[ more than the reading, but in an emotional sort of way. she worries about him. it's got to be rough. she knows it's rough for her being from a different time than peter, and they at least remember each other. ]
That might be nice. I'm not gonna - make you listen to any of the books. But after... Yeah.
[ it does settle her a bit to hear that she helps. more than anything, that seems to be what she cares more and more about. she wants to be there for eddie, to give him something good in the face of all the crap he's had to deal with.
and she doesn't want him to be alone with the knowledge of his death. that alone seems unbearable. ]
Good. I want to. I mean, I'm here for you, Eddie. No matter what.
[ whatever the circumstances are and whatever they grow into in the future, she cares about him, and that isn't going to change. ]
You shouldn't have to worry about me like that.
[ she's only reading. but you'll note she's not actually telling him not to worry. ]
[ it dawns on him that he needs her to stick around. not only because she helps just with her presence but because she puts things in perspective for him. gwen isn't like a blindfold, she's like a balm. ]
I know.
[ his turn to han solo her. he's smiling a she says it, and he hopes she can kind of hear that he's doing better already. he says the words to her anyway. ]
I love you. Sorry for dumping all of that one you in one go.
[ if she's a balm for him, then he's easily been that for her in return. gwen didn't even realize how lonely she was before they got together. even if they'd just been friends, that would've been fine too. but turning into more than that? it's been more than she ever could've asked for. ]
It's OK. You didn't dump anything on me. I'm here for you - no matter what. For anything. I'm glad to be the person you told about this. Honored, I guess.
Yeah, well. I trust you. And I know you're not going anywhere.
[ and gwen always seems to respond in the right way. she's never once made him feel stupid for getting upset, never once made him feel like a child throwing a fit. she doesn't leave any room for him to hate himself over it, either. ]
[ she's never hidden anything from eddie before, but the favor she asked in changing her incentive for both of them still looms large in the back of her mind. ]
You don't have to make any decisions right now, though. It's not easy to think about, either way.
[ she reaches for one of her couch cushions, hugging it to her chest. ]
[ factually, he does, since he could ask to extend his stay until he makes a decision if the reps come to him about completing his incentive, but... it's hard for him to really grasp that. time is already a loose concept to him, but more so knowing what's waiting for him at the end of his own. ]
If you stick around, Eudio's gonna be revolutionized. You're going to make so many discoveries they'll have to give you those fancy scientific awards.
[ and eddie loves playing along. she's making him smile, though, turning so he's lying on his back on the couch, staring up at his nondescript ceiling. ]
Mm. Well, I kinda met this great guy. Not that I'm the kinda girl who'd change her life around for a guy or anything. Or maybe I am. Who am I kidding? And what's so wrong about liking someone that much anyway?
[ they're doing the same thing, staring up at their respective ceilings, only gwen's got this pillow squashed in her arms. she loves it when he plays along too. ]
So this whole saying the right thing every time is a science?
[ he sounds on the verge of laughter. ]
You should start giving classes to the less fortunate in that department. You're clearly a pro. Or that's what that guy would say. Probably. Since I don't actually know him or anything.
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voice.
[ more than the reading, but in an emotional sort of way. she worries about him. it's got to be rough. she knows it's rough for her being from a different time than peter, and they at least remember each other. ]
That might be nice. I'm not gonna - make you listen to any of the books. But after... Yeah.
voice.
You do help, Gwen. You help more than anybody.
[ eddie doesn't like the thought of her alone with the books past a certain point. ]
Okay. After. Just say when and I'll run to your door. I don't want to leave you alone with all that.
voice.
and she doesn't want him to be alone with the knowledge of his death. that alone seems unbearable. ]
Good. I want to. I mean, I'm here for you, Eddie. No matter what.
[ whatever the circumstances are and whatever they grow into in the future, she cares about him, and that isn't going to change. ]
You shouldn't have to worry about me like that.
[ she's only reading. but you'll note she's not actually telling him not to worry. ]
voice.
[ god, how is it that he's known her for such a short time and feels alright telling her everything? ]
I shouldn't, but I do. And I will.
voice.
[ gwen doesn't have any wisdom to offer on that front, other than that she's in love and would tell anything he felt like listening to. if he asked. ]
Well. [ her voice turns a little soft, affection warming her from within. ] I love you too.
voice.
[ it dawns on him that he needs her to stick around. not only because she helps just with her presence but because she puts things in perspective for him. gwen isn't like a blindfold, she's like a balm. ]
I know.
[ his turn to han solo her. he's smiling a she says it, and he hopes she can kind of hear that he's doing better already. he says the words to her anyway. ]
I love you. Sorry for dumping all of that one you in one go.
voice.
It's OK. You didn't dump anything on me. I'm here for you - no matter what. For anything. I'm glad to be the person you told about this. Honored, I guess.
voice.
[ and gwen always seems to respond in the right way. she's never once made him feel stupid for getting upset, never once made him feel like a child throwing a fit. she doesn't leave any room for him to hate himself over it, either. ]
voice.
[ basically. is that weird? whatever. ]
voice.
[ he pauses at that, thoughtful. he doesn't think gwen wanting that is weird. he's been advised the same. ]
Had a friend tell me I should look into that.
[ but by his tone it's clear he's still unsure. seems right to bring it up, though, if it's something gwen has thought about herself. ]
voice.
[ casual, so casual. ]
I guess - I mean, it'd kinda make sense. Or not. I mean, I wouldn't judge you either way.
[ nailed it. ]
voice.
[ his fingers catch on a lose thread of the couch, picking at it. eddie's not sure if he could settle down here guilt free. ]
Trying to see if I can twist it into not feeling like I'm giving up and running out.
[ and he'd miss the ka-tet. not that he would see them more if he went home, but there'd be nothing instead. ]
voice.
[ she's never hidden anything from eddie before, but the favor she asked in changing her incentive for both of them still looms large in the back of her mind. ]
You don't have to make any decisions right now, though. It's not easy to think about, either way.
[ she reaches for one of her couch cushions, hugging it to her chest. ]
voice.
[ factually, he does, since he could ask to extend his stay until he makes a decision if the reps come to him about completing his incentive, but... it's hard for him to really grasp that. time is already a loose concept to him, but more so knowing what's waiting for him at the end of his own. ]
If you stick around, Eudio's gonna be revolutionized. You're going to make so many discoveries they'll have to give you those fancy scientific awards.
voice.
I think I'll be sticking around for awhile now, but I can't say for certain it's the scientific discoveries keeping me around.
[ yes that is her version of flirting. they're pretty good at that. ]
voice.
[ and eddie loves playing along. she's making him smile, though, turning so he's lying on his back on the couch, staring up at his nondescript ceiling. ]
voice.
[ they're doing the same thing, staring up at their respective ceilings, only gwen's got this pillow squashed in her arms. she loves it when he plays along too. ]
voice.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm sure this great guy would love hearing all that.
voice.
Not that I let that stop me, of course. I'm kind of a jerk about it.
voice.
[ it's oddly sincere, for their kidding around, but then he goes back to that fake-pretend tone. ]
You know — and don't ask me how I know all this — but something tells me he doesn't think that's true.
voice.
[ her own voice softens, letting the moment settle before she moves on. ]
I would hope not. I don't wanna be a jerk to him. He's kinda important to me.
voice.
You're not a jerk. Bet he thinks you know just what to say every time.
voice.
[ she's grinning, even though he can't see. ]
voice.
[ he sounds on the verge of laughter. ]
You should start giving classes to the less fortunate in that department. You're clearly a pro. Or that's what that guy would say. Probably. Since I don't actually know him or anything.
voice.
That guy makes me feel pretty important. Like - like I'm someone special. SOmething like that.
[ don't go getting all mushy now, gwen. ]
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