[Varian wraps his arms around him, and Salieri almost startles slightly at the suddenness of it. However, immediately after Salieri's wrapping both arms around Varian in turn, holding him close, his own heart feeling like it's squeezing painfully in his chest.
He feels powerless to help. Powerless to fix what has been done; to somehow shield Varian from everything he's been forced to bear witness to and participate in. To shield him from the future expectation that this place is going to heap on all of them. All Salieri can do is sit here and hold him and hope that at least he can offer some comfort.
Salieri's eyes sting again as he rests his head on top of Varian's, and he blinks his eyes rapidly against it. After all, it would be quite terrible of him to mess up the excellent job that Farrah has done helping him with his makeup, Salieri thinks, as he continues to hold Varian through his tears. His hand gently continues to rub Varian's back, trying to be as comforting as possible.
Eventually, Varian's sobs start to quiet. Then the boy turns his head a bit and says that. The stinging in Salieri's eyes that had just started to subside now returns with full force and he sucks in a hitching breath, blinking rapidly again, having to clear his throat before he replies:]
...I hope so, too. I believe so. [Salieri swallows, hard] It must be so.
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He feels powerless to help. Powerless to fix what has been done; to somehow shield Varian from everything he's been forced to bear witness to and participate in. To shield him from the future expectation that this place is going to heap on all of them. All Salieri can do is sit here and hold him and hope that at least he can offer some comfort.
Salieri's eyes sting again as he rests his head on top of Varian's, and he blinks his eyes rapidly against it. After all, it would be quite terrible of him to mess up the excellent job that Farrah has done helping him with his makeup, Salieri thinks, as he continues to hold Varian through his tears. His hand gently continues to rub Varian's back, trying to be as comforting as possible.
Eventually, Varian's sobs start to quiet. Then the boy turns his head a bit and says that. The stinging in Salieri's eyes that had just started to subside now returns with full force and he sucks in a hitching breath, blinking rapidly again, having to clear his throat before he replies:]
...I hope so, too. I believe so. [Salieri swallows, hard] It must be so.