tbo offshoot, depressed Charlie
Ever since Midshear, Charlie has been in a gloom. He hasn’t really spoken much out of turn, though his tolerance for the party seems to have risen. He doesn’t try to push back the teasing anymore, and the look on his face actually puts an end to it.
It’s plain to see him accepting the teasing as fact. He is useless. He is a coward. He isn’t good for anything, let alone protecting Thandi. He can barely even heal anyone. He’s only good for being used up. Why bother? Why bother…
Thandi sees him slipping. His vest is loose, unbuttoned. His hair is a mess, drifting into his face. His sleeves are rolled down, and Thandi suspects that he’s covering bandages. He flinches even from her touch now, and he won’t say anything. Even to her.
Thandi is aching just watching him. He’s sluggish, wincing in pain at every little thing. And… he won’t let her help. He turns away from her every time she tries. It’s like he’s drifting away. Even her bracelet hangs loosely off of her, clinging by habit and not by decision.
Charlie cries sometimes.
Thandi is trying so hard to get him comfortable again, but he really is just… useless to her. There’s nothing he could give her. Nothing he could offer. Even if she should deign to marry him, he’s got nothing to give but his body, which carries the risk of… children. With him. The useless him would produce only useless children. And who could love a useless child?