[ it's the touch that finally works! his brow knits together - he starts, like he startled himself awake, and then blinks at yves.
and what becomes immediately clear is that something is wrong. it's not physical. he's the same as ever, maybe a little thinner. definitely older. but it's his eyes that are the strangest - the dullness to them, like there's just something missing. no spark. no brightness, no curiosity, and most of all, when he smiles it's as gentle as ever, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]
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and what becomes immediately clear is that something is wrong. it's not physical. he's the same as ever, maybe a little thinner. definitely older. but it's his eyes that are the strangest - the dullness to them, like there's just something missing. no spark. no brightness, no curiosity, and most of all, when he smiles it's as gentle as ever, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]
...Oh. [ softly. ] Yves...?