[It's a raw retelling, one that he once again stays very intentionally quiet for. Letting Viktor turn the details over with his words, forming the emotions of it. Someone with good intention, caught in between a horrible mistake and an unstoppable force, and--
How immediately his chest aches, at the similarity to Lhikan. It has his body run cold.
It is why, when Viktor's explanation starts to stammer into defense, Vakama immediately stops their forward progress, taking his other hand to Viktor's opposite shoulder to face him fully. It's the briefest glance, an expression torn with an overwhelming, almost boldened empathy.]
...Do not justify it to me, Viktor. Of all people, please... you know it cannot be me.
[A beat - softened, pained, before he makes the choice he wishes someone would have made with him. His arms wrap around the much frailer man - a warmth like that of a machine that never seemed to stop running, a grip that seems angered, protective.
Do not let this repeat, in his hands. Let there be space, somewhere, to grieve.]
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How immediately his chest aches, at the similarity to Lhikan. It has his body run cold.
It is why, when Viktor's explanation starts to stammer into defense, Vakama immediately stops their forward progress, taking his other hand to Viktor's opposite shoulder to face him fully. It's the briefest glance, an expression torn with an overwhelming, almost boldened empathy.]
...Do not justify it to me, Viktor. Of all people, please... you know it cannot be me.
[A beat - softened, pained, before he makes the choice he wishes someone would have made with him. His arms wrap around the much frailer man - a warmth like that of a machine that never seemed to stop running, a grip that seems angered, protective.
Do not let this repeat, in his hands. Let there be space, somewhere, to grieve.]