what are you thumping the table for? and you are you exciting yourself? (from hearsthesea because papi is a Meme)
war and peace starters ( always accepting ) // @hearsthesea
“ what? ” his fingers, which had been nervously tapping the tabletop a moment ago, come to a sudden halt, and with a gaze that is almost guilty, andrei turns his gaze the papi —- as though he will somehow free himself from this inquiry with a single look. exciting is not the word for what andrei is doing ; he’s torturing himself, he’s letting his anxiety tear little holes in his resolve, in his very soul, he’s letting that natural fear of pain grasp more of his heart than it should eve be allowed.
that rhythmic tap, which now feels from the atmosphere incredibly absent, is but a single manifestation of what has been weeks of constant worry. being at home, and being ill ( he still coughs in small fits, still feels the pound of his headache ) have only made worse his summer break. it is unsurprising that he wants to go back to school, and dreads every moment spent away from it. it might not have been inaccurate to claim andrei was falling apart at the seams —- because he very much, and quite visibly, is doing exactly that.
and yet, desperate not to let it be known, to make every sign of weakness fade from his skin, to wash away the rims around his eyes and the pallor of his skin, he acts as though all is well. perhaps he words might suggest otherwise —- andrei does not lie well about whether or not he feels alright —- but physically, he’s trying. and so he shakes his head dismissively after being silent for a moment. he suddenly cannot meet papi’s eye. “ i’m not thumping it for any reason. never mind it. ”