The soft sound he makes in response is the verbal equivalent of a squirm, brushing off the compliment like a kid trying to evade a hug. It's not that he disbelieves her, just, goin' all sappy like that, he doesn't know what to do with it. Especially with all the things they're not saying. With Sophia, it's hard to look back and see anything but how they failed her. There's nothing false about his modesty; he's useful, sure, but they all are. He doesn't do anything that any of them wouldn't.
"You keep me going," he mutters. Both the group and her, herself. It's a hard fact, it doesn't sound like he's gone soft 'til it's already out of his mouth, too late to take back if he wanted to.
Besides, it's not so magnanimous as that; he just wants very little for himself. The habit of not owning more than he can carry, not trusting any place to be safe, means he can't put much stock in stuff, frivolous or otherwise. Given the chance to think it through, he'd rather something for everyone. If that's part of what makes him a good man... all the better. He's never quite convinced it's true, but he's better every day than he used to be. That's enough. Something worth being proud of. She's been a big part of that; they all have. He's not kidding; without his people, he'd have no reason to carry on. Carol was the first real tie he had to them, the first one he felt responsible to, more than just an owed debt.
But, then, who knows what he'll say in the moment, asked what he wants?
Wants are difficult. Needs are easy; easy to establish, which makes them easier to meet. Goals to work toward. Wanting, that's nebulous and uncertain. As time goes on, as things stay relatively safe, it gets a little easier to relax, to think past the bare minimums. He's making an effort. (Case in point, right here.)
no subject
"You keep me going," he mutters. Both the group and her, herself. It's a hard fact, it doesn't sound like he's gone soft 'til it's already out of his mouth, too late to take back if he wanted to.
Besides, it's not so magnanimous as that; he just wants very little for himself. The habit of not owning more than he can carry, not trusting any place to be safe, means he can't put much stock in stuff, frivolous or otherwise. Given the chance to think it through, he'd rather something for everyone. If that's part of what makes him a good man... all the better. He's never quite convinced it's true, but he's better every day than he used to be. That's enough. Something worth being proud of. She's been a big part of that; they all have. He's not kidding; without his people, he'd have no reason to carry on. Carol was the first real tie he had to them, the first one he felt responsible to, more than just an owed debt.
But, then, who knows what he'll say in the moment, asked what he wants?
Wants are difficult. Needs are easy; easy to establish, which makes them easier to meet. Goals to work toward. Wanting, that's nebulous and uncertain. As time goes on, as things stay relatively safe, it gets a little easier to relax, to think past the bare minimums. He's making an effort. (Case in point, right here.)