It wouldn't sting as much if you'd told me a lot earlier. [A slight grumble, a return to some normalcy.]
But I understand why you did it. If there were some way to lighten your burden, I'd have kept my silence as well. [She should know, better than anyone else how willing he is to hide his pain from others if it's for the greater good. It's how he died, after all. But the big difference between his choice back then and her choice now is that someone had to do the dirty work. Better for him to plunge his hands into muck and blood, than tar someone else's honor. Better for him to be there than risk a drop in troop morale.
He had full confidence that his student could take over his duties and perform even better than he ever could. If his life was given up to the cause, then so be it. Is it hypocritical? Perhaps. But the Lu Meng of the past and the present one tending to her wound are both practical men, and he sees no reasonable justification for her to have hidden this fact from him for so long.
He's relieved though. The blight really is fading, so he continues to run the water over her skin, careful not to press too hard in case that increases the sting. And since she looks like she's getting better, he's going to start nagging her!]
But you are a god. You have people praying to you, asking for your guidance and help. They're putting their faith in you and asking for your miracles to light their way. What happens if you are unwell and unable to respond?
You are needed. You cannot afford to endanger yourself the way you have. Do you understand, my lady? [More stern and gruff than angry, Lu Meng catches the stream of water that was trickling down her back before it can drip onto the cloth that binds her chest. There's a pause, and suddenly a flush of painfully awkward emotions from him at knowing what purpose that garment serves, but he swallows his discomfort and continues as normal.]
no subject
But I understand why you did it. If there were some way to lighten your burden, I'd have kept my silence as well. [She should know, better than anyone else how willing he is to hide his pain from others if it's for the greater good. It's how he died, after all. But the big difference between his choice back then and her choice now is that someone had to do the dirty work. Better for him to plunge his hands into muck and blood, than tar someone else's honor. Better for him to be there than risk a drop in troop morale.
He had full confidence that his student could take over his duties and perform even better than he ever could. If his life was given up to the cause, then so be it. Is it hypocritical? Perhaps. But the Lu Meng of the past and the present one tending to her wound are both practical men, and he sees no reasonable justification for her to have hidden this fact from him for so long.
He's relieved though. The blight really is fading, so he continues to run the water over her skin, careful not to press too hard in case that increases the sting. And since she looks like she's getting better, he's going to start nagging her!]
But you are a god. You have people praying to you, asking for your guidance and help. They're putting their faith in you and asking for your miracles to light their way. What happens if you are unwell and unable to respond?
You are needed. You cannot afford to endanger yourself the way you have. Do you understand, my lady? [More stern and gruff than angry, Lu Meng catches the stream of water that was trickling down her back before it can drip onto the cloth that binds her chest. There's a pause, and suddenly a flush of painfully awkward emotions from him at knowing what purpose that garment serves, but he swallows his discomfort and continues as normal.]