[She squirms and he tries to compensate for the movement, not wanting to let her irritate things too much but not wanting to restrict. He croons to her.]
Not yet... not yet...
[She slumps and he's back to holding her, smoothing her hair. He realizes, in a twisted sense, that others would've wished to be in his shoes. Not for every part, but to hold those they cared about it, ease them through this, without worrying they'll be consumed in the aftermath. He bets Ryder's Mom would choose to be here, even for that, because that's what moms do, isn't it? Even for the awful, painful, disgusting parts. Ryder deserves to have her mom here, not some stranger.
He's impressed she can still speak. But at the same time, she's barely here.]
no subject
Not yet... not yet...
[She slumps and he's back to holding her, smoothing her hair. He realizes, in a twisted sense, that others would've wished to be in his shoes. Not for every part, but to hold those they cared about it, ease them through this, without worrying they'll be consumed in the aftermath. He bets Ryder's Mom would choose to be here, even for that, because that's what moms do, isn't it? Even for the awful, painful, disgusting parts. Ryder deserves to have her mom here, not some stranger.
He's impressed she can still speak. But at the same time, she's barely here.]
Still here... You're safe...