Cesar turns to him, questions clamoring in his eyes. What does he mean? Is this forgiveness? Is he deliberately playing it down, saying it's trivial--
--ah. Lazarus didn't open it, and he doesn't know.
... Howdoesn't want to pretend this is nothing, but he will. Self preservation is one of the only things he has left, in a lot of ways, and it's not very strong in the face of this. In front of him, clear evidence of why so many people were hurt, and why the quantity of Numbered might be dwindling. Behind and slightly off to one side? One of those same hurt people, oblivious and trusting.
Cesar takes the notebook, puts it in the drawer immediately below (it crowds in with some spatulas), and tries very hard not to throw up. The coffee--will his stomach handle the smell? He reaches for it again, going through the motions.
no subject
--ah. Lazarus didn't open it, and he doesn't know.
... Howdoesn't want to pretend this is nothing, but he will. Self preservation is one of the only things he has left, in a lot of ways, and it's not very strong in the face of this. In front of him, clear evidence of why so many people were hurt, and why the quantity of Numbered might be dwindling. Behind and slightly off to one side? One of those same hurt people, oblivious and trusting.
Cesar takes the notebook, puts it in the drawer immediately below (it crowds in with some spatulas), and tries very hard not to throw up. The coffee--will his stomach handle the smell? He reaches for it again, going through the motions.