In terms of killing things, you're likely right. You should offer to teach him. Not really my area, firearms. We don't have them.

He works at it, so I think so. But it's also become a point of pride to beat me at some point.

[it sounds like she thinks that's cute and far away]

It is, yes. And he does, or at least he pretends he does.

I don't, but I also believe more of Draco than Draco does. He doesn't trust himself.

[she shakes her head a little]

He realized the place he's ended up in the story of his world, and it's exactly the opposite of what he wanted. There's two kinds of fear, I think. Or two ways to deal with fear. Either you ride it, or it rides you. Draco hasn't learned to ride his fear.

Yes, we are.

He's terrified of losing you, you know.

Yes, that's the idea, isn't it? Things that are important to him get taken away.

He doesn't? What makes you say that?

[she's not judging or disagreeing yet, she wants to hear jade's opinion]

[okay that makes her laugh]

That too. They aren't mutually exclusive by any means. He's naturally a bit of a prat.

I think he's happier being with and thinking about and talking about you than he is any other time. He has a specific face for talking about you, even.

[moony small-smile genuinely happy draco face? sophie does an eerily credible, if fleeting, impression]

He won't let go of home, though. Or his past, even though there's little he can do about it here.

Don't tell him I told you, he'll probably deny he's ever that adorable and I'll definitely get sulked at.

[sophie's smiling anyway, because that's darn cute]

A bit of both. It's hard to let go of what's been truth your whole life, but he's really got his claws in.

It's a shock, I know.

We've had some parallel experiences. Sometimes it's a little like talking to a strange other me who learned how to quit.

Anything. With the possible exception of self-flagellation.

Not quite what I meant, but true enough. Once he gets on some things he won't leave them alone.