[if she knows what's actually going on, she has the decency to not show it. to pretend that he's just fine and preserve his pride - because he's young enough to need it, and because it gives her the chance to have this settle in her heart. people weren't let close with her - they simply ended up there by circumstance and some coincidental design - but even so. even so it feels less like a duty and more what simply should be.]
no subject
Of course. Anything.