And then there was Aoba, surprised by Declan springing yet another something else on him. Sometimes the Guardian just had no ability to segue, really. Blinking, and mouth full of food again, Aoba had to make a moment to clear his mouth and remind himself what a commendation was.
“That’s like…an award for outstanding service, right?” he asked, having to draw on nothing but a dictionary understanding of the word. Real enthusiasm soon followed. So Declan was getting some proper recognition from his superiors! Aoba had to admit he’d wondered a little bit, but now said wondering took a different angle on things.
If he was putting it off…that probably meant he didn’t think he deserved it. That would fit with him brushing off Aoba’s praise every time he told him what a good person he was. So maybe Declan wasn’t really so underappreciated at all, except by himself….
“…Yes, absolutely! I’ll absolutely go with you, Declan. That sounds like something you shouldn’t put off at all anymore,” Aoba smiled with his reply. It occurred to him then: he’d better do as much as he could to shore up Declan’s self-esteem before he had to go. As much as it was obvious the man had gotten by just fine before Aoba came along, he deserved at least a little healthy pride to stand tall with. Maybe Aoba could impart a little more before he left.
Agreeing that he wasn’t ‘Decker’ was a start, but surely they could achieve more than that.
no subject
“That’s like…an award for outstanding service, right?” he asked, having to draw on nothing but a dictionary understanding of the word. Real enthusiasm soon followed. So Declan was getting some proper recognition from his superiors! Aoba had to admit he’d wondered a little bit, but now said wondering took a different angle on things.
If he was putting it off…that probably meant he didn’t think he deserved it. That would fit with him brushing off Aoba’s praise every time he told him what a good person he was. So maybe Declan wasn’t really so underappreciated at all, except by himself….
“…Yes, absolutely! I’ll absolutely go with you, Declan. That sounds like something you shouldn’t put off at all anymore,” Aoba smiled with his reply. It occurred to him then: he’d better do as much as he could to shore up Declan’s self-esteem before he had to go. As much as it was obvious the man had gotten by just fine before Aoba came along, he deserved at least a little healthy pride to stand tall with. Maybe Aoba could impart a little more before he left.
Agreeing that he wasn’t ‘Decker’ was a start, but surely they could achieve more than that.