[ Sure, sure he's not like her. Except Yuri is certain when it comes to kids like these and not being able to turn a blind eye to their plight, they're much the same. But he's crossed paths with Nebula enough times to think he knows better than to argue with her when her words are clearly defensive.
No doubt she doesn't want to be seen as soft, vulnerable, or exploitable, or something of the like. That'd be something Yuri can understand, so he lets her first response pass without comment. It's only after she agrees to assist that he responds, offering an easy smile. ]
I appreciate it.
[ The words come lightly, not too much weight, but not without sincerity, before Yuri turns his focus to rummaging through the basket. He manages after a collection of moments to bundle a good dozen of the treats into the cloth he'd originally covered the basket with, then offers that bundle to Nebula. ]
Let's start with these.
[ If Nebula outpaces him and finds herself willing to distribute more, he'll hand more over. ]
[ Wordlessly, Nebula takes the bundle with a nod. She's quick to turn away from Yuri and get right to work because... for Nebula, perhaps, all things are work. Chores that need during, one to the other, without pause to fully see the beauty in it. ]
[ Because the beauty can always wait. ]
[ Tasked with the current mission, she stiffens some as some of the children nearest leave their spots of play as the adults finish speaking. Seeming to understand that what Yuri brought was for them and she was helping, some of them approach rapidly. Pulling at her hand or looking at her with wide eyes. Her mouth twitches into something that's almost a smile - unpracticed and rare. ]
[ ... And yet she passes over each package as no-nonsense like as she does everything else. "Here," and she places it into kid after kid's hands, notably a little less roughly than she had taken it from Yuri in the first place. Eventually, the little girl she's originally helped returns to her side and tries to take her hand - for a second Nebula flinches and moves to take it away before relaxing. ]
[ She makes no comment about it even as she returns to Yuri, some time later, after all of their charges have been given away. ]
[ Yuri goes about handing out the snacks the same way he always does. He crouches nearer to eye-level and he knows by now that expectations are set. Children approach him ready for their share and Yuri hands it over, greeting each by name in the process. Those he doesn't yet know he introduced himself to, and so it goes.
He has only just finished his own portion of the work when Nebula returns to report her own progress. She seems more relaxed, at least to Yuri, though he thinks he knows better than to say so. It's clear to him she cares about these kids here, including the one who's rejoined her, but this too he won't call out.
But it does inform his image of her, just the same. ]
Thanks for lending a hand.
[ The words come with an easy smile, and Yuri's basket is clearly no longer weighted down with food as he shifts. ]
Went much quicker this way. Not that I mind, but I have to imagine the wait's difficult when it's just me passing things out.
[ And he can't just deposit the food somewhere and expect that everyone will get their fair share. ]
[ Nebula raises and lowers one arm in a shrug, dismissal. She does not take the thanks, barely looks at him even when the child that had clung on finally runs away to another - ]
[ She breathes out instead: ]
If they find it too difficult, then it's a good time for them to start learning patience.
Not like they don't wait, but hunger's a hell of a thing no matter how patient you are.
[ Anyone from his homeland knows that far too well, even its royalty. Dimitri is a king, yet he learned the same as anyone which weeds were edible and could be used to sustain oneself when needed. ]
...I'd rather they not have to learn that, if it's avoidable. I want better for them than what I've lived.
[ Even if they aren't off to the best of starts in that regard. ]
As it happens, he'll sometimes say jarring things simply to see what the response is. It's his way. ]
Might be worth giving them lessons. [ A casual suggestion, not reacting to the sharpness of her intial response at all. ] My people learn a number of survival skills from a young age children from other nations don't. Bet you've got insights they could use, for that matter.
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no subject
No doubt she doesn't want to be seen as soft, vulnerable, or exploitable, or something of the like. That'd be something Yuri can understand, so he lets her first response pass without comment. It's only after she agrees to assist that he responds, offering an easy smile. ]
I appreciate it.
[ The words come lightly, not too much weight, but not without sincerity, before Yuri turns his focus to rummaging through the basket. He manages after a collection of moments to bundle a good dozen of the treats into the cloth he'd originally covered the basket with, then offers that bundle to Nebula. ]
Let's start with these.
[ If Nebula outpaces him and finds herself willing to distribute more, he'll hand more over. ]
no subject
[ Because the beauty can always wait. ]
[ Tasked with the current mission, she stiffens some as some of the children nearest leave their spots of play as the adults finish speaking. Seeming to understand that what Yuri brought was for them and she was helping, some of them approach rapidly. Pulling at her hand or looking at her with wide eyes. Her mouth twitches into something that's almost a smile - unpracticed and rare. ]
[ ... And yet she passes over each package as no-nonsense like as she does everything else. "Here," and she places it into kid after kid's hands, notably a little less roughly than she had taken it from Yuri in the first place. Eventually, the little girl she's originally helped returns to her side and tries to take her hand - for a second Nebula flinches and moves to take it away before relaxing. ]
[ She makes no comment about it even as she returns to Yuri, some time later, after all of their charges have been given away. ]
That is all.
no subject
He has only just finished his own portion of the work when Nebula returns to report her own progress. She seems more relaxed, at least to Yuri, though he thinks he knows better than to say so. It's clear to him she cares about these kids here, including the one who's rejoined her, but this too he won't call out.
But it does inform his image of her, just the same. ]
Thanks for lending a hand.
[ The words come with an easy smile, and Yuri's basket is clearly no longer weighted down with food as he shifts. ]
Went much quicker this way. Not that I mind, but I have to imagine the wait's difficult when it's just me passing things out.
[ And he can't just deposit the food somewhere and expect that everyone will get their fair share. ]
no subject
[ She breathes out instead: ]
If they find it too difficult, then it's a good time for them to start learning patience.
no subject
[ Anyone from his homeland knows that far too well, even its royalty. Dimitri is a king, yet he learned the same as anyone which weeds were edible and could be used to sustain oneself when needed. ]
...I'd rather they not have to learn that, if it's avoidable. I want better for them than what I've lived.
[ Even if they aren't off to the best of starts in that regard. ]
no subject
[ A pointed, quick response, offended that he all but implies it. ]
Even when it comes to food, you need to learn patience. You cannot eat so much you'll be out of rations too soon.
no subject
As it happens, he'll sometimes say jarring things simply to see what the response is. It's his way. ]
Might be worth giving them lessons. [ A casual suggestion, not reacting to the sharpness of her intial response at all. ] My people learn a number of survival skills from a young age children from other nations don't. Bet you've got insights they could use, for that matter.
[ There it is, the enabling. ]