[ the easy levity of the moment fades, as the memory ends, and suddenly, the way sholmes had softened at the mention of having a mother in the picture before makes a lot of sense.
xie lian stands with his hand on his heart, processing, for a moment. the expression on his face is empathetic, immediately - the concern and swell of emotion is very, very genuine. ] ...oh, Mr. Sholmes.
[ xie lian himself has never had a 'partner', or anything similar. but, the sacrifice made, the care given to that small child - his ward, iris - is unmistakably some kind of love. imagining losing the people dearest to him makes him ache with fierceness and protectiveness, and there's a long moment before he bows his head. ]
I'm sorry. I... I can forget seeing that, if you want me to.
no subject
xie lian stands with his hand on his heart, processing, for a moment. the expression on his face is empathetic, immediately - the concern and swell of emotion is very, very genuine. ] ...oh, Mr. Sholmes.
[ xie lian himself has never had a 'partner', or anything similar. but, the sacrifice made, the care given to that small child - his ward, iris - is unmistakably some kind of love. imagining losing the people dearest to him makes him ache with fierceness and protectiveness, and there's a long moment before he bows his head. ]
I'm sorry. I... I can forget seeing that, if you want me to.
no subject
[He shakes his head. He's bittersweet, its clear from his face, but he seems to shift it aside, moving to get his pipe.]
That's quite alright. It's not some grand secret. It was what it was.