[Tension eases almost as soon as Yuan establishes that Kratos has gone back to his name, rather than title and surname only. He lets out his breath slowly, not nearly so aggrieved as he was.]
Am I so pathetic as all that?
[But that sounds amused, has the edge to his voice that says it's some almost-private joke. Something difficult, perhaps, for someone who's not spent a lot of time around him.]
...no. Worthiness has nothing to do with it. But happiness is... secondary, right now, and I have too much yet to do to stop for it.
[There are times when he is at ease; times when he is almost content, secure in one moment or another. That's enough. For now.]
In any case, gentleness is not... among my skills, shall we say. I'm sure I frightened at least one of the children.
[This is back to offhanded dismissal, but there's something brittle about the way Yuan says it.]
no subject
Am I so pathetic as all that?
[But that sounds amused, has the edge to his voice that says it's some almost-private joke. Something difficult, perhaps, for someone who's not spent a lot of time around him.]
...no. Worthiness has nothing to do with it. But happiness is... secondary, right now, and I have too much yet to do to stop for it.
[There are times when he is at ease; times when he is almost content, secure in one moment or another. That's enough. For now.]
In any case, gentleness is not... among my skills, shall we say. I'm sure I frightened at least one of the children.
[This is back to offhanded dismissal, but there's something brittle about the way Yuan says it.]