[Tony listens to Arthur like a student, taking in the response quietly without really showing any deeper understanding of what's being said, even though he gets more of the explanation than he's letting on. He doesn't quite want to slip into talking about the mistakes part. That isn't right when they are in Arthur's dream, only feet away from his family.
No, it doesn't matter that said family isn't really there.
Tony does raise his eyes at the question though. He sticks his hand in his pocket, effecting what seems to be a casual expression. Maybe even bashful. He smiles and shrugs his shoulders with a boyish gesture fitting someone far younger than he looks.]
I'm not afraid... [Not exactly, although he doesn't voice that part out loud.] How can I be afraid of things that aren't there? You can't dream of things if you don't remember them.
[He stops meeting Arthur's eyes, looking back toward the warmth of the kitchen. Tony can't even call it regret. He stands by his decision. Hard as it was, he does believe it had to be made. He wouldn't have done that otherwise. And he can't miss things he doesn't remember having. But still, somewhere in the distant traces of those memories, he knows that if he starts dreaming, he'll notice their absence. And that hurts more than knowing.]
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No, it doesn't matter that said family isn't really there.
Tony does raise his eyes at the question though. He sticks his hand in his pocket, effecting what seems to be a casual expression. Maybe even bashful. He smiles and shrugs his shoulders with a boyish gesture fitting someone far younger than he looks.]
I'm not afraid... [Not exactly, although he doesn't voice that part out loud.] How can I be afraid of things that aren't there? You can't dream of things if you don't remember them.
[He stops meeting Arthur's eyes, looking back toward the warmth of the kitchen. Tony can't even call it regret. He stands by his decision. Hard as it was, he does believe it had to be made. He wouldn't have done that otherwise. And he can't miss things he doesn't remember having. But still, somewhere in the distant traces of those memories, he knows that if he starts dreaming, he'll notice their absence. And that hurts more than knowing.]