Post by alan on Jul 16, 2012 0:48:00 GMT -8
"It's a lot easier to take care of other people than it is to take care of yourself." At least that was his view on the matter. Alan had never been too good at taking care of himself, but he certainly had been always good at at least attempting to take care of others. He had never been allowed to properly care for Lina while they were at home growing up. And he had been sorted into a different house than his sisters, so he hadn't been able to even care for them properly while they were at school. No, Alan had to take care of house mates, and anyone else who would let him take care of them.
Which was probably why he was taking care of Nia so much right now. She was letting him, and that was helping a piece of him that needed to do these sorts of things to make up for all of those years that he had been made to neglect his older sister through all of her torment. Which was why when the dark haired young woman in his arms asked about her legs, his reaction was interested. He moved, wrapping his arms a little firmly about her, and pulling her into his lap. He moved one of the extra blankets from around him around her legs, bundled her up, and just held her. She was tiny compared to him, and so her body mass had chilled a lot quicker than his had. Keeping her warm was a bigger priority than making himself warm, because that was just the way that Alan rolled.
"This should help." He put on a friendly smile, trying not to creep her out or anything. Just that normal friendly smile that Alan used on people at St. Mungo's. He thought it was reassuring, or at least he hoped it was. "I'm sure you were a good teacher. But it's always good to take time to yourself." Would Alan be able to do that sort of thing? He didn't think so. He couldn't leave his job ever because then the guilt would overwhelm him. While he was working, while he was keeping busy, he didn't have time to think about how much he had failed his family. "Figured anything out about yourself yet?" He asked it with humor in his voice, hoping that she understood that he was just trying to be friendly.