[That...snags in him oddly. And Chris looks away as he takes off the black-stoned clasp at his jacket lapel and pulls the jet raven skull necklace from around his neck he never took off. He offers both over to Scott and gives a humorless scoff.]
There you are, handsome...everything that makes me 'not human' in one hand. You've no ability to take yours off. People back home were born with the gift of the Weave in their blood and suffered for it in my land, but I sought mine out: the only magic accepted in the Moonsea.
[He turns a wry smile on Scott.]
I didn't even earn my titles, just a circumstance of birth and then the actions of others around me. I'm really not that special, promise.
At the start, as Chris is beginning to speak, the reason is as uncomplicated as 'they were held out to him'. The reason he keeps hold of them is more complicated.
Not holding them hostage, but he's not forcing them back onto Chris, or objecting, either.
Not even after he's heard it all. ]
You're an asshole -- and if I didn't already love you, I would now.
[ Well, the good news is that Scott's not going to get soppy about it.
The bad news is he's going to stop walking, keep holding onto what he was given and answer the question. He's also going to do it in a tone about halfway between Scott and Cyclops. Confident, sure, but also gentled down and... reflecting a personality? and some compassion. ]
Maturity, honesty, self-awareness, insight, compassion, a call out and... recognition of where your privilege is.
He's quiet a moment as he stops too nd just looks at the other man. He tries to bury the vulnerability he feels but he can't. Nor can he....actually process half of what's in him.
So he doesn't. He moves closer until he can place his forehead to Scott's shoulder and simply leaves it there a moment.
He'll take his holy objects back in a moment, right this second, he doesn't want them.]
[He stays there a longer moment than he means to before taking a deep breath and standing straight again. Even that little bit helped. It gives him an idea on something else that might help in the long run, but later. For right now, it's enough. Or as much as he's willing to let himself take.]
...thank you.
[Which is better than 'sorry' at least.
He holds his hands out for his holy symbol and the clasp.]
[Chris reaffixes the clasp to his jacket and puts the skull's chain back around his neck as they walk.]
I think having some sort of stable support will help him. He just seemed sort of...lost when I met him. But, as you said, barely three words between us to know for sure.
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