James stumbles just a little as the edge of his boot is caught, the natural consequence of expecting to be able to shift weight without actually being certain it'll be possible, but likewise recovers smoothly enough. He's still far slighter than he should be, having not really gained back any weight since arriving, but even despite drinking he's solid and steady when Prior catches himself by holding onto him, a clear sign of how much his health has finally been improving in the last few weeks.
Improving physically, at least. The thoughts he'd forced away just moments ago return once more as Prior continues, and he can't stop them so easily this time.
Many of the men on the Expedition had fiancees or wives. Many had entire families. Children. And those men had expected to come back, to return to those people they loved, and had been expected in turn to do so. The partings were all meant to be temporary.
But none of them will ever go home. Not a single one of those people waiting will see their loved ones again, and they will never truly know what happened to them.
He sucks in a breath that shudders through him in a way that Prior can surely feel in their proximity, but James' voice is still light in a practiced way when he speaks, and what he says is genuine. "Perhaps. But there is nothing to be done about that now, and expectations or not, she agreed to marry you. The rest of it is formality."
Or not exactly formalities, but close enough. Finding someone one cares deeply enough for to agree to marry, whether or not they think they'll get to the point of marriage itself, is the hard part. Marriages themselves, after all, mean very little without that devotion.
no subject
Improving physically, at least. The thoughts he'd forced away just moments ago return once more as Prior continues, and he can't stop them so easily this time.
Many of the men on the Expedition had fiancees or wives. Many had entire families. Children. And those men had expected to come back, to return to those people they loved, and had been expected in turn to do so. The partings were all meant to be temporary.
But none of them will ever go home. Not a single one of those people waiting will see their loved ones again, and they will never truly know what happened to them.
He sucks in a breath that shudders through him in a way that Prior can surely feel in their proximity, but James' voice is still light in a practiced way when he speaks, and what he says is genuine. "Perhaps. But there is nothing to be done about that now, and expectations or not, she agreed to marry you. The rest of it is formality."
Or not exactly formalities, but close enough. Finding someone one cares deeply enough for to agree to marry, whether or not they think they'll get to the point of marriage itself, is the hard part. Marriages themselves, after all, mean very little without that devotion.