[To his credit, Branch doesn't blow off Miguel as annoying or overbearing. Miguel's concern and care is obvious - and is something they have in common - and it must be hard to want to comfort and support the kid, only to have have the kid avoid him.]
Along with whatever you left him in his room, it might be a good idea for you to sometimes leave him stuff for his hideout. If he feels like you're supporting the idea too... that might be good for him.
And...it's not just his dad. There's some stuff there with the whole - what that guy said? That's making him feel unsafe right now. And I think it might be making him afraid of anyone he's been starting to trust.
Not because of anything we've done but because of what we might do, after he's started to trust us.
[He doesn't want to share everything Boba said, or more than vague ideas, because privacy is a way to build trust. But he recognizes Miguel's been pseudo-parenting here and the more he knows, the more equipped he is to help the kid.]
The only reason he's not hiding from me too is because of how much I've shown I'd take him away from danger, or given him safe places...
[The worry lines around his eyes deepen and he looks at the floor as he thinks about feelings long gone.]
When I was a kid I would've killed for someone who did things to make me feel safe. Instead, they told me nothing bad would happen and that I could trust them on that. I knew they were wrong.
And in the end, I was right. They came for us.
It made me push them away and made me want to hide from everyone even more.
[He looks up again.]
I know it probably doesn't make sense but I'm hoping that giving him a place to hide makes him feel safe enough to come out.
[He's not trying to explain it because he's worried Miguel doesn't understand, just looping him in on the exact thought process and how conscious the choice is. It'll be easier to coordinate...whatever they try to do to help the kid that way. Actually talking about it.]
[ there's a long crackle of inter-comm static as he sits with the explanation. It did sadden him to think the kid felt that way about them, but he was starting to place the pieces together based off what Rex said. ]
It does make sense.
[ Miguel remembers the times he was frightened and small and wished he could disappear. More often than not, he had to swallow these feelings to be the older brother. The troll creature will have to be that for him. ]
Well, if he'll hear you out: Tell him that I'll continue to leave things for him there. He can come check when he likes.
And remind the kid to eat, when he gets anxious he tends to forget.
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[To his credit, Branch doesn't blow off Miguel as annoying or overbearing. Miguel's concern and care is obvious - and is something they have in common - and it must be hard to want to comfort and support the kid, only to have have the kid avoid him.]
Along with whatever you left him in his room, it might be a good idea for you to sometimes leave him stuff for his hideout. If he feels like you're supporting the idea too... that might be good for him.
And...it's not just his dad. There's some stuff there with the whole - what that guy said? That's making him feel unsafe right now. And I think it might be making him afraid of anyone he's been starting to trust.
Not because of anything we've done but because of what we might do, after he's started to trust us.
[He doesn't want to share everything Boba said, or more than vague ideas, because privacy is a way to build trust. But he recognizes Miguel's been pseudo-parenting here and the more he knows, the more equipped he is to help the kid.]
The only reason he's not hiding from me too is because of how much I've shown I'd take him away from danger, or given him safe places...
[The worry lines around his eyes deepen and he looks at the floor as he thinks about feelings long gone.]
When I was a kid I would've killed for someone who did things to make me feel safe. Instead, they told me nothing bad would happen and that I could trust them on that. I knew they were wrong.
And in the end, I was right. They came for us.
It made me push them away and made me want to hide from everyone even more.
[He looks up again.]
I know it probably doesn't make sense but I'm hoping that giving him a place to hide makes him feel safe enough to come out.
[He's not trying to explain it because he's worried Miguel doesn't understand, just looping him in on the exact thought process and how conscious the choice is. It'll be easier to coordinate...whatever they try to do to help the kid that way. Actually talking about it.]
no subject
It does make sense.
[ Miguel remembers the times he was frightened and small and wished he could disappear. More often than not, he had to swallow these feelings to be the older brother. The troll creature will have to be that for him. ]
Well, if he'll hear you out: Tell him that I'll continue to leave things for him there. He can come check when he likes.
And remind the kid to eat, when he gets anxious he tends to forget.