"To be blunt: you are awkward. No one seems to know how to deal with you." Zevran does not know how to deal with him and has been managing on pure luck and guesswork thusfar. Eventually? It is going to bite him in the ass. But until that day- guesswork it is. "I know why you are timid and skittish- most people do not. Now I am not saying you ought to tell the whole world- but offering some grounds for understanding why you are the way you are might help. A bad mission, nightmares, a traumatic childhood accident-"
Which is the understatement of the century, truly. "Something like that.
Cade doesn't even try to argue here. He just nods lightly, seeing no reason to beat around the bush. No one is as aware of his awkwardness as he is, impossible as that may seem.
"Won't that be like...." he ventures, "...excuses?"
"Yes. But it might help. It might not- honestly? I cannot remember exactly how I was taught to be personable as it was less something taught and more something I forced myself to become. If I was liked it was less likely I would be beaten." A normal upbringing the Crows did not exactly provide. "
A fully reasonable response, and even as someone who has always made himself as small as possible to avoid being disliked, Cade isn't without empathy. Or sense.
"...maybe you're right," he admits. After falling silent for a time, he timidly adds, "I'll try."
"What's the harm?" Well. Getting beaten is the harm but so long as it did not happen outside this room, all ought to be well. "Now, on to more pleasant things, yes? What have you been reading?"
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Which is the understatement of the century, truly. "Something like that.
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"Won't that be like...." he ventures, "...excuses?"
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"...maybe you're right," he admits. After falling silent for a time, he timidly adds, "I'll try."
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Maker please save them from this awkward knot.