever been.
"I'm happy to see you too, Sei," he answered, his own voice its usual mellow rumble. It was no lie. Trip never lied. "Look how lively you are! I've never seen you look better."