[Paul submits to Kaworu's cautious, gentle touch with a smile like a narrow, bloodless wound. The light pressure on the sides of his orbital ridges reminds him of how he soothed Kaworu's allergy-swollen sinuses, and the reflective effort to drain Paul's clogged tear ducts draws a deep, wordless sorrow out of the cold nothing in his chest.
The bird's resumed transcription pulls Paul's focus away from Kaworu, albeit with reluctance. He doesn't want to turn from this soft, futile effort yet, the faint wash of pale hope that maybe, if he lets Kaworu's fingers linger, they'll work the alchemy that Paul can't-
But the continued fact of her presence means that there may be a way to yet heal Kaworu's wounds at a time of his choosing. The words in the abruptly finished letter - that Sophia retrieves, emerging from his sleeve to bound up to the desk, so that Paul doesn't have to leave Kaworu behind - say as much.
Somehow, Paul isn't surprised. What else was Merlinus doing when he was lost, except trying to find his way back to Kaworu? (One way, or another.) He holds the letter up so Kaworu may read it too, shifting slightly to wrap his arm around Kaworu's shoulder.]
...there must be a way to find him. [For the benefit of Kaworu's tear-blurred eyes and thoughts.] That's what this means. A way to find him, and to bring him back. The Old Man wouldn't have sent you a message like that otherwise.
[He wouldn't have given Kaworu false hope, even to give a final farewell.]
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[Paul submits to Kaworu's cautious, gentle touch with a smile like a narrow, bloodless wound. The light pressure on the sides of his orbital ridges reminds him of how he soothed Kaworu's allergy-swollen sinuses, and the reflective effort to drain Paul's clogged tear ducts draws a deep, wordless sorrow out of the cold nothing in his chest.
The bird's resumed transcription pulls Paul's focus away from Kaworu, albeit with reluctance. He doesn't want to turn from this soft, futile effort yet, the faint wash of pale hope that maybe, if he lets Kaworu's fingers linger, they'll work the alchemy that Paul can't-
But the continued fact of her presence means that there may be a way to yet heal Kaworu's wounds at a time of his choosing. The words in the abruptly finished letter - that Sophia retrieves, emerging from his sleeve to bound up to the desk, so that Paul doesn't have to leave Kaworu behind - say as much.
Somehow, Paul isn't surprised. What else was Merlinus doing when he was lost, except trying to find his way back to Kaworu? (One way, or another.) He holds the letter up so Kaworu may read it too, shifting slightly to wrap his arm around Kaworu's shoulder.]
...there must be a way to find him. [For the benefit of Kaworu's tear-blurred eyes and thoughts.] That's what this means. A way to find him, and to bring him back. The Old Man wouldn't have sent you a message like that otherwise.
[He wouldn't have given Kaworu false hope, even to give a final farewell.]