toku matsudaira, geezermancer (giri) wrote in emillion,
Upon seeing Merrion flinch, Toku's first thought was to apologize. Had he said the wrong thing? He did not see where he'd misstepped, but that did not change the reality of it. It was not Merrion who should be apologising. "I am sorry if I have upset you," Toku said with a bow of his head.
He hoped Merrion would not apologize in turn. Were they to start down that road, Toku feared he might lose his resolve to attempt to get to the bottom of what was troubling his fellow councilor. The thought that Merrion might prefer to be left alone, but be too polite to say so, still nagged at him.
Yet it seemed Merrion was willing to share. Toku waited for the continuation of the sentence and, when it did not come, nodded and said, "Go on, please. I will listen." His hands tightened around the tea cup for a half-second as he tried to banish his uncertainty.