It really wasn't Elijah's fault. Ric didn't know Elijah very well, yet, though he'd certainly learned quite a bit in the few hours they'd spent together. He did know that Elijah was reserved and remote more often than not, but he'd... spent more time being a bit cautious with Elijah than not. He could still put the pieces together and figure it out, at least a little, but.
If his gut hadn't reacted to an emotional shift toward cold or overt anger, after his experiences with Isobel and Damon, it would have said something even worse about his mental health than his inability to turn down a challenge, and alcoholism.
He was pretty ready and willing to be gentled out of it, though. The reach for his face momentarily made him think he was about to be grabbed by the throat and thrown somewhere or have his neck broken (because realistically? That happened more often than soft touches), but it didn't last long. The flicker of warmth and hurt, as well as the light touch was enough for him to slot what Elijah was doing, the reason for that shut down, into place.
At least a little.
He turned slightly toward Elijah's palm without fully recognizing that he was doing it. He smiled a bit, and nodded in recognition. "Save the thanks for me sharing my bourbon...." But it was warm, more at ease and steadier again. That let concern for Elijah come back to the forefront.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2013-06-06 05:52 pm (UTC)If his gut hadn't reacted to an emotional shift toward cold or overt anger, after his experiences with Isobel and Damon, it would have said something even worse about his mental health than his inability to turn down a challenge, and alcoholism.
He was pretty ready and willing to be gentled out of it, though. The reach for his face momentarily made him think he was about to be grabbed by the throat and thrown somewhere or have his neck broken (because realistically? That happened more often than soft touches), but it didn't last long. The flicker of warmth and hurt, as well as the light touch was enough for him to slot what Elijah was doing, the reason for that shut down, into place.
At least a little.
He turned slightly toward Elijah's palm without fully recognizing that he was doing it. He smiled a bit, and nodded in recognition. "Save the thanks for me sharing my bourbon...." But it was warm, more at ease and steadier again. That let concern for Elijah come back to the forefront.