( And like garden snow, come dew and morning, the start of his agitation wanes. He recedes within himself, imperfectly appeased, yet brittle. The twitch of his mouth's corner threatening to deepen.

She did not know. At times, accidents stoke conversation. Not all comments are needling, prickling, entering below skin. This is no court of Jinlintai, he is not brought before nobles for dissection.

And yet. )

You possess an excess of empathy. ( Sayeth the stone. )