[A bit of time passes before Devin replies. He wonders now just how much Valdis remembers, and how he feels about it. He hasn't forgotten Zephyr's comments. Probably something to delve into later.]
You needed help. Anani seemed to think I was the best candidate to provide that; I did what I could.
[Don't try to wave off the thanks, Devin, she doesn't offer it often.]
He's a smart cat.
[Valdis isn't inclined to be completely honest, but the truth was that she didn't really have anyone else, no one that she could count on in every situation. She loved Pepper, and X would have tried...Anani could have chosen either of them, but he hadn't.]
[He's almost as bad at apologies as he is accepting gratitude or compliments.
There is a long stretch of time until Devin can compose a response, most of which is spent staring dumbly at the screen. He wonders, distantly, if she knows the weight of what she's saying. It's not thrown out there with empty sentiment, that much he knows.]
I don't expect I'll have another chance to find out, but I won't do you a disservice by arguing.
[It may be the closest Devin can manage to saying thank you, for his refusal to even entertain the idea that he would be allowed such things runs deep.]
[There were many factors to parenting that she didn't know about, having not been one herself. But she had seen what might pass for good parents, and he had displayed many of those qualities, not that he'd believe her.]
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You needed help. Anani seemed to think I was the best candidate to provide that; I did what I could.
But you're welcome.
[See, he still has manners in there somewhere.]
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He's a smart cat.
[Valdis isn't inclined to be completely honest, but the truth was that she didn't really have anyone else, no one that she could count on in every situation. She loved Pepper, and X would have tried...Anani could have chosen either of them, but he hadn't.]
For what it's worth, you'd be a good father.
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There is a long stretch of time until Devin can compose a response, most of which is spent staring dumbly at the screen. He wonders, distantly, if she knows the weight of what she's saying. It's not thrown out there with empty sentiment, that much he knows.]
I don't expect I'll have another chance to find out, but I won't do you a disservice by arguing.
[It may be the closest Devin can manage to saying thank you, for his refusal to even entertain the idea that he would be allowed such things runs deep.]
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[She can play devil's advocate all day long, which he knows, but it's nice to have him even partially accept what she is saying.]
You do your best to protect the people you care about, and sometimes that's all you can do.
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[Okay, so maybe a little arguing. He's not convinced his efforts to protect people can outweigh all of his faults.]
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[There were many factors to parenting that she didn't know about, having not been one herself. But she had seen what might pass for good parents, and he had displayed many of those qualities, not that he'd believe her.]
But it makes you a good friend.