Cedar Sweep doesn't matter if you don't wanna play my [ game ]

to his relief and confusion, she doesn't seem bothered at all by his nearly crashing into her. out of anyone else's mouth, little one would put a bristle in his spine, but somehow her voice puts him at ease - reminds him a little of gracious, actually, although she's about as far away from the bulky girl in appearance as can possibly be. 

the androgyne squirms a little under her gentle inspections, never very comfortable with things like sharing feelings or kindness. (he thinks of brienne, back before - back when she was still seabreeze and the light of mato's world and delight clung to the shadows and watched helplessly, and how she'd coaxed his tragedy out of him, the first time he'd opened up). "you could say that," he says, finally, his voice coming out a little scratched. in a way this is a perfect opportunity: he can't talk to brienne about all of this, she's part of it -- he can't talk to burke or mato, or gracious, or anyone else in tindómë. he's weak and that's not a secret, but he can at least pretend he isn't falling apart because of all of this. he can manage that much. he looks at his feet for a second and then adds, "ummy name's delight," because if this kindly stranger is going to extort him for a heart to heart he might as well be polite about it.