His name's Lucky. He reached out to me in secret to ask if he could go with me. He thought he was going to be forced to fight. I tried to take him with me.
[Which makes it abundantly clear why the Belief decided he would make for a good Guardian. Terrified, desperate, injured, and outmatched by people that were 30 times his size, he'd still tried to save a child he thought was being exploited.]
[A human child. A child big enough to be a threat, big enough to harm him if he decided to be as randomly cruel as any adult big person.]
[But...he believes them that they wouldn't make him fight. Why lie about it when it's something they'd be caught out over pretty immediately? If they were planning it, it feels more like they'd make excuses as to why it's okay. The kid probably has his reasons to assume the worst. Kids in terrifying situations often do and who knows what situation he came from.]
I think - I think I actually believe you.
[Even if the stupid Elf tried to eat him, even if an adult fed him to him, it was probably an isolated act. But that doesn't mean all the big people are okay with it. That they'll let it happen.]
[He suddenly buries his face in his hands to hide the complicated emotions that come next. The outpouring of grief that comes every time he becomes afraid like this because of what the fear is so intimately tied to. The tearful relief. The guilt over what he's done, including kidnapping Tim.]
[He doesn't sob and his shoulders don't shake but he clearly needs to work through it before actually facing them again.]
[Something else comes with the emotion, now that he's not dull with despair. Magical light starts to rise up his body and the more saturated colors follow after it. He's still a little duller than usual when it's finished, but it's nowhere near as bad.]
[He gasps his way through it all, then briefly knocks his forehead against his knees, as if having a little fit to exorcise the anxiety demons. Finally, arms wrapped around his knees, he raises his head to look at them.]
I want to talk to the Elf. I need to know if someone gave me to him.
no subject
[Which makes it abundantly clear why the Belief decided he would make for a good Guardian. Terrified, desperate, injured, and outmatched by people that were 30 times his size, he'd still tried to save a child he thought was being exploited.]
[A human child. A child big enough to be a threat, big enough to harm him if he decided to be as randomly cruel as any adult big person.]
[But...he believes them that they wouldn't make him fight. Why lie about it when it's something they'd be caught out over pretty immediately? If they were planning it, it feels more like they'd make excuses as to why it's okay. The kid probably has his reasons to assume the worst. Kids in terrifying situations often do and who knows what situation he came from.]
I think - I think I actually believe you.
[Even if the stupid Elf tried to eat him, even if an adult fed him to him, it was probably an isolated act. But that doesn't mean all the big people are okay with it. That they'll let it happen.]
[He suddenly buries his face in his hands to hide the complicated emotions that come next. The outpouring of grief that comes every time he becomes afraid like this because of what the fear is so intimately tied to. The tearful relief. The guilt over what he's done, including kidnapping Tim.]
[He doesn't sob and his shoulders don't shake but he clearly needs to work through it before actually facing them again.]
[Something else comes with the emotion, now that he's not dull with despair. Magical light starts to rise up his body and the more saturated colors follow after it. He's still a little duller than usual when it's finished, but it's nowhere near as bad.]
[He gasps his way through it all, then briefly knocks his forehead against his knees, as if having a little fit to exorcise the anxiety demons. Finally, arms wrapped around his knees, he raises his head to look at them.]
I want to talk to the Elf. I need to know if someone gave me to him.