Sound words of advice. Do not get attached, do not open up your heart, because it will be your downfall. He knows that is true enough, and he knows he should harden himself to the sight before him, the boy turned so completely in on himself that it's a surprise he is not inside-out. Why did no one volunteer to take this boy's place? Why did no one in his District see what James could see? Or did they only feel relief that it was not their own name being called?
James feels an edge of anger and despair, but he fights it down. Save it till it is needed.
Even as he reminds himself of Lady Barbara's advice regarding his fellows, he knows he's pitying the young man. He pities all of them, if he was honest with himself. They must fight, or they will die. All of them in this room, bar one, will soon be dead. Some of them resign themselves to the fact it might be them, some of them pray it won't be, and some- like Cutler and Beckett- know it will not be them.
What a terrible situation to be in. To be so young and have so much potential, but be resigned to such a fate. James hates it, but he can not say as much. All he can do is work as hard as he might against it.
He holds out his hand, the movement gentle and open and, he hopes, a little reassuring. "I'm sorry to have met you under these circumstances, Horatio."
He knows Lady Barbara is watching him. He can feel her beautifully lined eyes on his back. She wants him to be sizing up the boy in front of him, learning his weaknesses, finding his strengths. He is, although not purposefully, not intentionally. It's been drilled into him, over the years.
Barbara isn't the only one watching him, not in that moment. Sir Pellew is too, he is sure. He sure the gentle, fatherly touch to Horatio's hair. Even Careers have their weaknesses.
"Would you... like me to show you some of the equipment? Do you fence?"
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-07-29 05:00 pm (UTC)Sound words of advice. Do not get attached, do not open up your heart, because it will be your downfall. He knows that is true enough, and he knows he should harden himself to the sight before him, the boy turned so completely in on himself that it's a surprise he is not inside-out. Why did no one volunteer to take this boy's place? Why did no one in his District see what James could see? Or did they only feel relief that it was not their own name being called?
James feels an edge of anger and despair, but he fights it down. Save it till it is needed.
Even as he reminds himself of Lady Barbara's advice regarding his fellows, he knows he's pitying the young man. He pities all of them, if he was honest with himself. They must fight, or they will die. All of them in this room, bar one, will soon be dead. Some of them resign themselves to the fact it might be them, some of them pray it won't be, and some- like Cutler and Beckett- know it will not be them.
What a terrible situation to be in. To be so young and have so much potential, but be resigned to such a fate. James hates it, but he can not say as much. All he can do is work as hard as he might against it.
He holds out his hand, the movement gentle and open and, he hopes, a little reassuring. "I'm sorry to have met you under these circumstances, Horatio."
He knows Lady Barbara is watching him. He can feel her beautifully lined eyes on his back. She wants him to be sizing up the boy in front of him, learning his weaknesses, finding his strengths. He is, although not purposefully, not intentionally. It's been drilled into him, over the years.
Barbara isn't the only one watching him, not in that moment. Sir Pellew is too, he is sure. He sure the gentle, fatherly touch to Horatio's hair. Even Careers have their weaknesses.
"Would you... like me to show you some of the equipment? Do you fence?"