HE MANAGED TO BRUSH OFF THE SPARKS OF EMBARRASSMENT THAT WERE CONJURED BY DOLORES' SCOFF. He was trying to say the right things, at least...but he was reminded of the fact that this wasn't wholly personal. To a large degree, he'd done a good enough job of emotionally disconnecting himself from the goings-on of the timelines that weren't his - but, if his very appearance here, and this current conversation, were anything to go by, he was by no means immune. Yes, he'd been led primarily by his desire to understand what had gone so wrong, but as the pangs of guilt began to make themselves more at home in his stomach, a guilt awakened by actions of a man that both was and was not him, towards those who both were and were not his friends, one thing he wasn't was heartless.
A SENTIMENT THAT, APPARENTLY, WAS NOT SHARED BY HIS DIRECT COUNTERPART. As Dolores began to relay the information needed to construct a more detailed timeline of events, he internally deconstructed it, one line at a time. The notion of stupidity and recklessness came as no surprise to him - the latter in particular was something he himself had been accused of on multiple occasions. As for the circumstances of his departure, it required a little more analysis. Why had he lost his temper with Ray? Had the Inc.'s position contributed? Maybe? The financial side of the organisation had never been a priority to him - but the declining avenues for research may very well have played a larger factor. Had that, in turn, caused his eventual decision to flee to Oklahoma? He wasn't sure.
PERHAPS THE MOST LAUDABLE STATEMENT SHE UTTERED WAS REGARDING HIS FOLLOW-UP, ALL THOSE YEARS LATER. In what universe would he have expected the man to blindingly join his efforts, especially given how the two had parted ways? This universe, it seemed. Absolutely not. He and Ray - his Ray, back home - loved each other immensely, but he also knew Ray well enough to understand that, if he ever were to pull a similar stunt (which in and of itself would be out of the question), there would never be a warm reception upon his return. At the very least, a full, thorough explanation as to the logic behind his actions would be needed, and even then, Ray would be under no obligation to forgive or to help. That constituted basic decency. Was it any wonder that Dolores had responded, and still was responding, to his mere presence in such a way?
HIS BROW HAD BEEN SUITABLY KNITTED AS THE MENAGERIE OF THOUGHTS HAD COURSED THROUGH HIS PSYCHE. Dolores' lattermost comment, however, successfully roused his interest enough for his brown eyes to regard her directly once more. The pause given to him was returned.
❝ ...What did he say to you? ❞
