[ At first, all that he is confused by is why it's necessary that they require his thoughts at all, and that all of this is a slight percentage more of pomp and circumstance than Marcus would have assumed of them. On his part, he'd imagined doing this through letters. He'd imagined himself already having begun apologising for his conduct, for their pain, whatever part of it he's caused. For agreeing that it's best he distance himself, and allow them their space to come back together.
He listens—it is unfair of Julius to have bid him to sit and then not do so himself, by the way, tall as he is—and studies them both, tea cooling in its cup in his hands, before he sets it back down on the table. This isn't a tea conversation.
All that aside, that they likely both consider this conversation as being frank is very funny.
As Petrana speaks last, he watches her carefully, and keeps doing so after she has finished. Marcus' expression is maybe difficult to read in this moment—and in fairness, he's not sure what he's feeling either—but some of that quiet wariness has lifted away. It's probable that he is looking at her like she claims he tends to.
So he looks to Julius. ]
And what would you wish, [ gently, ] standing in her place?
[ Looking at them, being tender. There is no weight to his words, no special attempt to corner a particular answer out of the man. They've had a little practice, now, in discerning one another's tone. Marcus only wants to know. ]
no subject
He listens—it is unfair of Julius to have bid him to sit and then not do so himself, by the way, tall as he is—and studies them both, tea cooling in its cup in his hands, before he sets it back down on the table. This isn't a tea conversation.
All that aside, that they likely both consider this conversation as being frank is very funny.
As Petrana speaks last, he watches her carefully, and keeps doing so after she has finished. Marcus' expression is maybe difficult to read in this moment—and in fairness, he's not sure what he's feeling either—but some of that quiet wariness has lifted away. It's probable that he is looking at her like she claims he tends to.
So he looks to Julius. ]
And what would you wish, [ gently, ] standing in her place?
[ Looking at them, being tender. There is no weight to his words, no special attempt to corner a particular answer out of the man. They've had a little practice, now, in discerning one another's tone. Marcus only wants to know. ]